SOMERVILLE, NJ – Connect with others by registering for programs at any of the six Somerset County-operated senior wellness centers. Join the fun, Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Somerset County Office on Aging and Disability Services oversees the senior wellness centers, which provide a wide range of programs to help foster lifelong enrichment in a social and uplifting atmosphere.

Lunch
Attendees can invite a friend or neighbor to join them for lunch. All county-operated senior centers provide a nutritionally balanced lunch on Monday through Friday for a suggested donation of $2.50 for anyone age 60 years and above. The menu includes a choice of hot meat-based or meatless entrées or cold meat-based or meatless boxed lunches. Senior center clients must make reservations for lunch by 10 a.m. on the previous business day.

Virtual and Hybrid Programs
Programs will be occurring in person and as hybrid and virtual. Participants can attend hybrid programs either in person with an instructor or via Zoom. Hybrid and virtual programs are noted throughout the schedule. Participants can join Zoom programs through a web browser without downloading any applications or software. A camera (audio and video) is required to participate in Zoom programs.

Zoom Tutorials
Learn how to use Zoom, or sign-up for a virtual tour at https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us.
To register for a virtual program or class, call 908-203-6101 or email Donlin@co.somerset.nj.us.

SENIOR WELLNESS CENTER AT BASKING RIDGE
202 Mt. Airy Road
Basking Ridge, NJ 07920
908-204-3435

Computer Lab – Available daily. Senior center members are invited to use the computers at their leisure.

Billiards Room – Available daily. The pool table is available daily on a first-come, first-served basis, Monday – Friday.

(NEW) Geri-Fit with Connie Ledder – Mondays & Wednesdays, 10 a.m. (Aug. 7 to Nov. 6) Rebuild strength for better functioning through Geri-Fit, a unique and beneficial exercise program, which incorporates strength training with stretching and range of motion exercises, stability and balance training for fall prevention, cardiovascular activity for heart health, and gait exercises to help improve walking. **This exercise program can be practiced while sitting or standing. Participants need a set of light dumbbell weights (2 lbs. to begin), a sturdy chair, a stretch band, and water to drink during the workout. This is a 45-minute class that takes place twice a week, for 12 weeks (24 classes). There will be no class on Aug. 16. For more information, call 908-204-3435.**

Knitting/Crocheting/Stitching Club – Mondays, 12:30 – 4 p.m. Bring your knitting, crocheting or stitching project to the senior center and either practice your hobby or learn a new hobby while meeting wonderful people. **Everyone is welcome to join this club.**

Mahjong Club – Mondays & Wednesdays, 12:30 – 4 p.m. Learn to play Mahjong, an interesting game that helps keep your brain sharp and supercharged! This club is for anyone who loves the game and wants to meet new people and have fun. **This is not a competitive club. All levels of experience are welcome.**

Take Control of Exercise – Mondays, 1 p.m. Strengthen core muscles and improve flexibility and balance while boosting stamina. This exercise program is presented in video format. **There is no fee to join this class. This class is for all skill levels and can be practiced while either standing or sitting. For more information, call 908-204-3435.**

Take Control of Exercise – Tuesdays & Thursdays, 10 a.m. Strengthen core muscles and improve flexibility and balance while boosting stamina. This exercise program is presented in video format. **There is no fee to join this class. This class is for all skill levels and can be practiced while either standing or sitting. For more information, call 908-204-3435.**

Canasta Club – Tuesdays, 12:30 p.m. Play this traditional card game that requires strategic and tactical thinking. **New members are welcome. For more information, call 908-204-3435.**

Card Club – Tuesdays, 1 p.m. Join fellow game lovers to play your favorite card games including Rummy, Blackjack, Crazy Eights, and even Go Fish. Playing cards is a great way to socialize, relax, and use one’s critical thinking skills. **For more information, call 908-204-3435.**

Bridge Club – Wednesdays, 9:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. Get intellectual and social stimulation when playing the mentally challenging card game, Bridge. Studies show when participants play Bridge regularly it can stimulate the brain to keep it alert and help one’s memory stay active. **New members and beginners are welcome. For more information, call 908-204-3425.**

