Valentine’s Day Luncheon – Thursday, February 16th starting at 11:00 a.m. at the George Dilboy Post located at 351 Summer Street – $10 per person – Join us for an afternoon of music and a special meal. Please RSVP to Connie Lorenti at 617-625-6600, ext. 2319.

Cultural Arts Series – Voices of a Continent – Wednesday, February 22nd at 11:00 a.m. at our Holland Street Center. Maura Mendoza will be singing in English, Spanish and Portuguese with a multicultural and classic repertoire from Latin America. $5. Per person for lunch. Please call Debby Higgins to RSVP at 617-625-6600, ext. 2321 or email Debby at dhiggins@somervillema.gov
Boston Red Sox Valentine’s Day Luncheon and Dance – Tuesday, February 14th at noontime. The Red Sox have graciously provided us with a very limited number of seats. If you would like to attend, please RSVP to Debby Higgins by calling 617-625-6600, ext. 2321. RSVPs will be accepted only on Tuesday, February 7th and Wednesday, February 8th. All RSVPs will be entered into a raffle which will be drawn on Thursday, February 10th at 9:30 a.m. at the Holland Street Center. Lucky winners will be notified by phone on February 10th. This event is open to Somerville residents only. Transportation cost to Fenway Park will be provided by the Somerville Council on Aging.
St. Patrick’s Day Luncheon – Thursday, March 16th at 11:00 a.m. at the George Dilboy Post located at 351 Summer Street. Join us for an afternoon of music and a special meal. $10 per person. RSVP, please call Connie Lorenti at 617-625-6600, ext. 2319.
Arts & Crafts – Wednesday, February 8th at the Ralph & Jenny Center located at 9 New Washington Street. Starting at 10:00 a.m. – Come and join Judy for a variety of Valentine’s Day craft projects including wooden treasure chest, heart mirrors and potpourri sachets. $3 per person to cover supplies. RSVP to Debby Higgins by calling 617-625-6600, ext. 2321 or email Debby at dhiggins@somervillema.gov
Bingo – Tuesday, February 7th, 14th, 21st & 28th at Ralph & Jenny Center starting at 10:00 a.m. and Thursday, February 2nd, 9th & 23rd at Holland Street starting at 10:00 a.m. Lunch available following Bingo. RSVP to Debby Higgins by calling 617-625-6600, ext. 2321 or email Debby at dhiggins@somervillema.gov
Veteran’s Group – Meets the third Tuesday of the month (February 21st) at the Holland Street Center starting at 11:00 a.m. – RSVP to Debby Higgins at 617-625-6600 ext. 2321 or email dhiggins@somervillema.gov
Tech Time- Drop In Hours – Mondays, February 13th & 27th starting at 10:00 a.m. at the Holland Street Center. Bring your phones, computers, and tablets or borrow one from the COA. This is a drop-in style individual help to answer your technology questions and frustrations. RSVP to Natasha Naim at 617-625-6600, ext. 2317 or email Natasha at nnaim@somervillema.gov
Technology six-week course – Wednesdays, February 8th & 22nd – March 8th & 22nd – April 5th & 19th starting at 10:00 a.m. at our Holland Street Center. Participants will learn while using their own devices or one borrowed from the COA. We will focus on specific technology learning objectives each week. Space is limited. RSVP to Natasha Naim at 617-625-6600, ext. 2317 or email Natasha at nnaim@somervillema.gov
Movie Day – Wednesday, February 15th at 10:00 a.m. at the Ralph & Jenny Center. This month’s film is Book Club starring Jane Fonda, Candice Bergen, Diane Keaton and Mary Steenburgen. Four lifelong friends’ lives are turned upside down to hilarious ends when their book club attempts to shake things up by tackling the infamous Fifty Shades of Grey. PG-13 – Pizza will be served after the movie; $2 per person. RSVP to Debby Higgins by calling 617-625-6600, ext. 2321 or email Debby at dhiggins@somervillema.gov
Project Outlook, Low Vision Group- 3rd Thursday of each month (February 16th) from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Holland Street Center. Project Outlook is a group of residents with low or no vision who enjoy getting together for camaraderie and socialization. Project Outlook has been active for over 30 years. Come join in the conversation, we look forward to meeting you. For more information, please contact Claudia Ferro at 857-237-1801.
Game Hour –Mondays from 11:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. at our Ralph & Jenny Center located at 9 New Washington Street (behind the Holiday Inn.) The dates are February 6th, 13th & 27th. Please join us as we play a wide variety of board and card games. Please RSVP to Maureen Bastardi at 617-625-6600, ext. 2335 or email Maureen at mbastardi@somervillema.gov .
Coffee & Conversation – Mondays from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. – At the Ralph & Jenny Center located at 9 New Washington Street (behind the Holiday Inn) This month we meet on February 6th, 13th & 27th. Join us as we discuss a range of topics. No books – no test – just friendly conversation. Please contact Maureen Bastardi at mabstardi@Somervillema.gov or 617-625-6600, ext. 2335 to RSVP.

