Mill Creek Beacon - Your Hometown News Source

Mukilteo’s Rosehill Community Center, 304 Lincoln Ave., Mukilteo, 425-263-8180

A range of courses, classes and other activities are offered for seniors. Among them:

Bunco! – Free! A dice game that’s easy to learn. New players are welcome. If you can roll dice and count, you can play. You change tables, so you will meet new people each round. Prizes. Ongoing, it begins at 12:45 p.m. Bring a buck donation to raise funds for future prizes.

Posture Alignment – Pain is the body’s way of alerting you to the fact that your body isn’t aligned and therefore isn’t moving properly. Gentle exercises and stretches will return musculoskeletal balance and symmetry back to your body. You will feel pain relief immediately. Bring yoga mat or large towel and a firm pillow. Wednesdays 1-2 p.m. (No class Nov. 22 or Dec. 27) $6. Call Sandy at 206-979-1923 to reserve a spot.

Senior Alignment – Special Class – This is a special class for anyone with physical limitations who would like to join the Posture Alignment class but wants to have a week or two of instruction to be ready for the regular class. Wednesdays from 12:15-12:45 p.m. (No class Nov. 22 or Dec. 27) $6. Call Sandy at 206-979-1923 to reserve a spot.

Mill Creek Senior Center, 15720 Main St., Mill Creek, 425-948-7170

There’s a wide range of programs and opportunities provided by the Mill Creek Senior Center. Here’s a sampling:

BRIDGE

“Bridge is by far the greatest card game of all, and it can provide immense challenge and enjoyment for the rest of your life” – Kate McKellar

Prerequisite: Beginning Bridge or equivalent. Come join us as we enjoy each other’s company and play the ‘greatest card game of all.’ Tuesdays 2nd & 4th, 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. Fridays 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. Mill Creek Senior Center $4 nonmember/$2 member

CANASTA

We play the Hand and Foot form of Canasta. Everyone is welcome including beginners! Wednesdays 1 to 3 p.m. Mill Creek Senior Center $4 nonmember/$2 member

PINOCHLE

Come play Pinochle with us! We have a great time, with no experience needed, any skill level welcome. Thursdays 1 to 3 p.m. Mill Creek Senior Center. $4 nonmember/$2 member

BINGO

Is a game of chance where players mark off numbers on cards as the numbers are drawn randomly by a caller, the winner being the first person to mark off all numbers in a row or another pattern. Do you feel lucky? Come join us, we would love to have you! Monday/Wednesdays/Fridays 3:30 p.m. Played at Brookdale Retirement Community, 14905 Bothell Everett Highway, Mill Creek. Buy-in 25¢ per card. Please call Mill Creek Senior Center to register 425-948-7170.

MAH JONGG

Mah Jongg is played with a set of 144 tiles based on Chinese characters and

symbols. Each player begins by receiving 13 tiles. In turn players draw and discard tiles until they complete a legal hand using the 14th drawn tile to form four groups. Standard rules about how a piece is drawn, how a piece is stolen from another player, the scoring system and the minimum hand necessary to win. All player levels, including beginners are welcome to join in the fun. Thursdays 9 a.m. to noon. $4 nonmember/$2.00 member

CRIBBAGE

Cribbage affords players both the anticipation of the luck of the deal as well as ample opportunity to exercise their skills in discarding and play. One of the novel features of Cribbage is that a Cribbage board is used for scoring rather than the usual pencil and paper. The board speeds up scoring, and in this fast-moving game, pegging greatly reduces the chances for errors in computing scores. 1st and 3rd Monday of the month 1 to 3 p.m. Mill Creek Senior Center, $4 nonmember/$2 member

Osher Lifelong Learning Institute – and the University of Washington invites adults over 50 to share intellectual interests and meet new people. Current and retired UW faculty and community experts lead courses and special events. One-year membership $35. Upcoming in Mill Creek Senior Center: Chemicals That Disrupt Hormones: Health Impacts and How to Reduce Exposure. Many consumer and personal care products are useful, but contain chemicals that disrupt hormones. These endocrine disruptor chemicals (EDCs) have effects that are fascinating, alarming and far-reaching. Course provides an overview, with focus on health impacts and concludes with discussion of toxic chemicals regulations and actions we can take to reduce our exposure and our grandchildren’s exposure. To join, visit www.osher.uw.edu.

Open Art Studio – Share our love of art and enjoy each other’s company. This camaraderie was formed by the passion we feel for art. Come join us as we produce art to be appreciated primarily for its beauty or emotional power. Leader: Louise Arntson. Fridays 1-3 p.m. FREE. To register, call Mill Creek Senior Center at 425-948-7170.