Chair Yoga with Jillian. Wednesdays & Fridays, 1 p.m. Gain health benefits by practicing yoga poses with the support and safety of your favorite chair. Increase bone density, and improve strength, flexibility, and balance while being immersed in a relaxing class. Expect a lot of gentle stretching to bring movement to joints and muscles. This class is perfect for relieving stress and helping participants gain an overall sense of well-being. **The cost is $40 for the eight-week program. For more information, call 908-204-3435.**

Monthly Book Club – Every Third Wednesday, 12:30 p.m. Join fellow book club members on Aug. 16, to discuss “The Housekeeper,” a Suspense Novel by Joy Fielding. **New members are always welcome!**

Technology Workshop – Thursdays, 12:45 p.m. Learn how to send and open e-mail attachments, make group calls, send text messages and Zoom basics in this technology workshop led by a volunteer Ridge High School student. There will be a different topic each week. **For more information, call 908-204-3435.**

Mahjong Lessons with Sylvia Rubin, Fridays, 9:30 a.m. Learn how to play this fun, challenging game and find out helpful tips and tricks. Playing Mahjong helps keep the brain sharp and supercharged. **For more information, call 908-204-3435.**

Aug. 1, 11 a.m. – “Gerard Rutgers Hardenbergh: NJ Artist and Ornithologist” by the Wallace House and Old Dutch Parsonage. Take a virtual “Hardenbergh Hike” through history, art and nature, and learn about New Jersey artist and ornithologist Gerard Rutgers Hardenbergh who was famous for his paintings of birdlife, landscape, fishing and still-life painting. He lived on a small houseboat in Scow Ditch, Bay Head, New Jersey for a time and painted local scenes including landscapes along the Jersey Shore and Barnegat Bay. **This program is made possible by funds from the Somerset County Cultural & Heritage Commission, a partner of the New Jersey Historical Commission.**

Aug. 2, 11 a.m. – “Proton Therapy: Pros & Cons” by Clinical Educator Jerry Rymer, ProCure Proton Therapy Center. Get an overview of proton therapy, an advanced form of radiation cancer treatment that destroys cancer cells but does not damage healthy tissue. Learn the pros and cons of Proton Therapy and the types of tumors this therapy can treat.

Aug. 3, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. – “The Farmers Market Program” by Kate Domen, Somerset County Office on Aging & Disability Services. Learn about eligibility requirements for free farmers’ market electronic benefits worth $50 through a QR Code to purchase fresh vegetables, fruit, and herbs grown at local farms. Participants will also find out about the process for application and registration, and which farm stands are participating in the program. **QR Codes are available at the Office on Aging & Disability Services, in Somerville, from July 5 to Sept. 30 on a first-come, first-serve basis.**

Aug. 3, 10, 17, 24 & 31, 11 a.m. – Line Dancing with David Cross. Have fun getting fit while dancing. Studies have shown line dancing increases cardiovascular and muscular strength and improves coordination and balance. Participants don’t need a partner, and it’s an easy way to stay healthy, both mentally and physically. **For more information, call 908-204-3435.**

Aug. 4 & 25, 11 a.m. – Bingo. Partake in a little bit of friendly competition and play Bingo, which is more than just an exciting activity. Researchers have found that playing Bingo provides multiple health benefits, such as promoting socialization, strengthening hand-eye coordination, and improving concentration, listening, and short-term memory skills.

Aug. 7, 11 a.m. – “Keeping a Healthy Mind” by Certified Dementia Practitioner Andi Noble. Learn simple ways to keep the mind healthy, including meditation, exercise, and leisure activities. Maintaining the emotional, psychological, and social aspects of a healthy mind can positively affect how one thinks, feels, and acts.

Aug. 8, 11 a.m. – Music Through the Ages: 1950s-1980s by the Jersey Girls. Take a musical journey through the decades while dancing to hit songs from the 1950s, 60s, 70s and 80s.

