Senior Center Inclement Weather Policy: It is the policy of the COA to align with the Mendon School system cancellations and delayed openings. The center will remain open for information and referrals unless the Town Hall Closes. Please listen to Milford's WMRC radio station following a significant snow fall for school cancellations. If you had a van ride scheduled for that day, we apologize but the van will not be running when the center is closed.

Great Backyard Bird Count & Raffle on Feb. 14-17: The Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) is a free, fun, and easy event that engages bird watchers of all ages in counting birds. Participants are asked to count birds for as little as 15 minutes (or as long as they wish) on one or more days. Anyone can take part from beginning bird watchers to experts. The Audubon Society can create a real-time snapshot of bird populations in order to understand how bird populations are changing from year to year. Please visit the official website at birdcount.org for more information. Additionally, you are invited to enter a free raffle for a gift certificate to Wild Birds Unlimited. The winner will be drawn at random at the Friends of Mendon Elders monthly meeting on Feb. 10.

Valentine’s Luncheon & Antique Valentines on Feb. 13 at 11 a.m. and 12 noon: Plan to join us for a special Valentines meal. We’ll be serving an Italian entree, salad, garlic bread and dessert! Our COA Co-Chair Earl Pearlman will serenade us with piano ballads while lunch is served and enjoyed. Registration is required for this special event and the cost is $5pp. Space is limited. Prior to lunch, join us for a “Show and Tell” presentation of beautiful Antique Valentine cards by Wayne Phipps at 11 a.m. Call 508-478-6175 or stop by the Center to register.

Tri-Valley Lunch Program, Be Our Guest: If you want an alternative to eating home alone but don’t want to feel the pinch in your wallet, why not consider this friendly, affordable option at the Mendon Senior Center? Our volunteers will make you feel right at home. The varied Tri-Valley menus offer nutritious, delicious choices. Lunch is served 12:00 noon on Tuesdays and Thursdays for $3. Transportation is available. Come be our guest! Your first meal is on us! (New diners only please)

Thank you to our friendly Tri-Valley lunch servers: Phil Cieply, Betsy Edsall, Rosie Hare, Julie King, John Lauzon, Peg Nogueira, Dona Son, Carolyn Wass and Diane Howell. Additional servers are needed. Training is provided. If you’d like to volunteer once or twice a month, please contact Amy Wilson Kent at 508-478-6175!

February Tri-Valley Lunch Menu

Thurs., Feb. 13: Non-Tri-Valley meal, Valentine’s Luncheon, Italian Entrée, Salad & Garlic Bread $5

Tues., Feb. 18: BBQ Chicken & Potatoes Au Gratin

Thurs., Feb. 20: Teriyaki Beef & Steamed Rice

Tues., Feb. 25: Meatballs with onion gravy & Bowtie Pasta 

Thurs., Feb. 27: Pork Riblet with sauce, Carrots & Coleslaw

Friendly Reminder! Meals are served at 12:00 noon. The cost is $3 donation per meal. Reservations must be made 48 hours in advance. Transportation is available. Call to schedule. Meals are subject to change.

Mendon History with Jim Buckley

Join us on Tuesdays, Feb. 18 and March 18 at 11 a.m. when life-long educator Jim Buckley, a Milford resident, volunteers his time to dip into his treasure trove of Mendon stories and share with us some of the more exciting people and events of our town’s past. Jim has written over 1,400 published historical stories, including dozens that highlight stimulating stories from Mendon’s past. Please stop by or call the Mendon Senior Center at 508/478-6175 to register for this free program.

New Players Welcome! The Mendon Senior Center offers a variety of recreational activities including: 

- Cribbage—Wednesdays 9:45 a.m. The Cribbage group is always looking for new players, stop in Wednesdays at 9:45 a.m., all levels welcome.

- Hand, Knee and Foot Card game—Tuesdays 1 p.m.

- Mah-Jong—Wednesdays & Thursdays 1 p.m.

- Brain Games—Thursdays at 11:30 a.m.

Fitness Programs: Please call the center for more information about our exercise programs- availability and costs. Try the first class for free—new participants only.

Chair Exercise: This popular chair yoga program is held on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 9 a.m. The 45 minute class offers the same benefits as traditional yoga, like boosting strength, flexibility and mental well-being. The practice is great for older adults, people with health conditions, and those who work at a desk all day. New Thursday Session starts Feb. 20. Cost: Eight week session for $40

Qigong: Wednesdays at 10 a.m. for six weeks for $30. Qigong, pronounced Chee-gong, is a practice that utilizes gentle stretching and breathing exercises. Upon finishing this class students will feel relaxed yet energized.