Music for Fun – Our music group has expanded to two hours, our library has grown to several dozen old songs, almost all with lyrics and chord markings, or bring your own favorite piece of music for us to try out. We’re playing strings... actually an acoustic instrument, or just bring your voice for the lyrics. Donation collected for music copy cost. Mondays 1-3 p.m. $5 contribution monthly, or $1 per class.

Free coffee, donuts and conversation

Stop by the Senior Center for a cup of coffee, friendly and interesting conversation, read the newspaper plus a delicious Top Pot donut. 9-4 Monday–Friday – Free.

Conversation Café

You have heard of ‘Tuesdays with Morrie’! Well, they have ‘Tuesdays with Comrades.’ Your time together is full of conversations, interesting discussions, jokes, bantering, openness and friendship. Meet from 10 a.m.-noon Tuesdays. Coffee and donuts served. Brookdale Retirement Community – Free.

Programs encouraging active rewarding lives for seniors (PEARLS)

Do you feel sad, down or hopeless? Are you having little interest or pleasure in doing things? If you answer “yes” to either of these questions PEARLS might be the program for you. PEARLS is an evidence-based program for individuals with mild depression. It incorporates three components: Problem Solving Treatment, Social/Physical Activity and Pleasant Activity. The work is done in 4-6 sessions. There is no cost for the program. If you would like more information regarding the PEARLS program, contact: Mill Creek Senior Center, Janet Zielasko, MS, LSW 425-286-1035; janetz@mynorthshore.org (By appointment).

Caregiver counseling & consultation (FREE)

Caregivers provide a wide range of unpaid services to their loved ones. You may care for a loved one at home or provide long distance support. The Caregiver Specialist is available to you to manage and improve your own health. Services include consultation, connecting with community resources, coping with stress, and enhancing your own health and wellness.

By appointment Contact: Janet Zielasko MS, LSW, 425-286-1035.

Caregiver support group

Are you a spouse, partner, son, daughter, relative or friend who cares for a loved one with dementia or other chronic illness or disability? The Caregivers’ Support Group offers unpaid caregivers help through support and practical education. 1st and 3rd Thursdays (FREE) 10:30 a.m. to noon

Facilitator: Pam Jones MSW, 425-948-7170.

The nurse will see you now

Thursdays from 10 a.m. to noon Barbara Thompson RN will be at the Mill Creek Center for blood pressure checks and answer your questions.

Mill Creek Senior Center. Must register at 425-948-7170 – FREE.

Men’s coffee hour

Join other men in discussion around healthy aging. They have a wide variety of ages in the men’s group. With this camaraderie and insight, the fears of aging can be eased. Research has shown that being part of a social organization like a men’s group may be one of the best steps you can take. It’s time to make new connections, moving toward greater health and wellness.

2nd and 4th Fridays (FREE), 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., Mill Creek Senior Center.

Women’s coffee hour

Come develop rich friendships making life-long friends. They have a diverse group of fascinating ladies who enjoy interesting and thought-provoking conversations. Be a part of their continually growing Women’s Coffee, while making new connections and moving to greater health and wellness.

1st and 3rd Tuesdays (FREE) 10 to 11 a.m. Mill Creek Senior Center.

Edmonds Senior Center, 220 Railroad Ave., Edmonds, 425-774-5555

Interested in signing up for a class, trip or event? Please call the Admin Office at 425-774-5555 ext. 104 or 108.

Ongoing programs:

Bastyr Center for Natural Health On-Site Clinic

The clinic provides naturopathic medicine to people of ALL AGES. Treatments may include dietary and lifestyle counseling and education, hands-on physical therapies, and herbal and nutritional supplements. The clinic is open on Wednesdays. You MUST schedule an appointment to be seen. Call 425-774-5555 ext. 108. The cost is $15 for each visit and is paid to the Edmonds Senior Center to help offset the costs associated with offering this program. This fee can be waived if it presents a financial hardship for the patient.

Join In for a Community Breakfast

On the first Friday of every month the Edmonds Senior Center hosts a community breakfast for $5. Come meet your neighbors and enjoy eggs with ham, pancakes and biscuits & gravy.

Lunch

The center offers a healthy hot meal every day at the Center from 11:25 a.m. - 12:25 p.m. $3 suggested donation for those 60 and older ($4 on Thursday). You do not need to be a member of the senior center to participate in the lunch program.

Member Benefits & Information

Become a member of Edmonds Senior Center. Your $25 ($45 for a couple) annual membership dues help support their 100+ programs and enrich the lives of so many.

Volunteer Your Time and Skills

Teach a class on your favorite subject, host a trip, lead a band, the opportunities are endless. There are plenty of volunteer opportunities of all sizes at Edmonds Senior Center.

For more on the Edmonds Senior Center, go to: http://www.edmondssc.org/pdf/Newsletter.pdf