Somerset County-Operated Senior Centers Exciting Activities in August - Bridgewater & Hillsborough

SENIOR WELLNESS CENTER AT BRIDGEWATER (Scroll down for Hillsborough)

876 East Main Street Bridgewater, NJ 08807/908-203-6101

Billiards Room – Available daily, Monday to Friday on a first-come, first-served basis.

Computer Lab – Available daily, Monday to Friday. Senior center members are welcome to use the computers at their leisure.

Ping Pong – Available Monday – Friday. Take a shot at this fun game for a great way to improve hand-eye coordination, concentration and agility.

Table Shuffleboard – Available Monday – Friday.

Qigong Practices with Michael – Mondays, 10 a.m. Learn the traditional practice of Qigong, a sitting meditation that teaches participants to get acquainted with their minds, bodies, and spirits. Beginners will learn to coordinate their breathing techniques with movements and then practice sets of exercises (like Tai Chi) until each movement and posture is perfected.

Stronger Seniors: Stretch – Mondays, 1 p.m. Join this simple, pre-recorded exercise program. Participants will use a chair for a safe and thorough stretching routine to help them feel much more flexible. **For more information, call 908-203-6101.**

(Virtual) Hatha Yoga with Bharti – Tuesdays & Thursdays, 9:30 a.m. Improve body posture through breath control and meditation. Practicing Hatha Yoga provides many health benefits, including helping to align the body, and improving balance, flexibility, and circulation. **To register, call 908-203-6101 or email donlin@co.somerset.nj.us.**

Tuesdays, 10 a.m. – Card Games. Play your favorite card games like Rummy, Poker, Blackjack and Solitaire. Share your card skills with others. **Beginners are welcome.**

Line Dancing with Connie and Debbie. Tuesdays, 1 p.m. Improve cardiovascular and muscular strength, coordination and balance while line dancing, which is so much fun it doesn’t even seem like exercise! Line dancing doesn’t require a partner and it’s a great way to maintain one’s mental and physical health. **This class is suitable for participants with limited mobility. All levels of skill are welcome. For more information, call 908-203-6101.**

Mahjong Club – Learn how to play Mahjong, an interesting game that can help sharpen the brain and keep it supercharged! This club is for anyone who loves the game and wants to have fun and meet new people.

• Wednesday Mornings – 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. (Beginners)

• Wednesday Afternoons – 1 to 4 p.m.

• Friday Mornings – 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Take Control with Exercise – Wednesdays & Fridays, 1 p.m. Strengthen core muscles and improve flexibility, and balance while boosting stamina during this gentle exercise program, presented in a video format. **Exercises can be practiced while either standing or sitting.**

Monthly Book Club – Every Fourth Thursday, 10 a.m. Join fellow book club members on Aug. 24, to discuss “Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow,” a coming-of-age story by Gabrielle Zevin. **New members are always welcome!**

Aerobic Chair Exercise with Sabina – Thursdays, 10 a.m. Improve your heart health, reduce stress, and lower the risk of depression, diabetes and osteoporosis while increasing stamina, improving metabolism and increasing flexibility. **This is an ongoing exercise program for all levels of skill. Exercises can be practiced while either standing or sitting.**

(Hybrid) Gentle Aerobics with Lisa & Caitlin – Wednesdays & Fridays, 10:30 a.m. Exercise without putting undue pressure or strain on the body. Learn movements to increase blood circulation, lubricate joints for flexibility, and strengthen and stabilize individual muscles. Gentle aerobics can help decrease the risk of falls and make it easier to accomplish day-to-day activities. **This class will be presented via Zoom and conducted live at the center by an instructor. Exercises can be practiced while standing or sitting. The class is open to all skill levels.**

Stronger Seniors, Core Strength – Thursdays, 1 p.m. Join this safe and easy workout to strengthen core muscles by using resistance bands in this pre-recorded exercise program. **Participants can bring resistance bands or borrow bands from the senior center. For more information, call 908-203-6101.**

(New) Project Healthy Bones – Mondays, beginning Aug. 14 at 10:30 a.m. Improve balance, strength, flexibility, and posture in this peer-led, 24-week exercise and education program for individuals who are either at risk for osteoporosis or have it. **The deadline to register is Aug. 4. Registration is open on a first-come, first-serve basis. For more information, call 908-203-6101.

