Older Americans Month Events

In May we celebrate Older Americans 

SOMA Two Towns has worked with both towns to offer a series of events celebrating Older Americans.  These events focus on fitness through walking, good ways to engage in spring cleaning, day trip outings, a Seton Hall University tour, a Mother’s Day Tea, and a luncheon celebrating SOMA Older Americans.


We Need Your Help to Honor Older Americans this Month!

We need recent headshot photos of town seniors who have actively leant their time and talents to make our towns wonderful places to live. In addition, we need to know how they have contributed to the community.  Please include a short blurb (no more than 50 words) listing their local accomplishments. Send both to SOMA Two Towns at [email protected] by Monday, May 16th with Honoring Local Seniors as the email subject.  We will have a slide show at our Older Americans celebration luncheon on Tuesday, May 24th honoring our local older adults.  Reach out to Tracy at SOMA Two Towns with questions, [email protected] or 973-558-0863.

Join Your Friends and Neighbors for these Events

Walk with a Doc Every Saturday!
Maplewood Community Services and Atlantic Health 
Walk for Health, Walk for Fun
8:30 AM - 9:30AM

Open to all ages and skill levels! Converse with medical professionals and then take a walk with friends and neighbors through Maplewood parks on 
Saturday mornings beginning May 14th. Memorial Park, 580 Valley Street. Maplewood. To register please visit: https://maplewood.recdesk.com/Community/Program

Friday, May 6th

Older Americans Month Birding Walk, 8 am  Free
Early May is the best time for birding in northern NJ and the weather should be perfect on Friday for this adventure. Join local environmentalist and Village Trustee, Bill Haskins, on a 45-minute birding walk in New Waterlands Park in South Orange. Bill is excited to lead the exploration of this nestled park that is home to many local birds nesting in trees and some low-lying areas. Please wear shoes or boots for stability that can get wet just in case the terrain is damp. Also, bring binoculars and a spotting scope if you have one. The forecast calls for temps in the high 50's so wear layers you can remove as needed. Bill will provide field guides. The park address is 30 W. 3rd Street, behind the SoFi Gaslight Commons building in South Orange.  Parking at the park is readily available.  See you on Friday morning!

Wednesday, May 11^th

WALK MY WAY, 11:30 am - 1:00 pm   Free
Help Montclair kick off Older Americans Month with a fun 1 or 3 mile walk around Edgemont Park in Montclair (Valley Road across from Holland Terrace)  We are meeting in Edgemont Park, Valley Road in Montclair and will be located at the back of the driveway to entrance to park (visible from the street) on Valley Road in Montclair. The building is right next to the pond. The cross street is Holland Terrace. The entire route is flat and there are plenty of benches along the way.
• Canned goods will be collected and donated to Toni’s Kitchen 
• Walk with staff from Montclair’s heroic Health Department 
Parking is available in the circular driveway (a few handicapped spots in front of building) or on Valley Road or nearby side street called Parkway.

Mother’s Day Tea, 12:00 pm, $10 (Registration required)

Maplewood Community Services
DeHart Community Center, 120 Burnett Avenue, Maplewood
Join your friends and neighbors for a celebration of mothers at this year’s tea.  Enjoy tea sandwiches, salads, small sweets, and a wide variety of teas. Call 973-763-0705 to register.

Tuesday, May 17^th

Spring Cleaning Lunch and Learn, 11:00 am  $5
Maplewood Senior Center, 106 Burnett Avenue
With all we have accumulated over the past few years, it may be an ideal time to do some spring cleaning.  Whether you want declutter, downsize, or just thin out your possessions, it can be hard to know where to start.  This session will give you great ideas to get going and will be followed by lunch. Call 973-763-0750 to register for one of the 20 seats.

Wednesday, May 18th  

Memorial Park Nature Walk, 10:30 am -11:30 am  Free
Join Jennifer Ryan, landscape designer for the MMPC, and Deborah Lyons, MMPC board member and master gardener, for a nature walk through Maplewood’s picturesque Memorial Park. We’ll be discussing the native flora and learning about what the MMPC has done and is doing to help keep the park looking its best. 
 

Thursday, May 19^th  (New Date to be Determined)

(Will be rescheduled for a later date.) Long Branch Day Trip, 9:00 am – 4 pm (registration required) 
Enjoy the beach and the boardwalk.  Take a long stroll, listen to the crash of the waves, feel the sun on your face and perhaps the sand underfoot. Call 973-763-0750 to register.
 

Tuesday, May 24^th  

We Celebrate You!

Older Americans Month Luncheon, 11:00 am

The Woodland, 60 Woodland Avenue, Maplewood
Celebrate and honor older Americans in our community through a memorial slide show.  Our community would not be as beautiful or as welcoming without the many contributions long-time and newer older adult residents have made through tireless volunteerism and leadership. Remarks will be provided by our town officials followed by a delicious luncheon. Please send headshot photos of seniors you want to be included in the slideshow with a short blurb describing their service to our community. 

Wednesday, May 25^th  

Meditation Walk, 9 am – 11 am  Free
SOMA Two Towns for All Ages and the Maplewood Health Department
Join us to learn about the health benefits of walking and explore two quiet meditative spaces.  Walk from a local labyrinth to a serene garden.  Meet at Prospect Presbyterian Church, 646 Prospect Street.  The walk will be led by Candice Davenport, Maplewood Health Officer.

Thursday, May 26^th  

Seton Hall Walking Tour, 9 am – 11 am  Free
SOMA Two Towns for All Ages and Seton Hall University
Spring is the perfect time to get acquainted with our local university on this guided walking tour. The meeting location will be provided closer to the tour date. Wear comfortable shoes and make sure your smartphone is charged so you can take photos. We are hoping for a warm sunny day!

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THANK YOU TO ALL THE PARTICIPATING ORGANIZATIONS WHO HELPED MAKE OUR VOLUNTEER FAIR A BIG SUCCESS!  

AARP TAX AIDE, ACHIEVE FOUNDATION, CHS SCHOLARSHIP FUND, DURAND-HEDDEN,  INTERFAITH FOOD PANTRY OF THE ORANGES, JESPY HOUSE, MAPLEWOOD CIVIC ASSOCIATION, MAPLEWOOD MEMORIAL PARK CONSERVANCY, MEND, MORROW'S NEIGHBOR TO NEIGHBOR PROGRAM, REPAIR CAFE, SOMA INTERFAITH HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE COMMITTEE, SOUTH MOUNTAIN CONSERVANCY, SOUTH ORANGE-MAPLEWOOD ADULT SCHOOL, AND SOUTH ORANGE PUBLIC LIBRARY. 

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SOMA Two Towns for All Ages is supported through the generosity of The Grotta Fund  for Senior Care and under the auspices of the Township of Maplewood and Village of South Orange.  SOMA Two Towns for All Ages is a proud member of the AARP Network of Livable Communities.