Tri-Valley Lunch Program

Meals are served Tuesdays and Thursdays at 12 p.m. noon. The cost is $3 donation per meal. Reservations must be made 48 hours in advance. Transportation is available. Meals are subject to change.*Alternative meals.

Thursday, April 10

Braised Beef & Gemelli Pasta*

Tuesday, April 15

Soup du Jour, Ranch Chicken Salad with Bacon*

Thursday, April 17

Maple Glazed Ham with Sour Cream/Chive Mashed Potatoes

Tuesday, April 22

No Tri-Valley Meal ~ Pizza Luncheon following Bingo $7*

Thursday, April 24

Shepherd’s Pie, Carrots & Green Beans

Tuesday, April 29

Teriyaki Beef and Steamed Rice

Fitness Programs

Welcome back Evening Yoga with Faith Kennedy!

Thursdays at 6 p.m., beginning April 17.

Come join Faith and friends for a gentle yoga practice on Thursday nights! Call or stop by the center to register. Cost of the class is $60 for eight weeks.

Mendon Senior Walking Group

The Mendon Senior Walking Group will resume April 2 and will meet, weather permitting, Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 8:30 a.m. at various locations: Monday in Milford starting at the municipal lot across from Sacred Heart Church to Louisa Lake; Wednesday in Hopedale on the trail around the pond; and Friday in Uxbridge along the canal at Riverbend Farm. The average distance we walk is approximately 2 miles. We’re always open to different walking trails. We sometimes change it up a bit. Diane Howell, the group leader, requests email addresses and phone numbers to be sure all are aware of any walking changes/cancellations. If you are interested or have questions, please don’t hesitate to contact Diane at [email protected] or call her at 508-473-3081. New Walkers are always welcome. Please call the center for more information about all our exercise programs.

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 on 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 11:30 a.m.

Please check our schedule regarding days, times, and availability. Don’t see your favorite game listed, please let us know what you’d like to see offered!

Friends News-

The Friends of the Mendon Elders is gearing up for our Progressive Yard Sale being held on Saturday, June 7 (Rain Date June 8.) Once again, this year we are looking for sponsors, donations, individuals/families that are interested in participating and those all-important buyers.

Calling all Crafters!

The committee organizing December’s Jingle Bell Fair is looking for individuals interested in working on crafts to sell at this year’s event. No experience necessary - just a desire to have fun and work toward a common goal. Our first session will be held Wednesday, April 9 at 1 p.m. Please sign up at the center. Call Paula Malnati at 508-282-0187 for more information.

The Friends of Mendon Elders

The Friends of Mendon Elders is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization raising funds for the benefit of the Senior Center and the seniors it serves. New members are always welcome! Join us to learn more about the events and activities at the Senior Center. Catch up with members and enjoy some light refreshments prior to the start of our next meeting Monday, April 14 at 10:30 a.m. when Trader Joe’s of Milford will provide snacks and offer product suggestions.

Friends Dine Out

Friends Dine Out on Wednesday, April 16 – King Street Café, Franklin. Carpool with friends from the senior center the 3rd Wednesday of each month at 11:30 a.m. or meet at the restaurant at 12 p.m. noon. Please sign-up at the senior center.

Learn How to Take Better Pictures

This five-week photography class will begin Tuesday, April 22 at 1:30 p.m. Whether you want to perfect your Phone photography skills or are have a Digital camera of your own, our instructor Steve McGrath, an accomplished, professional photographer with over thirty years’ experience, has something to offer. Learn how to create great images on your phone. Digital camera beginners, learn from an expert. Android and Apple Smart phones are welcome, and all models. Info about our instructor: stevemcgrathphotography.com/classes

The cost for this grant subsidized program is $35 for five weeks. Please call 508-478-6175 or stop by the Mendon Senior Center to register.

Music Bingo

Join us for a musical blast from the past on Tuesday, April 22 at 11 a.m. for Musical Bingo by Good Thomas! Come enjoy the songs of the 50s, 60s and more. You may even win a prize! This program is sponsored by the Friends of Mendon Elders. Reserve your space early and consider staying for lunch afterwards. Join us for pizza and salad for lunch following bingo. The cost of the meal is $7 per person. Call 508-478-6175 or stop by the senior center to register for one or both programs. Transportation is available. 

Beautification Committee- Spring Clean-up April 25

If you enjoy puttering outdoors and have a few hours to spare each month, come learn about the mission of our small, committed group of volunteers on clean-up day, Friday, April 25. 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. noon. Lunch will be served. Call the center at 508-478-6175 to let us know of your interest.

