by Kathleen Spring
SPOT ON SENIOR
Countless shoppers have said that they can’t wait to return to the Golden Gang Christmas fundraiser to pick up one-of-a-kind handmade items to give as gifts. Where else can a
Watch for jars around town or at the Christmas event to donate to the Adopt a Senior Program. A $3 donation pays for one meal, or $10 for the week. The grannies and gramps in our town have been working for three months to prepare for their biggest fundraiser this weekend, Saturday, December 3. Doors open at 10 a.m. and close at 3 p.m. at the Odd Fellows Hall on Fourth Avenue. Please come out and support them!
HIPPIES GROWN UP
Seniors in town were treated to their fourth free bus ride by Special Transit this year. They say it gives them a change of scenery and stimulates their memories. The November trip was to the Boulder History Museum’s “1968” exhibit, which features photos and objects that represented this time period. The museum gathered donated items from local Boulder County people to add to the traveling exhibit. There was more conversation among the seniors than any other trip this year, with talk about record albums, straw votes, assassinations, and more. Fingers pointed to the poster for “Shirley Chisholm for president,” and the Beatles’ “The White Album,” and the hippie colorful dresses. The group went to the Walnut Café for lunch, and everyone ordered one of their famous homemade pies. Seniors who would like to be invited to future trips, contact trip coordinator Kathleen Spring (303) 823-0997.
NEVER ENOUGH HISTORY
Minnie’s Red Hat Club got an exciting history tour of the Boulder area by Banjo Billy Bus Tour, with tales of pioneers, mansions, ghosts, and more. The tour guide did not stop taking, or joking, for the full one-and-a-half hours! In November, the group went to a beautiful Polish restaurant serving fine authentic Polish cuisine, followed by a visit to the Arvada Center’s three art galleries. Their Christmas outing will be to visit the Christmas shops in snowy Estes Park. The group will be recruiting new members in January and February. Contact coordinator Kathleen Spring (303) 823-0997.
HALLOWEEN PARTY
It’s a tradition for the folks at the Walt Self Senior Center to dress up for Halloween and have a spooky party, including music and desserts. This year’s best costume prize went to Geneva Sabados for her Hawaiian outfit. Karen Ryan came in second with her shark costume. And, coming in third, Anne Marie Brown cleverly used the bruises on her face from a recent fall to portray herself as a boxer. The public is always welcome to join the other seniors in holiday activities. Call for more information (303) 823-6771.
NEVER A HUNGRY SENIOR
The Lyons Golden Gang strives to make sure local seniors get a hot lunch three times a week, whether they can afford it or not. The Lyons Community Church is open every Wednesday afternoon to make sure their cupboards are not bare. The Town of Lyons supports the two local groups who put together Thanksgiving and Christmas boxes for the seniors. It’s a great place for seniors to live and feel respected and loved. People wishing to donate to senior meals this December can call any of these listed organizations. Seniors who would like more information on senior services can call Lyons Aging Resource Consultant Keith Carr (303) 747-2592.
Seniors associated with the Golden Gang gathered on Thanksgiving day at the Walt Self Center and enjoyed hot turkey and brought dishes to pass around. The ten participants commented that there was more than enough food and good company to share. Thanks go to Janet Freeman for organizing the free event.
Three local Lyons churches are hoping to provide a free meal either monthly or bi-monthly to any Lyons area senior who would like to stop by the Walt Self Center on their designated Monday for a free hot supper at 5 p.m. Call (303) 823-6771 to confirm the schedule. Thanks go to the Lyons Community Church, the Lyons Catholic Church, and the River Church for preparing and serving the meals.
New seniors are invited to the Walt Self Senior Center to try out a meal one free meal during December, and enjoy one of the many festive music concerts coming up. The center is open Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday. Call the day before by 4 p.m. (303) 823-5117 for more information and to sign up.
IMPORTANT TID BITS
The GAP (Generational Active People) group got together for its first event this season to carve and paint pumpkins in October. Director Paula Randazzo hopes to have a December outing to a Christmas play for the GAP teens and seniors. The Golden Gang hopes to work with her in developing a Senior Activity Program which may extend to having events, crafts, and trips year-round.
The Golden Gang’s first Mexican Fiesta was a big success with approximately 50 people attending. All the food and paper goods were donated by numerous big and small Front Range companies, and the cooking and serving were done by volunteers, so that all the proceeds went toward senior meals. Coordinator Donna Cole sends out heartfelt thanks.
There are two pieces of exciting kitchen news. First, current manager MaryLou Wallace has been rehired effective January 1st. Second, the much-praised chef at the Longmont Meals on Wheels is now back from a three-week leave due to injuries.
Wayne Werner delivered meals-on-wheels to the senior center and the homes of disabled people for several years, and he won the Volunteer of the Year award from the Golden Gang. He passed away in November and will be greatly missed. His wife Shirley came to the center to personally say thanks for the support of the members, and to give them $600 which she had received as donations in memory of Wayne.
BOARD MEETING
The continuing troubling topic at the Golden Gang board meetings is how to reduce the large gap between the money collected for meals and the money paid out for meals. A temporary patch in the money drain was supplied by a donation from the Lyons Community Foundation and a quarterly grant from Boulder County. A third grant was received from Routt Publications for “Blizzard Boxes” for snowed-in seniors. The recent survey sent to members was typed up and distributed to the officers. They reviewed it, and the only question discussed had to do with how people would feel about being sent a bill for missed meals. The topic and survey may be brought up again in January, after the holidays have passed.
Fundraiser extraordinaire Dan Ballard has asked to be brought back on the board. He had been in charge of the senior fundraiser: the annual Motorcycle Parade and Tent Festival during Good Old Days. The board voted him in. He also donated hundreds of dollars of hemp items to sell at the Christmas fundraiser.
Ed Bruder, town board liaison, reported regarding the 2011 Aging Well seminar. Based on the twelve topics that seniors had said were of primary concern to them at the seminar, he helped bring in appropriate speakers from Boulder County to talk at the senior center. He would like the Golden Gang to discuss in December whether they want to support a second seminar put on by the Town. All seniors in the Lyons greater community are requested to contact Ed at Town Hall to let him know if they would like to see a second seminar so that a budget can be set aside by December 31. He has also been instrumental in bringing two massage therapists to work on seniors’ health needs during the Tuesday bingo games.
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