Warrenbrook Senior Center October 2024
Warrenbrook Senior Center located at 500 Warrenville Road is one of the six county operated Senior Center. Somerset County residents who are 60 years and older are welcome to participate in any of the programs at Warrenbrook Senior Center. They also provide a choice of 4 different meal choices during lunch that seniors can take advantage of during the weekdays. All the programs are free for the registered members. Please call (908) 753-9440 for more information on how to become member of the Warrenbrook Senior Community.
Below is the highlight of some of the programs available at Warrenbrook Senior Center in October.
October 7, 1 p.m. – Drum Circle with Anil Sachadev. Soothe the mind, body and spirit in this drumming circle. This is a holistic experience that leaves participants feeling a sense of joy! This is an ancient approach to promote healing and incite self-expression. The benefits of drumming are deep relaxation, lower blood pressure, reduced stress and open communication. Anil will guide us through playing different tones using drums.
October 8, 11 a.m. – Wordle. Wordle is a word-based brain game where participants have six chances to guess a five-letter word. So, dig deep into your vocabulary repertoire and identify some words.
(Hybrid) October 8, 1:30 p.m. – Monthly Book Club. Meets Every Second Tuesday of the month. Join the Warrenbrook Seniors Book Club members to discuss the book of the month and select the next book to read. New members are always welcome! **Only for Warrenbrook Senior Center Participants**
October 9, 11 a.m. – Musical Entertainment with John Sudia. John will play guitar and sing appropriate songs for autumn as well as classic country, classic rock, standards, and more to keep your toes tapping as we welcome Fall season. Be ready to sing along.
October 10, 11 a.m. – Breathing Techniques for Mental Wellness with Dr. Prabha Srinivas. Dr. Srinivas will be teaching some practices that can be used to distract the mind and induce calm during an anxiety episode. A few techniques can be practiced on a regular basis to develop an ongoing awareness of trigger situations and to calm and regulate the nervous system consistently.
October 11, 11 a.m. – Basically Bats with Somerset County Park Commission. The only true flying mammals are often misunderstood and feared rather than appreciated for their prowess as our best natural insect predators. Did you know that a single little brown bat can consume approximately 600 insects per hour? So, pull the plug on your bug zapper and learn some bat biology. Class includes our famous bat quiz and a PowerPoint lecture about bat ecology.
October 14 – Center Closed: Columbus Day
October 15, 11 a.m. – Craft: Clothespin Bats. Just in time for Halloween decorations, we will use card stock and clothespins to make a bat. All materials will be provided. Pre-registration is required, and supplies are provided.
October 16, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. – Open Enrollment Event: Part D Plan Comparison. Somerset County State Health Insurance Assistant Program (SHIP) counselors will be on-site to assess your Plan D prescription plans. By appointment only, bring a list of your current medications, and a SHIP counselor will use the Medicare plan finder tool to advise you of the lowest cost stand-alone Part D prescription Plan. Please note – this is only applicable to seniors with Original Medicare, not a Medicare Advantage Plan. Please call 908-753-9440 to make an appointment.
October 17, 11 a.m. – Bingo with Bob Mazet sponsored by Waypoint Legal. Bingo is more than just an exciting activity. Researchers found that playing Bingo has multiple benefits. It promotes socialization, strengthens hand-eye coordination, and improves listening and short-term memory skills.
October 18, 11 a.m. – Brains Games and Hand Bells with Adrienne Graubard. Did you know that solving puzzles or challenging yourself with new mind-stretching activities like learning music can stimulate the brain and enhance your creative and critical thinking processes? Join Adrienne for some mind-tingling, brain-stumping word games and a fun-filled musical workout using hand bells.
October 21, 1 to 4 p.m. – Studio 60+. Warrenbrook seniors will meet twice a month to plan the events they are interested in. Some examples include brainstorming the quarterly Community Service projects, craft work, musical entertainment, and Jeopardy. They will also practice for their quarterly musical entertainment & drama. All senior center members are invited to participate in this planning club.
October 22, 11 a.m. – Junk Drawer Detective with Parul. Junk Drawer Detective is an intriguing mystery–solving game where players explore the chaotic realm of a forgotten drawer. As a detective, you unravel puzzles, decipher cryptic clues, and piece together the scattered remnants of everyday items to solve mysteries. This immersive game offers a blend of hidden object challenges and brain-teasing puzzles, providing an engaging experience as players unlock the secrets hidden within the eclectic contents of a junk drawer. This month we will play Haunted Halloween Detective, Sweet Tooth Detective & Untidy Crafter Detective.
October 24, 11 a.m. – Disability Awareness: Vision & Health with Jannell Wilson, Community Educator from the Somerset County Office on Aging & Disability Services. October is Disability History and Awareness Month, so we’re taking today to recognize the challenges that others may be living with. Jannell Wilson will be joining us to discuss vision loss and eye diseases, to help us be more aware of the needs of others. Learn about common age-related eye diseases and conditions, including age-related macular degeneration (AMD), cataracts, and glaucoma.
October 25, 11 a.m. – Craft: Halloween Masks. Decorate your own paperboard masks using paints, markers and embellishments to get ready for Halloween. All materials will be provided. Pre-registration is required, and supplies provided.
