Free and Low Cost
Things to Do

WALKING

Ipswich River Park - This lovely park, located in North Reading, features walking paths, horseshoe and tennis courts, many benches, places for children, skating, and biking. This is a people friendly park with people in the park, even in the winter. The paths are plowed when it snows and it has a half mile oval you can walk around or take smaller walks along the river. (directions and map.)

Andover High School - The Field House will be open for walking from Dec 12 - March 10. Monday, Wednesday and Fridays from 6:15 - 7:15 am and 8:30 - 9:30 pm. Note - Track will be closed on days when school is closed.

Phillips Andover - The school's gymnasium, The Cage, is available for public use from October through May and the Cochran Sanctuary is open year-round. The Cage is open for walking from 7 to 11 a.m. It is always comfortable, with both heating and cooling, and also has a handrail around the track for those who have visual or balance problems. The Cochran nature sanctuary is beautiful and the rhododendrons are spectacular in the spring. This also has a paved path. (Map and directions for (Cochran Sanctuary and The Cage.)

Malls - Many local malls are open for walking before the mall opens for business. This is especially nice during the winter, when walking outside may be too cold or treacherous.

Rockingham Mall in NH opens at 6 am for walking. Use entrance between Ruby Tuesday and Filenes (side away from racetrack)

Some good reasons to walk in the mall.

• Out of the weather: Inside a climate controlled mall, walkers can dress comfortably and not worry about wind, rain, snow, ice, heat.
• Away from the traffic: No intersections to cross, broken glass or bushes obstructing the path, auto fumes or rush hour.
• Security: Walking with others and with mall security on duty.
• Restrooms and water: always nearby in the mall.

AVIS Reservations - Maintained by the Andover Village Improvement Society (AVIS), these are great places in Andover to get away in the woods. There are marked trails but no paved walkways. (See web site. Click the Back button to return to this site.)

MOVIES & ENTERTAINMENT

Andover Senior Center - Movies first Monday of the month at 1 p.m. (See Calendar for listing.)

Lawrence Cinemas - The first Monday of every month, $1.00 gets you a free popcorn and drink along with a movie.

Memorial Hall Library - The Andover library shows movies Wednesday evenings. Admission is free. (See web site, including film series information and schedule. Click the Back button to return to this site.)

Merrimack College - Rogers Center - The college performing arts center offers free movies during the year as well as some low-cost music and shows.

International Film Series is held on Tuesday and the Tambakos Film Festival is held on Wednesdays. Pre-screening talks are at 6:30 p.m. with coffee and cookies followed by the movie at 7 p.m.
Both series are FREE

The Rogers Center
in Merrimack College provides free parking and great entertainment. Some of the upcoming shows are listed below. Most tickets need to be purchased prior to performance day in order to receive the Senior Discount.

Phillips Academy - There are a wide variety of events at the school, everything from public concerts/shows to lectures, many of them with free admission or discounts for seniors. (See school's event calendar. Click the Back button to return to this site.)

LIKE READING?

Do you like to read but you are having trouble seeing or getting to the library? Andover Memorial Library has many books on tape or on CD's. They also have large-print books. If you cannot get to the library they will deliver them to you. Volunteers select and deliver library materials to Andover residents who have difficulty coming to the library because of age, illness, or temporary or permanent disability. For more information contact Gerry Deyermond 978-623-8401 x35 or email gdeyermond@mhl.org (Details listed on web site. Click the Back button to return to this site.)

FOOD

WILD HARVEST in Andover observes Senior Days on Thursdays. There is a 5% senior discount all day and 10% after 6 pm.

LOW-SALT DIET? - Watch the water

Andover water contains over 60 mg/liter sodium, and exceeds the states recommendations for the maximum amount of sodium allowed in its water. The Abbott well tests at 43 mg/liter. Andover Water Dept tested other sources of water available and on 12/04 they tested as:

Almost Free Water - You can bring your own bottles to the Monadnock water fill-up in North Reading and get water for 25¢ a gallon at any time. If you are a senior and come weekdays between the hours of 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. you can receive two gallons for 25¢. The senior discount is only available at the left-most fill up (the one with the red button).
(Directions: 217 Main Street, North Reading next to North Reading Hardware and across from the Horseshoe Lounge)

LOVE TO GARDEN?

Free compost is available from the Town of Andover at High Plain Road (Bald Hill area).

No garden of your own?

• Call a church to see if they would like someone to maintain their garden.
• Check with a garden club and see if you can help with some 'beautify the town' garden projects
• Ask at the Senior Center if anyone needs help with their home garden
• Visit Stevens Coolidge home in North Andover to view a beautiful garden - free

PASSES

Museums - Andover Memorial Library offers free passes to the following museums: (These links will take you to the listed museum's site. Click the Back button to return to this site.)

• The Children's Museum - Boston
• Discovery Museums - Acton
• Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum - Boston
• John F. Kennedy Library and Museum - Boston
• Museum of Fine Arts - Boston
• Museum of Science - Boston
• New England Aquarium - Boston
• Peabody Essex Museum - Salem
• Zoo New England - Boston

You can reserve passes online or go to the library and pick them up. (Details on passes listed on web site. Click the Back button to return to this site.)

Golden Age Passport - This $10 pass admits seniors (62+) free to most Federal gov't building & parks and offers substantial discounts on many use fees. Examples: Plum Island, Saugus Iron Works, parks operated by National Parks Service. (See web site. Click the Back button to return to this site.)

Senior Pass for MBTA Travel - The MBTA offers senior passes. It's only 50¢ for a lifetime pass, which offers seniors half-price fair on Commuter Rail (in/out of Boston, in between towns, etc.), 25¢ rides T buses and 35¢ for T subway trains. Using commuter rail, seniors can travel between local towns, e.g. from Andover to downtown Reading, Haverhill, etc.
(Click Application for MBTA Senior Pass, wait till document completely loads and then print. Click back button to return)

TRIPS

Andover to Haverhill - With the Senior Pass the commuter rail cost is $1.60. The train station is in the Historic Art District of Haverhill. List of shops, cafes and galleries. Click the Back button to return to this site.

Andover to Reading - Cost of the trip is $1.60. The station is next to "Certainly Wood" an unfinished furniture shop, Atlantic Supermarket is about 1/2 block away. List of nearby shops.

Haverhill to NH and Maine - In Haverhill you can make connections to the "Downeaster" and visit Wells, Old Orchard Beach, Portland and more. 50% Senior Discount For Tuesday - Thursday Travel.

Thrift Shops

Andover - The Andover Thrift Shop, 10 Park Street (978-475-0957) downtown offers quality used clothes, jewelry, purses and more. There is also The Mercantile (68 Park St. )

Nearby Towns - Many other neighboring towns have thrift shops; there are ones in Haverhill, Methuen, Billirica, and Lawrence. There are Salvation Army stores in Haverhill and Wilmington (search for stores on the web site).

Miscellaneous

Boston and neighboring towns - Even though this takes you to a site titled babyzone, it has many fun and free things to do in the Boston area.

Memorial Hall Library - The Andover library will provide packages to sick persons and will also deliver materials to homebound individuals who can't get to the library. You can receive books, large print books, audio tapes and CD's (See details on web site.)

Meals on Wheels - The local program offers meals to seniors, delivered to their homes. (See details on our Services page.)

Senior Discounts - This web site lets you search a list of senior discounts across the country.