Millerton senior center nurtures a community

MILLERTON — The NorthEast-Millerton Library hosts the Senior Friendship Center weekly in the Annex.

Working with the Dutchess County Office for the Aging (OFA), the Friendship center is provides seniors free or reduced-cost lunch from Monday through Thursday. In addition to this, many different games and activities are offered.

Martha Schultz, OFA’s Millerton Site Manager, said, “Studies have shown that participating in brain games helps reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s and dementia.”

OFA creates a community that welcomes everybody who needs an extra helping hand. The activities that the Friendship Center provides include art presentations, holiday parties, concerts, movies, bingo and nutrition counseling.

OFA organizes the program in hopes of providing more resources to older adults. The office coordinates community-based services to people who may require assistance in the long-term care system to promote independence and quality of life.

OFA’s next big community event is its Summer Picnic that will be held on July 17 at 12 p.m.

Brian Jones, OFA’s Outreach Coordinator, said, “That’s when the OFA Summer Picnic serving older adults in Millerton/North East, Pine Plains, Stanford, and Millbrook [which] will be held at 12 noon at Stissing Mountain High School in Pine Plains. Assuming decent weather, we’ll get 200-300 seniors.”

The center is open Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and is located in the Main room in the Annex, 28 Century Blvd.