The Rochester Council on Aging and Senior Center will have the following events in October. To sign up or to get more information, call

508-763-8723.

Volunteers needed – The Rochester Council on Aging is looking for volunteers to help in the following areas:

Breakfast program – Substitute cooks, assistant cooks, waitresses and dishwashers as well as one permanent cook are needed for one morning a week or as available.

Monday lunchtime cook – A cook is needed once a month to prepare on site, either soup and sandwich or a barbecue lunch for approximately up to 30 people with dessert. All expenses will be reimbursed.

Website guru – To keep the COA website page up-to-date, eye-catching and expanded, a website helper is needed for 4-6 hours a month.

Election traffic patrol – Help is needed to control vehicle and pedestrian traffic flow on Nov. 8 for the presidential Election. Two hour shifts inside and outside of the building are needed.

Emergency contact updates – The Rochester Senior Center is updating its emergency contact information to prepare for emergency situations. Call or speak to Lorraine Thompson in outreach to be sure your contact information is current.

Rochester flu shots clinics – The Rochester Board of Health will sponsor two flu clinics on Wednesday, Oct. 5, 4-7 p.m., and Monday, Oct. 17, 10 a.m.-noon. Clinics will be held at the Rochester Senior Center. Bring your insurance cards with you. Call the COA for a ride to the clinic. For more information, call the Board of Health at 508-763-5421.

Diabetic shoes and supplies – Enos Home Health will set up at the Senior Center on Podiatrist Day, Oct. 6, 9-11:30 a.m., to display items and place orders for diabetic shoes and supplies. Enos will help with the billing paperwork for items covered by insurance plans.

Farmer’s market trip – On Sunday, Oct. 2, 1-4 p.m., there will be a trip to the Carver Farmer’s Market. Seniors can use farmer’s market coupons they may have received in the mail. Sign up by calling the COA for a ride The group will stop at Erickson’s for ice cream on the ride home.

October day trips

• Tuesday,  Oct. 4 – Topsfield Fair: 8 a.m.-4 p.m.; $15 admission.

• Saturday,  Oct. 8 – Chowder Days at Mystic Seaport; 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m.; Cost $21

• Thursday,  Oct. 13 – Shopping trip at South Shore Mall and lunch in Braintree;  8:30 a.m.-4 p.m.

• Sunday,  Oct. 16 – 27 Annual Harvest Festival, Sturbridge Town Common and Publick House where there will be artisans, crafters, horse drawn trolley rides, live entertainment, specialty food, scarecrow contests; free; 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

• Friday,  Oct. 21 – Lunch at Upper Cape Technical School of baked fish or baked chicken and fixings with shopping at Christmas Tree Shop; $10; 10:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

• Sunday,  Oct. 30 – The Rise of the Jack O’Lantern at Seaport Trade Center, Boston; Price depends on early sign-up and number of tickets purchased, approximately $20.

Monthly Programs at the Rochester Senior Center

• The Pampered Chef, Linda Medeiros, returns on Monday,  Oct. 17 at 11:30 a.m. for a cooking demonstration and lunch at noon. You don’t have to be present for the demo to eat the lunch. There is a suggested donation of $4 per person. Anyone may attend. Call in advance to sign up and to get a ride.

• Monday soup and sandwich – Lunch on Mondays at noon features a different soup and sandwich each week. Dessert and beverage are included. Anyone is welcome but call in advance to reserve a spot. The suggested donation is $4. Also, feel free to share a soup recipe.

• Congregate lunches – Hot meals for seniors are offered on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at 11:30 a.m. at the Senior Center. A voluntary donation of $2 per meal is requested. Call the Senior Center at least one day in advance to reserve a meal operated by Coastline. All older adults may attend.

• Mike and Ann’s Special Luncheon will be held on Monday,  Oct. 31 at noon. Anyone is welcome to attend this event but advance signup is required. The menu is usually a surprise. There is a suggested donation of $4 per person. Call for a ride.

• The monthly Senior Book Club will meet at the Senior Center on Tuesday, Oct. 18 at 10:15 a.m. Anyone may attend. Rochester’s Library Director Gail Roberts will facilitate the group. The October book is “Me Before You” by Jojo Moyes. Call Roberts directly at Plumb Library, 508-763-8600, for any questions about the group or reading list.

• Monthly veteran’s social – The monthly gathering of Rochester veterans will take place on Wednesday, Oct. 12 from 6-8 p.m. at the Senior Center. This is an informal, free gathering. Refreshments are served.

Fitness room notice – The Fitness Room program will remain open on a month to month basis depending on the number of paid members. The $25 per month fee covers the cost of the program attendant. The COA is re-evaluating the fitness program over the next few months. The room is open for member use on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays 8-11 a.m. Anyone may subscribe.

Senior Bowling League – Bowlers meet at the lanes in Mattapoisett every Tuesday morning at 9 a.m. New bowlers of all skill levels are welcome.

Weekly classes and programs

• Painters and Art Group – Monday 9 a.m.-12 p.m.

• Chair Yoga – Mondays, 1-2 p.m. – Suggested Donation of $3

• Zumba® Gold – Mondays, 3-4 p.m.

• Scrabble – Tuesdays, 9 a.m.; free

• Cardio Dance Fit Program – Tuesday 10–11 a.m.

• Stepping and Stretching Exercise Program – Tuesday and Thursday 1-2 p.m.

• Line Dancing – Tuesday, 2:15-4 p.m. and Friday, 9:30-11 a.m.; $2

• Ballroom Dancing – Wednesdays at 10 a.m.

• Bingo – Wednesday, 12:30-3 p.m.; Monday, 6-8:30 p.m.

• Hand and foot card games – Thursday, 9-11:30 a.m.

• Busy Bees Craft Group – Thursdays, 9-11:30; Free

• Ye Olde Breakfast Shoppe – Open for Mondays-Fridays, 7-9 a.m. This is sponsored by the Friends of the Rochester Senior Center and Rochester Lions Club. Anyone of any age and any town may attend. The breakfast menu varies with weekly specials and reasonable prices, plus a bottomless cup of coffee. The shop is closed weekends, holidays and snow days.

• New release DVD movies are shown on Fridays at 1:30 p.m. Anyone is welcome to attend this free event. Call by Wednesday to find out what movie will be playing that Friday.