Collins 50 Plus Seniors

Activities for the week of Dec. 16-22

Monday, Dec. 17: Exercises with Pat at 10 a.m., Painter Center gym.

Tuesday, Dec. 18: Active Senior Aerobics with Kim at 9 a.m., L.K. Painter Center gym. Small fee; Annual Collins 50 Plus Seniors Christmas Party at noon, L.K. Painter Center gym. Please call 532-2006 ext. 21 to sign up for this free event.

Wednesday, Dec. 19: Exercises with Pat at 10 a.m., Painter Center gym; Quilting with Florence at 10:30 a.m., Collins Library Community Room; Games and crafts with Pat at 1 p.m., Painter Center Yellow Room; Senior Bowling at 1 p.m. at K&L Lanes in Gowanda. Small fee; Salvation Army Red Kettle Drive,10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Shop ‘N Save in Gowanda.

Friday, Dec. 21: Exercises with Pat at 10 a.m., Painter Center gym; Salvation Army Red Kettle Drive, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Shop ‘N Save in Gowanda.

Saturday, Dec. 22: Salvation Army Red Kettle Drive, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Shop N Save.

Be sure to mark your calendar for the annual Collins 50 Plus Senior Christmas Party on Tuesday, Dec. 18 at 12 noon in the L.K. Painter Center gym. Enjoy a delicious catered lunch, Christmas sing-a-long and bingo. Bring a $5 gift if playing bingo. Call 532-2006 ext. 21 to sign up. Special guest arriving by sleigh!

It’s that time of year again! Join the Collins 50 Plus Seniors and Love INC as they collect donations for the Salvation Army at Shop N Save in Gowanda between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Call Love INC at 532-3541 to schedule a day & time. Please help us with this worthwhile cause.

Unless noted above, most 50 Plus Senior programs will be closed from Dec. 23 to Jan. 1, 2019. Programs will resume on Jan. 2.

Dunkirk Senior Center News

At the Dunkirk Senior Center, located at 45 Cliffstar Court, Special Big Bingo will continue the second Wednesdays of January and February. Doors open at 3 p.m., dinner will start at 3:30, followed by bingo. Tai Chi will resume in January.

The Dunkirk Senior Center will be closed for the holidays Dec. 24 and 25 and Jan. 1 and 24 (Martin Luther King Day).

Travel updates and new information for 2019:

An Allegany Casino trip is booked for Tuesday, Jan. 8 for the member price of $26 per person. This includes $25 casino bonus and a $5 food voucher. Sign-up began Monday, Dec. 3.

A shopping trip to Erie (with three stops) will take place Thursday, Jan. 24. The price per person is $25, which includes a lunch buffet at the Golden Corral. It includes all tips. Sign-up begins Tuesday, Dec. 11.

Monday, Feb. 18, Presidents Day, will be a Presque Isle Casino trip. The cost of $26 per person includes $25 casino bonus. There is no food allowance. Sign-up begins Monday, Jan. 7.

Monday, March 11 is a trip to del Lago Casino. The member cost is $35 per person. This includes $25 casino bonus and free buffet. Sign-up begins Monday, Feb. 11.

Wednesday, April 17 will be the annual Easter shopping trip to the Broadway Market. The cost is $45 per person. Lunch will be at Chef’s, with the menu choice to be made at the time of sign-up. Sign-up begins Monday, Feb. 4.

Tuesday, May 28 will be a Sounds of Music Beach Boys Tribute Matinee Show at the Seneca Allegany Casino. The cost is $73 per person and includes $20 free slots and a free lunch buffet. Sign-up begins Monday, March 11. Tuesday, Nov. 5, a Rat Pack Tribute trip is planned at the Seneca Allegany Casino. The cost is $73 per person and includes $20 free slots and a free lunch buffet. Sign-up begins Monday, June 17.

Trip organizers are checking for interest in a show at Shea’s: “Million Dollar Quartet” for matinee performances Sunday March 17 OR March 24. Dinner would be at Ilio DiPaolo’s. The price of $147 per person would include the show, tips, meal and transportation. There would be non-assigned seating for the bus. Sign-up with payment would be required by Jan. 5.

