Click and Learn – New Program! Digital Connections Program

The Click and Learn – Digital Connections Program, funded through an AARP Community Challenge Grant, is moving forward to help Mendon seniors build confidence and skills in using technology. The program has already generated excellent community interest, with more than 35 residents responding to our initial survey. Their feedback is helping us identify the digital skills seniors want and need most. To start, we have  large-screen laptops for the classes and are developing the curriculum and learning materials. Pilot sessions are being planned, with full classes beginning in mid to late September.  Call the Mendon Senior Center at 508-478-6175 for upcoming registration information about class schedules on Monday and Thursday afternoons!

Bocce

Sunday Evenings at 5:30 p.m.

Join us for a good-natured, non-competitive game of Bocce on Sunday evenings at 5:30 p.m.! All players are welcome—novice or experienced.

If interest increases, we will consider scheduling additional games.  Let’s get outside, enjoy some fresh air, get a little exercise, and enjoy the camaraderie of your fellow players!

New Players Welcome!

The Mendon Senior Center offers a variety of recreational activities including:

•  Cribbage—Wednesdays 9:45 a.m. The Cribbage group is always looking for new players. Stop in Wednesdays at 9:45 a.m. All levels welcome.

•  Hand, Knee and Foot card game—Tuesdays 1 p.m.

•  Mah-Jong - Wednesdays & Thursdays 1 p.m.

Please check our schedule regarding days, times, and availability. Don’t see your favorite game listed, please let us know what you’d like to see offered!

Hip Hop Square Dance Exercise

The Mendon Senior Center welcomes back Rondae Drafts on Thursday, Oct. 15 at 1 p.m. with a fun, energizing exercise program for seniors set to music. This program is funded by the Mendon Cultural Council. Please stop by or call the senior center to register.

Dine Out

Wednesday, Oct. 16 –

Roast House, Blackstone 

Carpool with friends from the senior center one Wednesday of each month at 11:30 a.m. or meet at the restaurant at 12 p.m. The cost of lunch is your responsibility, but the company is free! Please sign-up at the senior center.

Oktoberfest

Our much-anticipated Raffle Basket Fundraising Event will take place at the Oktoberfest event at the Senior Center on Saturday, Oct. 17.

Our event will include raffle baskets created by the various groups that use the Senior Center, handmade crafts, and baked goods. This year, we will also be offering some beautiful vintage holiday decorations.

Mark your calendar and plan to:

•  Create a raffle basket

•  Volunteer to help with the event

•  Donate handmade crafts or baked goods

•  Or simply join us for this special day!

We look forward to seeing you at Oktoberfest and appreciate your continued support of the Friends of Mendon Elders.

October Birthday Bash

Tuesday, Oct. 20 at 12 p.m.

If you are celebrating an October Birthday or simply looking for a cheerful afternoon out, you are warmly invited. We will be serving chicken casserole, tossed salad, and, of course, cake. Lunch will be followed by a performance by Lynne Canavan, an accomplished violinist and jazz vocalist. She has been a member of the Milford, Massachusetts-based Claflin Hill Symphony Orchestra for more than 20 years.

Lunch & Learn

What to Leave Behind: Creating an Emergency Folder for Your Loved Ones    

Tuesday, Oct. 27 12 p.m.

If the unexpected happens, do your loved ones have the information they need? An emergency planning folder is a place to gather the necessary documents and details in one easily accessible place. In the free seminar, you’ll learn what to include, from your Health Care Proxy, HIPAA Authorization, Durable Power of Attorney, and medical information to a summary of your insurance policies and accounts and details about your wishes. Bring your questions, enjoy a free lunch, and leave with your own emergency planning folder. This Lunch & Learn program is offered at the Mendon Senior Center by Attorney Amy Azza, Esq. of Bellingham.

History Series

Tuesday, Oct. 27 at 2 p.m. (If you will be going on the van, please arrive at the Mendon Senior Center by 1:30 p.m.)

Plan to join us for the next presentation at the Chestnut Hill Meetinghouse located in Millville, MA. Van transportation will be provided. The Chestnut Hill Meetinghouse is one of New England’s best preserved 18th century meetinghouses and is a fine example of the most important public buildings in the colonial landscape. Come learn about the role this meetinghouse played as part of the town of Mendon and the meetinghouses role in the development of what is now Blackstone and Millville as populations grew and industry and agriculture changed the boundaries of Mendon. Join us to learn more about this fascinating part of Mendon’s history!

