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Jazz Read (who is standing) quizzes members of the San Manuel Seniors about Canada. Read is originally from Taber, Alberta, Canada. John Hernandez | Miner
San Manuel seniors enjoy friendship and conversation during their monthly pot luck. John Hernandez | Miner
San Manuel Miner
On Thursday the San Manuel Senior Center held their monthly themed based pot luck. The monthly theme for the pot luck was Canada. It was suggested by Jazz Read, originally from Taber, Alberta Canada. Jazz said that Taber is known worldwide for its corn. The main meal was soup and biscuits along with salads and dessert.
Following dinner, Jazz handed out a written test with questions about Canada. Members had to participate in the test before they could have dessert. Jazz then went over the questions with everyone and found that many of them had some knowledge about Canada and everyone also learned some new things about our neighbors to the north. Among the things everyone learned was that the national capital of Canada is Ottawa. A chesterfield is a sofa and lorry is a large truck. Next month’s pot luck theme is Italy with spaghetti as the main dish. To celebrate Valentine’s Day they will have the West Virginia Sweethearts a band from Tucson that plays and sings gospel and country music for entertainment.
The senior center has 28 paid members and is always recruiting new members. Any senior citizen age 50 and above is welcome to join. Dues are $15 per year. For activities at the senior center, a $1 activity is charged for members and non-members are charged $2. The fees are used to help pay the center’s utilities. There are a lot of activities and President Dorothy Staggs said, “Come and join us, we welcome suggestions and ideas for other activities and pot luck themes.”
Some of the regular activities include the theme based pot luck held every second Thursday of the month at 5 p.m. at the senior center; exercise with Enriqueta on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 8 a.m. at the Elks Club; Canasta at 12:30 p.m. Wednesdays at the senior center; Red Hats club meeting the second Friday of the month at 1 p.m. at the senior center; and a Widow’s Luncheon is held on the first Tuesdays of the month at the various restaurants in Oracle, Mammoth and San Manuel.
The current officers for the San Manuel Senior Center are: President Dorothy Staggs, Vice President Maxine Gillespie, Secretary Jan Kincaid, Treasurer Hazel Cooper, and board members, Vern Fischer, Bob van Dielen, Carl Mathews, and Jeane Woods.
The senior center has been working on getting volunteer handymen or women to help seniors with small jobs around the house or yard. The senior center is located at 210 Avenue A in San Manuel. As Dorothy Staggs said, “Good things are happening at the senior center so come and check us out!” For more information contact Dorothy at 520-896-9780.
John Hernandez lives in Oracle. He is retired and enjoys writing and traveling. He is active in the Oracle Historical Society. He covers numerous public events, researches historical features and writes business/artist profiles.
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