Senior News

Arlee

Summer is in full swing and so is the Jocko Valley Farmer’s Market. Please support the Arlee seniors by buying a hot dog or hamburger platter from them at the farmers market on Wednesday, Aug. 17 from 4-7 p.m. on U.S. 93 in downtown Arlee. The market features produce, crafts, food, drinks and weekly entertainment.

The center’s menu for the first half of August is as follows: Aug. 5 – Salon patties, oven baked spuds, cole slaw, buns, fruit cobbler; Aug. 8 – Spaghetti with meat sauce, garlic toast, salad, fruit, apple crisp; Aug. 10 – Sausage patties, gravy with biscuits, chilled tomatoes, melon slices, cookies; Aug. 12 – Tacos with meat, onions, lettuce, tomatoes, refried beans, strawberry short cake; Saturday, Aug. 13 – Roast pork, potatoes and gravy, corn, buns, fruit tray, chocolate cake; Aug. 15 – Roast chicken, potatoes and gravy, carrots, buns, fruit, brownies; Aug. 17 – Sloppy Joes, potato chips, cheese/veg. tray, fruit, cake; Wednesday, Aug. 17 - Seniors’ hamburger/hotdog stand at the farmer’s market 4-7 p.m.; Aug. 19 – Ham, alfredo noodles, diced tomatoes, fruit, sherbet.

New meal prices at the center went into effect on Aug. 1. Lunch is at noon on the weekdays and dinner on the second and fourth Saturdays at 6 p.m. Call 726-3213 if you need more information.

St. Ignatius

The St. Ignatius Senior Citizens Center is accepting non-perishable foods on behalf of the Mission Valley Food Pantry through Aug. 19. Donors may put their food items in a basket just inside the front door. The center is a lot brighter now thanks to new energy efficient lighting installed in part thanks to an energy rebate from Mission Valley Power.

The following are the senior center activities for the rest of August: Aug. 11 quilters; Aug. 12 barbecued chicken and birthday cake lunch; Aug. 12 board of directors meeting, 10 a.m.; Aug. 16 sausage and eggs breakfast lunch; Aug. 17 baked ham and lamb stew dinner, 5:30 p.m.; Aug. 18 quilters; Aug. 19 taco salad lunch; Aug. 23 meatloaf lunch; Aug. 25 quilters; Aug. 26 lake trout salmon rolls lunch; Aug. 29 pinochle, 7 p.m.; Aug. 30 spaghetti and meatballs lunch. Bingo is played after almost every lunch.

For more information about the center and its activities and services, call the center at 745-4462 or Mack McConnell at 745-4151 or write to St. Ignatius Senior Citizens Center, Box 758, St. Ignatius, MT 59865.

Polson

There will be a board meeting here at the Center on Friday, August 12th at 10 am. We hope to see all the members there.

You only have a few days left to sign up for the next AARP Driving Class. It will take place on Tuesday the 16th at 9 am. If you would like to attend please call us here at the Center at 883-4735 and we’ll get you signed up.

We would once again like to thank Jo for coming in at the last minute to help us out in Kelli’s absence. We can’t tell you how much you are appreciated.

Now, for some card scores. Bridge scores for July 29th had Paul Doolittle first and Millie Mielke second and for August 2nd Ruth Baer was first and Dean Greiner was second. Pinochle scores for August 4th were Alice Grilley first and Gerry Crusch second.

Luncheon menu: Thursday (8/11) Swiss steak; Friday (8/12) chicken enchiladas; Monday (8/15) spaghetti; Tuesday (8/16) pork chops; Wednesday (8/17) ham salad sandwich.

Dixon

How did August get here so soon? There’s so much going on in our area, plus all the produce ripening, people visiting, and the Flathead cherries have arrived safely! I hoarded some jars from last year’s harvest, now it’s time to stock up again. The huckleberries come along about the same time, then corn and melons...

We Dixon seniors baked our last batches of cookies to pass out at the rest area. We could start a business, we’ve got the routine down to an art! We rarely have a broken (never burned) one to sample any more.

Also coming up is our Melon Days celebration on Aug. 27. Watch for the fliers and the news items showing the schedule of events. Be sure to get a raffle ticket, or five — this helps fund the expenses for the special day. The seniors put on a big community dinner after the parade. The Dixon School will be having a high school reunion celebration at our center, with a dance, after the dinner. I had a brief preview of an early melon, and it was all I remembered them being. Plan to come out to our little town for the day!

Our July pinochle players came in out of the heat and Darlene Solomon took home the door prize. Don Siers was the low scorer, Ray Solomon was the high player, and Knight Weber got the most pinochles. The traveling players meet at the Dixon center each fourth Monday after dinner.

Our super cook, Diane, continues to delight us with her perfect home- made rolls, and delicious meals. Do come experience her culinary coupes on Monday evenings at five o’clock, and each Thursday at noon. Take-out meals are available.

The menu for the next few meals will be: Thursday, Aug. 11 - roast beef; Monday, Aug. 15 - chicken and dumplings; Thursday, Aug. 18 - hot pork sandwiches; Monday, Aug. 22 - Hashbrown beef pie.

Ronan

Remember last winter when we all complained that it was to cold and wet? Now, we seem to be complaining that it is to hot and dry. That is the trouble with the weather in Montana, it is either too hot or too cold, too wet or too dry. Or, maybe it is just that we humans are never satisfied with things that we can’t change?

Don’t forget that the veterans’ rep will be here this Thursday (11th) from 1 until 3 in the afternoon, and that our evening meal is that same day at 5. We will be serving roast pork.

The next card party here at the center will be on Monday, the 15th, at 7 in the evening, and the next foot clinic will be here on Wednesday, the 24th, from 10:30 until noon. You don’t need an appointment for either of these services.

The Bread Basket is in need of brown paper grocery bags. If you have some to give them, either drop them off here at the center or at the food bank. They are open on Tuesdays and Fridays from 10 until 2.

The Council on Aging is still in need of drivers for the med cars. This is a much needed service for the senior citizens and disabled of Lake County. If you can volunteer your time, give them a call at 676-2368 and they can get you all set up as a driver. They supply the car and the gas, you just need to donate your time.

We are still collecting aluminum cans to be recycled, and we very much appreciate any donations that we receive. A special thanks to John and Sylvia for hauling the cans to Missoula for us, and for all the stuff you do to get them ready to go.

Our menu for the following week is: Wednesday (10th) is sloppy Joe’s, Thursday (11th) is pork roast at 5 p.m., Friday (12th) is salmon loaf, Monday (15th) is biscuits and sausage gravy, and Wednesday (17th) is chicken.

The center is located at 528 Main St. SW (by the hospital, and is open on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 10 until 2, and we serve lunch at noon. On the second Thursday of the month we are open for the evening meal, which is served at 5 p.m. We play bingo on Mondays and Fridays following the meal, and the pool tables are always ready to use. We have puzzles and books that you can borrow or exchange, and I am sure that you will always find someone to just sit and visit with. Come on in and join us, you may be surprised at how many people you know who are already here. Have a great week.