Senior snippets

Monday: Chicken Marsala, cranberry sauce, scalloped potatoes, zucchini and tomatoes, chilled peaches, dinner roll.

Tuesday: Swiss steak, whipped potatoes, green and gold beans, fresh orange, whole-wheat bread.

Wednesday: Chicken Croquette with gravy, cranberry sauce, parsley white rice, peas and carrots, chilled pineapple, multigrain bread.

Thursday: Birthday dinner — baked turkey ham, pineapple sauce, whipped sweet potatoes, country blend vegetables, low-fat muffin, birthday cake, diet pound cake or MOW cupcake.

Friday: Fish cakes with tartar sauce, baked beans, cole slaw, light rye bread, pudding or diet pudding.

Interfaith Caregivers of Greater Lawrence will sponsor its second annual Eldercare Fair on Thursday, May 15, from 4:30 to 6 p.m. at Saint Michael Church Parish Hall, 196 Main St., North Andover. Representatives from assisted living facilities, adult day health programs, companion programs, transportation services, Medicaid planning services, caregiver assistance programs, senior centers and skilled nursing and personal care providers will be available to explain eligibility guidelines and answer questions. Free and open to the public. For more information, call Jean Guyer at 978-686-4050.

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words on Monday, May 12. Residents and staff share pictures of loved ones.

Heart to Heart on Tuesday, May 13. Residents share stories of the people they love.

Valentine's Luncheon on Friday, May 16 at noon. The dining room will be decorated with a Valentine's Day theme. There will be a guest appearance by Ms. Senior Massachusetts.

Armed Forces Day on Friday, May 17 at 2 p.m. A day to salute veterans, specifically POWs and MIAs. Residents and staff who are veterans will be recognized, with special appreciation to residents who were POWs.

The Council on Aging is looking for chess and mah-jongg players who are interested in playing weekly. The time and day of the week will be scheduled according to the needs of the groups. For more information contact Kathy Bresnahan or Rita LaBella at 978-374-2390.

Annual Riverwalk & Run for Elder Services of the Merrimack Valley will be Sunday, Oct. 5. The 5-mile walk and the 6-kilometer run will both begin at 10 a.m. in front of the Elder Services offices at 360 Merrimack St., Lawrence, and proceed on a scenic course along the Merrimack River. The race takes place rain or shine. The running event will award first, second, and third-place medals in each of seven age categories for both men and women: 19 and under, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, and 70 and over. Walk awards will go to the oldest and youngest participants. Food, beverages, games, music, clowns, face painting, massages and a raffle. For more information, call Tony Palmisano at 978-946-1350 or e-mail tpalmisano@esmv.org.

Lecture series events take place on the Northern Essex Community College, Haverhill campus, 100 Elliott St., in the Technology Center, Room 103A. Programs are open to the public and begin at 2 p.m. unless noted otherwise. Light refreshments served. Admission $1. For more information, call Charlene Boucher, 978-556-3700.

Golf clinics: Haverhill Recreation Department and the Council on Aging will continue their weekly golf clinic with Ted Murphy at 10 a.m. at Murphy's Garrison Par 3 Golf Center, 660 Hilldale Ave. Cost is $10 per week. No preregistration required. For more information, call Kathy or Rita at 978-374-2390.

Trip to see the Boston Ballet matinee performance of "Swan Lake" on Saturday, May 10, at 2 p.m. Tickets are $80 per person, including transportation. For more information, call 978-374-2390.

Luciano's on Lake Pearl in Wrentham to see the Drifters on Tuesday, May 13. The Drifters were inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1988 and made the R&B charts on 36 occasions. Cost is $64 per person and includes choice of stuffed breast of chicken or baked haddock for lunch. For more information, call Kathy or Rita at 978-374-2390.

Trip to Portland, Maine, on Thursday, May 29, via a scenic ride on Amtrak's Downeaster. Snack service available. Lunch will be served at DiMillo's Floating Restaurant — baked stuffed chicken breast or broiled haddock. Meet at the Haverhill train station promptly at 10 a.m. The return trip will be by charter motorcoach transportation. Cost is $89 per person, includes lunch and transportation. For more information, call Kathy or Rita at 978-374-2390.

Three-day trip to the Trapp Family Lodge from Wednesday, June 18 through 20. Travel scenic roads to beautiful Vermont for "Tea and Sweets" upon arrival at the Lodge and a complete dinner in the evening. Day 2 is breakfast followed by tours of Ben and Jerry's, Cold Hollow Cider Mill, and Blessed Sacrament Church, then more "Tea and Sweets" and a complete dinner in the evening. Day 3 is breakfast, a visit to Quechee Gorge and the shops and lunch in Hanover, N.H. Cost is $495 per person double occupancy, $590 single. Includes round-trip deluxe motorcoach, two nights at the lodge, two complete breakfasts and dinners, two afternoon teas, documentary film "The Real Maria," musical entertainment in the lodge's lounge, and extensive sightseeing. A deposit of $25 is required with final payment due Sunday, May 18. For more information, call Kathy or Rita at 978-374-2390.

