The Council on Aging is offering a gambling get-away to the Resorts Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City Nov. 7 to 9. This fully-escorted tour includes luxury motorcoach, deluxe hotel accommodations, $25 slot bonus, two buffet dinners, and a “Christmas from the White Mountains” Show featuring Don Who. Cost for this trip is $179 per person, double occupancy.
Enjoy some holiday spirit at the White Mountain Hotel in North Conway, N.H. The Council on Aging is planning an encore overnight trip to this luxury hotel Dec. 9 and 10. The trip includes one night’s accommodation, three meals, two holiday shows, and deluxe motorcoach transportation. Cost is $225 per person, double occupancy.
The Council on Aging and Activ-Med are offering a mini-health screening Sept. 6 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Citizens Center, 10 Welcome St. Screenings will include cholesterol, blood pressure and glucose. Reservations are required for the health screenings. Contact Mary Connolly, RN, at 978-374-2390, ext. 15.
A Virtual Dementia Tour will happen Sept. 27 at the Citizens Center. Enhance your understanding of what it is like to live with dementia by participating in this tour. Appointments are necessary and will be made every half-hour from 1 to 4 p.m. Registration is by calling 978-374-2390.
The low vision group at the Council on Aging will host a speaker Sept. 10. The topic will be Orientation and Mobility. This event is free and open to the public.
A new community-based program titled “Phone Pals” provides an effective means of reducing isolation, victimization and health concerns. Volunteers are asked to phone at risk senior citizens to provide reassurance and social support services. Contact Carol Corso at 603-425-3199 if you are interested in volunteering for this program.
Tom Lavigne of the YMCA will do a presentation at the Citizens Center on Sept. 6 at 10:30 a.m. He will speak about health and fitness opportunities for senior citizens at the local YMCA.
Active retirees may want to help out with gardening and pruning. The local Garden Club has been planting and maintaining gardens at City Hall and the Citizens Center. Much labor is required to maintain the beds, and volunteers are needed. Anyone interested in volunteering is asked to contact Kathy Bresnahan at the Council on Aging.
Woodcarving instructor Fred Arakelian, will be resuming his class on Aug. 3.
The Council on Aging and The Merrimack Valley Federal Credit Union are sponsoring a Haverhill Community Help Day on Sept. 13. If you would like to be included in this project, please contact Joel Berg at 978-374-2390, ext. 38.
Haverhill’s Brightside is reorganizing and needs help. Many programs are in progress including Bloomfest, Adopt-A-Park, community gardens, and cleanups. Interested people are encouraged to become involved in helping to beautify the city. More information is available from Elaine Barker at 978-372-3861.
A new cribbage group has been formed at the Citizens Center and meets Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. on the balcony of the Citizens Center.
Dominoes “Mexican Train” will be played at the Citizens Center on Thursdays at 10:30 a.m. If you are interested contact the Council on Aging at 978-374-2390. An instructor will teach novice players.
A Scrabble group has formed and meets at 9:30 a.m. on Wednesdays. Players meet in the library in the basement level of the Citizens Center.
The Council on Aging is offering on-going art classes with Cara Smoley. Classes will be held every Thursday at 12:15 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. Students should bring a 9-x-12 Bristol drawing pad, 2B pencil, and kneaded eraser. Smoley received a certificate in art at Cooper Union in New York City and received her BFA from the University of Colorado. She is a seasoned art instructor and welcomes experienced and inexperienced students into her mixed-media classes.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program is a federal program that provides financial assistance to senior citizens and others who cannot cover the costs of a healthy diet. Applications are available at the Council on Aging office.
Due to popular demand the Haverhill Council on Aging announces a second weekly Zumba Gold class on Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m. This class will be a Zumba Gold Toning class and will incorporate light weights into the workout. This class will be taught by certified Zumba Gold instruction Stephanie Smith and will complement the Thursday Zumba Gold class, which is held at 9:30 a.m. Cost is $5 per class.
Penacook Place is hosting an Alzheimer’s Family Support Group on the last Wednesday of the month from 6 to 7 p.m. The group will meet in the conference room at Penacook Place, 150 Water St. Contact Barbara Stricsek at 978-374-0707 for additional information.
Several tax-saving opportunities are available to assist senior citizens. Veterans, blind persons, elderly, and hardship deferrals are obtained by application to the Assessors Office at City Hall.
Each month we distribute more than 2,000 copies of our newsletter “The Voice” throughout the city. We are always busy at the Council on Aging, and need volunteers to collate newsletters and deliver them to specific locations. If you would be interested in helping, please call 978-374-2390, ext 16.
If you have any issues or questions regarding your health insurance, contact one of the Council on Aging’s SHINE counselors. Appointments can be made by calling 978-374-2390, ext. 19.
The Merrimack Valley Transportation program 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 served by EZ Trans include Andover, Amesbury, Haverhill, Lawrence, Merrimac, Methuen, Newburyport and North Andover. Rides are also available to Lahey Clinic in Peabody and several Boston hospitals. Special services require a 21-day application period. Contact the Merrimack Valley Regional Transit Authority at 978-469-6878 for details.
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.
The Council on Aging is seeking volunteers to assist with the Brown Bag program held on the first Tuesday of every month. Volunteers are needed from 8:45 to 11:30 a.m. There is also a 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) 978-388-7474. Several additional volunteer opportunities are also available.
Yoga is offered twice a week at the Citizens Center. Tuesday evenings at 6:30 p.m. Flyn Costello leads a one-hour yoga class for people of all ages. On Tuesdays at 1 p.m., Mary Van Abs offers a 90-minute gentle senior yoga class. Cost is $5 for a one-hour class and $7.50 for a 90-minute class.
Piano instructor Helen Hamilton is offering private beginner lessons at the Citizens Center on Mondays. Cost is $12.
The Council on Aging is offering several trips this year. They include:
Aug. 21: Twin Lobster Lunch and American Bandstand Show, $83
Oct. 3 to 15: Collette Tours, Italian Lakes and Greek Islands, starts at $1,699 per person, double occupancy
Oct.18: Italian Festival, $69
Oct 2: Oh What a Night at Foxwoods, price to be announced
Oct. 27: New York City Day Trip, Fox Tours, $69
Nov. 7 to 9: Atlantic City, $179 per person, double occupancy
Nov. 13: Kings of Country at Mohegan Sun, $75
Nov. 26 to Dec. 3: Collette Tours, Irish Splendor, $1,999
Dec. 1 to 3: Patriots at Miami football game, starts at $999 per person, double occupancy
Dec. 9 to 10: White Mountain Hotel and Resort: $215 per person, double occupancy
Dec 12: Joanne Travel LaSalette Christmas, $55
Details are available by calling 978-374-2390 and talking with Kathy Bresnahan (ext. 11) or Rita LaBella (ext. 16) of emailing kbresnahan@cityofhaverhill.com.
