by Helen Deluca
Hello, again! Nice to be back with you again. One of the best things about volunteering at the Community Show is seeing so many familiar faces, and meeting “new” seniors. The Thurmont Senior Center (TSC) sets up a booth every year. We sell crafts made at the Center and raffle tickets. Prizes on the tickets are $100, $50, and a beautiful hand-stitched quilt with vintage squares (made mostly by Carol Long with the help of others, and donated to the Center). The quilt caught the eye of many attending the community show, and we thank all of you who stopped to chat and support the TSC. Those of you who are interested in learning to quilt can call the Center at 301-271-7911. Carol has offered to teach a class. Other classes coming up are a Beading Class with Teresa on October 1 at 1:00 p.m. and a Cake Decorating Class on October 14, from 1:00-3:00 p.m. with Joan ($5.00; sign up by October 9). Also at the Community Show was our new t-shirts (short- and long-sleeved) and sweatshirts with the Maryland Blue Crab logo and the Thurmont Senior Center logo. Stop by the Center to see sample sizes and colors and get the order form. Orders will go in on October 13, and be back around October 23. We also have some of the train design shirts for sale.
We recently had a visit from Carol Haag, who is the chairwoman of the Frederick County Commission on Aging. She is serving as project manager for the local branch of the National Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP). The intent of the RSVP is to help connect people who are fifty-five and older with ways they can help others in the community. Miss Haag gave an interesting and informative talk on ways seniors can give back to the community. If you are interested, you can contact Miss Haag at chaag@aacfmd.org.
To quote Ronald Reagan, “We can’t help everyone, but everyone can help someone.” That pretty much tells it like it is—just get out there and help someone or any organization that is asking for your help.
We have a lot coming up in October. We will have our usual 50/50 Bingo on the first and third Wednesday of the month at 1:00 p.m. All are welcome; if you want lunch before Bingo, please call ahead to reserve. It’s a fun afternoon, with free snacks during the break, and the monies earned by the Center are used to subsidize the lunch program. The monthly Birthday Party is at 12:30 on October 8. All of the regular activities are listed on the flyer, available at the Center or on Facebook. You can also reach us by email at thurmontseniorcenter@zoho.com.
There are many special events for October at the TSC. A Dance will be held on October 3, from 5:00-8:00 p.m. Taylor Brown will be doing an Elvis performance and a 50’s & 70’s Show, with an intermission and a meet-and- greet afterwards. Admission is by donation. Get your dancing shoes on and come to enjoy a great evening. Bring your friends and your camera!
On October 13 at 10:30 a.m., flu shots will be available from Darci Eubanks (Med One Pharmacy). Bring your Medicare card and insurance card if you have them. At 12:30 p.m., she will give a short talk.
On October 18, come to the Zumbathon. Several instructors will be on hand: one will teach Zumba Gold and the other will be teaching regular Zumba. If you have never experienced a Zumba class, believe me you are in for a treat. I personally haven’t been able to attend the Zumba class at the Center (every Monday at 10:15-11:00 a.m.), but I can tell you that those who are participating are having a ball. The Zumbathon is a fundraiser for the Center. Come out on Sunday, October 18, from 2:30-4:30 p.m., with doors opening at 2:00 p.m. Advance tickets are $10.00 for ages fifty-five and over, and $15.00 for ages under fifty-five. At the door, prices are $15.00 (fifty-five and over) and $20.00 (under fifty-five). We hope to see you there. Additional parking is available behind the Police Department as well as across the street at the School.
On October 27, Nurse Steve will be at the Center. He will take and discuss your vitals information with you, starting at 10:30 a.m. After lunch (about 12:30 p.m.), he will give a talk on “What do I have in common with Humpty Dumpty?”. It’s a discussion of the causes and prevention of falls. You never get bored during a presentation by Nurse Steve. He has a way of getting necessary information to you without sounding dull and boring.
On October 28, from 1:00-3:00 p.m., is the Halloween Party. Wear a costume, and enjoy the games and snacks. I can tell you: these seniors are not a bit bashful about getting into costumes! Some of them really go all out!
As always, if you have questions about any activities at the TSC, give them a call at 301-271-7911.
Don’t forget the date and time of the dance on October 3 and the Zumbathon on October 18. The dance is by donation, and tickets for the Zumbathon are available at the TSC or Anytime Fitness in Thurmont.
If all of this sounds too exhausting to you, come to the Center and let Marie Free give you a chair massage for $1.00 a minute. Marie will be at the Center on October 23, from 10:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m., as needed. She can make you feel so good.
I don’t have the space or energy to tell you about all of the things happening at the Center. Please pick up a flyer at the Center, go on Facebook, or watch channel 99 and learn how to spend the day at the TSC.
If you are downsizing or fall house-cleaning and have some usable items left over, we can use them for our yard sale on Thursday, October 8; Friday, October 9; and Saturday, October 10—9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. Receipts are available for your donation. Because of the weather last year, we had an “indoor yard sale,” and that worked out pretty well. So, if you go by the Center and only see a few things outside, don’t pass us by, come inside and see what bargains we have for you. We will also have the order forms for sweatshirts, short-sleeved and long-sleeved t-shirts that you may like to order for Christmas gifts. Did I just say Christmas? Why does the time go so fast? It’s not too soon to think about gifts that need to be ordered ahead of time.
Our annual Christmas dinner will be on December 5 at the Moravian Church in Graceham at noon. More information on that in the next issue.
In the meantime, be happy and smile!