Project Healthy Bones – Fridays, beginning Aug. 18 at 12:45 p.m. Improve balance, strength, flexibility, and posture in this peer-led, 24-week exercise and education program for individuals who are either at risk for osteoporosis or have it. **The deadline to register is Aug. 11. Registration is open on a first-come, first-serve basis. For more information, call 908-203-6101.**

Crafts Club – Fridays, 12:30 – 2 p.m. Bring craft projects to craft and chat. Knit, crochet, embroider or do any other crafts on Friday afternoons. **The center has limited supplies available. For more information, call 908-203-6101.**

Pinochle Club – Fridays, 1 – 4 p.m. Play Pinochle! **New members are welcome!**

(Hybrid) Aug. 1, 11 a.m. – “Making a Good Impressionism” by Art Historian Dr. Michael Norris. Learn about French Impressionism and the artists who created impressionistic paintings, including Frederic Bazille, Pierre-August Renoir, Oscar Claude Monet, and Alfred Sisley.

Aug. 2 & 17, 11 a.m. – Bingo. Partake in a little bit of friendly competition and play Bingo, which is more than just an exciting activity. Researchers have found that playing Bingo provides multiple benefits, such as promoting socialization, strengthening hand-eye coordination, and improving concentration, listening, and short-term memory skills.

Aug. 3, 11 a.m. – JAK Music School Concert. Enjoy the sounds of popular songs performed by talented students and teachers from the JAK Music School. Students and faculty will perform a variety of songs from different genres performing with voice, piano, guitar and more.

Aug. 4, 11 a.m. – “Reclaiming Our Voice” by Historian Carol Simon Levin. Enjoy this riveting performance by Carol Simon Levin when she portrays Lillian Feickert, president of the New Jersey Woman Suffrage Association and her fight for woman suffrage from 1912 to 1920. Find out facts about the New Jersey women who lost their right to vote, how suffrage advocates staged tax and voting protests, how black women were brought into the women’s rights movement and who re-energized the push for a federal amendment. **This program is made possible by funds from the Somerset County Cultural & Heritage Commission, a partner of the New Jersey Historical Commission.**

Aug. 7, 11 a.m. – Comedy Magic Show with Ed Smoot. Enjoy this magic show that includes mentalism, rope and card magic, juggling, and some storytelling. Get ready to laugh, this show is fun.

Aug. 8, 11 a.m. – Group Dance. Join fellow hoofers to learn the Cha-Cha Slide, Jerusalema, the Cupid Shuffle and more during this fun dance class.

Aug. 8 & 22, 11 a.m. – Bereavement Support Group. Share common feelings about grief and the renewal process in this support group, which provides participants with a safe place for grieving the death of a loved one. Interfaith bereavement principles and universal spiritual concepts are

incorporated into this group. Doctor of Ministry, Grief Counselor and Pastoral Psychotherapist Ronald W. Kaplan facilitates the discussions. **Everyone’s presence and participation are welcome. For more information, call 908-203-6101.**

Aug. 9, 11 a.m. – “It’s a Dog’s Life: A Celebration of a Working Dog” by Anna Nowik. Learn about working dogs and how man’s best friend has been earning his keep since domestication, as well as what occupations around the world still use dogs. Participants will also learn about canine heroics, and many other surprising facts.

Aug. 10, 11 a.m. – “Strength & Aging” by Shail Shah, PT, MPT, Trinity Rehab. Learn why it’s important to keep working your muscles, and how to do it best to avoid sarcopenia (age-related muscle loss), which is a natural part of aging. After age 30, it’s common to lose 3 to 5% of muscle mass per decade. It’s never too late to rebuild muscle and maintain it.

Aug. 11, 11 a.m. – A Day at the Carnival with the Somerset County Youth Council. Join students from the Youth Council for fun and games.

Aug. 14, 11 a.m. – Remember That Song…Trivia. Join fellow senior center members for a fun trivia game that requires remembering the most popular songs from different decades.

