The following article provides highlights from the July 2023 Golden Age News from the Bluffton Senior Citizens Center, 132 N. Main. The Senior Center will be closed on Tuesday, July 4.

July 2023: A great month to enjoy the little things like freedom, friends and popsicles. Some of us will be heading west this month. Don’t have too much fun without us! There will still be lots of things to do at the Senior Center while we are gone. Come and check them out.

HAND AND FOOT
The Senior Center will host a weekly Hand and Foot card game on Fridays at 9:30 a.m. The game is played with multiple decks of cards and the players make “sets” with the cards in their hand. When they deplete their hand, they play the cards in their foot (a second hand of cards). Come and learn this fun card game.

BINGO
We have a fourth sponsor for Bingo! We will now have Bingo on four Mondays a month. (July has five Mondays.) The fourth Monday will be sponsored by Liberty Retirement Community in Lima. Bingo starts at 2:30 p.m. and is free and open to the public. So, bring a friend and join in the fun. 

COMMUNITY MEALS
The Community Meal on July 6 will be served by the Trinity United Methodist Church and the First United Methodist Church will be serving on July 20. Meals start at 6:00 p.m. and are free and open to the public. A free will offering will be taken to help support the local food pantry. 

ACTIVITIES
We keep adding new activities. Come and check them out or let us know what you would like to do. Remember, we also have Corn Hole, Wii bowling, board games and puzzles that can be played anytime. 

• Bridge Wednesdays at 9:30 a.m.
• Crafts Thursdays at 9:30 a.m.
• Social Hour Tuesdays at 3:00 p.m.
• Dominos Fridays at 9:30 a.m.
• Dulcimers Tuesdays at 1:00 p.m. (except the first Tues. they are at the library)
• Exercise Class Mondays and Wednesdays at 1:30 p.m.
• Euchre Thursdays at 1:00 p.m.
• Hand and Foot Fridays at 9:30 a.m.
• Bingo Monday July 3 at 2:30 p.m. sponsored by Bridge Home Health
• Bingo Monday, July 10 at 2:30 p.m. sponsored by MHCO
• Bingo Monday, July 17 at 2:30 p.m. with HCS Management
• Bingo Monday, July 24 at 2:30 p.m. with Liberty Retirement
• Cooking Class Wednesday, July 19 at 11:00 a.m. with Sunrise of Findlay
• Line Dance Class July 11 & July 25 at 11:00 a.m., $2 members, $3 non-members
• Song Circle July 12 & 26 at 2:30 p.m.
• Western Square Dance July 13 at 7 p.m., $3 members, $4 non-members

TOENAIL CLINIC
Our next Toenail Clinic with Dr. Kirk will be Monday, July 24 at 9:30 a.m. An appointment is required and can be made in the office or call 419-358-8971. The cost is $10 due at the time of appointment. 

TAI CHI
The last Tai Chi class will be Thursday, July 20 at 9:30. We will have a second session of Tai Chi in the fall starting October 3. Sign up is available in the office for the fall class. 

RTA BUS TRIPS
Lunch in Lima, July 26 we will go to Lima to have lunch at Kewpee. We are going to meet at the corner of Cherry St. and Main at 10:45 a.m. to catch the bus. The cost is on your own. The RTA bus costs $3 for a day pass. Bring exact change. Sign up in the office.

If you cannot make it into the Senior Center to sign up for a trip or activity, you are always welcome to call the Center to get your name on the list. 419-358-8971.

SUMMER MOVIE
On Friday, July 28 at 1:00, we will be showing the movie “A Man Called Otto.” This comedy-drama film is about a bitter old man reluctantly getting involved in the lives of his neighbors. Some suicide themes are presented. The movie is PG-13. As always, we will provide the popcorn. Bring a drink and a friend. 

LOOKING AHEAD TO AUGUST

NATIONAL NIGHT OUT Tuesday, August 1 is National Night Out at the Bluffton Swimming Pool. National Night Out is a community-police awareness-raising event in the United States, held the first Tuesday of August. The Bluffton Chamber of Commerce sponsors the fireworks at the end of the event. Check the Bluffton Icon in the coming weeks for details.  

ALLEN COUNTY FAIR SENIOR DAY There will be a change this year for Senior Day at the fair. This year it will be on Tuesday, August 22. Mark your calendars so you don’t miss it. 

2024

TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE
Monday, April 8, 2024 there will be a total solar eclipse and we will be in the path of totality. After I was in the last total eclipse in 2017, I decided that, for everyone’s safety, we will be closed on April 8. There will be too many people on the roads. But we will be helping everyone get ready for the eclipse in several ways. We will be selling Eclipse Glasses in the store. We also hope to bring in some speakers to talk about eclipse. Keep watching here for more details. 

STORE NEWS
When was the last time you shopped in the Senior Center Store? The store has items made by our members including hand made cards, baby blankets, table runners, rugs, quilts and pillows. We also have books by Fred Steiner and pottery by Bob Minto. We are trying to build up a good supply of Bluffton souvenirs as well. We have Bluffton post cards, whirly gigs and coasters. Next time you need a gift, check us out.