SENIOR SIDELIGHTS

Austintown Senior Center, 100 Westchester Drive, has planned the following: Monday, 9 a.m. – Surveillance State video, Bible study and Instructor’s Choice; 9:30 – Sew N Crafts; 10 – Senior Spinning (I), bingo and painting class; 11 – chair Pilates; 11:30 – chair volleyball; 12 p.m. – lunch, bridge group and euchre group; 1 – computer class; and 2 – trip to Oblebay. Tuesday, 8:30 a.m. – coloring group; 9 – American West video; 9:30 – S.O.S.; 10 – crochet and bingo; 10:30 – line dance; 11 – walking club; 11:30 – chair yoga; 12 p.m. – ballroom dancing; 12:30 – lunch and AARP Choir; and 1 – mah-jongg, Medicare raffle and computer class. Wednesday, 9 a.m. – Life in the World’s Oceans video, Bible study, blood pressure checks; 10 – bingo and Drum Your Way Fit; 10:30 – quilting; 11 – Zumba; 12 p.m. – pizza party and beginner’s ukulele; 12:30 – ukulele class, afternoon movie and trip to the Arms Museum; and 1 – computer class. Thursday, 8:30 a.m. – coloring group; 8:50 – Ancient Astronomy video; 9 – Vets Helping Vets and wood carving; 9:30 – S.O.S.; 10 – chair yoga and crochet/needlework; 11 – knitting and chair volleyball; 11:45 – weekly announcements; and 12 p.m. – lunch/cash bingo. Friday, 9 a.m. – The Vikings video, Bible study and Senior Spinning (E); 9:45 – Tone & Sculpt; 10 – bingo and book discussion; 11:30 fencing; 12 p.m. – lunch and trivia. For information, call 330-953-1416 or visit www.austintownseniorcenter.org.

The Gathering Place will meet at 11 a.m. Monday at Lord of Life Church, 550 N. Broad St., Canfield. Lunch will be provided by The Woodlands, and blood pressure screening will be performed. For information, call Bernadette Beier, 330-533-6045, or the church, 330-533-3531.

Girard Multi-Generational Center, 443 Trumbull Ave., will offer the following opportunities: Monday, mind games at 9 a.m., stretch plus class at 9:30 and yoga/Pilates class at 10:30 for a $5 fee; Tuesday, mind games at 9, Kris Kringle potluck luncheon at noon in the gymnasium, reservations required; and stretch plus class at 1:15 p.m.; Wednesday, mind games at 9, stretch plus class at 9:30, bring a friend and take a dish to share; Parkinson’s Support Group from 1:30 to 3 p.m.; and 4th Ward Block Watch Holiday party at 5 p.m.; Thursday, mind games at 9 a.m., movie with popcorn and hot chocolate at 9:30, yoga/Pilates class at 10:30 for a $5 fee and stretch plus class at 1:15 p.m.; and Friday, stretch plus at 9:30 and tai chi at noon for a $5 fee. Coffee bar every morning, 8:30 to 11 a.m.; fitness rooms open daily from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Wii gaming system and air hockey or ping pong daily from 8:30 to 2. Assistance with Medicare, prescription assistance and many other senior citizen issues is offered by appointment with the center’s licensed social worker, Christine Bridgens. The center is a meal program site offering daily meals Monday through Friday through the Trumbull County Office of Elderly Affairs. Stop by or call 330-545-6596 for a menu and details. The center also will offer “A Matter of Balance: Managing Concerns about Falls” at 2:30 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays through Dec. 31. To register, call 330-565-6596.

Lordstown SCOPE Senior Center is looking for seniors in Trumbull County who are interested in playing mah-jongg. Lessons will be available for beginners. Also, any card players interested in pinochle, hand and foot and euchre are welcome. A Mexican Train dominoes group also is being formed. Beginners are welcome. Anyone interested should call Marge Haley at 330-339-8846.

MVI HomeCare and Hospice is in need of companion volunteers to provide companionship and emotional support to patients and caregivers in Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties. There is a brief application, training process and background check that is conducted at no cost to the volunteer. Anyone interested in hearing more or who would like to get started should contact Dawn Cannatti, volunteer coordinator, 330-759-9487, ext. 247 (office); 330-506-8057 (cell); or email her at dcannatti@mvihomecare.com.

Niles SCOPE Senior Center, 14 E. State St. SE, sponsors an art class with Kathryn Infante from 1 to 3 p.m. every Friday for $3 per lesson. There will be a new project each week. The classes take place at the SCOPE Center. For information, call 330-544-3676.

Ohio Living Home Health and Hospice Senior Center, 1110 Fifth Ave., Youngstown, has scheduled the following activities: Tuesday, Fit for Life and brush, knife and needle club at 10, beginner, intermediate and party bridge at noon and Caregiver Support Group at 1 p.m.; Wednesday, Wheeling Downs Casino and Oglebay Festival of Lights at 8:30, watercolors at 10, tap dance at noon, 500 bid card club at 1; Thursday, woodcarvers at 9 a.m. and multimedia art and socialization at noon; and Friday, Diabetic Support Group at 10 a.m., ukulele at 11 a.m., Christmas party at 11:30 p.m. and chair yoga ($7 or $5) at 1 p.m. Call 330-744-5071 at least one week in advance for reservations for all classes and events.

Ohio Living Park Vista hosts Silver Sneakers classes that are available Tuesdays and Thursdays at 2:15 p.m. in the North Lounge. To find out more about Silver Sneakers, or to verify whether your health plan covers the program, visit silversneakers.com. If your health plan does not cover the program, there will be a small fee for each class. For information, call 330-746-2944, ext. 1214.

Senior Corps Retired Senior Volunteer Program, located in First Presbyterian Church of Youngstown, 201 Wick Ave., is a volunteer program with the mission of linking volunteers 55 and older with a variety of volunteer opportunities within Mahoning and Trumbull counties. Volunteer activities include, but are not limited to: senior companionship, preparing/serving meals, meal delivery, providing transportation, installing smoke alarms and working with children in school or community-based settings. There are many benefits to being a volunteer with RSVP including supplemental health/auto insurance while on duty at no cost, mileage reimbursement for transportation activities, volunteer recognition events, and feeling connected to and making an impact in the community. The program coordinator will meet with volunteers to match them with their preferred site based on interests, skills and location. Individuals who are interested in volunteering or have a need for volunteers can call Maria Cavileer, program coordinator, at 330-480-0352 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, or email mcavileer@fcsohio.org.

Trumbull Mobile Meals is a community-based service agency dedicated to providing a home-delivered meal service to Trumbull County residents who are homebound. Due to an alarming increase in senior hunger in the community, volunteers are desperately needed to deliver meals in the Niles, Cortland, Howland, Warren, Vienna, Girard, Liberty and McDonald areas. Daily, 45 to 50 volunteers are now delivering meals to more than 200 individuals. Volunteers are the heart of Trumbull Mobile Meals. Anyone can help if they have an hour to spare once a week or even just once a month. For information, call Terri at 330-394-2538.

Volunteer Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program, is seeking volunteers. The program advocates for people who use long-term care services such as nursing homes or assisted living facilities to resolve resident concerns or complaints. Volunteer ombudsmen receive free training and are certified as ombudsman associates before beginning volunteer work. There are no experience requirements, but there is a short application. Background checks are conducted at no cost to the applicant. Contact Max Bumgardner, volunteer coordinator, at 330-505-2375 for information. Applications are available online at www.aaa11.org/volunteer.html.