LGBTQIA+ and Allies Social Group – Thursday, February 9th from 5:00 p.m. to 6: 00 p.m. at the Holland Street Center located at 167 Holland Street in the Atrium. Meets the 2nd Thursday of each month. LGBTQIA+ and allies are welcome. Come and join us for this social gathering. Meet and mingle with new people. Light dinner will be served. Special Valentine’s Day Social. RSVP to Maureen Bastardi at 617-625-6600, ext. 2335 or email Maureen at mbastardi@Somervillema.gov

Book Club – Meets the 3rd Friday of each month starting at 10:00 a.m. This month the date is February 17th – Do you love books and want to discuss your love of reading with others? Consider joining book club. Group meets in person at 167 Holland St. and concurrently via Zoom. Please RSVP by calling Natasha Naim at 617-625-6600 or email Natasha at nnaim@somervillema.gov as space is limited.

Music & Munch Program – Wednesday, February 8th at 12:00 p.m. via Zoom Meets the 2nd Wednesday of each month. This 45- minute session will treat you to a playlist of diverse musical offerings: a little jazz, some “oldies but goodies,” a smidgen of classical, a dip into barbershop, a trip to Broadway. The music is taped but the experience is live. Your guide is Somerville Resident, Laura Zoll, trained as a medieval musicologist and with a life-long love of all things musical. Learn a little, sing-along, relax and enjoy some Music while you Munch. Please RSVP to Debby Higgins at 617-625-6600, ext. 2321 or email Debby at dhiggins@somervillema.gov You will then receive your email invitation to join the program via Zoom.

Brown Bag Supplemental Food Program – PICK UP Thursday, February 23rd from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the Ralph & Jenny Center located at 9 New Washington Street (behind the Holiday Inn.) For an application contact Natasha Naim at 617-625-6600, ext. 2317.
Left, Right, Center – Friday, February 24th – 10:00 a.m. at our Holland Street Center. A fun, fast-paced dice game that you will not be able to put down! Players roll the dice to determine where they pass their chips. The last player with chips is the winner and wins the center pot. Grab and Go lunch available after game. RSVP to Debby Higgins at 617-625-6600, ext. 2321 or email Debby at dhiggns@somervillema.gov
Afternoon Asian Tea, Monday, February 13th at 2:00 p.m. 9 New Washington St. – This group will be a bilingual group in Cantonese and English. RSVP to Maureen Bastardi at 617-625-6600, ext. 2335 or email Maureen at mbastardi@somervillema.gov

Men’s Group – Meets the second Tuesday of each month (February 14th) at the Holland Street Center from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. RSVP to Debby Higgins at 617-625-6600, ext. 2321 or email Debby at dhiggins@somervillema.gov
General Nutrition Classes – In-person, Mondays at 12:30 p.m. at our Ralph & Jenny Center located at 9 New Washington Street. This month the dates are February 6th, 13th & 27th. Zoom meeting Mondays from 11:00 to 12:00 p.m. Wednesdays, February 1st, 8th & 15th. New and returning members are welcome! To RSVP, please call Mary Marshall at 617-625-6600, ext. 2316 or email her at headtofitness10@yahoo.com.
Bowling – Due to lane renovations, bowling will be on hiatus until March.
Fit-4-Life Exercise Classes – at the Ralph & Jenny Center – Mondays, February 6th & 27th starting at 2:30 p.m. Class will be offered on the 1st & 4th Monday of the month. RSVP to Phelan Howell at 617-625-6600, ext. 2315 or email Phelan at phowell@somervillema.gov
Fit-4-Life Exercise Classes at the Holland Street Center – Mondays, February 6th, 13th & 27th at 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. Every Wednesday, February 8th, 15th & 22nd at 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. Please RSVP to Phelan Howell at 617-625-6600, ext. 2315 or email Phelan at phowell@somervillema.gov .
Virtual Fit-4-Life Exercise Class – Every Wednesday & Thursday via Zoom starting at 1:00 p.m. Please RSVP to Phelan Howell at 617-625-6600, ext. 2315 or email Phelan at phowell@somervillema.gov for your Zoom link.
Line Dancing – Mondays, February 6th, 13th & 27th as well as March 6th, 13th & 20th – starting at 1:00 p.m. at the Holland Street Center. Join us for some fun dancing, no experience necessary. RSVP to Phelan Howell by calling 617-625-6600, ext. 2315 or email Phelan at phowell@somervillema.gov
Virtual Exercise, Strength and Balance— Monday, February 6th, 13th & 27th starting at 1:00 p.m. Instructor, John Pecchia, will be leading a class geared towards gaining strength and stability through balance exercises. Please email John Pecchia at jrpecchia@gmail.com for the Zoom link.
Yoga – In Person – Tuesdays, February 7th, 14th & 28th at 9:00 a. m. and 10:00 a.m. at our Holland Street Center in the Atrium. Join us for this beginner’s level chair yoga class. Easy-to-follow program lets you stretch and relax. Yoga provides modified, low-impact moves and easy-to-follow pacing for a healthy, active lifestyle. Please RSVP to Phelan Howell at 617-625-6600, ext. 2315 or email Phelan at phowell@somervillema.gov .
LGBTQIA+ Exercise Class – Thursdays, February 16th & 23rd starting at 6:00 p.m. via Zoom. Thursday, February 9th starting at 6:00 p.m. in person at the Holland Street Center. For more information or to RSVP please contact Phelan Howell at 617-625-6600, ext. 2315 or email Phelan at phowell@somervillema.gov