Aug. 15, 11 a.m. – “Lovely Lentils” by Nutrition and Wellness Administrator Sheetal Bhatia, MPH, MS, RD, Somerset County Office on Aging & Disability Services. Learn all about the little lentil, a nutritional powerhouse loaded with potassium, folate, iron, and fiber. This is a beneficial and versatile legume that will soon become your favorite food.

Aug. 16, 11 a.m. – Fun and Games with Lisa and Caitlin. Have a relaxing day playing oldie-but- goodie games, such as dominoes, Left-Center-Right, Pass the Pigs and more.

Aug. 18, 11 a.m. – Practicing Mindfulness with Anne Lorraine La, Parker Life. Learn about formal and informal mindfulness to reduce stress, anxiety and increase energy levels for a more productive life.

Aug. 21, 11 a.m. – Painting with Watercolors by Lisa and Caitlin. Express yourself through art and try different painting styles with guidance from Lisa and Caitlin. **All supplies will be provided.**

Aug. 22, 11 a.m. – “How to Downsize and Declutter” by Hoarders Clutterers Express. Having clutter in your home can make you feel stressed, depressed, and out of focus. Hoarders Clutterers Express will discuss with us how to downsize and declutter our living spaces.

Aug. 23, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. – “The Farmers Market Program” by Kate Domen, Somerset County Office on Aging & Disability Services. Learn about eligibility requirements for free farmers’ market electronic benefits worth $50 through a QR Code to purchase fresh vegetables, fruit, and herbs grown at local farms. Participants will also find out about the process for application and registration, and which farm stands are participating in the program. **QR Codes are available at the Office on Aging & Disability Services, in Somerville, from July 5 to Sept. 30 on a first-come, first-serve basis.**

Aug. 23, 11 a.m. – “Hear, Hear” by Dr. Amy Lazar, MD, ENT & Allergy Associates, LLP. Learn about ear health, hearing, and hearing aids.

Aug. 24, 11 a.m. – Jigsaw Puzzle Challenge with Caitlin and Lisa. Solving a jigsaw puzzle exercises both sides of the brain at the same time. Get a little brain workout and solve a few relaxing jigsaw puzzles.

Aug. 25, 11 a.m. – Mineral Mosaic Craft with Caitlin and Lisa. Create a colorful mosaic craft using mineral tiles and paper. **Registration is required. Supplies are limited. For more information or to register, call 908-203-6101. This program is made possible by funds from the Somerset County Cultural & Heritage Commission, a partner of the New Jersey State Council on the Arts.**

Aug. 28, 11 a.m. – Harp Performance with Patricia Turse. Enjoy the dulcet tones of the harp in this wonderful performance. Patricia Turse, a musician and music therapist for over 25 years, will dazzle and delight when she plays the harp.

Aug. 29, 11 a.m. – “Heart Attacks and Strokes” by Mallory Dubuisson, Atlantic Health. Learn about the causes of heart attacks and strokes, one of the most common health crises in the United States. Participants will also find out prevention tips as well as how to identify symptoms.

Aug. 30, 11 a.m. – “The Morris Canal: Northern New Jersey’s Water Highway” by Tim Roth, Canal Society of New Jersey. Explore the fascinating history ever-expanding Morris Canal Greenway beginning with its inception in the 1820s to its abandonment 100 years later. Learn about the technology used to overcome 1,674 feet of elevation. Discover how boats navigated along the Morris Canal, and what life was like for people who lived and worked along the canal. Participants will also learn about the locations at the canal that can be visited today.

Aug. 31, 11 a.m. “Senior Medicare Patrol” by Joel Schneider, Senior Medicare Patrol. Learn how to detect and report Medicare fraud and other scams.

SENIOR WELLNESS CENTER AT HILLSBOROUGH

339 South Branch Road

Hillsborough, NJ 08844

908-369-8700

Rummikub – Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays, 9:30 a.m. Play this fast-moving board game, which requires players to have some luck and use strategic thinking. Playing Rummikub promotes social interaction, mental stimulation and relaxation. Time flies when you play this game.

Sit & Stitch Club – Mondays, 1 p.m. Bring your knitting, crocheting, and sewing projects to the club, and share your skills and talents with other members. **Beginners are welcome.**

Fit & Flex with Rose – Tuesdays (Virtual) & Wednesdays, 11 a.m. Get fit while performing 20 minutes of low-impact exercise to music, use weights for 15 minutes, and then use resistance bands for 15 minutes. Perform stretching exercises with a chair and other movements while standing. The instructor encourages will support proper breathing and proper positioning.

