Aging Well in the Gorge December 1st 2015

You’re never too old to make a difference in the lives of others. A common method is to donate money to an organization whose mission you believe in. But not all of us have the financial resources to give to the extent we would like. But there is one thing most of us do have, and that is time. You can make a difference by giving your time volunteering at one of the many local non-profit organizations.

The Foster Grandparent Program is one program seeking volunteers. As a Foster Grandparent you volunteer between 20 and 40 hours a week providing reading assistance to children who need additional support and encouragement. To qualify you have be 55 or older and in good health; and meet certain income guidelines which for a one person household is an income of no more than $1942 a month. If selected you will receive a non-taxable stipend of $2.65 an hour to cover any expenses associated with volunteering.

John Brenne, Project Director for the Foster Grandparent Program that serves Wasco County, will be in The Dalles on Thursday December 3^rd. He will be on the KODL Coffeebreak at 10:00 and at the Center at 1:00 to explain more about the program and how you can become a Foster Grandparent helping young children become better readers.

Habitat for Humanity’s Annual Bazaar is on Saturday, December 5^th at the UCC church from 10 am until 2 pm. For many it has become a holiday tradition: a place where you can find baked goods, craft vendors as well as soup and pie for lunch. All proceeds go to support the good work of the local Habitat for Humanity.

The Center has scaled back its Saturday Breakfasts to only three special occasions each year: Cherry Festival, Ft Dalles Days and December to celebrate the holidays. This year’s holiday breakfast will be served on Saturday, December 19^th from 8:00 – 9:30 and is sponsored by Columbia Basin Care Facility. The menu will feature pancakes, scrambled eggs and bacon plus hot cider to keep your insides warm. There will be a quilt raffle drawing, prizes, plus a visit from Santa. And as Santa would tell you “Breakfast always tastes better when someone else cooks it.”

It’s fun to talk about the weather, but there isn’t much we can do about it. And as in most situations in life, we learn to accept and adapt. But there will be days this winter when the weather will make us ask ourselves: Should I drive? Are the sidewalks too icy? Is the Center open? Why didn’t I go to Arizona for the winter!? For those cold and slippery days, the Center will follow the lead of School District 21. If D-21 is closed, the Center will be closed. And if there is a two hour delay, the Center’s morning classes will be cancelled.

You probably know there is Bingo every Thursday and Saturday nights at the Center starting at 6:00 pm, but did you know you can purchase snacks and a simple meal starting at 4:30. Besides candy, chips and hot dogs, every night there is a special. This Thursday Chef Johnny will be serving his Johnny Burgers and on Saturday the special is Chili Dogs.

For the Tuesday Night Music and Dance on December 8th, Martin and Friends will be performing. Music starts at 6:30, everyone is welcome and donations are always appreciated.

Patsy Cline’s classic “Crazy” was written by the red headed stranger - Willie Nelson. (The winner of a free quilt raffle ticket is Jesse Birge who saw Willie Nelson perform in 2013 at one of the Maryhill Winery Summer Concerts.)

With the latest James Bond movie in the theaters, it reminded me of a television series in the 1960’s described as "an insane combination of James Bond and Mel Brooks comedy." For this week’s “Remember When” question, what was the name of this television series featuring special agents 86 and 99 working for CONTROL and fighting the evil international organization KAOS? Email your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, leave a message at 541-296-4788 or mail it with a shoe phone or the original Cone of Silence.

Well, it’s been another week trying to hit the nail on the head without smashing my thumb. Until we meet again, as author and photographer Dewitt Jones said, “Celebrate what is right in the world, so you can change what is wrong”.

“Sunshine is delicious, rain is refreshing, wind braces us up, snow is exhilarating; there is really no such thing as bad weather, only different kinds of good weather.” John Ruskin