“From the Horse’s Mouth”

As the expression goes, “hay is for horses,” but did you know they also enjoy carrots and apples and some love their peppermints? Join us on Tuesday, April 29 at 11 a.m. for a short presentation about horses, covering some general information, as well as a few surprising things you might not know. It will also include a brief overview of a mare’s journey from conception through to the foal’s birth. The presenter is Barbara Lawson, a local Mendon resident and senior center volunteer, who has had several decades of experience with owning, breeding and raising horses.

If you have a hobby you’d like to share, contact center director Amy Wilson Kent at 508-478-6175.

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) is funded through the federal agency, Administration for Community Living and administered through the Massachusetts Executive Office of Elder Affairs.

Save the Dates - May events

Annual Town Meeting – Friday, May 2, 7 p.m. and Election – Tuesday, May 13. 7 a.m. - 8 p.m.

Planning for Medicare – Countdown to 65

Evening program Wednesday, May 7, at 6 p.m.

MASS Bar Elder Law Education – Wednesday, May 14 at 1 p.m.

Mendon Minstrels Program – Star, Skies & Heavens Thursday, May 15 at 11 a.m. followed by lunch at noon

Pen Pal Ice Cream Social – Monday, May 19 at 4 p.m. It is time for our senior Pen Pals to meet their corresponding Girl Scouts.

Volunteer Appreciation – Wednesday, May 21 at 11 a.m. by Invitation.

Hip Hop Chair Exercise – Wednesday, May 28 at 2 p.m. and Monday, June 30 at 11 a.m.

Planning for Medicare – Countdown to 65 

Evening Program: Wednesday, May 7, 2025, at 6 p.m.

This evening presentation, led by a Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts representative, is geared towards individuals approaching 65 and Medicare Eligibility. Topics covered include health insurance information outside of employer sponsored coverage, such as an explanation of Medicare, the Medicare enrollment timeline, Medigap and Medicare Advantage plans and programs available to early retirees, and for those who may still be working and looking to transition to Medicare. Please call 508-478-6175 or stop by the Mendon Senior Center to register for this free evening program.

Important update!

Effective March 1, there are New Gross monthly limits for the Medicare Savings Program:

Apply to Medicare Savings Programs (MSPs)nowto save thousands a year on Medicare costs. What are Medicare Savings Programs? Medicare Savings Programs (MSPs) will pay for some or all of Medicare premiums, deductibles, copayments, and co-insurance. Depending on your income, MSPs will pay for your Medicare Part A & B premiums and cost sharing, or Medicare Part B premium, as well as lower your prescription costs. This is not an insurance plan. There is no asset limit. Who qualifies? Medicare beneficiaries who meet the following monthly limits:

- At or below $2,935 (individual)

- At or below $3,966 (couple)

Call the Mendon Senior Center at 508-478-6175 to make an appointment with a SHINE Counselor. 

Friendly Reminders from Outreach:

Fuel Assistance benefits must be used by April 30. Call the SMOC automated line at 508-620-1230 to check your benefit balance or to speak with a SMOC representative.

Real ID compliance becomes effective May 7. Due to federal requirements, anyone traveling domestically or wishing to enter secure federal facilities, will need a Real ID or passport. For more info go to Mass.gov/RMV

Elder Law Program

Wednesday, May 14 at 1 p.m.

The Mendon Senior Center will host a statewide program presented by the Massachusetts Bar Association entitled “Taking Control of Your Future: A Legal Checkup.” Attorney Jack Nealon from Hopkinton will touch on some important topics in this year’s 2025 resource guide (available for distribution) on a wide range of legal issues affecting the lives of seniors including how to protect your home and assets, power of attorney and health care proxies, reverse mortgages, Medicare/Medicaid changes and alternatives to nursing home care. For more information or to register for this free program, call the Mendon Senior Center at 508-478-6175. Guides are available to participants first. There is vast subject matter. Please let us know what topics you are most interested in.

Mendon Minstrels Chorus – Spring Program:

Stars, Skies & Heavens - Thursday, May 15 11 a.m.

This eclectic program of much loved songs is sure to lift your spirits high. Please call or stop by the senior center to register. Luncheon to follow. Sign up for lunch separately please.

“A Program that Warms My Heart”

Folks are so pleased our pen pal program has returned this spring, corresponding with local Girl Scouts. Next fall, we hope to partner with one or two fourth grade classes at Whitinsville Christian School where letter writing is part of their curriculum. This is in the planning stages. We ask you to reach out to senior relatives, neighbors and friends who might be interested in joining this endearing program. A sign-up sheet is available at the Senior Center or you can call or text program coordinator Cheryl Lemon at 508-685-1419 to sign up early. One letter a month is all it takes and you, too, will be saying “this warms my heart.”