Mendon Senior Walking Group is on winter hiatus: The Mendon Senior Walking Group will resume its routine in the spring. If you are interested in joining us or have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact group leader Diane Howell at 508-473-3081 or email her at: [email protected]

New Afternoon Exercise Program! FREE Session

Wednesdays at 1 p.m.

You asked, we listened. In order to gauge interest, we will be holding a three-week Chair Exercise class on Wednesdays Feb. 26, March 5 and March 12 at 1 p.m. This 45-minute class is comparable to our T/TH morning classes. This brief session will be grant-funded by the Friends of Elders, giving new participants an opportunity to try is on for size for FREE! If space permits, existing members may also join in. Call or stop by the center to register.

Shine Health Insurance Counseling: Certified SHINE counselors are available to assist you with questions about Medicare. SHINE services are free and unbiased: we are available to discuss all options related to Medicare and additional coverage, and we do not sell any plans. Call the Mendon Senior Center at 508-478-6175 to make an appointment or call the Regional SHINE Office in Milford at 508-422-9931. SHINE (Serving the Health Insurance Needs of Everyone) funded through the federal agency, Administration for Community Living and administered through the Massachusetts Executive Office of Elder Affairs.

Get Help Paying for Medicare Costs: Apply to the Medicare Saving Program (MSP) to save up to $3,000/year on Medicare costs! MSP will pay for some or all of Medicare premiums, deductibles, copayments and co-insurance. Depending on your income, MSP will pay for your Medicare Part A & B premiums and cost sharing, or Medicare Part B premium, as well as lower your prescription costs. For more information go to Mass.gov/Medicare Savings or contact a SHINE counselor at the Senior Center.

Food and Fuel Assistance – Help is Just a Call Away: If you or someone you know is having trouble making ends meet this winter, please consider contacting the Mendon Senior Center. Our helpful Outreach Coordinator Janet Hubener is available to offer confidential assistance with fuel assistance applications and nutritional support to Mendon residents of all ages. The SMOC Fuel assistance program helps defray heating costs incurred between Nov. 1, 2024, and April 30, 2025 for eligible households (see household size/income guide.) Please call for guidelines for larger households. Additionally, the Mendon Food Pantry, housed at the senior center is well stocked and available to Mendon residents in need. Call the senior center at 508-478-6175. Help is just a phone call away.

Household size      Income Limit

     1                        $49,196

     2                        $64,333

     3                        $79,470

     4                        $94,608 

A warning from Mass. Department of Transportation: EZDriveMA customers who receive unsolicited texts or emails, also know as smishing, are urged NOT to click on the link. Scammers are claiming to represent the tolling agency and are requesting payment for unpaid tolls. The amount several customers have received is $6.99. 

Targeted phone numbers seem to be chosen at random and are not associated with MassDOT. Mass DOT maintains that (1) EZDriveMA will never request payment by text, and (2) all links associated with EZDrive MA will include www.EZDriveMA.com

The FBI is aware of the EZDrive smishing scam which is part of a series of such scams.

Stay alert to these types of scams, delete any smishing texts received and contact www.EZDriveMA.com with any questions about EZDrive MA notifications.

March Programs— register early!

Comedy Program: Dave Kanes’- Jokes My Irish Father Told Me—jokes, one liners and stories, March 13 at 11 a.m.

Dine-out: Roast House, Blackstone, March 19 11:30/12

Blackstone Regional Animal Shelter Tour, Tuesday, March 25 at 1 p.m: The Mendon Senior Center invites interested animal lovers to join us for a brief meeting at our center to learn about opportunities to socialize and play with shelter animals prior to being adopted to their forever home. Current volunteer Janice Muldoon-Moors and shelter personnel will discuss this innovative program. Following this gathering, we will travel as a group on the Senior Center Van to the shelter for a brief orientation to the facility. Applications will be available there for anyone wishing to help. Please plan one and a half to two hours for this program- including travel. Please call or stop by the center to register for this program.

2025 Overnight Trip, Niagara Falls, registration now being accepted! This Niagara Falls trip offered by Diamond Tours  is scheduled for Sept. 29 thru Oct. 3 from the Mendon Senior Center. It is on the American side so that passports will not be needed. It includes 4 nights lodging in the Niagara Falls area, 8 meals: 4 breakfasts and 4 dinners. A guided tour of the falls on the Maid of the Mist, cruise on the Erie Canal, scenic drive through wine country, guided tour of Buffalo and a visit to Buffalo Transportation Pierce Arrow Museum. The price is $685 pp based on double occupancy. Final Payment is due by June 22. Please register at the Mendon Senior Center. Checks are to be made out to Friends of Mendon Elders (please add ‘trip account’ in memo) Call Beverly Fior, 508-473-8382 for more information.