b'Join us in Celebration of the AuditProgram, whichallowsNJ high holy days residents62and St. Patricks Day older to audit reg-ular classes at pub-Tuesday, March 17 Tuesday, March 17lic colleges for free, ifthereisspace May your thirst availableinthe for life class.Notonly learning the piano never run dry but also getting as involvedasIcan Experience the best of with learning mu- FORT members toured the BAPS Swaminarayan Akshard-Irelands Pub traditions sic, even writing aham Hindu temple in Robbinsville, NJ in November. Photo Family Friendlylittle music. Thatcredit: Cindy Perman.Good Cheer also requires a lot of practice time at home. theplanningcommitteeleadsthe Dine with us NeilsonandEastwoodenjoyevents, but if members have ideas to FIRESIDE FORT as a way to find interestinggo somewhere and want to lead, they Authentic Irish Cuisine, Irish Coffee, Fine Wines things to do and meet new people.can. This is particularly great as an and Irish Whiskey worthy of Celtic Kings Theysharedtheirloveofcyclingoutlet for people who have manage-with the group, with Eastwood lead- rial skills from a former career.ing the fall bike ride at Duke Farms.Ithinkinitiallyitwasntreally 167 Maplewood Avenue Theyveenjoyedsomeoftheotherabouttakingtripstogether,itwas Maplewood Village 973-378-2222 outings, too. about trying to figure out this time of Imaculture[junkie].FORTlife for us. It just felt like there was an ST. JAMESS GATE APPAREL AND GIFT CARDS AVAILABLE has a lot of members who also are,unmet need in the community, Co-stjamesgatemaplewood.com not surprising, given the proximityviello says. It felt like something big-to New York City, Eastwood says.ger we were trying to offer people.FORThasalsobeenhelpfulforFinding a new identity can be hard meetingpeopleIotherwisemightfor people in retirement, Levine says. not meet and going to places I didntThey have spent much of their life know about, such as regional theatergettingtheiridentitythroughtheir and the Hindu temple.work or as the parents of their chil-Not only have I met new people,dren, who have now flown the nest.IhavereconnectedorconnectedThis can be a really wonderful with people who were literally neigh- time of life. We want to make sure bors of mine in Maplewood, who Ithat its wonderful for us, and wed just never really knew well becauselike others to also have a great retire-our kids ages didnt line up, Coviel- ment, Levine adds. Weve learned lo says. They came to meetings, wethat retirement can mean a million started talking and really hit it off. Sodifferent things to a million different thats been great.people, but we want to open people Some of the events are held duringup to the possibilities.theweek,becauseitslesscrowded.Joining FORT is free. There are But there are also weekend events.norequirements.Theydonteven Althoughmanyeventsarefun,check IDs to make sure youre over that isnt always the goal. Sometimes50. You can just attend events that its to create a group for people inyoure interested in as often as you the same boat, such as single womenlike. FORT has a Facebook page, but or retirees who are supporting theirthe best way to find out about up-adult children.coming events is through the groups A committee of about eight peo- email newsletter. To sign up, email plemeetsmonthlytoplanevents.AlanLevineatalevine.mustang@They send out surveys to the mem- gmail.com. bers to ask what people are interestedCindyPermanisafreelancewriter, in doing. They also use chatbots toeditor and pet sitter, who lives in Ma-helpgenerateideasandfindlocalplewood. She is looking forward to re-speakers.Usuallysomeonefromtiring one day and is taking notes!28/ matters magazine / winter 2026'