by Phyllis Clark

“I’m proud to be an American, where at least I know I’m free…” All of us­, no matter our age, are people who love our country. And all of us in this beautiful area know how to celebrate being free!

Although we’ve been busy thinking of graduations, weddings, or carnivals, we especially remembered those who nobly served our country.

In June, we proudly showed our spirit by flying the Stars and Stripes on Flag Day and on the 75th Anniversary of D-Day. The community came together at the end of June as we celebrated our independence on the founding of our great country with games, races, good food, a parade, and a beautiful display of fireworks!

A Veterans Recognition Day will be held on Wednesday, July 10, from 9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m., at the Frederick Senior Center, located at 1440 Taney Avenue. Colonel Laureen Barone, USA, Retired, will be the Keynote Speaker. We hope all of you special men and women will join us, but please call to register at either the Emmitsburg Center (301-600-6350} or Frederick Center (300-600-1048) before Friday, July 5. A contribution of $5.00 is suggested for lunch. It will be a full program and we hope to see you there.

The Senior Center does not take a vacation during these hot, humid days of summer, and there is still a lot to do (thank goodness for air conditioning)! Our hours are 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. There is only a donation for lunch. Come in for a glass of iced tea (or hot coffee) and join in some of our activities. Our programs are always interesting, as well as informative. Games, puzzles, and cards are nice cool things to do every day, and if there’s nothing else you want to do, we can always talk about the weather!

Why not try “Walk with Ease” on Monday mornings, beginning at 10:00 a.m.? This class is especially beneficial for those who have either a little or a lot of arthritic pain. The art class is taking time off until September.

Tuesdays begin with strength training, which can be done with ease at your own pace. No pressure and no competition. We’ll be talking about current events and happenings on July 2 at 11:00 a.m. Bring a dollar gift for Bingo after lunch on July 9. Nurse Steve doesn’t take a vacation, so he will be here on July 16 for blood pressure checks and to talk to us about: “How Do Our Senses Change with Age?” (Not sure I want to “hear” this.)

Be sure to put this activity on your calendar for July 23: we’re going to make a 3-foot banana split after lunch! Bring your favorite topping. Can’t wait to “see” and “taste” this! Finally, on July 30, we’ll have our Memory Cafe for special friends and their caregivers, beginning at 11:00 a.m.

Come to the Emmitsburg Senior Center for chair exercise on Wednesday, July 3, at 10:00 a.m., with a “Trip Down Memory Lane” at 11:00 a.m.

Chair Exercise will begin at 9:00 a.m. on July 17, because we’ll be leaving at 10:00 a.m. on a surprise  shopping trip with a stop for  lunch. Call Linda for  more details on this one.

Chair exercise again on July 24. More food and fun on Wednesday, July 31: we’re having a pizza party at 1:00 p.m., and Linda’s bringing the salad. Please call to register for this event.

The Emmitsburg Senior Center will be closed on Thursday, July 4, to have more time to celebrate. We will be closed again on Thursday, July 25, for a staff in-service day.

With all this good food in our future, we need to start coming to the strength training class at 10:00 a.m. on the other two Thursdays in July. Canasta will be at noon, and tai chi at 1:00 p.m. in the gym.

We close down the week on Fridays with hoop shoot in the gym at 10:00 a.m., canasta at noon, and tai chi at 1:00 p.m. in the gym.

 The Frederick County Senior Services Division is offering a number of trips for July, August, and September. Registration is in-person at one of the County’s Senior Centers or online at www.frederickcountymd-gov.3dcartstores.com. Call the Frederick Senior Center for more information, but don’t wait to register. The trips are: July 12—The Pride of the Susquehanna cruise, $45 per person; July 26—The Christmas Haus & Hofbrauhaus, $25 per person, plus lunch on your own; August 9—Kenilworth Park & Aquatic Gardens, $25 per person; August 29—“Wrong Turn at Lungfish11 at the Totem Pole Playhouse, $60per person; September 13—Lake Tobias Wildlife Park, $50 per person; and September 20—Quiet Waters Park & Art Galleries, $30 per person.

A special note: The Groceries for Seniors Program is available to eligible seniors. Food may be picked up at 1:00 p.m. the first Friday of the month at the Frederick Senior Center. We ask that you call Linda Umbel at 301-600-6350 for more information and to register.

Our last thought: “…there ain’t no doubt, I love this land, God bless the USA!” (Thank you, Lee Greenwood).

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