Above: Sign up starting on the 4th to take part in the Senior Center’s special events, including bus trips. (images cropped from 2023 & 2018 Facebook posts)
The Southborough Senior Center will open registration this Wednesday for upcoming programs. Here’s what they have in store for September and October.
Given that most programs fill up, you’ll want to take an advance look at what you want to sign up for. (Scroll to the bottom for more info on registration.)*
Below are my highlights. (More details, like what’s for lunch, are in the newsletter.)
Bus Trip
These always fill up quickly – so don’t wait too long to put in your name for the only one being offered. Attendees will board the bus at the Senior Center.
Candlepin Bowling & Pizza
Thursday, October 3rd, 9:45 am – approx. 3:00 pm
Trip to American Flatbread in Somerville will include bowling and lunch. ($25 Suggested Donation, details on page 8.)
Wright’s Farm Restaurant
Thursday, October 3rd, 10:30 am – approx. 5:00 pm
“What’s more fun than sitting down to enjoy a meal surrounded by friends or new friends in a comfortable and relaxed setting? You will get all that at Wright’s Farm.” The restaurant includes a cash bar and a gift shop, which attendees will have a 20% off coupon for. On the return trip, attendees will stop at their Dairy Farm & Bakery. ($15 Suggested Donation, details on page 8.)
Independent/Assisted Living Facility Events
Seniors can learn about three local living facilities through special free events. These do require pre-registration and space may be limited. (Read more on all of the below events on page 6 of the newsletter.)
The following programs are at the Senior Center:
Cooking Demo hosted by Christopher Heights
Wednesday, September 11th, 2:30 pm
Their chef will demonstrate “preparing easy but delicious meals to make at home that freeze well when portioned to meal prep for several days at a time”. Enjoy sampling the results.
Entertainment Get Together hosted by New Horizons
Wednesday, October 2nd, 1:00 pm
Join the staff for entertainment and refreshments
Intro to Mindfulness Stress Reduction hosted by The Willows
Wednesday, October 9th at 10:00 am
A brief intro to “Mindfulness” and the many benefits of skills taught to help increase ones’ ability to cope with stress, pain and the everyday challenges. Learning tools will be supplied.
Lunch Tours
No transportation is provided to these free lunch at each facility:
- New Horizons in Marlborough — Thursday, September 12th at 10:30 am
- Christopher Heights in Marlborough — Thursday, September 19th at 12:30 pm
- The Willows in Westborough — Tuesday, October 22nd at 11:00 am
Special Visitors/Events & Center-Run Favorites
There are a few other special events planned at the center, plus some popular regular programs.
Navigating the Healthcare Highway
Friday, September 13th, 1:00 pm
A free, informal panel discussion featuring 5 speakers with “a wealth of information and materials to share” about Hospice vs Palliative Care and various types of senior living arrangements. Light desserts will be served.
Dedication of the new Common Room
Wednesday, September 18th, 8:30am
Council on Aging will celebrate the completion of the new addition to the building by welcoming the public with light refreshments. This event is free with no registration required.
Movie Matinees
Wednesdays at 12:30 pm
Watching the movies 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 $6 Suggested Donation, details on page 8.)
Ezra – September 18th (R; 1 hr 41 min)
Comedy-Drama about a stand-up comic living with his father and struggling to co-parent his autistic son with his ex.
Suffragette – October 23rd (PG-13 ; 1 hr 46 min)
Carey Mulligan stars in the historical fiction drama about English women in the Suffrage movement during the early 1900s.
Adult Coloring & Lunch
Tuesdays, September 24th & October 29th, 12:00pm
The event begins with lunch, followed by coloring while chatting. All supplies will be available or feel free to bring your own ($3 Suggested Donation with lunch included, details on page 11.)
Lunch Socials (a.k.a. Blue Plate Specials)
Mondays, September 30th and October 28th, 11:45 am
Lunches catered by TJ’s Spirits of Ashland. ($6 Suggested Donation, details on page 9.)
Tina Bemis’ Fall Porch Pot Workshop
Friday, October 4th, 1:00 pm
Put together a decorative outdoor planter containing mums, kale, and fall flowers. ($20 Suggested Donation.)
