The Southborough Senior Center has mailed out its latest newsletter covering programs this May through June. They asked me to share their news.
There’s a whole lot going on, including the popular bus trips, guest entertainers, classes, and special services for seniors.
Registration for the May-June programs opens this Wednesday, May 3rd at 10:00 am. (Scroll to the bottom for more info on registration.)*
Below are the highlights for what’s on offer. (More details, like what’s for lunch, are in the newsletter.)
Outings — Bus Trips
The Senior Center’s field trips tend to fill up quickly, so be sure to sign up on Wednesday. Here are the trips planned for May and June.
State House Tour
Tuesday, May 30th, 9:00 am – approx. 3:00 pm
Join our new elected State Representative Kate Donaghue and Senator Jamie Eldridge for a visit to our historic State Capital Building. We will enjoy a tour of the State House to find out what’s under the Golden Dome, including visits to the House and Senate Chambers. Lunch will be included. (Suggested Donation — $15)
Indian Princess Boat Cruise
Friday, June 23rd, 8:45 am – pprox.. 3:00 pm
Join us on a trip to Indian Ranch in Webster, MA. We will begin with a cruise around Webster Lake aboard the Indian Princess Riverboat. The Indian Princess is a modern replica of the grand riverboats that navigated the Mississippi River in the late 19th Century — one of the few authentic paddle wheel riverboats still in operations in the United States today. (Suggested Donation — $35)
Guest Entertainers at the Center
As usual, the Senior Center has booked special visitors to entertain/educate.
Nature Program: Birds in your Backyard
Wednesday, May 17th, 12:30pm
Program includes lunch and a presentation by Joy Marzolf. A wide variety of birds may visit backyards in the Greater Boston area. What makes a good backyard habitat? How do you attract those beautiful birds? Who is coming and who is going this time of year? Come find out more about our local birds, as well as occasional visitors, and what brings them to our neighborhoods. Experience the sights and sounds of some of our most beautiful neighbors! (Suggested Donation — $6)
Hundredth Town Chorus Concert
Wednesday, May 24th, 10:30am
A free 45 minutes concert followed by refreshments. Founded in 1949, the chorus is an organization of women who enjoy singing four-part harmony in a relaxing and fun environment. They sing classics, Broadway favorites, popular music, folk songs, and an occasional classic number.
Vintage Car Presentation
Wednesday, June 21st, 12:30pm
Take a ride down memory lane with John from Orphan Car Garage. John will highlight some of our most notorious vehicles of the past. From Rambler to Studebaker, Corvair to Vega, enjoy the slideshow and stories. Great for car enthusiasts, history buffs, and anyone who remembers what car life was like back in the day! (Suggested Donation — $6)
Center-Run Favorites
These regularly offered monthly programs also require pre-registration.
Adult Coloring & Lunch
Tuesdays, May 9th and June 6th, 12:00pm
The event begins with lunch, followed by coloring while chatting. All supplies will be available or feel free to bring your own (Suggested Donation — $3)
Knitting Club
Mondays, May 15th, June 5th, and June 12th, 1:00pm
Beginners Welcome — Supplies will be provided, but feel free to bring a creation you may currently be working on. If you are new to the group, sign up on Registration day.
Movie Matinees
Wednesday, May 31st, 12:30 pm — A Man Called Otto (PG-13; 2 hours and 6 minutes)
Wednesday, June 14th, 12:30 pm — Top Gun: Maverick (PG-13; 2 hours and 11 minutes)
The movie is free, though registration is required. Attendees can come in early, at noon, for an optional lunch. (Bring your own or register to purchase a lunch for Suggested Donation — $6)
Bingo
Wednesday, June 28th, 1:00 pm
Bingo and prizes. Tickets are sold promptly starting at 1:00 pm. (If there are multiple winners of the same game, a raffle will determine who gets the main prize vs a smaller prize.)
Gardening & Flowers
Tina Bemis — “Hummingbird Magnet”
Wednesday, June 7th – 10:00am
Make a large planter with colorful Thrillers, Fillers, Chillers, and Spillers designed to attract hummingbirds to your yard. You will love it! (Suggested Donation $20)
Spring is Here — Raised Garden Bed Get Together
Monday, May 22nd, 10:30 am
Meet other gardeners and bring your ideas for making the gardens something you enjoy. (Feel free to bring plants or bulbs purchased through the recent Friends of COA fundraiser.)
A light lunch will be provided. Participants will meet inside unless weather calls for an indoor meeting.
