September is National Senior Center Month!!

September is National Senior Center Month! To celebrate, the month is chock-full of extra events, activities, and opportunities for learning. The Somers Senior Center is open to all individuals age 55+. There is no membership required and it is our goal to create a warm and welcoming environment where seniors feel at home and can take part in social, educational, and recreational activities.

On Friday September 9th at 2pm, please join us for an important and informative presentation, “Conversations About Dementia” by Ian MacDonald, North Central Regional Program Director of the Alzheimer's Association Connecticut Chapter. You will also learn about the National Clinical Drug Trials for mild to moderate memory impairment that are being offered at Springfield Neurology Research. Desserts and refreshments will be provided, courtesy of Stonebrook Village at Windsor Locks, and takes place at the Somers Senior Center.

To celebrate National Senior Center Month, join us for a delicious luncheon catered by Bear’s Smokehouse Barbecue, voted “Best BBQ” by the CTNOW Best of Hartford Readers’ Poll. The menu will include pulled pork sliders, BBQ baked beans, mac & cheese, and coleslaw. Choose from apple crisp or peach cobbler for dessert! After lunch, we are in for a real treat! Tom Stankus, or T-BONE to his audiences, is affectionately known as “America’s musical Pied Piper;” and has entertained thousands of people since 1978 with the energy of a runaway freight train! Raffles and giveaways are also on tap for this spectacular event! Space is limited, so get your tickets early! $5 for Somers residents, $8 for non-residents.

Just in time for Part D open enrollment (October 15th-December 7th), on Friday September 16th at1pm representatives from the North Central Area Agency on Aging (NCAAA) CHOICES (Connecticut’s program for Health insurance assistance, Outreach, Information and referral, Counseling, Eligibility Screening) program will be at the Somers Senior Center to provide valuable information and to answer all of your Medicare related questions.

On Monday September 19th at 1pm, Mike Savenelli of Province Mortgage (Cheshire, CT) will be presenting a workshop on Identity Fraud and Scams. He will cover 10 major points that will help you to avoid becoming a victim and what to do if you’ve already fallen victim.

The Somers Senior Center’s David Gwilliam Mohegan Sun Casino bus trip will take place on Friday, September 23rd. You do not have to be a senior or a resident of Somers for this trip. Bus will leave promptly at 8:30am from the Somers Senior Center and will return at approximately 5:30pm. Trip cost of $25 per person includes round-trip deluxe motor coach, two $10 Gambling Vouchers, a $15 food voucher, and the driver’s gratuity. Non-refundable payment is due upon sign-up. Sign-up early, as this trip sells out quickly!

Join us Friday September 23rd at 1pm for a screening of Miracles From Heaven. Popcorn (and tissues) will be served!

Gourd artist and Somers native Mary Harrington brings her unique talent to us with a creative fall Apple Gourd project on Monday September 26th at 1pm. Participants will color their dried hard shell apple gourd with a transparent ink dye allowing the beauty of the wood like shell to show through. Three color options will be available: red, green and toffee. Embellishments will be added, and a wax finish applied to seal the finish. All supplies are included. The class should take 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Please stop by the Somers Senior Center to see a sample of the project you can create! Cost of class is $15 due upon sign-up.

Join us Friday September 30th at 12pm as Somers CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) presents a program on how to shelter in place and how to safely evacuate if that becomes necessary. Those who attend will receive a bag with some items that can be used to start their own emergency kit. Join CERT at the Somers Senior Center and to learn how to keep yourself safe during emergencies. Lunch will be provided.

Qigong ($5 per class) meets on Fridays at 9:30am. Chair Aerobics is held on Mondays and Thursdays at 10am free of charge (done with an instructional video). Bingo takes place on Thursdays from 12-3:30pm. The Knitting Group meets on Tuesdays at 9am and the Art Group meets Friday mornings from 9am-12pm. Join us for a game of Pitch (Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 1pm), Pinochle (Tuesdays at 12:30), Bridge (Thursdays at 6:30pm), Wii Bowling or Dominoes (both held Wednesdays at 1pm)! Diabetes support group, facilitated by Blair Manor Nursing Home staff, meets the first Friday of each month from 2-3pm to discuss the challenges of diet, exercise and health.

The Somers Senior Center is located at 19 Battle Street in Somers, CT and can be contacted at 860-763-4379, found online at www.somersct.gov/senior.cfm or on facebook under “Somers Senior Center”. Sign-up is required for all events. Call if not currently receiving the monthly newsletter!