September is Senior Center Month

For almost 40 years, the Hastings Area Senior Center has been providing programs for people 55 and older in the community. It has grown in the number, the quality and the variety of the programs it has offered.

It is a good time for the Hastings Area Senior Center. It has been housed in the Tilden Community Center for about a year and the positive reviews of the building have yet to end. More people have connected with the center, additional programs are offered and double-booking of activities is ongoing.

Mark Laska is a relative newcomer to the center. He began attending some activities in August and is one of the volunteer receptionists.

“I wanted to expand myself,” said Laska.

He also began attending the Monday Playing with Arts sessions and the biking trips. He found them relaxing and a good way to connect with people.

“It is a great way to meet people,” he said.

Senior Center program coordinator Laurie Thrush echoed that sentiment.

“What we are finding is that with the connecting, the people who connect with others often are reconnecting with someone they went to school with years ago, or knew each other when their kids were growing up,” she said. “Now, they join us and meet again.”

Edna Fielden is also a newcomer – she became connected when the tax assistance program was offered last winter. She learned more about the programs and is now a big fan.

“At that time, everyone was friends and this was such a neat place,” she said.

As one of the volunteer receptionists, Fielden is one of the first contacts that people have with Senior Center, as they are located in the front entrance welcome area.

“Saying ‘Hi’ is important,” she said. “You smile and you feel good.”

Ginny Vandervest, a longtime Hastings resident, became acquainted with the Senior Center though her husband. She now attends some classes and is the foot care nurse (she is a registered nurse).

“I like the people here,” said Vandervest. “It’s just great here.”

Roxanne Wood could not agree more. She has been coming to Senior Center activities for years, from the Westview Center site to downtown Hastings and now at Tilden. This is the best spot right now, she said.

“It’s so open and there is so much space,” said Wood. “There are so many activities to choose from – you can play cards, Dominoes, to the trips and tours, to the other activities. And we can hold more than one activity at a time.”

Wood volunteers as a receptionist at the Senior Center, but also does other volunteering, including driving for the Just Friends program.

Mary Kelm is also a veteran Senior Center attendee and usually comes to the special dinners at the holidays. She likes the variety of the programs.

Thrush is open to suggestions from the Senior Center members and the advisory council for suggestions for classes and programs. If they can do it, they will.

“We are here and are meeting the needs and wants of those 55 to 90,” she said. “People who come here and participate in the programs have a variety of needs.”

Anyone interested in learning more about the Senior Center can contact 651-480-7689. The Senior Center is open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday in the Tilden Community Center, 310 River St.

Tags: events, seniors, entertainment, local