This
is a time when I wish I was spry enough to do cartwheels! Because thirty years
after the Center was built; and eight years since funds were first raised to
remodel the Center, it’s celebration time. Why? Because with the Building
Permit taped to the front window, Jeff Cochenour and his team will start construction
to install the elevator this week. And that’s exciting!
The
first stage is to frame in the new addition to the front of the building, north
of the entrance. This will be the new space for the NU-2-U Shop which is being
displaced by the elevator.
This will
include removing the snow in front of the Center - which should be completed by
the time you read this; laying the concrete for the foundation of the new
addition - which should start on Wednesday; and leveling the exterior walkway that
borders the front of the Center and goes to the stairs – which could occur as
early as February 1st.
But to
accommodate this construction, we will need to make several adjustments. There
will be the temporary loss of three parking spaces to the north of the
entrance; and the exterior stairway to the downstairs will be blocked off
forcing anyone who wants to enter the downstairs to use the lower parking area
and entrances at the back of the Center.
I will
post signs showing how to navigate around the construction and the best way to
get downstairs. But please watch out for the workers and equipment.
Joan
Silver, who has done an outstanding job as chairperson of the project, will be
providing updates which I will email out to everyone on the Center’s email
list. If you want to receive the updates electronically, email me and I will
make sure you are on the list.
I know
these changes are inconvenient for all of us – I’ll be getting in more steps
during this time. But we ask for your
patience as we do our very best to keep the inconveniences to a minimum.
And
hopefully by May, we will be able to celebrate again when the elevator is operational
and the downstairs is then easily accessible to everyone.
I
imagine many of you watched or listened to the Presidential Inauguration with either
excitement or despair. But there is no argument, big changes were promised. And
I suggest we all keep a watchful eye on the legislative proposals that emerge to
make sure there will be adequate funding for services to protect and support
older adults, particularly the most vulnerable, as well as our children when
they reach their retirement age.
Last Tuesday, the weather was better, but wasn’t good enough to
ask the Simcoe Boys to drive all the way from Goldendale. But the long-range
forecast doesn’t show any precipitation, although it still won’t get much above
freezing. So, the weather shouldn’t be your excuse for missing the Center’s Tuesday
Night Music on January 31st. But there is a problem. I’m not sure
who’s playing. But there will be somebody, so you and your partner can warm
yourselves up on the dance floor. Doors open at 6:00, music starts at 6:30 and
donations are appreciated.
Continuing the
countdown of “40 Great Things about Growing Older”. # 14 – You’ve mellowed
like a fine wine. Or as Rose Kennedy once said, “I'm like old wine. They don't
bring me out very often - but I'm well preserved.”
It was in the 1942 movie Casablanca
that Humphrey Bogart said "Of all the gin joints in all the towns in
all the world, she walks into mine." (The winners of a quilt raffle ticket
each are Caroline Wood, Lucille Stephens and Sandy Haechrel.)
For this second week of movie quotes, it’s another Humphrey
Bogart quote, but I hope more challenging than last week’s. (We’ll see how many
answers I receive this time.) So, for this week’s “Remember When” question, in
what movie did Humphrey Bogart say "If there's anything in the world I
hate, it's leeches - filthy little devils!"? Email your answer to www.mcseniorcenter@gmail.com,
leave a message at 541-296-4788 or have two Methodist
missionaries deliver it.
Well, it’s been
another week, feeling like a bear looking for a cave to hibernate. Until we
meet again, don’t let one bad day ruin your whole week.
"When I was young, I loved summer and hated winter. When I
got older I loved winter and hated summer. Now that I'm even older, and wiser,
I hate both summer and winter."
Jarod Kintz
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