Seniors and older adults enjoyed a live musical performance by award-winning Elvis tribute artist Dan Fontaine, accompanied by Brian Martin and Henry James of the Memphis Sun Mafia Band at Plummer Place in Whitinsville on June 29th.

The band took those in attendance on a melodious journey through the catalog of Elvis Presley, treating a packed dining room at the Northbridge Senior Center with a nod to the King’s musical legacy.

 Bill Ballou charts the history of the Whitin family at Plummer Place.

Seniors sang and danced to Elvis’s No. 1 hit “Heartbreak Hotel” and such favorites as “Blue Suede Shoes,” “Don’t Be Cruel,” “Hound Dog,” “Love Me Tender” and “All Shook Up.”

A Memphis-themed barbecue lunch catered by Creedon and Co. Inc. was thoroughly enjoyed by all. Struggles and Snuggles, a local nonprofit, which has partnered with Plummer Place to bring handmade knitted items to children in foster care, was represented, as was Atria Draper Place and Cornerstone of Milford which donated several Elvis-themed gift baskets.

“It was great to see so many friends and new faces at Plummer Place,” Director Kelly Bol said. “Dan’s performances never disappoint the crowd and we all enjoy the music and songs he and his band play.”

Joan and Deb finish their magic mushroom, part of a PopUp Craft event at the Uxbridge Senior Center.

“The Elvis tribute is probably my most favorite event of the year to host at Plummer Place!” Amy Cowen, program and volunteer coordinator at Plummer Place at the Northbridge Senior Center, said. “The day the tickets went on sale we sold out in an hour and forty minutes. I have a great volunteer team and I couldn’t do what I do for the event and our seniors without all of them. They really are a special group of folks. The seniors who came to the event were so happy and we had many folks in their late 80s and early 90s on the dance floor. It was incredible! As one concertgoer shared with me, ‘you could feel the magic in the air’ and I couldn’t have agreed more with him.”

The concert was sponsored by the Friends of Northbridge Elders Inc. (FINE). For more information about Plummer Place or FINE, call 508-234-2002.

Bill Ballou talks about the Whitin family

Who were the Whitins? What were their stories? Seniors at Plummer Place enjoyed a unique chance to learn about one of American’s Industrial Revolution families right here in the Blackstone River Valley from Bill Ballou.

Mr. Ballou was born in Whitinsville and is a correspondent for the Telegram & Gazette.

“I really enjoyed the program today. I learned so much and everyone loved it,” Carol Snow, a member of FINE’s Board, said. “Bill was so interesting, funny and had a great delivery!”

New Uxbridge Senior Center shuttle debuts

The Uxbridge Senior Center’s Transportation Program recently began offering a new service, a community shuttle to take seniors and individuals with disabilities to destinations such as the post office, pet-care appointments, the hair salon or barber shop, the bank, the pharmacy and shopping in the Northbridge-Uxbridge area.

The shuttle runs every Wednesday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. with a 48-hour notice.

It will replace the bank and pharmacy rides on the first and third Wednesdays and the Shaw’s/Ocean State Job Lot rides on the second and fourth Thursdays.

Call the Senior Center at 508-278-8622 for further details.

Douglas launches new-van naming contest

The Adult Social Center in Douglas announced recently that a new van has been acquired, with delivery soon, for shopping, medical appointments, etc. A contest is being conducted on what to name the van; contribute your suggestion!

On another note, approximately $30 billion in benefits go unclaimed every year because people are unaware they are eligible to receive them. Go to www.BenefitsCheckUp.org to learn more.