Beginner Ukulele Club with David – Wednesdays, 1 p.m. Start on the right note with easy-to-follow lessons. Learn how to hold, tune, and strum simple chords while learning the foundation of playing the ukulele. **There are a limited number of ukuleles available to borrow. For more information, call 908-369-8700.**

(New) Tai Chi with Anna- Wednesday, 1 p.m. and Friday, 10 a.m. – Reduce pain, fatigue, and stiffness, the risk for falls and gain a greater sense of well-being when practicing Regular Tai Chi. In this class, participants will focus on shifting body weight through a series of light, controlled movements that flow rhythmically into one long gesture. **This program can be practiced while standing or sitting*

Vitality: Cardio Boxing Series with Curtis Adams – Tuesdays at 1 p.m. & Thursdays at 10 a.m. Partake in an exciting blend of easy-to-follow exercises for older adults. The class is presented via video. All exercises will be demonstrated while standing and sitting. **For more information, call 908-369-8700.**

Project Healthy Bones – Thursdays, 12:45 p.m. – Improve balance, strength, flexibility, and posture in this peer-led, 24-week exercise and education program for individuals who are either at risk for or have osteoporosis. **For more information, call 908-369-8700.**

Hillsborough Discussion Group with Al Alvaro – Every Second Thursday (Aug. 10), 1 p.m. Discuss how radio was an integral part of sharing information to the masses in the 1930s during the Golden Age of Radio. **For more information, call 908-369-8700.**

Walking Club – Thursdays, 1 p.m. Join fellow walkers and walk outside to better your health. Walking regularly can improve one’s balance, mood, memory, and sleep. **The club will meet when weather permits. Wear comfortable clothing and close-toed shoes. For more information, call 908-369-8700.**

Mahjong Club – Fridays, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. Join this Mahjong Club and meet new people while learning to play the game, which is an interesting way to keep your brain sharp and supercharged!

Blood Pressure Screenings – Last Friday of Every Month, 10 a.m. – (Aug. 25). Get a free blood pressure and blood-sugar screening from the Philippine Nurse’s Association of New Jersey. **No appointment is necessary.**

Puzzle Club – Wednesdays & Fridays, 1 p.m. Strike up a conversation, make new friends, and enjoy assembling puzzles. The senior center has a wide variety of puzzles available.

Take Control of Exercise – Mondays, 10 a.m. Strengthen core muscles and improve flexibility and balance while boosting stamina. This ongoing exercise program is presented in video format.

**This class is for all skill levels and can be practiced while either standing or sitting. **

Aug. 1 & 8, 10 a.m. – Card Games. Play your favorite card games like Rummy, Poker, Blackjack and Solitaire and share your card skills with others. **Beginners are welcome.**

Aug. 2, & 24, 10 a.m. – Bingo. Partake in a little bit of friendly competition and play Bingo, which is more than just an exciting activity. Researchers have found that playing Bingo provides multiple benefits, such as promoting socialization, strengthening hand-eye coordination, and improving concentration, listening, and short-term memory.

Aug. 3, 11 a.m. – Brain Games with Volunteer Connie Ledder. Join us for various games, puzzles, and trivia challenges designed to help improve cognition. Studies show that brain games may help sharpen certain thinking skills that tend to wane with age, such as processing speed, planning skills, reaction time, decision-making and short-term memory.

Aug. 4, 11 a.m. –“Affordable Housing” by Susie Suter, Central Jersey Housing Resource Center. Learn about housing topics for tenants and homeowners including fair housing, reasonable accommodations/modifications, and reverse mortgages. Participants will also find out other financial tips for money management in relation to affordable housing such as reviewing a living will, financial and medical power of attorney (POAs), and last will and testament.

Aug. 7, 11 a.m. –“Emergency Preparedness” by Eldercare Educator Josh O’Neal, Somerset County Office on Aging & Disability Services. Learn about emergency preparedness including why it is important to prepare for an emergency, how to prepare for an emergency, and what disasters are common to this area.

