Young at Heart

By Vicki McCullough, Blaine Senior Center board member

It’s February! This time of year, I think about lovers, both young and old, strolling in the park by the marina. The eagles are looking to nest and I don’t know about you but I love to see all the new eaglets.

It’s also planning time – if you’re a homeowner, now’s a good time to plant your garden or courtyard. Now’s also a good time to start planning a vacation or weekend day trips. Take a look at the schedule at the Blaine Senior Center. Kathy Sitker, our director, has been planning some fantastic trips with Bellaire Travel and Adventure.

On February 18, we will attend a Chinese New Year Celebration in Vancouver, B.C. The trip costs $84 per person and reservations need to be made by February 14 – don’t forget your passports. Sitker is currently checking on charters for Mariners games as well. Oh, and don’t forget to join us on February 19 at the Semiahmoo Resort, Golf and Spa for the annual Bite of Blaine. It is a fundraiser for Blaine’s Old Fashion Fourth of July celebration.

This year marks the Blaine Senior Center’s 51st anniversary. Plans are being made for a great celebration in August and we are busy sprucing the place up. Currently, the gym is receiving new paint and carpet and we’re moving the fitness machines to make it more comfortable and less crowded. The rest of the rooms will get a new coat of paint and spiffing up, too. We look forward to showing it off. Being proud of our center does not just stop at the way it looks as we are very proud of our activities and programs.

The Blaine Senior Center offers a variety of educational programs and classes as well as entertainment and community events. Our Bingo games are open to the public and everyone has a lot of fun. We offer classes in combination with the Blaine-Birch Bay Park and Recreation District 2. To obtain a schedule, call the Blaine Senior Center or Blaine-Birch Bay Park and Recreation District 2.

Our Volunteer Member of the Month is Tom Dorsey. He arrived in Blaine from California on his boat in 2000 and has become a very important person at the center. He is here every day and has become instrumental in getting the food recycling program here at the Blaine Senior Center. He volunteers at events and programs throughout the community and is the recipient of a Blaine Builder Award.

At the Blaine Senior Center, don’t forget that we offer freshly-made lunches from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on weekdays. We are open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday. The Blaine Senior Center is located at 763 G Street. Learn more by visiting blaineseniorcenter.com.