Grant County Seniors: April 2, 2025
Published 11:13 am Monday, March 31, 2025
Carolyn Stout
Soo Yukawa
Rose Coombs
JOHN DAY —Yay! This is my final column on behalf of the senior center. Writing does not come easily for me, and by various methods I have not determined that the column is even read. So what’s the point? I know that the menus for the center are published elsewhere, so it’s not like my departure will leave anyone wondering what’s for lunch and when. But for this last column, let me tell you that after the old-time music of the Grant County Jammers on the 31st, you can enjoy BBQ ham with sweet potatoes, baked beans, applesauce and dessert. Lunch on April 3rd will be meatloaf, baked potatoes, veggies, fruit and dessert. Speaking of meals, we welcome the John Day Fire Department as a new sponsor. The department joins Driskill Memorial Chapel as a sponsor of one of our April meals.
Carolyn Stout
If you would like to be a sponsor of one of our weekly meals call the center 541-575-1825. Leave a message if no answer and someone will return your call. Sponsoring a meal is a great way to honor someone. A person doesn’t have to be deceased to honor them. More and more people are choosing to honor someone while they are still living and can enjoy it. Becoming a sponsor is a big help to us with the higher food prices. If you would like to have a living sponsorship meal, we can help you make it a grand occasion, fitting for the person. Call 541-620-2050 to talk about what you’d like.
Some reminders before I go. We have a new Bingo system and it is in play every Tuesday at 1:30 PM. However, you should come early to get your lucky cards and maybe some refreshments. Evening Bingo is also offered the second Friday of the month at 6-6:30 PM.
Don’t forget we have a wonderful, ever changing library and you are welcome to browse and borrow any of the books, periodicals and/or jig-saw puzzles.
I had the good fortune to stop by the center Monday morning and was treated to the jammers playing and singing some beautiful songs. Ron Phillips, Ben Richardson,Vern and Linda Pifer, Mark Tootle, Stan Moyer, Rhonda Metler, Earl Carlton, Bill and Laura Kuffler, Douglas Boyer and Glen from the Widows Creek area, but I can’t read his writing to know his last name.
Tammy and Veleda ran the kitchen Monday the 24th and did a fine job of it. Meals delivered to homebound seniors totaled 49, while we had 24 people enjoying the meal at the center. Chris Robbins of Dayville single handedly served beverages, and cleaned up in the dining room and the kitchen. Shay shook his bug and returned to the center to put out the Thursday meal, which I heard was fantastic.
Dave Pasko helped with the cleaning and organizing of the equipment room. It looks really good. We now know what we have and can access things we have to offer for mobility and safety of our seniors. If your life would be easier with any of our items, call the center at 541-575-1825 and let us know, or drop by 142 NE Dayton April 5th between 10 AM and 2 PM to check out what we have. Needed items are by donation if you can donate something. A few unrelated things (some new) will be offered for sale.
The regular Senior Center Board meeting will be held April 10th at 1 PM at the center. We will be electing new officers at that time and the public is welcome to attend. Allow me to leave you with this quote by American author Elizabeth Andrew: “Volunteers do not necessarily have the time, they just have the heart.”
If you have a heart for our older folks, consider volunteering with a local senior center. There are many areas that would be enriched from joining in.
MONUMENT — You know, I was going to report on how hot it got over here in Monument, and wouldn’t you know it, the weather drastically changed, again! I thought, spring is surely here now because I have begun to see lots of bugs flying around. I have seen butterflies, wasps, and even a mosquito. I smacked that thing so hard and killed it. It had the gall to land on me while I was enjoying my kitty-petting time and I actually saw it trying to poke its nose through my jeans a couple of times. I am sure it would have gotten through my jeans had I not struck it dead on its tracks. I absolutely hate mosquitoes because they love my blood. LOL.
Soo Yukawa
Our greeters at the table were Bob Cockrell and Sue Cavender. They checked in all the guests, collected and counted up the money. Jan Ensign filled out the paperwork. Bob led us in the flag salute and made the announcements. Yours truly prayed the blessing over the meal. The free meal ticket was won by Clint Petersen.
Our wonderful cooks, Terry Cade and Carrie Jewell, made us meatloaf, mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans, dinner rolls, and an assortment of different desserts to choose from. The meal was super-tasty and of course I had to go back for seconds. I had to be rolled out the door, I was so full! Ha. We thank our awesome cooks for always making and serving us great meals.
We celebrated some birthdays for the month of March. We sang the Happy Birthday song to Jan Ensign and Jeanne Strange. Bob Cox also had a birthday. We hope that all of them had a wonderful day and got to celebrate their birthdays with loved ones.
One of the days we had this past week was pretty warm. It was near 80 degrees! I was sweating and I thought I would try and roll up my sleeves in hopes to get some kind of a tan. Well that warm weather expectation was dashed to pieces the very next day, seriously. We had ominous dark clouds sweep down and we had a sudden downpour, high winds, and then just as suddenly, it dissipated and we got bright sunshine. That all happened within the span of an hour or so.
Here I was thinking, oooh, maybe I can plant something early this year? Yeah, right. Not! What was I thinking? It seems the weather over this way likes to plays tricks on us. I am not going to fall for it again! Maybe …
My mama goats are getting real big. Shay Shay looks as big as a house. I think she may even have quadruplets. She had triplets her first time last year. Either she will have multiple babies or else she is just plain fat because she eats like a pig. LOL. She is a good goat, though. She lets me milk her with no complaints so I can’t complain about her, either.
James 1:12 Blessed is the man who endureth temptation for when he is tried, he will receive the Crown of Life, which the Lord hath promised to them who love Him.
PRAIRIE CITY — I have proof positive that Spring has arrived in Grant County. I saw a ground squirrel in Seneca today. So what was I doing in Seneca? Just passing through. Had to make the quarterly journey to Burns to see the Miracle Ear lady. And you can tell it is Spring in Harney County because of all the high water.
Rose Coombs