Trip to the Sky Dome Baseball Stadium in Toronto, Canada, to see the Red Sox play the Blue Jays. The bus will leave on Friday, Aug. 22 at 7 a.m. and return in the early evening on Sunday, Aug. 24. This trip includes a day of sightseeing at Niagara Falls and a trip to Niagara's new casino if desired. Hotel accommodations are at the Travelodge in Niagara Falls. Transportation by luxury motorcoach. Cost is $319 per person for double occupancy, $315 triple occupancy, $419 single occupancy. All meals are on your own. For more information or to reserve a seat, call Kathy or Rita at 978-374-2390.

Collette Vacations trip through the Canadian Rockies by rail Sept. 8 through 17. The highlights of this 10-day trip include British Columbia, Vancouver, Victoria, the Rocky Mountaineer Train, Kamloops, Jasper, Columbia Icefields, Lake House, Banff and Calgary. Price includes air fare from Logan Airport, hotel accommodations, eight breakfasts, two lunches, five dinners and more. Cost is $3,699 per person double occupancy, $4,849 per person single occupancy and $3,649 per person triple occupancy. For more information, call Kathy or Rita at 978-374-2390.

Day trip to Newport, R.I. on Tuesday, Sept. 9. Upon arrival a local guide will provide a tour aboard a motorcoach, which will include Kennedy sites, the 10-mile ocean drive, and the mansions. Following the bus tour, participants will enjoy a luncheon cruise aboard the "Majestic." Discover the beauty of Narragansett Bay and the Newport waterfront with spectacular views from panoramic windows. This cruise includes a cruise narrator. A short time will be provided after the cruise to explore the shops along the wharfs of Newport Harbor. Following the cruise and shopping, participants will tour "Marble House," the summer cottage of the Vanderbilts. Cost for this trip is $84 per person and includes bus transportation, harbor cruise and lunch, Marble House and shopping. For reservations, call Kathy or Rita at 978-374-2390.

Shopping/museum/golf trip to the White Mountain Hotel and Resort, Nov. 2 through 3 with deluxe accommodations at the White Mountain Hotel and Resort, brunch, dinner, breakfast, transportation and one show. Use of all hotel amenities. Admission to the Wright Museum plus the Mt. Washington Observatory Discovery Center and shopping at over 200 outlets. Golf can be arranged. Cost is $195 per person for double occupancy, $249 single and $185 triple. The bus will leave Haverhill at approximately 8 a.m. A $50 deposit is due by Sept. 1. Checks should be payable to White Mountain Hotel. For more information or reservations, call Kathy or Rita at 978-374-2390.

Baby Boomer Adventure: An eight-day Paragon Tours trip to the imperial cities of Vienna and Prague departing from Boston on Monday, Dec. 1. The first of a series of trips for active retirees with an interest in seeing the world. Cost is $1,899 per person double occupancy, $2,249 per person single occupancy. Trip includes round-trip air fare, concert at the Schonborn Orangery, St. Stephen's Cathedral, Mariazell, Prague Castle and shopping. A valid passport is required. For more information, contact Kathy or Rita at 978-374-2390.

Trip to Camden Yards to see the Red Sox play the Baltimore Orioles Friday, May 30 through June 1. The trip includes a day of sightseeing in Washington, D.C. The tour will visit the Capitol Mall's war memorials, the Smithsonian museums and more, then end with an illuminated tour of the presidential monuments. Hotel accommodations are at Hilton McLean Hotel. Transportation provided by motor coach, which will leave on Friday, May 30 at 7 a.m. and return in the early evening on Sunday, June 1. Cost is $249 per person, double occupancy; $245 triple occupancy; $329 single occupancy. All meals are on your own.

For more information or to make a reservation on any of these events or trips, call Kathy or Rita at 978-374-2390.

Creative Problem Solving through Journaling on Tuesdays from noon to 1:30 p.m. in Room 32 at the Citizens Center, 10 Welcome St. Cost is $20 for six weeks. For more information, call Kathy or Rita at 978-374-2390.

Drawing and painting classes with Cara Smoley. Classes are held every Wednesday from noon to 1:30 p.m. at the Citizens Center, 10 Welcome St., and are open to the public. Cost for the six-week series is $30. Participants must buy their own materials. New members need to bring three pencils, a kneaded eraser and a 9-by-10 Bristol Drawing Pad. Registration is required. To register, call 978-374-2390.

"Mr. Fix-it": A volunteer is available to come into the center on a monthly basis to fix small appliances and lamps, change watch batteries, etc., for seniors for a nominal fee. To sign up, call Kathy or Rita at 978-374-2390.