October 28, 11 a.m. – ABCs of Candy with Meg Wastie. As Halloween is right around the corner, learn the history of everyone’s favorite sweet treats & take a nostalgic journey guessing the names of candies for each letter of the alphabet. Made possible by funds from the Somerset County Cultural & Heritage Commission, a partner of the New Jersey Historical Commission.
October 29, 11 a.m. – Boggle. This is a challenging game that is played using a grid of letters, in which attendees search for words that can be constructed from letters of sequentially adjacent letters. Words must be at least three letters long but may not use the same letter on the grid more than once per word. Then look for words within a larger word. Join us as we try to find as many words as possible.
October 30, 11 a.m. – Comedy Magic Show with Ed Smoot. Ed will entertain us by performing a magic show with a blend of mentalism, rope and card magic, juggling, and some story magic. Be ready for fun times with some laughter and giggles.
October 31, 11 a.m. – Halloween Traditions. Borrowing from Irish and English traditions, the idea of dressing up in costume, traveling from house to house, and asking for food eventually became what we refer to as “trick or treat” in America. Our candy-laden, pumpkin-happy, autumn celebration has its roots in the darker, more spiritual Celtic holiday of Samhain (pronounced SAH-win or SOW-in). Samhain means “summer’s end” in Old Irish, and it marked the end of the harvest time and the start of winter. Come dressed in costume, play Halloween Feud & Left/Right Halloween Story.
Besides the above program, the below programs take place on weekly basis.
Yoga with Kartika – Mondays, 10 a.m. This class is open to all levels of skill. Hatha yoga poses can be practiced while either sitting or standing. Hatha yoga will help increase bone density, improve strength, flexibility, and balance while you are immersed in a relaxing class. Expect lots of gentle stretching to bring movement to joints and muscles. This class is perfect for relieving stress and to help gain an overall sense of well-being. No fee for this ongoing class. Please call 908-753-9440 for more information.
Mahjong for Intermediate Players – Tuesdays, 9:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. If you are an intermediate mahjong player and would like to play this game of skill, strategy, and calculation, then join us on Tuesday mornings. Please call 908-753-9440 for more information.
Take Control with Exercise – Tuesdays, 10 a.m. This is an ongoing exercise program, in video form, for all skill levels that can be practiced while either standing or sitting. This program will strengthen core muscles and improve flexibility and balance while boosting stamina. No fee for this ongoing class. Call 908-753-9440 for more information.
Zumba Gold with Judith – Tuesdays, 10:15 a.m. Get your blood pumping with some zesty music that will truly inspire a hearty workout. This class is achievable for beginners or others who need modifications to their exercise routine. Build cardiovascular health by challenging your heart and working hip, leg, and arm muscles by performing fun and rhythmic moves while sitting in a chair. Cost is $40 for the 8-week program. Please call 908-753-9440 for more information.
Chair Belly Dance – Tuesdays, 1 p.m. This seated dance class is fun for all fitness levels. It offers workouts for the entire body designed to improve posture, flexibility & endurance. No class on October 8th.
Bridge Group with Ronnie – Tuesdays, 1 – 4 p.m. Bridge is a mentally challenging card game that offers intellectual and social stimulation. Playing bridge regularly stimulates your brain and helps keep your memory active and your brain alert. Join Ronnie and her group as they play bridge every week. New members and beginners welcome (lessons available).
Stretch & Strength – Wednesdays, 10 a.m. with Mikaela Kane from Rutgers Co-operative Extension. Mikaela will be leading a 10-week exercise class that involves stretch & strength. Stretching keeps the muscles flexible, strong, and healthy, and we need that flexibility to maintain a range of motion in the joints. Without it, the muscles shorten and become tight. The strength program is designed to enhance the ability to function in daily life. The exercise can be done with or without weights. A hand weight of 2-5 pounds is recommended, which can be brought by the clients for exercise. No fee for this ongoing class. Please call 908-753-9440 for more information. No class on October 30th.
Craft Activities with Jean, Wednesdays, 1 – 4 p.m. This is a great opportunity for artists & crafters to meet new people while creating an art piece or craft. We all work on doing craft work for Community Service projects throughout the year. All supplies will be provided.
Line Dancing with Linda Hyland – Thursdays, 9:30 – 10:15 a.m. Line Dancing is so much fun that it doesn’t even seem like exercise! You don’t need a partner; and dancing is an easy way to stay healthy, both mentally and physically. It’s suitable for participants with limited mobility and has been shown to increase cardiovascular and muscular strength and improve coordination and balance as you work through different moves.
Chair Kickboxing – Thursdays, 1 p.m. A fun heart pumping cardio kickboxing class is for everyone. This workout will work your body in the seated position.
Card/Table Games – Thursdays, 1 – 4 p.m. Join in and play some of your favorite games such as dominoes, left-right-center dice games, Rummikub, Canasta, Mexican Train and more.
Tai Chi with Roger – Fridays, 10 a.m. Tai Chi participants will focus on shifting body weight through a series of light, controlled movements that flow rhythmically into one long gesture. Studies have shown that some participants have experienced a reduction in pain, fatigue and stiffness and have gained a greater sense of well-being. Tai Chi can help reduce falls, especially for those with balance problems. This program can be practiced while either standing or sitting.
