Aging Well in the Gorge April 21st 2015

The Dalles will be a happening place this week starting off with the always popular Lip-Sync tonight and the BYU-Idaho Symphony Band on Thursday, both at TDHS; followed by three days of fun activities downtown. There will be plenty of entertainment including the Twangshifters at the Swingin’ Sock Shop on Saturday night playing rockabilly from the 50’s that is still cool today. And you won’t want to miss the parade along its familiar route starting at 10:00. The Dalles Chamber and all the volunteers should be congratulated for organizing quite a show. Let’s hope the weather cooperates

The Center will be part of the action hosting the annual Cherry Festival Pancake Breakfast, once again sponsored by our neighbors to the north - Cherry Heights Living. From 7:30 to 9:30, the Center will be serving pancakes, scrambled eggs, sausage plus fruit and beverage - all for $5.00 per person and $3.00 per child. Let the Center cook your breakfast on a busy Cherry Festival parade day.

The Center will also have a table downtown on Federal Street near the Veteran’s office. There will be information about the activities at the Center plus one last chance to buy raffle tickets for the Necktie Quilt made by Francie Yuhas. Stop by and say hi.

There hasn’t been a Tuesday Lecture at the Center for several weeks. (I was either out of town or I couldn’t remember which Tuesday of the month it was. Ever have that problem?) But the Tuesday Lecture is back on April 28^th with Alida Raynor, MCMC’s Breast Health Nurse Navigator, speaking about breast health and MCMC’s new program to support women that need a diagnostic mammogram. A diagnostic mammogram is used when the initial mammogram identifies any abnormalities – which, speaking for myself, would freak me out. But those abnormalities may not be breast cancer. The diagnostic mammogram helps identify whether the abnormality is cancer or nothing to be concerned about. The Breast Health Navigator supports the patient through the process and helps ease any anxiety that may occur.

I have often mentioned the value of participating in creative activities whether it is building back scratchers or writing ten minute plays; designing a garden or writing a country ballad. And if your creative interests are in drawing, Debra Jones has arranged for Joy Kloman to return to the Center to teach a drawing class for those who want to have fun learning how to draw or want to broaden their knowledge of drawing. Joy is a former university art professor who has taught classes to all ages.

There will be a series of three Tuesday classes from 1:30 – 4:00 on May 5^th, May 19^th and June 9^th. . Because of the Wasco County Cultural Trust grant, the three classes cost only $40 plus $15 for supplies. To register or for more information contact the Mid-Columbia Senior Center at 541-296-4788 or mcseniorcenter@gmail.com.

Because Tom Graff told me he can’t seem to read backwards, I’m not going to mix up this week’s Tuesday Night Music announcement - except for my normal typos. But Tom can sing! You can hear him perform at the Center on the first, third, and fifth Thursdays of the month starting at 11:00 am before the Meals-on-Wheels dinner.

On Tuesday April 28^th, Andre and Friends will be performing at the Center for your dancing and listening pleasure. Music starts at 7:00, all ages are invited and donations are appreciated.

And the popular bluegrass band “Hardshell Harmony” is still going to play before the Meals-on-Wheels diner at the Center, but the date has been postponed to Wednesday April 29^th starting at 11:00.

I guess I stumped everyone last week, since no one knew the satirical radio quiz show that aired from 1942 – 1951 and featured "a board of experts who are dumber than you are and can prove it” was It Pays To Be Ignorant - which you can still hear on several old time radio websites.

This week I am going to make it up by asking a local question I think most everyone will know. What successful business, that is celebrating 75 years in The Dalles, built the super market on 9^th Street that St. Vinnies now occupies? Email your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788 or send it with an eight foot Stihl chain saw.