Year in Review 2018: Blaine Senior Center

By Kathy Sitker, director

2018 has ended and as I reflect on this year, it has been full of change. A new board, new members and new ideas. In case no one has noticed, we are busy!

In 2018, we celebrated 51 years in our location at 763 G Street with an old-fashioned hoedown. We had speeches, a BBQ, music by the Rod’s Blue Grass Jammers and line dancing. Now how fun was that? A great time was had by all.

The center is a place for community members 50 years of age and above. We have a membership of over 700 and growing. It’s a place to connect, to socialize, to learn new things and to exercise – all part of healthy aging.

Our larger events this year were wonderful. We had a full house at our annual Spring Tea with lots of silent auction items donated by the many businesses and individuals here in Whatcom County. We even had a live auction this year that was fun and got the excitement going – especially over the Plover Trip! Our Christmas Bazaar was back and we had great reviews by the vendors. Our Gearheads Classic Car Show included vintage motorcycles (hopefully next year the rain and wind stays away).

Senior centers are becoming “masters of aging.” We here at the Blaine Senior Center offer something for everybody, whether it’s coming in to read the morning paper, enjoying a cup of coffee, sharing stories with the morning group, starting your day with a work out in the gym, participating in the stretch class or doing Tai Chi. Let’s not forget the social aspects as well such as playing cards, Mahjong or shooting pool. We also have our book club and movie matinees. The Blaine Ukulele Group (BUG!) and Rod’s Blue Grass Jammers are busy as ever!

This year we added group meditation that is led by a meditation instructor who has been meditating for over 43 years. She has studied with meditation masters like Maharishi Mahesh, Yogi and Dr. Deepak Chopra.

This year we purchased a new reach-in for the kitchen. Thank you to our generous donors for helping with this.

I want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart to our volunteers for all they do. May 2019 bring peace to you and yours and may we all shine brightly.