Senior Highlights - January 2010
HAPPY NEW YEAR! First I would like to thank each and every one of you for remembering me during this holiday season. Your thoughtfulness is very much appreciated. Its hard to believe we are beginning a new year that will take us into the 25th year of our senior program.

We will once again be having a New Years Open House on Friday, January 8 so be sure to read more about this event in the newsletter. Its a way to kick-off the New Year with friends and take time to relax after a busy holiday schedule. This month is also our Mystery Lunch month so be sure to check the dates when these will be held.

Our new trip flyer will be coming out the first week in January. These will be for the months of January through April. If you are not already on the mailing list, please call our office and well make sure you receive one. These are only mailed out three times a year. Our newsletters are not mailed out but can be picked up in the senior center, the Recreation Office, the library and senior condos and apartments.

Unity Hospital will be presenting a program on Falls this month and I encourage you to take advantage of this. Falls can happen any time, but especially now with the ice and snow, it is something we should all be aware of. Details of this program can be found in the newsletter.

A special thank you is extended to all of you who donated cookies/coffee and coins for coffee during the past year. It is greatly appreciated and certainly helps in our budget area. This year appears no different so we will continue to put out our coins for coffee can and will accept those generous cookie donations!

I want to wish everyone a very happy New Year and look forward to another successful year at the senior center.

Happy New Years To You

A new year is beginning to peak through
Softly beautiful and different like new falling snow,
each day unique and shaped just for you.
Your life adding something as each day does grow.
My wish for your new year is beauty
And softness with surprises thrown in for delight;
Love for each day bringing happiness to you,
making your life a scene of sparkle and shining sunlight.

Midday Matinee
January 15 & 29 (Please note dates)(br>
Our movies for this month will be on the third and fifth Friday of this month so be sure to mark them on your calendar. Showtime is at 1:30 p.m. in the senior center. Titles and descriptions of this months movies are listed below. Both are new releases.

• Friday, January 15 The Dog Who Saved Christmas A former K9 police dog has his day when he saves his adoptive family from a pair of holiday burglars. Christmas is coming and the Bannister family isnt convinced that their new, laid back dog Zeus will be able to defend their home like they thought he would. When the family goes away for Christmas Eve and Zeus fends off two burglars who were looking to rob the Bannisters, the once skeptical family has a sudden change of heart.
• Friday, January 29 Knut & Friends Youll fall in love with Knut, the worlds most famous polar bear, in this true-life story of the adorable cub who overcame overwhelming odds to survive. Come along as a caring Berlin zookeeper takes the baby bear under his wing feeding him with a bottle, giving him tub baths and even jumping into the water with him for a swim lesson!

Blood Pressure
January 8 – 9:00 – 10:00 a.m.
Seniors are encouraged to have their blood pressure checked on Friday, January 8 from 9:00 10:00 a.m. in the senior center. This is a free service provided by our local fire department. You may also stop by the fire department any time during the week to have it checked as long as the firemen are not out on a call. We thank them for providing this free service.

New Years Open House
January 8 - 1:30 3:00 ($2 donation)
Now that the Christmas holidays are over, its time to get back on a regular schedule and back into our regular routine. We will be celebrating the New Year with an Open House on Friday, January 8 from 1:30 3:00 p.m. in the senior center. Bring a friend or come on your own. It will give you a chance to visit with friends, enjoy some yummy refreshments and just relax on a Friday afternoon. Its an open house so you can come at any time between 1:30 3:00 p.m. If youd like you can even come early and stay late! Just come and have a good time. There will be a $2 donation to help defray refreshment expenses. This will be collected the day of the event. If you plan on coming, please call the Recreation Department and leave your name. This will help in knowing how much food to buy. (It will be really good!) I hope to see you there!

Mystery Lunches
January 12, 22 & 26 - 10:45 a.m.
Were back in action with our Mystery Lunch outings! There are three scheduled for Tuesday, January 12; Friday, January 22; and Tuesday, January 26. If you would like to attend one of these, please call the Recreation Office at 763-706-3730 and leave your name and date youd like to attend. You must remember that if you are on one of the first two outings, you cannot breathe a word of where we went! Each person is responsible for paying for his/her own lunch. We will leave from the senior center promptly at 10:45 a.m. so please be here at least 10 minutes prior to that time so we can load the mini bus.

