Polson Seniors: Apply for rebate by Oct. 1

Take a deep breath. We have survived tourists, forest fires and road construction. And now a glorious autumn is here. Gathering, hunting and raking are next!

Property owners in Lake County have until Oct. 1 to file for a $675 refund on your property taxes. Take your tax statement,if you have it, ID and SS card to 3 9th Ave. West #3 in Polson (the building you get your driver's license from) and they'll help. It only takes a few minutes.

A safe-driving course, sponsored by AARP-Safe Driver, is offered 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Oct. 5; it costs $20 for AARP members and $25 non-members. Substantial discounts on car insurance may be available upon completion of the course, which is given via video with instructor assistance. No testing!

Flu and/or Pneumonia shots are available from 10 a.m.-noon Sept. 28. Bring your Medicare card for cost-free vaccinations.

If you have fresh garden produce you can donate to the center, bring it in. We are also getting a good response from those who are repurposing those green grocery bags for use in commodity distributions.

Membership is nearly two-thirds of our record goal from last year, with 10 months to go – a good example of seniors helping seniors. Members get free use of hall/ game room for certain events; reservation required.

Activities at the Polson center, open to all, include: self-guided, video assisted exercise, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays; pinochle, noon-3 p.m. Thursdays (new players are welcome); bingo, 7 p.m. Fridays ($100 payout on blackouts), with playing card bingo on the first and third Wednesdays. The pool table is open 8 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays.

A veteran’s representative will visit the center from 10 a.m.-noon Friday, Oct. 6, and Tuesday, Oct. 17.

Meals are available for sit-down, take-out or delivery from 11:45 a.m.-12:30 p.m. weekdays; a suggested donation of $5 helps support the nutrition program. The menu is posted each week at the center; call before 10 a.m. for deliveries.

Upcoming main dishes include beef stew in a bread bowl, Sept. 28; pork chow mein, Sept. 29; potato soup, Oct. 2; lasagna, Oct. 3; chicken strips, Oct. 4; Swedish meatballs, Oct. 5; and baked fish, Oct. 6.

The center is open from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays at 504 3rd Ave. E. For more information, call 406-883-4735 or email polsonseniorcenter@gmail.com.