If you
no longer can drive, or don’t want to drive anymore, how can you get to the
store, to your all-too-frequent doctors’ appointments or to activities at the
Center? In other words, how can you stay connected?
One
answer is the LINK, The Dalles public transportation provider, which has been
providing rides since 1997. But it has been a challenge to find the “next right
answer” to improve the public transportation services in The Dalles, but recently
there have been several changes to better serve the general public. You can
learn more about the transportation options in The Dalles at the 1:00
presentation by Jessica Metta at the Center on June 25th. And most
importantly you will be able to ask questions and share what you feel is
working well and what you wish to see differently.
Until
then here is a quick review of the services the LINK provides in The Dalles
area.
Deviated
Fixed Route: The LINK is operating a Deviated Fixed Route service on an hour
loop to key destinations in The Dalles on Monday through Friday, 7:00 AM – 6:00
PM. Rides are still just $1.50 each.
Dial-a-Ride:
This has been the LINK’s bread and butter service. This dial-a-ride,
door-to-door service operates Monday through Friday, 7:00 AM – 6:00 PM. Trips
are $1.50 each way and need to be scheduled at least twenty-four hours in
advance.
Shopping
Bus: The LINK also offers a regular trip to grocery stores and shopping centers
in The Dalles on Mondays and Wednesdays from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Cost is $3.00
for unlimited stops with no shopping bag limit. The LINK drivers will help load
and unload your bags (bags must be under 25 pounds).
For
more information including schedules and routes, you can call the LINK at
541-296-7595, visit the LINK’s website at www.mcedd.org/linktransit, stop
by The Dalles Transit Center at 802 Chenowith Loop or pick up a brochure at the
Center.
But
LINK isn’t the only public transportation provider in the area. If you live in
Sherman County, you probably already know about Sherman County’s Community
Transit which provides dial-a-ride services throughout Sherman County with
weekly trips to The Dalles and regular trips to Portland and points east for
seniors, individuals with disabilities and others as space allows. The fare is $5.00
round-trip per rider. For schedule/route information you can call (541)
565-3553 or visit their website at www.co.sherman.or.us/departments/sherman-transit.
And
for our friends in southern Wasco County, (The late Lenore Walters once told me
in no uncertain terms, as she probably told many others, it is “southern” Wasco
County not south. South is not an adjective!) there is the TSCC bus service which
relies on volunteer drivers to take you to wherever you need to go.
The
Blue Zones Cooking Demos are returning to the Center on the last Tuesdays
of
the month from 5:30 – 7:00 starting June 26th. Break out of your
cooking doldrums and join the fun learning how to prepare healthy and TASTY! recipes
from OSU’s “Food Hero” website where you can also find meal ideas, and cooking
tips and tools.
A
quick reminder: READY-SET-RETIRE is scheduled for June 26th, 4:00 –
7:00 at the Center. In this free workshop from AARP Oregon and the Small
Business Development Center, you’ll learn about tuning up your finances before
retirement, Social Security and Medicare, OregonSaves - an easy way to save for
retirement, and how to turn your expertise into a business opportunity by becoming
an Encore Entrepreneur.
The
name of the song written for the 1967 film, The Graduate and sung by
Simon and Garfunkel was “Mrs. Robinson”. I received correct answers from Rhonda Spies, Lana
Tepfer, Jess Birge, Jerry Phillips, Betsy Ayers, Ron Nelson and “Hey, Hey, Hey”
Janet Figg this week’s winner of a quilt raffle ticket.
Let’s
stick with another popular song from a movie soundtrack but from the 50’s which
I’m guessing will be a little more challenging. For this week’s “Remember When”
question, what was the title of the song written for a 1957 movie of the same
title; won an Academy Award for best original song; and that the Four Aces’ version
reached number one for three weeks in 1955? Email your answer to
mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, leave a message at 541-296-4788 or return your answer
with the splendid Italian version recorded by Neil Sedaka, "L'Amore E' Una
Cosa Meravigliosa".
Well,
it’s been another week, kicking down the gravel road and feeling groovy. Until we meet again, don’t let the bus pass
you by.
“You
only find out who is swimming naked when the tide goes out." Warren
Buffett
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