Rabbi Allan Press will facilitate an interactive support group "The Challenges and Opportunities of Aging," which will meet at the Citizens Center, 10 Welcome St., beginning Thursday, March 10 at 1:30 p.m.
Rabbi Press will include such topics as illness, loss, loneliness and isolation and discovering new paths to happiness. Rabbi Press of Danville, a congregational rabbi for 26 years, holds a master's degree in pastoral counseling from the N.Y. Theological Seminary and has served as a Hospice Chaplain for Merrimack Valley Hospice for seven years. Rabbi Press has counseled and assisted hundreds of individuals as they deal with many of life's challenges. He brings with him a compassionate, caring and loving heart, as well as a passion for service. Through his presence, honesty, openness and capacity to listen well, he has touched many people in profound ways and helped them to find their inner strength and their way through difficult times.
St. Patrick's Day is right around the corner, and tickets are available for our Annual D. Raymond Taffe Award luncheon and St. Patrick's Day celebration. The party will be held at DiBurro's in Bradford on Wednesday, March 16, from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. Traditional Irish music will be performed by the popular group E. J. Ouellette and Crazy Maggie. Corned beef and cabbage will be served. Tickets are $10 and may be purchased at the Citizens Center.
MVRTA information session has been rescheduled. Beginning February 2011, Haverhill seniors and ADA-eligible residents can obtain transportation to Lahey Clinic in Peabody as well as several Boston hospitals for Monday appointments. Cost is $8 one-way and $16 roundtrip. An MVRTA representative will be at the Citizens Center on Thursday, March 10 at 10 a.m. to provide additional information on this new service.
We have added several new trips to our schedule for 2010. Be sure to check over the listing below and call with any questions. We are planning a trip to the new Art of the Americas wing at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston on Wednesday, March 23. If you are interested in this trip, please contact us. Cost for this trip is $45.
Our next trip to a Boston Symphony Orchestra rehearsal will be on Thursday, April 14. Join us as Sir Colin Davis conducts works by Sibelius and Beethoven. Tickets will be $35 per person.
We have an exciting travel opportunity which includes a 7-day Alaskan cruise and two Red Sox games in Seattle. This trip sounds like a perfect summer get-away! Travel is Aug. 12-22 and includes two nights in Seattle for baseball, a city tour, and a visit to the Chateau St. Michelle winery. Call Kathy Bresnahan for details.
The Haverhill Recreation and COA Red Sox Trip to Baltimore and Washington, D.C., will take place April 26 to April 28. Seats are in the upper reserved section between first and third base. Cost is $279 per person, double occupancy and includes deluxe motor coach transportation. This is a great trip that provides terrific value. This trip is the perfect way to honor our soldiers and veterans by visiting the national monuments!
How can you miss a Red Sox trip this summer. We have a third trip to see them play in Baltimore which includes a fabulous tour of Historic Philadelphia. This trip includes two buffet breakfasts and a fully-narrated tour of Philadelphia. Cost is $449 per person, double occupancy, and luxury motor coach transportation.
Have you heard of SNAP? The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program is a federal program that provides financial assistance to seniors and others who cannot cover the costs of a healthful diet. We have applications at the Council on Aging office, and we will be happy to provide information and assistance to seniors.
Did you know that we have a showcase of beautiful handmade articles for sale? The next time you need a special gift for a baby consider shopping our supply of sweater sets and Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls. They are beautiful!
AARP volunteers are available to assist with simple tax return preparation. Contact Wendy at the Council on Aging at 978-374-2390 ext. 19 to make an appointment. There is no charge for this service.
If you have any issues or questions regarding your health insurance, be sure to contact one of our SHINE counselors. Appointments can be made by calling Wendy at 978-374-2390 ext. 19.
Did you know that the Merrimack Valley Transportation offers a program called EZ Trans for people who are at least 60 years old and people who are disabled? EZ Tran is a "shared ride" service intended to accommodate those who cannot use the MVRTA fixed route bus system. Communities serviced by EZ Trans include Andover, Amesbury, Haverhill, Lawrence, Merrimac, Methuen, Newburyport and North Andover. Contact the Merrimack Valley Regional Transit Authority at 978-469-6878 for details.
Did you know that people who are at least 65 years old are eligible for a 50 percent discount on the commuter train to Boston? If you would like to learn more about the MBTA Senior/TAP program, please contact Kathy Bresnahan at the Council on Aging.
