A huge “thank you” goes out to the people who came to the senior center breakfast fundraiser this past Sunday. We really, really appreciate your support. Thanks also goes out to our extremely hard-working volunteers. They really are second to none and do make a world of difference to the success of our senior center. Now that the breakfast is over, it’s time to move on to our special May events.
May is Older Americans Month (OAM) — a time to honor older Americans and celebrate their contributions to our communities and nation.
One special event we hold during OAM is the Over 90’s Party. People ages 90-plus will be honored at the senior center on Monday, May 20 at noon, beginning with a goulash dinner. Then the special guests will be introduced. We hope many people can attend this event and help us honor our guests. The meal cost for those under age 90 is $5 and there is no charge for people 90-plus. Please sign up by May 15 at 763-25-2000.
Another OAM we offer each year is our Senior Hobby Day. This very enjoyable intergenerational event will be held on Tuesday, May 14 from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Hundreds of elementary school students and their teachers will be attending throughout the day. More people are needed to display and/or demonstrate their hobbies. Please contact me if you can help. Lunch will be provided for the displayers.
In celebration of National Active Aging Month and Older Americans Month, Odom Rehab and Willows Landing will give a very useful presentation at the senior center.
They will offer hands-on recommendations for staying active and strong during the aging process. This session will be held on Wednesday, May 15 at 10 a.m. There will be free giveaways and prize drawings. Please sign up in advance if you would like to attend, 763-295-2000. This event will be worth your time.
By giving some of your time, you can change lives. In a May 10 service and social event, you will work with others to prepare activity kits for upcoming intergenerational activities and discover how you can make a difference through volunteering and other simple acts of kindness.
The event is co-sponsored by AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP, The Wave Youth Center, and Monticello Senior Center and will be held at our center from 10 a.m. to noon. Registration in advance is required for space limitations and refreshments, so please call 763-765-3036 if interested.
The senior center’s HOME Program provides a number of valuable services that enable older adults to remain in their homes longer. I was just told by HOME staff last week that they are able to accommodate more lawn mowing requests for this season. You can call Kelly at 763-231-6281 for more information.
Get tech support
An off-shoot of the HOME Program is Tech Support. If you are having issues with your laptop, cell phone, tablet or other technology equipment and are at least 60 years old, I encourage you to make an appointment with our TECH Services program.
This is a free service that will be offered every Tuesday, effective this month. You can get help with adjusting settings for basic use, communication, online safety, and security; personalizing your device for your needs and interests; find and use functions, services, and apps that will be most helpful to you.
This service is provided as part of the HOME program and funded, in part, by Hennepin and Wright Counties and the Minnesota Department of Human Services. Call the center at 763-295-2000 to schedule your appointment.
The HOME Program and TECH services are provided at our senior center thanks to Senior Community Services, which also provides Caregiver Services in Monticello.
Licensed Social Worker Becky Allard can help you get the support you need to sustain your ability to provide help and maintain your own life balance. You can make a one-on-one appointment for individualized support, guidance, or advice.
You can also attend the monthly Caregiver Support Group, which will be meeting on Thursday, May 9 from 10:30 a.m. to noon. You can contact Becky at 612-804-0968 or b.allard@seniorcommunity.org.
Memory Café
Caregivers and their loved ones are encouraged to attend the next Memory Café that will be held on Wednesday, May 15 from 1:30 to 3 p.m. at the Crow River Senior Center in St. Michael.
We hope you can join in as guest activity facilitators from Wright County Extension Master Gardeners lead people through a fun project. There is no charge to attend, and you are asked to sign up in advance and can do so by calling the Crow River Senior Center at 763-497-8900. Caregivers have the option to attend a concurrent caregiver support group.
The senior center Book Club will meet on Wednesday, May 8 at 9:30 a.m. They will be discussing the book “Songbirds” by Christy Lefteri.
You can also pick up the next book the group will be reading.
You can get your blood pressure checked at the senior center on Tuesday, May 14 anytime between 11 a.m. and noon. Nurse Ali from St. Benedict’s Senior Community will be here to provide this valuable service and you do not have to sign up in advance.
If you like to embroider, crochet, sew, scrapbook, etc., check out the Handiwork Group activity we are starting at the center next month. People should bring their projects to the center on the second Tuesday of each month (May 14) at 12:30 p.m. to socialize with others. There is no instructor, just people with projects getting together.
The Team Pool Tournament with the Elk River Senior Activity Center will take place in Elk River on Wednesday, May 8 at 9 a.m., and the winning team gets to hang the traveling plaque in their center for the next month. Our Cue Masters won the tournament last month and we hope they do again this month.
Jim Stewart was the last cribbage tournament winner, with Bill Lansing coming in second place, and Larry Dammann third. Last week’s euchre tournament winner was Marv Kuechle. Robert Muckenhirn came in second place and Ed Lewis third.
Activities for the week
Friday, May 3: 8 a.m. ceramics; 8:30-11 a.m. Pickleball; 9 a.m. painting class; 9:30 a.m. Guided Autobiography class; 10 a.m. Women’s Pool; noon dinner; 1 p.m. euchre tournament
Saturday, May 4: 8 a.m. – noon center open
Monday, May 6: 7-11 a.m. Pickleball; 8 a.m. ceramics, casino trip; 9 a.m. cribbage tournament; 1 p.m. bridge, Movie Monday, knitting class
Tuesday, May 7: 7-11 a.m. Pickleball; 8:30 a.m. Tech Support (by appt. only); 10:30 a.m. choir, line dancing; noon dinner; 1 p.m. Hand and Foot
Wednesday, May 8: 8 a.m. ceramics; 9 a.m. Team Pool Tournament; 9:30 a.m. Book Club; 10 a.m. Bible Study; noon dinner; 1 p.m. 500 tournament
Thursday, May 9: 7-11 a.m. Pickleball; 9 a.m. bike group; 10:30 a.m. Caregiver Support Group, bingo; noon dinner; 1 p.m. bridge
Friday, May 10: 8 a.m. ceramics; 8:30-11 a.m. Pickleball; 9 a.m. painting class; 9:30 a.m. Guided Autobiography class; 10 a.m. Women’s Pool, Giving Time Changing Lives event; noon dinner; 1 p.m. euchre tournament
Dinner program menu
Monday, May 6: No meal today
Tuesday, May 7: Teriyaki, egg roll, fried rice, fortune cookie
Wednesday, May 8: Jumbo shrimp, garlic mashed potatoes, corn, salad, dinner roll
Thursday, May 9: Hot beef sandwich, mashed potatoes, gravy, vegetables
Friday, May 10: Tater tot hotdish, salad, dinner roll
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