SENIOR HAPPENINGS

By Senior Center Director Tammy Jackman

Happy Fall Ya’ll! September came so fast I didn’t even realize I had not done an article until it was too late, so please forgive me.

August was full of cards, bunco, ladies lunch out and stitching. The trip I was trying to take to Custer’s Battlefield was put on hold until next year. They are building a new visitor’s center and everything is in an upheaval. Hopefully next year we can visit and check out their new center.

September has been filled with much of the same as the previous month except we went on our senior trip to the Range Rider’s Museum and Tongue River Winery. The museum was amazing. It was so neat to see items or pictures of someone you actually have known. The winery was of course a hit. We all knew Bob and Marilyn Thaden from when they lived here and he pastored the Congregational Church. They were very gracious hosts and showed us the process for making their wine. Then came the wine tasting of course, we all had different tastes for sure. They even had one that they said made a pretty good ice cream topping; someone did buy a bottle of it so I will have to check with them to see how good it really was. It was a difficult year at the vineyard so as soon as we left, they were headed to North Dakota to pick up more grapes.

Arthritis exercises started on Sept. 23rd at 10:00 a.m. with our new Extension Agent, Jackie Beardsley at the helm. I believe when she needs to be gone our very own Karen Amende will be helping her out. These exercises are a great way to stay limber and get in a bit of visiting while doing so. I could hear them laughing from my office so I am sure it will be fantastic. Exercises will be held on Mondays and Wednesdays at 10 a.m., just as in the previous years, excluding any holidays.

The month of October will bring back a favorite, chair yoga on Tuesdays at 9 a.m. Jackie will also be leading this group. Chair yoga is a wonderful way to get some good stretching in and it will help with balance as well. You don’t need to sign up for the arthritis exercises or the yoga, just show up and we will find a spot for you. We will be introducing a new monthly game called Mexican Train Dominoes. This game is very easy to play and a good amount of fun, in October it will be held on the 3rd at 1 p.m.

Our last trip of the season will be on October 10th. We are going to Spearfish Canyon, having lunch at the Latchstring and then stopping off at the Farmer’s Market. This has become a yearly trip for us, enjoying the colors, seeing the mountain goats, having a great meal with amazing views and of course the purchasing the last of the fall produce at the market. Please let Tammy know if you would like to go.

Ladies Lunch Out will be on the 17th at the bowling alley, please come join us for lunch and some good visiting. Bunco will be on the 24th at 1 p.m.; we can always use more players. Be sure to let Tammy know if you are interested in playing. Of course, on the other days there will be cards played. On the 31st candy will be handed out to all the trick or treaters throughout the day.

As most of you know Linda Wolff retired at the end of August and Debbie Weyer will be the person coming to see us from here on out. Debbie was Linda’s assistant. Debbie will not have an assistant. Therefore, she will only be able to come once a month during open enrollment starting October 16th. So, please let Tammy know if you need to see her as she will only be here that one day in Oct. and Nov. and appointments will fill up fast.

We have so many people to thank for their donations to the food bank. Some want to remain anonymous and that is just fine, but please know we appreciate each and every donation. For those we can name, I would like to thank Delaney Ruland and Donna Giacometto for eggs, Donna Giacometto, Rich Sparks, Shanna Talcott, Greg Childress, Shelley West who brought produce, Lisa Hart and Kendra Hartman for food pantry items and Jackie Trusler for the honey. If I have forgotten someone, please know it wasn’t intentional and we appreciate your donation.

The center will be getting its floor refinished in October; I am not certain of the time frame just yet. If you need to get a food box you can come to the back door by my office and I can help you with that but if you need to get meat or look in the food pantry, please try to get here the first week of October.

Just a reminder the center will be closed on October 14th in observance of Columbus Day.

Here’s hoping everyone has an amazing October!