Dutchess Senior Picnic Program underway

DUTCHESS COUNTY, N.Y. » The Dutchess County Office for the Aging’s 2018 Senior Picnic Program starts Wednesday, May 30, at Thomas J. Boyce Park, 6423 state Route 55, Wingdale, for residents of the towns of Amenia, Dover, Pawling and Union Vale.

Dutchess County residents ages 60 and over are invited to socialize with their friends and neighbors at the event designated for their hometown, enjoy a nutritious meal and learn more about the programs and services offered by the Office for the Aging. Other county departments, as well as businesses and non-profit organizations whose services may be of interest to seniors, will also be on hand. All picnics begin at noon.

Seating at picnics is limited. Reservations and proof of residency are required. Call (866) 486-2555 to make a reservation.

The May 30 picnic in Wingdale is already at maximum capacity, and no more reservations are being accepted. There is a $4 charge for anyone 59 or younger or non-resident guests. A senior may reserve a seat for one nonresident guest.

Attendees are invited to bring their unused and/ or expired medications to the senior picnic to be disposed of in convenient drop boxes. In addition to prescription medications, residents can also dispose of ointments, inhalers and over-the-counter medications. Medications should be brought in their original packaging inside sealable plastic bags.

Needles, syringes and lancets, or “sharps” of any kind, will not be accepted. Contact the Office for the Aging to find out more about safe sharps-disposal options.

For those unable to attend a picnic, medication disposal sites, open 24 hours a day, are available at these locations:

• Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office, 150 N. Hamilton St., Poughkeepsie.

• East Fishkill Police Department, 2468 Route 52, Hopewell Junction.

• Hyde Park Police Department, 3 Cardinal Road, Hyde Park.

• City of Beacon Police Department, 1 Municipal Plaza, Beacon.

• Town of Poughkeepsie Police Department, 19 Tucker Drive, Poughkeepsie.

• Wappingers Falls Police Department, 2628 South Ave., Wappingers Falls.

• State police, Troop K Headquarters, 2541 U.S. Route 44 in Salt Point.

Additionally, a disposal site at the Red Hook Police Department, 7467 South Broadway, Red Hook, is available daily between 8 a.m. and midnight. In Millerton, village police are available to accept medications from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays, on Saturdays from noon to midnight and on Sundays from 4 p.m. to midnight. In Pawling, call (845) 4863800 for drug drop-off assistance at the sheriff’s office substation, 9 Memorial Ave., Pawling.

Sponsorships for the picnics are still available. Volunteers of all ages are needed at many picnics to help with setting up, bringing meals to attendees with mobility issues and cleanup. Call the Office for the Aging at (845) 486-2555 for more information, or email bjones@ dutchessny.gov.

A complete listing of Dutchess County Senior Picnics is available at w w w.dutchesnny.gov/SeniorPicnic.