Senior Centers Celebrate Older Americans Month
It’s Never too Late to Connect, Contribute and Create

Somerset County Freeholder Director Shanel Y. Robinson invites residents to celebrate Older Americans Month at any of the six county-operated senior centers, where fun activities and informative workshops will occur throughout the month of May.

Older Americans Month’s theme this year is “Connect, Create and Contribute,” which is the idea that older adults should connect with their community; create a fulfilling life by engaging in activities that promote learning, health, and personal enrichment; and they should contribute their life-skills and knowledge to others.

To recognize Older Americans Month, the county-operated senior centers will be holding events that are designed to help older adults connect, create and contribute.

Somerset County Senior Wellness Center at Basking Ridge, located at 202 Mt. Airy Road, Basking Ridge. Join the Knitting and Crochet Group that meets on May 6, 13 and 20 from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Bring your own knitting/crocheting/stitching project and meet new friends, or say hello to old friends and have fun – we promise to keep you in stitches. Help give back to the community and bring blankets and other items to the senior wellness center where items will be collected and donated to the Menlo Park Veterans Memorial Home.
Connect through other programs at Basking Ridge:
• May 29 – Floral Painting with Watercolors, at 10:30 a.m. A workshop led by Karen Haake.
• May 28 – Card Creation for the Troops, at 10:30 a.m. Card creations and other items will be collected and donated to Operation Shoebox. For more information, visit http://www.opshoeboxnj.org.
• May 31 – “Go, Van Gogh,” at 10:30 a.m. A discussion about Van Gogh will be led by Michael Norris, Ph.D.
For more information about the programs, or to register and make lunch reservations call (908) 204-3435.

Somerset County Senior Wellness Center at Bridgewater, located at 876 East Main St., Bridgewater. Go global and join Music for Wellness: A Trip Around the World, on May 6 and 15 at 10:45 a.m. Led by John Fitzpatrick from The Coffeehouse Project Inc. This is a practice session for participants who want to learn songs from around the globe. Participants will perform their songs for others on May 30.
Create through other programs at Bridgewater:
• May 17 – Centenarian luncheon and performance by the Full Monty Uke Band, at 10:30 a.m. Listen to a wonderful band and enjoy lunch afterwards.
• May 22 – Minute to Win It, at 10:45 a.m. Play this interactive and fun game.
• May 30 – “A Trip around the World,” at 10:45 a.m. A musical performance, led by John Fitzpatrick from the Coffeehouse Project Inc.
For more information about the programs, call (908) 203-6101.

Somerset County Senior Wellness Center at Hillsborough, located at 339 South Branch Road, Hillsborough. Join us on May 13 at 10:30 a.m., for an Indoor Mini Golf Tournament that will be located at the Quail Brook Senior Center, and sponsored by the Quail Brook Ladies Senior Golf League. Don’t miss this exciting miniature golf tournament when Hillsborough participants will visit the Quail Brook seniors in a fierce competition. Learn the art of hand position and ball trajectory. Take a swing, using a regular putting iron, and become a hole-in-one champion of the Quail Brook’s miniature golf course. Lessons are available.
Connect through other programs at Hillsborough:
• May 20 – Memory Books with Grace, at 10:45 a.m. In this workshop, participants will create memory books.
• May 24 – Remember When...? at 10:45 a.m. This is a nostalgic show-and-tell when participants will have the opportunity to connect with local youth.
For more information about the programs, call (908) 369-8700.

Montgomery Senior Center, located at 356 Skillman Road, Skillman. Join us on May 6 at 10:45 a.m. for “Social Engagement as You Grow: The Importance of Staying Connected at Any Stage.” Anna Nowik Valerio will discuss how being connected and having a strong support system can positively impact one’s physical and psychological health. She will provide participants with strategies to help them stay connected at any age and stage of life.
Create through other programs at Montgomery:
• May 10, 17, 24 & 30 – “A Musical Journey from Sadness to Gladness,” at 10:45 a.m. The Montgomery Seniors and the Full Monty Uke Band will have a dress rehearsal.
• May 31 – “A Musical Journey from Sadness to Gladness” at 10:45 a.m. The Montgomery Seniors and the Full Monty Uke Band will perform.
For more information about the programs, call (609) 466-0846.

Quail Brook Senior Center (on the Quail Brook Golf Course) located at 625 New Brunswick Road, Somerset. On May 3 at 10:30 a.m., join us for the Friends & Family CPR Program, sponsored by the Somerset County Emergency Services Training Academy. Learn how to perform CPR on adults and children who are choking. Members of the general community who want to learn CPR, but do not need course completion cards are invited to participate in this program.
Connect through other programs at Quail Brook:
• May 6 & 7 – Car Fit, from 1 to 4 p.m. A leading program to help mature drivers find their safest/best fit. Sponsored by AOTA, AAA and AARP Driver Safety.
• May 10 – “High Tea in the Morning,” at 10:30 a.m. A registered dietitian and chef will have an educational tea party. The program is sponsored by Foothill Acres Community Outreach Connection.
• May 13 – Indoor Mini Golf Tournament, at 10:30 a.m. In this tournament, the Quail Brook team will play against the Hillsborough Senior Center.
• May 28 – Senior Science at Duke Farms, at 10:30 a.m. Take a trip to Duke Farms and learn about birds. This program is sponsored by Cornell University's Citizens Science Project of Birds.
For more information about the programs, call (732) 563-4213.

Warrenbrook Senior Center, on the Warrenbrook Golf Course located at 500 Warrenville Road, Warren. Come visit the senior center’s open house and connect with your peers on May 6, from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Learn about the center’s variety of fun, challenging, inspiring, and educational programs. Get more information about the other programs that the Somerset County Office on Aging and Disability Services offers. Join us at the following times:
• 10: 30 a.m. – “Mediterranean Diet and Lifestyle,” led by Healthy Living Program Coordinator Jennifer Korneski, MPH, Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Somerset County. This presentation is about the science that supports the Mediterranean Diet.
• 11:45 a.m. – Special fresh salad bar luncheon. There is a suggested donation of $2.50. Advanced reservations are required by Wednesday, May 4.
Create through other Programs at Warrenbrook:
• May 7 – “Housing and Financial Literacy Overview,” at 10:30 a.m. Executive Director Sharon Clark, Central Housing Resource Center, will give a presentation to educate people on their housing options and rights.
• May 13 – “Improv Workshop,” at 10:30 a.m. Lulu French of Rocket Improv will teach the basics of improvisation.
• May 14 – “Hurdle over Life’s Hurdles: Inspiration and Motivation,” at 10:30 a.m. Director of Public Works, Paul McCall, P.E., M.P.A., from the Somerset County Department of Public Works, will discuss how to overcome life’s challenges.
• May 20 – “Dino: The King of Cool!” at 10:30 a.m. In this fun program, Gordon James will lead a discussion about the legendary Dean Martin.
• May 21 – “The Great Swamp: NJ’s Natural Heritage,” at 10:30 a.m. Sponsored by the Judson Lecture Series, Jim DelGiudice will discuss the Great Swamp’s wildlife and ecological future.
For more information about the programs, call (908) 753-9440.