Anthony Sammarco will be back at the Senior Center at 3:45 p.m. on Tuesday, September 10th to present his program, “The Back Bay Through the Ages.” Work began in the late 1850s when the marshes west of the Boston Public Garden were filled through the ingenuity of John Souther. The Back Bay became a massive project that took more than three decades to complete. The fill was shipped in by gondola cars from Needham, Massachusetts, six days a week, 24 hours a day, every 45 minutes. The fill averaged 20 feet deep, and the area of the Back Bay to be filled was about 460 acres. It was a monumental task, and it is said that the undertaking was so successful that by 1885 only a small area near the Back Bay Fens remained to be filled. In this photographic history of Boston’s Back Bay, Anthony M. Sammarco has used the contemporary photographs of Peter B. Kingman to create a fascinating book that documents the neighborhood from the late 19th century to the present day. Walking along Arlington, Boylston, Newbury Street, Commonwealth, Huntington and Massachusetts Avenues, and stopping at Park Square and Copley Square, this visually fascinating book offers a glimpse of Boston’s Back Bay through time. Please register in advance to reserve your spot.
MEN’S BBQ IN AUGUST
It’s time for the men to enjoy our great Men’s BBQ at the Senior Center every month during the summer. Our next Men’s BBQ in 2024 will be Thursday, August 29th at 12pm. The cost is $3 per person and you must register in advance with your payment.
HANDLEBAR INSTALLATION PROGRAM AND INFORMATION SESSIONThe City of Foxborough is pleased to announce that we recently received a $10,000 grant from MCOA to install handicap accessible handlebars in Foxborough residents’ homes. Join Christina LaRose, Community Response Social Worker, on Wednesday, August 21st at 4pm to learn more about this program and how you can have your name added to the list of installations. There will also be pizza at this presentation!! Register in advance if you would like to attend.
Questions and answers with the city administrator
City Manager Paige Duncan is at the Senior Center every month for coffee and conversation. In July, she will be joining us on Monday, August 26th at 11am. Paige will be with us at the Senior Center every fourth Monday of the month at 11am and will update us on what’s happening in Foxboro. This is a great opportunity for you to join the conversation and get your questions answered. Register in advance to reserve your spot.
BEFORE BROOKLYN
Join us on Wednesday, September 4 at 4 p.m. for our program, “Before Brooklyn: The Unsung Heroes Who Helped Break Baseball’s Color Barrier.” When Jackie Robinson took the field for the Brooklyn Dodgers on April 15, 1947, he made history by breaking Major League Baseball’s longstanding ban on black players. His jersey number (42) is the only one permanently retired by all thirty Major League Baseball teams. Less well known — and largely forgotten — is that a small army of individuals fought for many long and bitter years before Robinson’s triumphant debut in Brooklyn. In this presentation, Ted Reinstein, the Chronicle’s Emmy Award-winning reporter, television host, author and journalist, tells this fascinating but somewhat obscure story from his book, “Before Brooklyn: The Unsung Heroes Who Helped Break Baseball’s Color Barrier.” It’s a story that includes former stars of the legendary Negro Leagues like Satchel Paige and “Cool Papa” Bell, as well as Moses Fleetwood Walker, the very first black player in Major League Baseball. Register in advance and join us for this informative program about a part of baseball history.
FISH AND GAME BBQ
The annual Fish and Game BBQ will be held on Saturday, September 7th from 11am-2pm. This event is coordinated by the Foxboro Fish and Game Association and will be held at 17 Neponset Heights Ave. Participants will receive salad, pasta, BBQ chicken, water and 2 alcoholic drink coupons. The event is free and open only to Foxboro residents ages 60 and older. Register as soon as possible at the Senior Center – this event always fills up quickly.
BEST OF THE BEATLES – WITH JACK CRAIG
Celebrate the Fab Four with Jack Craig on Wednesday, August 21 at 11am as they sing about two dozen of their biggest hits. From “I Want To Hold Your Hand” in 1963 to “The Long and Winding Road” in 1970, these shaggy-heads captured the attention of music lovers around the world. Doesn’t it seem like “yesterday” when we saw their first appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1964? Don’t miss out – register now and we’ll reserve your spot!
SOUND BATH
Join us at the Senior Center on Wednesday, August 21st at 2pm to experience a sound bath. A sound bath is a therapeutic and relaxing experience designed to promote mental and physical well-being. During a sound bath, participants lie or sit comfortably while a therapist plays various instruments such as singing bowls, gongs and chimes to create soothing, harmonious sounds. These sounds and vibrations can help reduce stress, relieve pain, improve sleep quality and uplift overall mood. The gentle, immersive nature of a sound bath makes it especially beneficial for seniors, providing a peaceful environment to relax, meditate and rejuvenate. This is a free program. Register in advance and don’t miss the experience!