Seminar on Falls & Injury Prevention
January 14 - 1:30 p.m.
Join us for this free seminar on Falls & Injury Prevention presented by Unity Hospital. It will be held in the senior center on Thursday, January 14 at 1:30 p.m. The presenter will be going over statistics related to elderly falls, signs and symptoms of brain injury (concussions), tips for prevention of falls, and recommendations for seeing the doctor after a fall. You must pre-register if you plan on coming so we know how many to plan for. Please call the Recreation Office at 763-706-3730 and leave your name. This is a topic pertinent to all of us so I hope you take advantage of this free program.

Refresher Defensive Driving
January 19 - 9:00 a.m. 1:00 p.m.
A four-hour refresher defensive driving class will be held on Tuesday, January 19 from 9:00 a.m. 1:00 p.m. in the senior center. This class is for anyone who needs to renew his/her certificate to receive a discount on their auto insurance. Cost of the class is $14 and you must pre-register at the Recreation Office.

Health Insurance Counseling
January 14 - 9:00 a.m. Noon
Health insurance counseling services are available to Medicare beneficiaries and those soon to start Medicare on Thursday, January 14 from 9:00 a.m. noon in the senior center. This program can assist you with a variety of needs including Medicare questions, help in choosing or changing a supplement, prescription drug cost options, Medicare bills and more. To get your questions answered or to schedule a free individual appointment, please call Kristin Tossey at 763-422-7528. This program is made possible by the Metropolitan Area Agency on Aging and Anoka County. It is not affiliated with any insurance company. YOU DO need to make an appointment to use this free service.

Income Tax Service
Income tax service for seniors will begin the first Tuesday in February and will be held every Tuesday and Thursday from 9:00 a.m. noon through April 15. Detailed information will be in the February newsletter.

Foot Care for Seniors
Monday, January 25 Happy Feet Footcare, Inc. will be taking appointments for Monday, January 25. They are here the fourth Monday of every month. Visits will take place in the Mathaire/McKenna Room, across from the senior center. To make an appointment you must call 763-560-5136. The cost is $30 per visit and payment is due at the time of service. Happy Feet nurses specialize in routine foot care for seniors and diabetic feet. They work on corns, calluses, thick or curled toenails and ingrown nails if they are not well advanced. A foot soak and massage are provided with each visit. Remember this is available the fourth Monday of every month and you must schedule an appointment. If you have any questions or to make an appointment call 763-560-5136

Senior Dining Program
Park View Villa (Menu in Newsletter)
The senior dining program is available at Parkview Villa, 965 40th Ave. N.E., five days a week at noon. You just need to buzz in at the main entrance. The suggested donation is $3.25 for seniors over 60 and $6.25 for those under 60. If you would like to participate, you must call Joan at 763-789-7018 two days in advance for a reservation

Senior Outreach Corner
By: Nancy Shaw, Senior Outreach Worker – 763-783-4741

The senior outreach program is available to help individuals 60 and older with providing information on many programs, government and private that are in the community that might be of benefit to you. Please do not hesitate to call Nancy at 763-783-4741.

To Your Health
By: Judy Trempe, Aerobics Instructor

Reasons to make adding exercise to your New Years resolution:

• The Surgeon General has declared lack of exercise hazardous to your health.
• The New England Journal of Medicine says any exercise is better than none in lowering cholesterol.
• Lack of physical activity is linked to more colon cancer cases than any other risk factor.
• A Duke University study showed that 65% of participants overcame depression by walking 30 minutes 3 times a week.
• The Annals of Internal Medicine found that a brisk walk for one hour a day could reduce the risk of Type 2 diabetes by 34%.
• The Journal of the American Medical Association shows that women who walked four or more hours a week had 41% fewer hip fractures.
• The American Heart Association says that the lack of exercise is the number one killer of people over 65!

Senior Events Calendar