Members of the Merrimack Senior Citizens Club and their guests pause for a photo during a July 9 trip to Maine with tour bus operator Rick Blauvelt, left, an Amesbury resident and driver since 1977 with The Coach Company, an enterprise of 60 years based in Plaistow. Photo by LORETTA JACKSON

MERRIMACK – Opportunities abound for area senior citizens who embrace life enrichment experiences in the local community and elsewhere.

The Merrimack Senior Citizen Club (MSSC) is one active group of residents, men and women of age 55 or more. Several dozen of 160 on the membership rolls meet most Mondays at 1 p.m. at the John O’Leary Adult Community Center, 4 Church Street, alongside the Merrimack Public Library.

Lorraine Y. Lessard, club e-news editor and the elected coordinator of trips and events, recently shared the club’s mission:

“The club’s purpose is to serve in the best interest of the town’s seniors and to develop social interest and a feeling of true friendship within the club,” she said.

The roster of recent events for the club included a July 9 excursion to Maine via a tour bus with a capacity of 56 passengers contracted from The Coach Company, based in Plaistow.

Rick Blauvelt, a resident of Amesbury and a driver with the company since 1977, exemplified in fine style the company’s slogan, “Serving New England for 60 Years.”

Bingo cards distributed by Lessard during the trip to Maine eventually granted modest cash prizes to some lucky riders. A grand finale to the bingo games was a raffle of four drawings of $40 each that awarded four more winners.

The group of 39 passengers arrived after a ride of less than two hours for a pause at When Pigs Fly bakery in Kittery, Me. Baked breads, cinnamon rolls, brownies and other sweets were purchased.

The travelers then patronized Norma’s Restaurant, opened in York by the family in 1996. There, club members enjoyed a preselected breakfast or lunch. Scrambled eggs. Chicken salad sandwich. Soup. Restaurant namesake and owner Norma Clark, who turned 80 in May, hobnobbed with her fellow elders.

Not to be missed was a shopping jaunt at the regional headquarters of Stonewall Kitchen Family of Brands in York. Gourmet foods including candy, jellies and jams went home with shoppers.

Later, there was an ice cream break at Ellis Park’s Short Sands Beach. Well appreciated was the adjacent Cape Neddick Light in York.

The lighthouse built in 1879 perches upon the 2.8 acres of Nubble Island, a promontory whose 41-foot height is raised by its bedrock base to 88 feet above sea level. (mainetourism.com).

York Beach was a final destination, luring the visitors for a two-hour respite to enjoy its boardwalk, beach, gazebo, shady pavilion and gift shops.

The MSSC hosts a variety of events throughout the year. Some funds raised are earmarked as scholarships for seniors at Merrimack High School. Charity donations are traditional.

Popular activities for MSSC members include Line Dancing, Mahjong, Stitches & Crafts and Seated Therapeutic Yoga, along with Bingo events. Ice Cream Socials and Holiday parties celebrate Valentine’s Day, 4th of July, Halloween and Christmas.

Irene Jenness, MSSC president, lamented that she was engaged elsewhere on the day of the trip to Maine. Nevertheless, she congratulated all involved for the planning and flawless execution of yet another senior trip.

“I invite all seniors in Merrimack and our surrounding towns to join their choice of a vibrant social club, one that provides events, activities, trips and a chance to develop true friendships,” Jenness added.

More information on the activities of the Merrimack Senior Citizens Club is available online merrimacknh.gov.

Emails for information also are welcome to Irene Jenness — irejenss@yahoo.com — or Lorraine Lessard — lorraine_lessard@yahoo.com.