SENIOR SIDELIGHTS

Austintown Senior Center, 100 Westchester Drive, has planned the following: Monday, Closed. Tuesday, Closed. 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, dominos and beginner’s ukulele; and 12:30 – ukulele class and afternoon movie. 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 and 11:30 - fencing. For information, call 330-953-1416 or visit www.austintownseniorcenter.org.

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 at 10:30 with $5 fee; Tuesday, mind games at 9 a.m., yoga/Pilates at 10:30 and stretch plus class at 1:15 p.m.; Wednesday, mind games at 9 and stretch plus class at 9:30; Thursday, mind games at 9 a.m., movie with popcorn and hot chocolate at 9:30, yoga/Pilates class at 10:30 with $5 fee and stretch plus class at 1:15 p.m.; and Friday, stretch plus at 9:30 and tai chi at noon with $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 pingpong 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 but there will be no meal program Tuesday. Stop by or call 330-545-6596 for a menu and class details.

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 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 Christine Featsent, volunteer coordinator, 330-759-9487, ext. 247 (office); 330-506-8057 (cell); or email her at cfeatsent@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, closed; Wednesday, watercolors at 10, tap dance at noon, 500 Bid Card club at 1 and line dancing at 1:30; Thursday, woodcarvers at 9 a.m., multimedia art and socialization at noon and Zumba at 1 p.m.; and Friday, ukulele at 11, Lunch and learn about Prearrangement funeral planning at 11:30 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.

Salem Public Library, 821 E. State St., will host Brain Games for Seniors from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Jan. 17, in the Quaker Room. The library hosts the event once-a-month for a time to socialize while playing board games, dominoes, card games, etc. Coloring and puzzle books also are available. No registration is required. The event is free and open to the public. For information, call the library at 330-332-0042.

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, as well as 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 either 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 over 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.