Aug. 8, 1 p.m. – Healthy Aging Discussion Group (Every Second Tuesday) with Certified Dementia Practitioner Andi Noble, Residence at Basking Ridge. Join this monthly discussion group about healthy aging. Each month there will be a new topic about mental, physical, and spiritual health. **For more information, call 908-204-3435.**

Aug. 9, 11 a.m. – Summer Seashell Drawing with Karen Haake. Create a seashell summer drawing after a brief demonstration. Participants will use a black Sharpie pen and a stippling technique for texture and shading. **All supplies will be provided. For more information, call 908-204-3435. This program is made possible by funds from the Somerset County Cultural & Heritage Commission, a partner of the New Jersey State Council on the Arts.**

Aug. 10, 11 a.m. – Brain Games with Connie, Basking Ridge Volunteer. Help keep your brain young by playing various games, puzzles, and trivia. Studies show that playing brain games may help sharpen certain thinking skills that tend to wane with age, such as thought-processing speed, planning skills, reaction time, decision-making and short-term memory.

Aug. 11, 11 a.m. – Trip to the Warrenbrook Senior Center. Travel to the Warrenbrook Senior Center for a day of fun and play Minute to Win It, a fast-paced guessing game that will keep your mind active This is a friendly competition to foster camaraderie.

Aug. 14, 11 a.m. – “Tech Savvy Seniors: Using Your Tablet for Music and Magazines” by Cassandra Collucci, Somerset County Library System. Learn all the tips and tricks for using your tablet to listen to your favorite music and access your favorite magazines.

Aug. 15, 11 a.m. – Music Tribute to the 1950s and 1960s with Lorri Woodward. Wear your favorite summer outfits and sing along at a beach/summer-themed performance featuring songs such as “Margaritaville,” “Kokomo,” and “Sittin on the Dock of the Bay.”

Aug. 16, 11 a.m. – A Visit from the Somerset County Youth Council. Play classic Jeopardy with the Somerset County Youth Council.

Aug. 17, 11 a.m. – Craft: Popsicle Stick Coasters with Kelly and Loreta. Learn how to create a unique coaster using popsicle sticks and bright acrylic paint. **All supplies will be provided. For more information, call 908-204-3435.**

Aug. 18, 11 a.m. – “Joint Replacement” by Dr. Vineet Tyagi, Atlantic Health System. Learn about hip and knee replacements – two of the most common joint replacements for seniors. Participants will also find out what to expect before, during, and after joint replacement surgery.

Aug. 21, 11 a.m. – “Senior Medicare Patrol” by Charles Clarkson, Senior Medicare Patrol. Learn how to detect and report Medicare fraud and other scams.

Aug. 22, 11 a.m. – Game Day with Connie. Play Pokeno and the Left-Center-Right dice game, for fun and games. Connie will teach everyone how to play the games.

Aug. 23, 11 a.m. – “The Basics of Organ Donation” by Hospital and Community Services Coordinator Iveth Gonzalez, New Jersey Sharing Network. Learn the basics of organ donation. In the United States, 115,000 people are waiting for life-saving organ transplants and almost 4,000 of them are in New Jersey. A single organ donor can save the lives of eight people. **There will be a Q&A session at the end of the presentation.**

Aug. 24, 11 a.m. – Table Games with Basking Ridge Volunteer Connie Ledder. Join fellow center members for an hour playing Connect Four, Left-Center-Right Dice Game, and Pinochle. **No experience is necessary. Beginners are welcome.**

Aug. 28, 11 a.m. – “Heart Attacks and Strokes” by Mallory Dubuisson, Atlantic Health. Learn about the causes of heart attacks and strokes, one of the most common health crises in the United States. Participants will also find out prevention tips as well as how to identify symptoms.

Aug. 29, 11 a.m. – Craft: Ceramic Box Painting with Kelly. Learn how to paint boxes with a step-by-step tutorial. Participants can use the final piece for decoration, or as storage for trinkets such as coins, jewelry, and small items. **All supplies will be provided. For more information, call 908-204-3435.**

Aug. 30, 11 a.m. – Summer Picnic. Enjoy this fun outdoor summer picnic with hamburgers on the grill and entertainment by Paul Elwood who will perform upbeat songs such as “Dream Lover,” “Eight Days a Week,” “Dream, Dream, Dream,” “Deep Elem Blues,” “Ghost Riders,” and “Hotel California.”

Aug. 31, 11 a.m. – Brain Games with Kelly. Help keep your brain young by playing various games, puzzles, and trivia. Studies show that playing brain games may help sharpen certain thinking skills that tend to wane with age, such as thought-processing speed, planning skills, reaction time, decision- making and short-term memory skills.