(Unlike other programs, you can sign up for this one at any time – all are welcome). Contact Joyce Macknauskas or Sandy Kiess with any questions. Feel free to leave a message at the Senior Center.
The Native Garden maintenance team
“We’re enjoying more daylight hours, warming temperatures and here come the first buds – crocuses, dafodils, forsythias, and more. To join Nature’s Present native garden maintenance team, email Carol Yozzo at cay0131@verizon.net. Please stop by and spend some time at Nature’s Present Native Garden.”
Fitness Classes
The center offers the following weekly and bi-weekly classes. Signup is for the two month session (Suggested Donation — $3 per day)
- Stretch Break — Mondays at 10:15 am (Except for May 29th & June 19th)
- Strength Class — Tuesdays & Thursdays at 8:30am
- Advanced Tai Chi — Tuesdays & Thursdays at 9:4 5am
- Yoga — Tuesdays at 9:30 am (at Pilgrim Church; last day is June 20th)
- Full, but taking a waitlist — Chair Yoga — Thursdays at 12:30 pm
Special Services and Resources
The Senior Center regularly offers free services and resources for Southborough Seniors. This spring, in addition to ongoing weekly/monthly resources, there are two special events.
The Decades Project: A Writing Club with Students of the Algonquin Writing Center
Tuesday, May 16th, 3:00pm
Come work with student tutors to write and preserve your stories and memories. Students will collaborate with you in groups and individually by providing prompts and talking through your ideas, questions, and writing.
Hearing Presentation
Tuesday, June 13th, 1:00 – 2:00 pm
Learn how to read an audiogram, what styles of hearing aids are available and what insurance does/does not cover. Hearing Screenings will take place after the presentation.
Bereavement Support Group
Mondays. May 15th & June 12th, 1:00 – 2:00 pm
This group is open to all grieving the loss of a loved one. Please call the Senior Center if you have any questions.
Technology Help
Tuesdays, May 23rd & June 27th (one hour time slots)
A local tech services company will answer seniors’ questions about smartphones, e-readers, laptops, tablets, Alexa, zoom and more. Sign up for a time slot and bring your device with you.
Legal Advice
Wednesdays, May 10th & June 14th (15 minute sessions)
Elder Law Attorney Arthur Bergeron offers free consultation over the phone. Call the senior center to book a time slot between 10:00 – 10:45 am.
Nurses Clinic
Tuesdays
On May 2nd and June 6th, clinics will be held10:00 – 11:30 am at Colonial Gardens and 12:00 – 3:00 pm at the Senior Center.
On the remaining Tuesdays (except for May 16th and June 23rd) and every Friday, the Senior Center Clinic is from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm.
Blood Sugar Screening:
Tuesday, May 23, 11:00 am -12:00 pm in Nurse’s Office
No appointment or fasting is needed.
Interactive Groups and Games
Unlike the above programs the following social or activity-based groups welcome drop-ins and don’t require pre-registration.
Dull Men’s Club
Fridays, 10:00 am
Casual social club for senior men. New members are always welcome to drop in.
Walking Group (Depending on Weather Conditions)
Mondays and Wednesdays, 8:30 am (Except for May 29th & June 19th)
Walkers generally go for an hour. The location is a loop, so feel free to join late (or leave early/late). (No fee.)
Mondays are at Trottier Middle School’s (49 Parkerville Road) outdoor track. Wednesdays are at Southborough’s Rural Cemetery (11 Cordaville Road, next to the Senior Center).
Senior Songsters
Tuesdays, May 2nd, 16th, and 30th, 11:00 pm
The Senior Center’s friendly chorus. (It may be a bit late in the season to join them, but non-members are always welcome to drop-in to listen to their rehearsals.)
Drop-in Games
- Bridge — Tuesdays at 12:00 pm
- Mah Jongg — Thursdays at 10:00 am
- Canasta — Fridays at 11:15 am
- Billiards — Daily (except for May 29th and June 19th) from 8:30 am – 3:00 pm
*Registration
As usual, seniors can register in person or over the phone at (508) 229-4453. (You must connect with a staff member, not leave a voicemail.) Payment for programs needs to be made one week after signing up or unfortunately you will be taken off the list.
Because the programs tend to have waitlists, residents are asked to cancel if there plans change. (For full refunds, bus trips must be cancelled two weeks in advance and other events one week in advance.)
For more details on registration policies, plus more information on the above programs and other tips and info, see the newsletter here.
