Memorial Day weekend – the traditional beginning of summer – is over and now it is time to tackle the thrills and chills of rock climbing, sky diving and hang gliding. Maybe not? Okay, how about something a little safer and less strenuous such as – kayaking, because the Northern Wasco County Parks and Recreation is offering adult Kayak lessons designed specifically for us adults who might not be as flexible as we once were. And an added bonus: no experience is necessary. Now are you interested? The instructor will get you started and build your confidence in these sit-on-top kayaks – ideal for comfort and stability. The classes will be from 9:00 – 11:00 on June 8, July 13 and August 10 and the cost is only $20.00 which includes the equipment. Register by calling 541-296-9633. And for more information, visit the Kayak Shack webpage at www.nwprd.org/Kayak_Shack.htm.
When the Center opened in ’87, horseshoe pits were added at the southeast corner of the Center property. But times change and for many years the horseshoe pits have been functioning more as a safe home for weeds, orphaned flowers and tall grass. But this spring Ashley Johnson, who volunteers in the Meals-on-Wheels kitchen and who I know through Special Olympics, heard about the proposed reduction in public funding for Meals-on-Wheels and thought the horseshoe pits would be the perfect spot to grow fresh vegetables for Meals-on-Wheels.
Ashley recruited two good friends, Rusty Hubbard and Jarvin Whitesell, and together they spent many days and evenings weeding, watering, digging and moving dirt to start the garden. Ashley also had the help of many folks including Tim at the Habitat’s Restore Store, Bruce Teed, Staci and Rosa Fuss, Brace Brothers and Gary Patton – and eleven volunteers from MCMC who recently spent a morning helping out. Because of Ashley’s efforts and good will, the vegetable garden is a win-win-win for Meals-on-Wheels, the Center and Ashley and her friends.
I didn’t know, but now I do: Mid-Columbia Fire and Rescue is distributing to older adults free smoke alarms that MCFR received through a state grant. But they will have to install them which isn’t a bad deal – free smoke alarms with free installation. If you are interested, call the Mid-Columbia Fire and Rescue at 541-296-9445.
It’s the “Jazz Generations” performing at the Center tonight. And next week on the fifth Tuesday, “For the Good Times” will be playing for your dancing and listening pleasure. (And once in a while I like to throw in a brain scrambler to see if you still have all your marbles. See if you can read the rest of this paragraph.) We’l lpu llu pth eru gsa ndp ush bac kth eta ble sso you can dan cet oyo urh ear t’sc ont ent ort ill you rle gsw ear out. Mus ics tar tsat 7:00, eve ryo nei sin vit eda ndd ona tio nsa res ugg est ed.
On May 18th the Center hosted its first Team Trivia Night – first, because we are going to do it again for old time’s sake on Friday June 22nd from 7:00 – 8:30 PM. For the first night, there were three teams with the friendly competition won by Jim Heitkemper’s intergenerational team of his mother, wife and grandson. I’ll remind you again before the 22nd, but you may want to start recruiting your team. Until then, I’ll continue to use some of the questions from the first Team Trivia Night for the weekly “Remember When” question.
I didn’t receive one correct answer for last week’s “Remember When” question until I spent last Thursday morning on the Coffeebreak with Al Wynn who knew the answer (which earns him a free Saturday breakfast). The correct answer is G Gordon Liddy: chief operative of the White House Plumbers unit and who directed the Watergate burglaries of the Democratic National Committee headquarters in May and June of 1972. But enough political espionage. Let’s get back to the movie escapism of Hollywood. 1940’s films such as The Big Sleep, The Maltese Falcon, Double Indemnity, and The Third Man were known for combining crime dramas with dark, stylized imagery. What is the name of this film style? Email your answer to the mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788 or include it with a first edition of any Dashiell Hammett detective novel.
Well, it has been another week, looking for a noun in a city of verbs. Until we meet again, keep the tunes humming, the stories coming and the body moving.
“What the country needs is dirtier fingernails and cleaner minds.” Will Rogers