Evening yoga classes every Tuesday at 6:15 p.m. at the Pentucket Bank Community Room, 35 Merrimack St. Cost is $5 per session. Parking is available in the parking deck. For more information, call Kathy or Rita at 978-374-2390.

Newcomers group for seniors who have recently moved to Haverhill meets the first Monday of each month at 10:30 a.m. in Room 22. If the first Monday is a holiday, coffee hour is held the second Monday. Longtime Haverhill seniors are also encouraged to participate. Refreshments will be served.

Blood pressure clinics every Tuesday in the nurse's office from 8 a.m. to noon.

Chair massages offered free for Haverhill seniors the first Tuesday of the month by licensed massage therapist Susan L. Plouffe. For reservations, call 978-274-2390.

SHINE counselors are available to offer confidential health insurance counseling for elders and their family members at no cost. For appointments, contact SHINE counselor Pat Paradis on Tuesdays, 9 a.m. to noon at the Citizens Center, 10 Welcome St.

Free cellular phones are available for qualifying seniors. Phones are programmed to call 911 in an emergency. For details, call Joel at 978-374-2390.

Electric wheelchairs available at no cost to seniors and permanently disabled citizens through the Three Wishes Inc. program. The power wheelchairs are provided to those who cannot walk and cannot self-propel a manual wheelchair, and who meet guidelines. For information, call 800-823-5220 or www.threewishes2.com.

Caregivers Home, a program that provides community-based housing options for elders and disabled adults in need of daily care and assistance, is now accepting referrals in Haverhill. The Caregivers Home program pays family, or nonfamily caregivers to care for an elder or adult disabled family member, over the age of 16, at home. Caregivers are reimbursed $10,000 to $18,000 per year for home-based care. The program participant and caregiver must live together in either the caregiver's or the participant's home. Care can also be provided by a nonfamily caregiver who is carefully screened and credentialed by Caregivers Home. A registered nurse and a care manager oversee each case through regular home visits, telephone contact and a Web-based case record system. For more information about the Caregivers Home program or to see if your family qualifies, call Linda Morreale-Steele, RN, at 857-891-7432 or visit www.caregiverhomes.com.

The Senior Community Service Employment Program provides a paid, on-the-job training program that enables a participant to work 20 hours per week at a nonprofit organization or government agency training site in the community, and earn $7.50 per hour. The training site agrees to train the participant in a new skill that will enable him or her to pursue unsubsidized, full-time employment over time. For more information, call Ms. Jepson at Operation A.B.L.E., 888-470-2253, ext. 122.

The Haverhill Council on Aging and TRIAD have purchased a shredder for city seniors to use. The shredder will be available at the Citizens Center, 10 Welcome St., Room 30, every Wednesday and Friday from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. Papers that should be shredded to reduce the risk of identity theft include charge slips and charge bills, bank statements, financial records and all papers that contain Social Security numbers and account numbers. There is no charge for this service. For information, call Joel at 978-374-2390, Wednesdays and Fridays, noon to 2:30 p.m.

Haverhill Council on Aging revised its Senior Staying Healthy program schedule. Blood pressure clinics will now be held every Tuesday in the nurse's office at the Citizens Center, 10 Welcome St., 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. This is a walk-in clinic and first come, first served. The food clinic will be the second Thursday of each month, by appointment only. The blood pressure and foot clinics are provided by Home Health VNA and HomeCare Inc. For additional information, call Kathy Bresnahan or Rita LaBella at 978-374-2390.

Community Action Inc. has applications available for low- to moderate-income residents over the age of 55 to purchase new condominiums for the reduced price of $209,100 and $220,913. The two-bedroom condominiums are part of The Fairways, a new development located off Newton Road. Income requirements: The maximum annual income for a single person is $54,700, two-person household is $62,600, three-person household is $70,400, four-person household is $78,200. Applications are available in the Community Action Office, 145 Essex St. For more information, call Richard Lynch at 978-373-1971.

Elder Services of the Merrimack Valley needs volunteers to help with the distribution of food for the Brown-Bag Program on the first Tuesday of every month from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. Volunteer activities primarily center around the production line, packing bags with nonperishable items and meat products. The program operates out of the Pentucket Lake School at 252 Concord St. For more information, call Janice Boyd at 800-892-0890, ext. 1321.

Photos

Be a player: Setting up Tuesday morning to play a game of Mah-jongg, the newest offering at the Citizens Center, are from left, Barbara Skofield and Eva Jarman of Haverhill, Paula Nichols of Hampton, N.H., and Carol McCarron of Haverhill. The group is looking for more players, and if anyone wants to learn how to play, contact Kathy Bresnahanor Rita LaBella at 978-374-2390. Staff photo