END OF SUMMER LUAU
Join us for our 4th Annual End of Summer Luau on Wednesday, August 28th at 4pm at the Foxboro Senior Center. Enjoy the music of the islands while dining with friends. The meal includes pasta salad and Hawaiian rolls, with your choice of main course – Hawaiian pulled pork OR grilled chicken with pineapple – and a surprise dessert. Cost is $7 per person. Please RSVP in advance with your payment. Guests are asked to wear “Aloha casual attire.”
CRUSTACEANS IN THE COMMUNITY
Don’t miss a Lobster Roll for dinner at our “Crustaceans on The Foxboro Common” event on Thursday, September 5th from 4:30pm to 5:30pm. Our entertainment will include a free acoustic performance by the Gainsville Road Band. The cost is $15 per person and you must pre-order your Lobster Roll by calling the Foxboro Senior Center at 508-543-1234.
FARMERS MARKET VOUCHERS
A limited number of Farmers Market Coupons will be available for Foxborough seniors starting Tuesday, July 30 at the Foxborough Senior Center. Each participant will receive $50 in coupons to spend at local Farmers Markets. The following guidelines apply to participating in this program: You must be a Foxborough resident and at least 60 years old. Disabled individuals under 60 are eligible to participate if they live in a senior living facility that offers a community lunch program and receive benefits from a nutrition program such as the Meals on Wheels program or community lunches. Participants must have an income of $27,861 or less for individuals or $37,814 for couples. When the coupons are picked up, all participants must sign a self-declaration certifying that they meet the eligibility requirements.
Superstructures: marvels of engineering
Join us on Fridays in August at 10:30 a.m. to watch the National Geographic video series Superstructures. This television series examines the extraordinary innovations behind the most impressive structures ever built. The series will be shown on the following Fridays: August 2nd, Space Station, August 9th, Cargo Ships, August 16th, Monster Plane, August 23rd, Biggest Dome, and August 30th, Giant Car Factory. Please register and we will reserve your spot.
LYMPHATIC WORK FOR A HEALTHIER IMMUNE SYSTEM
Steve Avellino’s next 6-week course of Thursday morning classes on “Lymph Work for a Healthier Immune System” begins Thursday, July 25. This program is designed to circulate lymph fluid throughout the body to promote a healthier immune system and reduce pain.
We will continue to work on footwork exercises. Classes will be held on the following Thursdays at 9am: July 25th, August 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd and 29th.
The cost of the course is $42 per person. Register in advance with your payment.
BATTLE OF THE BRANCHES
Come to the Veterans Department and represent your branch in a Battleship Competition. Competitions will take place on the following Tuesdays from 5pm to 6pm: July 30th, August 6th, 13th and 20th. There will be 5 battles over the next 4 weeks to see who can claim the title of best branch. We will provide snacks and an award to the best teams.
Sign up and let us know you’re in.
VETERANS CLUB
The Veterans Club’s mission is to create a conversation about veterans and their stories to ensure this living history is never forgotten. The Veterans Club meets the 1st and 3rd Monday of every month at 2:30 p.m. in the Senior Center. The next Monday meeting is August 19th. Register in advance if you would like to attend.
HEARING HEALTH
On Wednesdays, August 21, August 28, September 4, 11, 18 and 25, hearing clinics will be held at the Senior Center from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. This program is free and includes a hearing test, ear wax removal, hearing aid cleaning and service by appointment. Call ahead to schedule a 20-minute appointment.
LUNCH EXCURSION
Our next lunch outing will be at Conrad’s Restaurant on Wednesday, August 21st at 1pm. Call us to register by Monday, August 19th and meet us at the restaurant on August 21st. For those requiring a minibus, arrangements must be made by Tuesday, August 20th at 11am.
CINEMA DAYS IN AUGUST
The motto of the Movie Days in August is “Godzilla”. The following films will be shown on Tuesday afternoons at 1:30 p.m.:
Tuesday, August 20 – Godzilla vs. King Kong (2021) – Kong and his protectors embark on a perilous journey to find his true home. Along for the ride are Jia and an orphaned girl who shares a unique and strong bond with the mighty beast. But they soon find themselves in the path of an enraged Godzilla, who is wreaking havoc across the globe. The initial confrontation between the two titans – instigated by unseen forces – is only the beginning of the mystery that lies deep within the planet.
Tuesday, August 27 – Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire (2024) – Godzilla and the all-powerful Kong face a massive threat hidden deep within the planet that will test their existence and the survival of humanity. Please register in advance for all or some of our monthly films.
