The Rochester Council on Aging has announced a series of new and returning events and activities for January.

Bingo- There will be no Monday night Bingo from November 1 to February 28. Monday nights will start up again in March 2013.

Join us on Wednesday afternoons from 12:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. for Senior Bingo. Any senior citizen is welcome to attend. Refreshments are served.

Ye Olde Breakfast Shoppe – Start your morning off by joining us for breakfast any Monday through Friday morning at the Senior Center from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. for a varied selection of breakfast items. This program is made possible by a joint effort of the Friends of the Senior Center and the Rochester Lions Club. All are welcome.

Coupons needed – Do you have store coupons you’re not using? Please bring them in to the Senior Center to be clipped and filed. This is a great way for our seniors to save on their grocery bills. Seniors are welcome to take as many coupons as they can use from our coupon file.

Stepping and Stretching – The Council will hold stepping and stretching on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 2 p.m. The class will consist of easy exercise, bending and stretching and building up your strength and improving your balance. Most exercises done from the comfort of your chair. You go at your own pace. This program is made possible through a grant from Coastline Elderly Services, Inc.

Line dancing – Traditional and Country/Western. Every Friday Morning 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. No registration needed. No Line Dancing on the Friday of the Cobb Luncheon, due to set up/ space issues.

Additional line dancing class – Due to popularity, line dancing instructor Nancy Cabral has agreed to offer an additional weekly line dancing class on Tuesday afternoons from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Senior Center. Everyone is welcome.

Ballroom dancing lessons – Instructor Nancy Barrett, a member of Dance Teacher’s Club of Boston, will continue with month full of dance fun on Wednesdays at 10 a.m.  All singles and couples are welcome.

Soup and sandwich lunches are back – Join us on Mondays at noon for a nutritious and tasty lunch of hot soup and a sandwich with dessert. Everyone is welcome. Please call in advance to reserve your meal, so that we may prepare enough for everyone who attends. There is no charge, but a donation of $4 would be appreciated.

Greeting cards –The Council has an ongoing greeting card file in our lobby of cards with envelopes for all occasions. They are available for a donation of ten cents a card.

Chicken pot pie fundraiser – The Friends are having a complete chicken pot pie dinner fundraiser on Saturday, January 5, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Senior Center to raise funds for the Senior Supportive Day Program building fund.

Cobbs Luncheon - The monthly Cobbs luncheon will take place on Friday, January 18, at 12 p.m. The menu has not been finalized yet, so check back with us to find out what the menu will be. Please call no later than the Wednesday before the luncheon at noon to reserve a spot.

The Pampered Chef returns – Pampered Chef, Linda Medeiros, returns Monday, January 7, at 11:30 a.m. to share her culinary arts demonstration at the Senior Center. Soup is on the menu. Come for the luncheon at 12 p.m. and sample the results. No charge for the program but a suggested donation of $4 per person is appreciated. Please call in advance to sign up.

Scrabble– Join Judy MacGregor on Tuesdays at 9 a.m., at the Senior Center for Scrabble games. Anyone is welcome. Just drop in or join a group.

Grocery shopping moves to Wednesday – The weekly grocery shopping trips are now being scheduled for every week on Wednesdays for your personal grocery shopping needs. Shopping will be at Market Basket in New Bedford. Any senior is welcome to ride the van, but must sign up in advance to reserve a seat. We leave at 8:30 a.m. and return at 12:30 p.m. depending on the number of people.

Weekly blood pressure checks – The weekly blood pressure checks have been moved to Mondays, from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. Town Nurse, Betsy Dunn, holds a weekly Blood Pressure Clinic at the Senior Center. All are welcome to stop in to check their pressure. It’s free.

Cardio-fit groovercise – All are welcome to join this new senior exercise class on Tuesday mornings, from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. The class is  led by certified instructor, Ellie Higgins, and includes a mix of Zumba Fitness, African, Belly Dance, Jazz, and other easy to do dance styles and classic aerobic moves. A fun, energizing, fat-burning, one-hour fitness done to a wide variety of music. Cost is $3 per class. No sign-up necessary.

Monthly veterans social – The monthly informal gathering of Rochester Veterans of any age will be meeting on February 6 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Senior Center. This is a free event where veterans can come together and share experiences.

Free legal consults – Rochester resident Attorney Matt Beaulieu has offered to give his time on the first Thursday of every month at 3 p.m. at the Senior Center for any Rochester Senior who would like assistance with their health care proxy and/or their living will.

State Senator Michael Rodriques or his legislative aid, Maria Conners, will hold office hours at the Rochester Senior Center on the fourth Wednesday of each month from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. Anyone wishing to speak individually to the senator, or Maria, with questions or concerns, or for information, should drop in to the Senior Center during that time to speak with him/her.

Chair yoga classes –Join us for this new exercise program at the Senior Center on Mondays from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. with Susan Ashley, a professional certified fitness instructor and personal trainer. This modified format offers the ability to participate in a yoga practice without having to get down on the floor. Flowing yoga poses are practiced while seated or in a standing position, allowing use of a chair for balance and stabilization work. No advance registration necessary. Anyone is welcome.

Attention all senior knitters – The Kennedy Donovan Center in New Bedford is in need of knitted hats, mittens, booties and sweaters for newborns, infants and toddlers for their “at risk moms and families” program. All colors and patterns are welcome. Donated hand knitted items can be brought to the Senior Center for delivery to the Kennedy Donovan center at your convenience.

Volunteers needed – The Council is in need of a few volunteers to help with the Monday night Bingo game. This would entail helping to set up the game, put away the game, and to be a runner during the games to collect the coins and distribute the winnings. Please call 508-763-8723 if you are interested.

Buy a brick fundraiser

The Friends of Rochester Senior Center have launched a “Buy A Brick” Program as a fundraiser towards the new Senior Supportive Day Program addition. Consider buying a brick or two for the walkway and entrance of the addition in memory of or, in honor of a loved one, or a treasured event. Get your form at the Senior Center and all donations are tax deductable. For more information, please call the Senior Center at 508-763-8723.                                       

Friday movies – Movies are free and anyone is welcome to attend. Popcorn will be served and the movie starts at 1:30 p.m.

Friday, January 4 – “Tour Sister’s Sister”

Friday, January 11 – “The Campaign”

Friday, January 18 – “Ruby Sparks”

Friday, January 25 – “Take This Waltz”

Computer lab – The newly updated Computer Lab is available for use by the public daily. All five computers are now online and printing is available. Send emails, do research, or simply play a game of solitaire. The computers are here for your use.