The Department of Parks and Recreation has a variety of programming for seniors.
By: Amy Filippone, Dept. of Parks & Recreation
The Moorestown Parks and Recreation Department has senior citizen programs that meet every week. A big thank-you to the Moorestown Garden Club who volunteer four times a year to help the Tuesday group make beautiful flower arrangements. Last year, there were three sing-alongs of Irish music with Ian Gallagher. Every December, the seniors have a holiday luncheon at a lovely restaurant, and through the course of the year pickleball, yoga, bowling and a summer concert series is on offer for seniors. Three to four bus trips are also planned for 2018 (see contact information below for bus trips). For further information, call the Department of Parks and Recreation at (856)914–3025.
Every Wednesday and Friday from 9 a.m. to noon there’s a senior pinochle group at the New Albany Senior Center. I met with the group on a snowy Friday morning in early February. The group was small because of the weather, but there was a lot of laughter and a very warm welcome.
Frank X. McAleer is the current group leader and has been playing here for 15 to 20 years.
“Normally we have 12 people playing pinochle,” McAleer said.
When he first started playing, he didn’t know anyone. Now he has a list of more than 100 players that spans townships.
“We play other places too — in Maple Shade and Cinnaminson, but it’s different at Moorestown,” McAleer said. “It’s better because of the format. This is what I call “standard” pinochle. You play four people or three, and you play to 120. Over in Cinnaminson and Maple Shade, they play round robin where you sit at a table, and the two losers stay. The two winners go to the next table and they split. They only play four hands. This is a much better format.”
“It’s a good game,” said Dan MacKinnon. “It’s an easy game.”
On Tuesdays from noon to 3 p.m. a senior women’s group meets. The activities range from playing games, cards or on this particular Tuesday, Feb. 6th a Valentine’s flower arrangement with roses and white carnations.
“We come in four times a year and incorporate the basic techniques of flower arranging,” said Stacy Schaffer of the Moorestown Garden Club.
Dolores Wolfram is the organizer of the Tuesday group, she doesn’t run it.
“They run it. I’m just a figurehead and make sure everything is running good,” Wolfram said. “They need napkins, I do that. They need something else I do that.”
Dolores is a born and bred Moorestonian and has been involved with the group for 20 to 25 years.
“We used to meet at the Moorestown Community House now we meet here [at the New Albany Senior Center],” Wolfram said.
Occasionally they’ll have lunch, play bingo or Rummikub. The book swap is also very popular. New faces are most welcome.
Terry Kelly organizes three to four bus trips each year for all seniors. The next one is on March 21. A bus leaves from the Presbyterian Church at 10 a.m. and arrives at the Culinary School, Careme, in Atlantic County where students prepare and serve lunch. Then, it’s on to Resorts Casino in Atlantic City for hopefully some luck and fun. Bus returns to Moorestown around 6pm. Cost is $35, and $15 in slot money is included.
On May 31, there’s a trip to the Pines Dinner Theatre in Allentown, Pa. It includes a matinee show, Yankee Doodle Dandy and lunch. Price is to be determined.
Please call Terry at (856)866–1869 to sign up for the bus trips.
So come out and meet your some of your wiser Moorestown neighbors.
“It’s really about the ‘chat,’” Wolfram said. “We compare notes. You learn things.”
