Your Hometown News Source
Your Hometown News Source
A Place to Gather
Smiles and friendly chatter are the watchwords of the day at the brightly decorated table where friends gather. From left: Donna Wilson, Steve Meyers, Herb Bowen, Don Pittman, Sharon Eaton and John Eaton. In the background, Jim Su'euga was giving a brief rundown of information from the City of Dayton and taking questions from the group.
The "party" gets started around 11 a.m. at the 403 E. Patit Street location and some people arrive a little early, some drift in whenever.
There's a room dedicated to playing pool, demonstrated here by a visitor to the Senior Center, Jim Su'euga.
These hale and hearty volunteers happily toil every Tuesday and Thursday to dish up the mobile meals for those seniors in the community who, for one reason or the other, are unable to attend in person. The Meals on Wheels Program gets clicking around 11 a.m. on those days and everyone pitches in to get the meals ready for the road, then the drivers head out on their appointed rounds. From left: Heather Hiebert, Zella Powers, Christine Broughton, Don Swentik, Dwyla Donohue, Joe Nyce, Becky Woods, Patty Preston, Bruce Hiebert and Orinda Woods, who is the MOW manager. At left, Jim Su'euga lines up a shot on the pool table.
DAYTON–As the old joke says: "At my age, I eat dessert first."
Well, it's true. At the Columbia County Senior Center, folks trickling in for the meal on any given Tuesday or Thursday get a little treat to whet their appetites.
In the meantime, they find a place to sit and strike up conversations with their (many long-time) friends and acquaintances.
The Senior Center's programs take place on Tuesdays and Thursdays and there is a pattern to it all.
In-person activities resumed in the fall of 2022, according to Don Swentik, the Senior Center president. While COVID-19 restrictions were in place, the Meals on Wheels program didn't miss a beat, he says, and seniors were able to pick up their meal by driving by the Center.
"Now we're getting back to doing our thing," Swentik said.
The Meals on Wheels and Senior Center luncheon happen on each Tuesday and Thursday. The "party" gets started around 11 a.m. at the 403 E. Patit Street location and some people arrive a little early, some drift in whenever.
Typically, a speaker or program is arranged for the in-person meetings on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
On the first Tuesday of the month, the program is usually information from the Columbia County Health System, informing those attending of current programs and services at the hospital, or updates on topics such as diabetes, heart, or other maladies.
Each second Tuesday, Columbia County Public Health is on scene giving blood pressure checks. Also on that day is the monthly business meeting at 1 p.m., Swentik said.
Bring your green visor for cards, game, puzzles and other fun pursuits on the third Tuesday of each month.
Thursdays are generally open, as far as organized activities or programs are concerned, save for the second Thursday of the month when Pastor Greg Brownell visits with his guitar to lead the group in a program of music.
-Loyal Baker