The office, located at 45 Cliffstar Court, is open Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. and Thursday all day from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Collection for the 2019 membership dues has begun. The dues are $5 per year – no increase. The year runs Jan. 1, 2019 through Dec. 31, 2019. You must have an active membership to participate in all programs beginning Jan. 1.

Newsletters are available at the Center. The phone number is 366-7530.

Grape Belt Senior News

Aerobics and Weights with Catherine on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 9 a.m. In the event that Catherine cancels aerobics and weights, she will post it on the Grape Belt Seniors Facebook page, on her own Facebook page, WDOE and Chautauqua Today.

There will be no Aerobics and Weights classes on Dec. 24 or Dec. 31.

2019 dues are now being collected at the Center.

All trips, extended as well as day trips, are open to the public; members and non-members. Fliers for upcoming trips for 2019 are available at the Center.

Trips planned for 2019 FIRST PAID – FIRST RESERVED!

May 13: DelLago Casino. Get $25 slot dollars and free lunch buffet. $32 per person. Pay by Feb. 10.

May 24: BPO “An American Salute.” Includes lunch at Pearl Street Grill. Sign up by Jan. 10. Pay by Feb. 10

June 9: 1:10 p.m. Yankees and Cleveland Indians game. All you can eat buffet until 7th inning. Club seating!

This trip is full and finalized. May sign up in case there are cancellations.

June 26: Customer Appreciation. Seneca Niagara. Pay $30. Get $30 in slots and free buffet.

July 26: Customer Appreciation. Seneca Niagara. Pay $30. Get $30 in slots and free buffet.

Details forthcoming on the following trips:

July: Wellsville Balloon Festival

August: Belhurst Castle in Geneva

October: Bradford dinner theater, “Witches Brew.” Zippo Museum.

Casino Trips:

Oct. 8: Musical Tribute to Beautiful and Carole King. Carol King’s – all male Carole King Tribute. Family friendly comedy. Custom musical arrangements. A cast from NYC. $78 per person for show, $20 free slot play, and buffet lunch. Seneca Niagara Casino.

Nov. 5: The Rat Pack. Tribute to Dean, Frank, and Sammy. Seneca Allegany. $78 per person for show, $20 free slot play, and buffet lunch.

Dec. 10: The Lettermen Hits and Holiday Show. Seneca Niagara. $78 per person for show, $20 free slot play, and buffet lunch.

Extended trips for 2019:

Mid-Atlantic Rail Adventure: April 24 to 27. Trip includes motor coach transportation to Pittsburgh and a river cruise on the Gateway Clipper. Rail transportation to Washington, D.C. aboard Amtrak’s full-service Capitol Limited. Monuments and memorials. Baltimore – Inner Harbor. National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. Arlington National Cemetery. Return trip by motor coach departing from Baltimore.

New York, New York on July 4: July 3 to 6. Includes Hyde Park – F.D. Roosevelt’s home, West Point Military Academy, Hudson River/NYC Harbor Cruise – view Macy’s fireworks from the Capt. J.P. II. Two-night stay at Edison Hotel in the Times Square area. Shopping. Tour of NYC. Broadway musical. Travel is by motor coach.

Bavarian Europe: Sept. 10 to 20. Includes air fare to and from Austria. Then tour Austria, Switzerland, Germany and Milan. Fliers re: this trip are now available.

For information and to sign up for any of the extended trips, call Marianne Serio at 672-5274. For more information and to sign up for any day trips, call Judy Marino at 672-5778.

Find Grape Belt Seniors on Facebook. Active members are eligible to join the FB group.

Silver Creek Seniors

The Dec. 11 meeting was called to order in anticipation of the “Night Before Christmas” bringing peace and joy into every heart. New member Barbara Schulenberg was warmly welcomed into “the flock of all affections” (Shakespeare). The Pledge of Allegiance was recited and “God Bless America” was sung with tenderness. Pauline Flitt invoked blessings and thanks for the gifts of amity and abundance. The decorative table was laden with super-tasting soups, fruits and sweets, thanks to our volunteers.