Halloween Hat Party & Italian Buffet followed by Music Bingo 

Thursday, Oct. 29 at 12 p.m.

Come wearing your best Halloween Hat (or Costume) and enjoy some spooky tunes spun by DJ Chris during a buffet lunch. Our Tri-Valley buffet features a BUILD YOUR OWN PASTA BOWL with penne pasta and a choice of tomato or Alfredo sauce and the following toppings: meatballs, sweet Italian sausage, grilled chicken, roasted onions and peppers, broccoli and sauteed mushrooms. Also served bread, milk and dessert. Call 508-478-6175 or stop by the center to register. Following lunch, DJ Chris will facilitate Music Bingo at 12:30 p.m. Van transportation is available. Call Shawna Timperio to schedule a ride.

SHINE Health Insurance Counseling for October & November

OCTOBER Shine

Medicare Open Enrollment runs from Oct. 15 through Dec. 7. This is an important opportunity to review your Medicare Advantage and Part D prescription drug coverage for the coming year.

You do not have to make a change simply because it is Open Enrollment, but you should take this opportunity to review your options as premiums, prescription costs, medication formularies, and provider networks can change from year to year. Changes made during this period generally take effect Jan. 1. SHINE counselors are available to help Massachusetts residents compare their Medicare options and understand potential changes. To schedule an appointment with your local SHINE counselor, contact the Senior Center. SHINE is a program of Tri-Valley Inc., funded in part by the Executive Office of Aging and Independence.

NOVEMBER Shine

Do not forget to review your Medicare Options. There is still time to review your Medicare coverage during the Annual Open Enrollment Period (OEP). OEP runs until Dec. 7 and is the annual period when all Medicare recipients can review their plan needs and make any changes to their coverage for the upcoming year. If you have an appointment scheduled to review your options, make sure you are prepared for that appointment by bringing your current insurance information, prescription list with dosage amounts, doctor’s names, and your preferred pharmacies. SHINE counselors provide free, unbiased Medicare counseling and do not sell insurance or represent any plans. To schedule an appointment with your local SHINE counselor, contact the Senior Center. SHINE is a program of Tri-Valley Inc., funded in part by the Executive Office of Aging and Independence.

“Are You Game?” – Bingo!

Thursday, Nov. 5 at 1:30 p.m.

The Friends are letting the good times roll! If you are ready to have some fun, reserve your spot by calling the Senior Center at 508-478-6175 or stopping in to sign up.

•  $5 fee – used entirely for prizes

•  Registration deadline: Tuesday before the event. You must be registered to play.

•  Eight games, with prizes based on attendance

We welcome both seasoned players and curious newcomers. Mark your calendar and join the fun!

New Program!

Senior Breakfast Club 

Friday, Nov. 6—The Spoon, Hopkinton

Join us once a month for Breakfast out on the first Friday. Meet at area restaurants at 10 a.m. Once again, the cost of the meal is your responsibility but the company is free! Please sign-up at the senior center.

Crystal Bowls & Meditation Workshop

Nov. 30 at 6:30 p.m .

Faith Kennedy will be offering a crystal bowl and meditation workshop at the Mendon Senior Center for seniors. The benefits of both disciplines are vast. Meditation improves memory and attention, reduces stress and anxiety, improves quality of sleep, lowers blood pressure, and boosts immune functions. Before and after mediation, Faith will offer crystal bowl therapy. Crystal bowl sound therapy is an ancient practice in which sound healers produce different sound frequencies with quartz crystal singing bowls to restore balance and harmony in the body. The cost of this partially grant-funded program is $25 per person. Call or stop by the senior center to register. 

REMINDER

Scent-sitivity Alert— Periodic reminder. Please refrain from using strong fragrances or cologne before coming to the Senior Center, especially when attending exercise programs or crowded events. For some, it can cause headaches and various allergic reactions etc. Thank you for your understanding! Note –even strong fabric softener can be irritating to other guests with this sensitivity.

Mendon Food Pantry Hours

Thursday, Oct. 19  5-7 p.m.

Friday, Nov. 6  9-1 p.m.

The food pantry is available to Mendon residents in need of all ages.

Please contact Outreach Coordinator Shelby Corbin at 508-478-6175 ext. 2.