Do you enjoy visiting new destinations: museums, historical sites and scenic vistas that offer new perspectives? Or maybe you just want to revisit familiar places you haven’t seen for a while. But you find it difficult because you no longer appreciate the unexpected surprises driving through unfamiliar city neighborhoods or on congested, bumper-to-bumper highways.

If you are interested in visiting new or familiar sites while letting someone else do the driving, the Center’s Travel Club is scheduling several trips for this summer and fall. But they want to know what trips folks are interested in. They are considering trips to the Oregon Gardens in Silverton, a cruise and lunch on the Portland Spirit, a cruise on the Sternwheeler combined with a visit to the Interpretive Center in Stevenson, and a tour of the Warm Springs Museum. The estimated cost of each trip is between $40 and $60 which includes transportation, and will take place on Tuesdays or Fridays. If you are interested in any of these trips, call, email or drop by the Center to complete an interest form and you will be the first to know when the trips are scheduled.

 And as a once-in-a-while reminder, particularly now that the weather is more accommodating in Portland, (how many times have I left a sunny and warm The Dalles, forgetting that further west, I would need a jacket and an umbrella), the LINK offers trips into Portland every Tuesday and Thursday, except for major holidays, for $8.00 each way. It is first come, first served, so there are no reservations. You do have to get up early as the bus leaves The Dalles at 7:30 AM, but returns by 5:10. Stops include Gateway Max Station, the Portland Art Museum, OHSU, and Clackamas Town Center. For the most current information, call LINK at 541-296-7595.

And this summer at the Portland Art Museum, you can view an international exhibition showing the art, design, and evolution of Paris’ most famous garden: the Tuileries Garden. Admission for adults over 55 is $17. And if your art interests are more local, The Dalles Art Center’s July Show features the work of 2D artist, Dennis McGregor, and 3D artist, Kris Joy. The opening reception, which gives you an opportunity to meet the artists, will be held this Thursday, July 3rd, from 5-7 p.m.

 The Center will be closed on the fourth, but thanks to the generous support of businesses and individuals, you can enjoy all the 4th of July activities at the Lewis and Clark Festival Park; as well as the 10:00 parade and the KODL Home Town Hero Chicken BBQ from 11:00 – 2:00 between 1st and 2nd on Federal Street. And the day ends with a big exclamation point: one of the best fireworks shows in the Northwest!

Martin and Friends will be playing their crowd pleasing country music at the Center on Tuesday, July 8th. Doors open at 6:00 and music starts at 7:00. All ages are welcome and donations are appreciated.

Soon the heat will drop by like an uninvited guest on a Friday night. And during those warm Thursday and Saturday evenings, you can play Bingo at the Center where it is cool and comfortable. Games start at 6:00 PM, the minimum buy-in is $10 and an average of over $1000 is paid out each night. For just a little more than the cost of a movie ticket, you can help support Meals-on-Wheels on Thursdays, the Center on Saturdays; and have a chance to take home some spare cash for that special occasion. (But there will not be Bingo on July 3rd.)

The answer to last week’s “Remember When” question is Casey Stengel, the coach of the New York Yankees from 1949 until 1960 during which time he won seven world series including an amazing five straight from 1949 – 1953. (And the winners of a Cowboy breakfast on July 19th are Bob Brockman and Virgil Choate.)

Let’s stick with sports for another week, but try another game where you need to hit the long ball. Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player were the top golfers of the sixties. But who was considered the best golfer in the fifties, winning 82 PGA tour events during his career including being the first player to win PGA Tour titles in four different decades, although he never won the US Open? E-mail your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788 or mail your answer written inside a straw hat.

Well, it’s been another week swinging, but seldom connecting. Until we meet again, keep your eye on the ball and aim for the fences.

“Never make predictions, especially about the future.” Casey Stengel