We are in need of volunteers to assist with our Brown Bag program which is held on the first Tuesday of every month. Volunteers are needed for approximately three hours from 8:45 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
There is also a dramatic need for drivers to provide transportation to doctor and hospital appointments through the NEET program. Many seniors are no longer able to drive and have difficulty getting to appointments to area hospitals and doctors. If you can give a few hours a month to assist, contact Kathy Fairchild at NEET (Northern Essex Elder Transportation) at 978-388-7474.
Seniors who need assistance with snow shoveling should contact the Haverhill Boys and Girls Club. Contact Brian Therrien at 978-374-6171 after 2:30 for details.
Stay in shape this winter by joining our new bowling group which meets on Mondays at 11 a.m. Everyone loves the newly renovated All Saints Bowling Center at 26 Broadway in Haverhill, and we have an enthusiastic group. They would love to have more bowlers.
Zumba Gold has become one of our most popular classes. Instructor Stephanie Smith is a dynamic teacher, and she has her class dancing up a storm. Classes are held every Thursday at 9:30 a.m. and the cost is $5 per week. This is offered as a drop-in class, so come to the Citizens Center and join the fun.
Yoga is offered twice a week at the Citizens Center. Tuesday evenings at 6:30 Flyn Costello leads a one hour yoga class for people of all ages. On Tuesday afternoons at 1 p.m. Mary Van Abs offers a 1-¬ hour gentle senior yoga class. Cost is $5 for a one-hour class and $7.50 for a l-¬ hour class.
Have you always wanted to learn to play the piano? Now is your chance. Piano instructor Helen Hamilton is offering private beginner lessons at the Citizens Center on Mondays. Cost is $12.
Everyone loves Monday's Super Bingo! Bingo is played at the Citizens Center, 10 Welcome St., every Monday and Thursday at 1:00, and Super Bingo is played on Mondays only. There are many new friends to meet at bingo, and we welcome all players who are 60 and older or disabled.
The Citizens Center offers yoga, tai chi, Zumba Gold, bridge, chess club, 45 tournaments, whist, art classes, mahjong, ESL classes, citizenship classes, conversational Spanish classes, woodcarving, bingo, and so much more. Please check us out on the City of Haverhill website, and you will be amazed to learn what you are missing! We look forward to meeting you soon.
Upcoming Trips
March 9 - Celtic Nights Dancers - BOT - $68
March 23 - MFA - $45
March 24-27 - Springtime in Washington - BOT - $595
April 7 -14 London and Paris - Collette - $2,799 per person
April 8 - Foxwoods - Yakov Smirnoff - Tours of Distinction - $59
April 14 - BSO - $35
April 10-16 - Southern Charm - Collette - $2,149
April 26-28 - Red Sox and Washington DC - Fox Tours - $279
April 27 - Estrogen and Tonic/Angelica's - Gateway = $46/56 w/trans
May 18 - Laughs, Giggles and Grins - BOT - $66.00
May 25 - Shaw Bros at DiBurro's - Gateway - $48/58 w/trans
June 15 - Bobby Darling - BOT - $65.00
July 18-20 - Red Sox and Historic Philadelphia - BOT $449
July 20 - Zorvino - BOT - $50 w/trans, $40 w/o trans
August 24 - - Twin Lobster Luncheon and Mysgery Show - BOT - $83.00
August 12-22 - Alaskan Cruise and Seattle Red Sox - BOT - Start at $2,699 pp d/o
August 29 - Sept. 5 - Pacific Northwest & California - $2,299
September 13 - Road to the Scottish Highlands - BOT - $80.00
Sept 13-19 - South Dakota/The Badlands and The Black Hills - Collette - $1,899
September 30 - Fall Foliage Train Ride - BOT - $100
October 13-21 - Southern California & Las Vegas - Collette - $2,399
Nov 18-20 - White Mountain Hotel - $359
November 27-28 - Holiday Magic - BOT - @299 pp double
2012
February 8-18 -Golden Oldies Cruise - Best of Times - Starting at $1,099
March 17-25 - Tropical Costa Rica - Collette - $2,299
Details on all trips and activities are available by contacting Kathy Bresnahan (ext 11) or Rita LaBella (ext 16) at 978-374-2390 or kbresnahan@cityofhaverhill.com.
Be sure to pick up a copy of our newsletter, The Voice, for a complete listing of our activities and trips. The Voice is available for viewing at www.ci.haverhill.ma.us or you can send your email address to rlabella@cityofhaverhill.com to receive your copy via email. Rita LaBella and I would love to hear from you if you have any ideas, suggestions or questions regarding the Council on Aging.