Aug. 9, 10 a.m. – Community Service Project: Cards for Hospitalized Kids. Create memorable cards for children in the hospital to cheer up children. The cards will be sent to the Cards for Hospitalized Kids Foundation and distributed to hospitals all over the United States. **All supplies will be provided. For more information, call 908-369-8700.**

Aug. 10, & 23, 11 a.m. – Brain Games with Doretha and Anna. Join fellow game lovers to play various games, puzzles, and trivia challenges designed to help improve cognition. Studies show that brain games may help sharpen certain thinking skills that tend to wane with age, such as processing speed, planning skills, reaction time, decision-making and short-term memory.

Aug. 11, 10 a.m. – Trip to the Montgomery High School to See the “Jungle Book.” Take a trip to Montgomery High School to experience the fun of musical theater with students who produced a fully staged musical in two weeks including set design and choreography. **For more information, call 908-369-8700.**

Aug. 14, 11 a.m. – “Living Off the Land in the 19th Century” by the Museum of Early Trades & Crafts. Explore the agricultural history of New Jersey and its profound influence on farming today. This program will use the museum’s extensive collection of farming-related tools to bring this key aspect of New Jersey’s history to life. Participants will also discover what it’s like to live and work on a 19th-century New Jersey farm. **This program is made possible by funds from the Somerset County Cultural & Heritage Commission, a partner of the New Jersey Historical Commission.**

Aug. 15, 22, & 29, 10 a.m. – Game Day. Join fellow center members to play various games such as Bingo, Rummikub, puzzles, and trivia challenges specially designed to boost the brain. Studies show that brain games may help sharpen certain thinking skills that wane with age, such as processing speed, planning skills, reaction time, decision-making and short-term memory.

Aug. 16, 10 a.m. – Harp Performance by Patricia Turse. Enjoy the dulcet tones of the harp, a complicated and beautiful instrument, in this lovely performance by a professional musician and music therapist.

Aug. 17, 11 a.m. – “Vision Loss Awareness” by Elsa Zavoda. Learn about vision impairment, which can prevent a person from completing everyday tasks such as driving, reading, and cooking. In this presentation, participants will find out about the types of vision loss that can’t be corrected with glasses, contacts, medicine or surgery as well as learn about strategies and devices to help people with vision impairment to protect themselves from injury in the home. Elsa will bring examples of assistive devices that people with vision impairment can use in their homes.

Aug. 18, 11 a.m. – Rock Painting with Tammy. Learn how to paint nature scenes on a rock with step-by-step instructions. **Registration is required. To register, call 908-369-8700. There is space for a maximum of 25 participants. All supplies will be provided.**

Aug. 21, 11 a.m. – Paint with Stickers with Anna. Have a good time painting with stickers by using low-poly images, and computer graphics-style geometric polygon shapes to create a vibrant and colorful 3-D painting. This compelling activity is perfect for artists, crafters, doodlers, and colorists of all ages. **All supplies will be provided. For more information, cal

SOMERVILLE, NJ – Connect with others by registering for programs at any of the six Somerset County-operated senior wellness centers. Join the fun, Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Somerset County Office on Aging and Disability Services oversees the senior wellness centers, which provide a wide range of programs to help foster lifelong enrichment in a social and uplifting atmosphere.

Lunch

Attendees can invite a friend or neighbor to join them for lunch. All county-operated senior centers provide a nutritionally balanced lunch on Monday through Friday for a suggested donation of $2.50 for anyone age 60 years and above. The menu includes a choice of hot meat-based or meatless entrées or cold meat-based or meatless boxed lunches. Senior center clients must make reservations for lunch by 10 a.m. on the previous business day.

Virtual and Hybrid Programs

Programs will be occurring in person and as hybrid and virtual. Participants can attend hybrid programs either in person with an instructor or via Zoom. Hybrid and virtual programs are noted throughout the schedule. Participants can join Zoom programs through a web browser without downloading any applications or software. A camera (audio and video) is required to participate in Zoom programs.

Zoom Tutorials

Learn how to use Zoom, or sign-up for a virtual tour at https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us.

To register for a virtual program or class, call 908-203-6101 or email Donlin@co.somerset.nj.us.

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