Stay sharp, keep active; Senior Center offers variety of organized and informal activities

Published 7:02 am Friday, January 26, 2018

Men with knives meet weekly at the Mower County Senior Center. These are not pocket knives for whittling. These are good blades that stay sharp and are used alongside gougers and V-blades. They are used tocraft wood masterpieces.

The Woodcarvers Club, which has between eight and a dozen members, is scheduled to meet from 8:30-11:30 a.m. Wednesdays at the center in Austin. It’s one of a number of activities the senior center hosts. Another group focuses on stitching projects. There is also a call out for chess and bridge players.

To get involved with the Woodcarvers Club, you are encouraged to stop by during one of its Wednesday sessions. Experience is not necessary. Club members will help you along.

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Member Russell Vaale said for that first visit you don’t need to bring anything. Just look around and talk with club members, who will  give pointers on tools and such.

You likely will see a variety of projects that could inspire you.

Some other activites include:

• Stitching Bees: Every Wednesday from 1-3 p.m., people are invited to join this group and work on their own projects, such as knitting, quilting and crocheting. “Stitching Bees is the perfect group to sit down , chit-chat, drink coffee and complete your projects,” says a note in the Senior Center’s newsletter.

• Bingo: Games begin at 1 p.m. on Thursdays. Cards are 50 cents apiece and are good for 17 games.

• Chess: Open chess is at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, but players at the senior center are flexible. Stop in the coffee shop and start a game on your schedule.

• Tai chi: Classes are from 9 -10 a.m. Wednesdays. An in-person leader guides the group through video lessosn.

• Silver Sneakers: This fitness program is on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:15 -9:15 a.m.

• A walking group from the senior center is meeting at the Packer dome Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 9 a.m. Meet by the north door. If interested, call Teresa at the senior center at 481-3332.

Russell Vaale works on a piece during a meeting of the Woodcarvers Club on Wednesday at the Mower County Senior Center in Austin.
Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com