Book Club
Wednesday, October 9th,11:00 am – 12:00 pm
The monthly club is being relaunched. For this first meeting, bring “a favorite book or title with a short synopsis” for the group to discuss before deciding on the selection for the next month. (Details on page 3.)
Bingo
Wednesday, October 30th, 1:00 pm
Bingo and prizes. Tickets are sold promptly starting at 1:00 pm and snacks provided at break time. (If there are multiple winners of the same game, a raffle will determine who gets the main prize vs a smaller prize.)
Fitness Classes
The center offers the following weekly and semi-weekly classes. Signup is for the two month session (Suggested Donation — $3 per day)
- Stretch Break — Mondays at 10:15 am
- Strength Class — Tuesdays & Thursdays at 8:30 am
- Advanced Tai Chi — Tuesdays & Thursdays at 9:45 am
- Chair Yoga — Thursdays at 12:30 pm
- Yoga — Tuesdays at 9:30 am (Starting October 8th at Pilgrim Church)
[Note: For Medical Insurance reimbursement, see Pam LeFrancois at the end of your yearly enrollment period to have the form signed.]
Services and Resources
The Senior Center regularly offers free services and resources for Southborough Seniors. This summer, in addition to ongoing weekly/monthly resources, there is one special event.
Flu Clinic
Wednesday, October 16th, 10:00 am – 12:30 pm
To learn about registering for the annual flu clinic with higher-dose vaccine available for those over the age of 65, click here for the newsletter insert with details.
Nurses Clinic
Tuesdays and Fridays 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
For a list of the services they offer (including wellness checks, screenings, nurse assessments, Q&A, and much more), click here. According to the calendar, the clinics on September 3rd and October 1st will be at Colonial Gardens. (In October, there won’t be any clinic hours on the 11th, 22nd, and 25th.)
Southborough Youth and Family Services Office Hours
Thursdays, starting September 12th, 9:00 – 11:00am
Mental Health Support for Southborough residents. Offering free consultations and referral services. (For details, see page 6.)
Medicare Assistance
Book appointments through a dedicated phone line
Schedule an appointment for advice on what to do during the upcoming Medicare Open Enrollment. A dedicated phone line for scheduling will be launched the week of September 16th. (For details, see page 3.)
Legal Advice
Wednesdays, September 11th & October 9th (15 minute sessions)
Elder Law Attorney Christine Boutin offers free consultation over the phone. Call the senior center to book a time slot between 10:00 – 10:45 am.
Technology Help
Tuesdays, September 17th & October 22nd (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 (starting at 10:00 am) and bring your device with you. (Details on page 9.)
Fat Daddy’s Produce Bus
Wednesdays, September 18th & October 23rd, 10:30 am – 12:30 pm
The “small family owned ‘hydroponic farm'” will be selling chemical/pesticide-free organic lettuce, herbs, greens, microgreens, mushrooms, and baked goods at wholesale costs. (Farmers Market coupons accepted, details on page 9.)
Interactive Groups and Drop-in Games
Unlike the above programs the following free social or activity-based groups 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. (Read more about the group here.)
Walking Group (Depending on Weather Conditions)
Mondays and Wednesdays, 8:30 am
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).
Knitting Club
Mondays – 1:00pm
Beginners Welcome — Supplies are provided, but knitters are welcome to bring any projects they are working on.
Genealogy Club
Thursdays, September 19th and October 17th, 2:30pm
Group for people interested in learning more about their own family history and genealogy. Members share their own experiences and helps each other with research, (sometimes with special discussion topics or presenters).
Drop-in Games
- Bridge — Tuesdays at 12:00 pm
- Mah Jongg — Thursdays at 10:00 am
- Canasta (Hand & Foot version) — Fridays at 10:00 am (new time)
- Billiards — Daily from 8:30 am – 3:00 pm (except for on “large program dates” – see calendar in newsletter)
*Registration
Registration opens Wednesday, September 4th starting at 10:00 am. See pages 1&2 of the newsletter for registration & cancellation details, but here are some of the highlights.
In-person registrations are using a form and must include payment.
Phone registration (508-229-4453) can’t be done over voicemail — you must connect with someone live. Payment for programs needs to be made within one week after signing up to avoid being removed from the list.
Because the programs tend to have waitlists, residents are asked to cancel if their plans change. For full refunds, bus trips must be cancelled two weeks in advance and other events one week in advance.