Judy Hahn reminded everyone of the St. Rose Society Christmas cookie sale – homemade cookies wrapped and ready to give. Contact Carmen Wappman at 965-9914, Pat Johnson at 934-2961 or the Mt. Carmel Parish office at 934-2233 for details.

It was reported that in the award-winning best-seller “The Genius of Birds” by Jennifer Ackerman, we learn how birds make and use their own tools, teach one another new skills, count, navigate, exercise astonishing feats of memory, create works of art, communicate in ways that resemble language and even pass along cultural traditions. So! If anyone ever calls you a bird brain, it’s truly a huge compliment. “Wouldn’t it be Loverly” if we could fly like the birds, “Somewhere Over the Rainbow?” Since we cannot fly, “Let’s All Sing Like the Birdies Sing” instead. And remember – if you feed the birds, you’ll never grow hungry.

50/50 winners were Sue Duecker, Kathy Huffman and Ernie Hilliker. Door prizes were won by Max Church, Harry Suski and Mary Ann Seibert. Hilliker called mind-sharpening bingo and the winners were Ed Newman, Ellyn Sutehall, Lorrie Newman (twice) Eleanor Lemiszko (twice) and Flitt (twice).

At the next meeting on Dec. 18 at 1 p.m., volunteers will serve a potluck Christmas luncheon, whatever may chance to be in the pot. We will celebrate with joy and Christmas wonderment. Bring a $5 generic exchange gift if you wish to participate, one suitable for a lady or a gentleman.

Sinclairville Senior Citizens Elect Officers for 2019

SINCLAIRVILLE – The Sinclairville Senior Citizens meet once a month for a luncheon and program in the Sinclairville Firehall Dining Room. The December luncheon was held with a fine Christmas dinner catered by the Sinclairville Shur-Fine grocery store, led by Erik Spinler. Everyone enjoyed the fine meal with ample amounts of food. The Sinclairville Village Board provided the cost of the meal, which is very much appreciated. President Diman Smith opened the gathering with a welcome, and member Bonnie Larkin gave the blessing prior to the meal.

Member Ray Wood provided music for the occasion and festive table decorations were provided by members Robert and Diane Minekime.

Prizes were awarded and the recipients included Linda Parmenter, Jaymi Clark, LouAnn Smith, Martha Harmon, Minekime, Diane Shaw, Paul Scranton, Carol Hetrick, June Whipple, Mrs. Larkin, John Sipos, Linda Ivett, Mrs. Minekime, President Smith, Irene Moll, Susan Sipos, Betty Wielgasz, Doug Ivett, Doug Christian, Wood, Jane Penhollow, and Larry Downey. Secretary LouAnn Smith read the minutes of the previous meeting, and treasurer Charles Sylvester gave the financial report.

At the business meeting, President Smith led all with the Lord’s Prayer, and Sipos led all in the Pledge of Allegiance. Sipos gave the history of “The Twelve Days of Christmas” dating back to 1780 when it was first published as a children’s rhyme. Mr. Downey was recognized for all his community work that he is doing in the Sinclairville area. Mrs. Smith told a Christmas story of the year when their family had a large tree, and it was decorated on one side, and as it toppled over, she ran to save it, but fell into the tree, and at the same time her husband Diman was out looking for his snowshoe that he used while getting the tree from the forest. Other related Christmas stories were shared.

President Smith reported that he visited an ill person in the Buffalo Hospital for the group. Sunshine chairperson Wielgasz read the list of those celebrating a birthday or anniversary. The birthday song was sung to Paul Scranton and the anniversary song to the Minekimes celebrating their 52nd anniversary. A donation will be sent in memory of past president and secretary Margie McIntyre to the Sinclairville Library.

The 2019 officers elected were June Whipple for president, Linda Parmenter for vice president, LouAnn Smith for secretary, and Charles Sylvester for treasurer. Appointed by the president for the Sunshine Chairman was Betty Wielgasz, and trip coordinator was Sylvester.

During the winter months of January and February, the group will not be meeting. The next meeting is on Tuesday March 12 at noon in the Sinclairville Firehall Dining room. Table decorations will be provided by Ms. Shaw, Mrs. Smith and Ann Hellman. New members are always welcome.