Music & Movement Enrichment with Steve – Thursday, February 16th at the Holland Street Center from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Join Steve as he plays guitar, sings and leads gentle movements. Just tapping your toe or singing along can help move your body in new ways. Being physically active is not just good for our bodies but it is also one of Mental Health America’s 10 tools to building resiliency; or the ability to overcome obstacles and manage through tough times. This program is in person, pre-registration is required as space is limited. Please RSVP to Phelan Howell at phowell@somervillema.gov or 617-625-6600 ext. 2315.

Tufts Exercise – Fridays, February 10th, 17th & 24th at 10:00 a.m. at the Holland Street Center.
Join this new exercise program where student athletes from a variety of sports will be leading an exercise program designed for all abilities. Please RSVP to Phelan Howell at phowell@somervillema.gov or 617-625-6600 ext. 2315.

Friendly Caller Program – Looking for a way to practice social distancing but remain connected to other people? Look no further than the Somerville Council on Aging’s Friendly Phone Caller program. We have many wonderful volunteers who are waiting to give you a call. Whether you are looking to make a new friend or would just like a friendly chat to look forward to every week, this program has you covered. Call Natasha Naim at 617-625-6600, ext. 2317 to learn more about the program and to sign up.

Please note that the Council on Aging will be closed on Monday, February 20th in observance of President’s Day.

As a reminder, when the snow starts to fly, we want to keep everyone safe. Therefore, when the Somerville Public Schools are closed, the Somerville Council on Aging will also cancel all programming. Once school is back in session, we will be back to our regular schedule.

Somerville City Cable
RCN = 13/Comcast = 22
The Fit-4-Life Exercise Show = Daily at 11:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.

SOCIAL MEDIA

Stay connected via our Facebook page – often updated by Debby Higgins or Maureen Bastardi. Informative, entertaining, lots of photos and updates. Visit our page at https://www.facebook.com/SomervilleCOA/

Follow the Somerville Council on Aging on Instagram! You can find us under the Instagram handle: somervillecouncilonaging If you have any questions or need help following us, contact Debby Higgins at 617-625-6600 ext. 2321 or email her at dhiggins@somervillema.gov

JOIN OUR MAILING LIST

If you would like to receive a virtual copy of our monthly newsletter, please contact Maureen Bastardi at 617-625-6600, ext. 2335 or email Maureen Bastardi at mbastardi@somervillema.gov

If you would like to become part of our Google Group, please contact Debby Higgins at 617-625-6600, ext. 2321 or email Debby at dhiggins@somervillema.gov

The Council on Aging’s Senior Transportation Program

The COA is offering free taxi rides to Somerville residents over the age of 60. Rides are available to go to the grocery store, farmer’s market, pharmacy in Somerville and routine medical appointments in the surrounding communities. To best accommodate the needs of everyone in the city and to maximize the use of our funding, we will be capping the number of rides per week. To ensure the health and welfare of every resident of Somerville, exemptions will be made for chemotherapy and radiation appointments. To find out more information or to schedule your ride, please call Connie Lorenti at 617-625-6600 ext. 2319. All rides must be booked two business days in advance. This program is funded through ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) Funding.