The White Rock Senior Center, 9100 Diceman at Oldgate, sponsors a large variety of events, from watermelon eating contests to nutrition lectures to defensive driving courses.
But it’s a tried-and-true game of chance that the center counts on to keep seniors coming back each day.
Although the prize is mere pennies, 25 to 50 people participate daily in the bingo competition the center offers from 9-11:45 a.m., says Center Manager Adrienne Kahn. The center is open Monday through Friday.
“It’s the one activity that we’ve had straight for 15 years that we’ve never dropped,” Kahn says.
The center, located in the back of the Lakeview Christian Church, serves residents age 60 and older, providing lunch weekdays at noon for a suggested contribution of 60 cents. The center is part of the Dallas County Nutrition Program and funded in part by the Area on Aging.
Other daily programs include a coffee and donuts fellowship at 9 a.m. and dominos games, which are played the same time as bingo. The center also has weekly painting, exercise and country western dancing classes in addition to special events.
The center distributes a monthly calendar, and most events are free. November events will include a Thanksgiving dinner at 11 a.m. Nov. 22 featuring ragtime piano player John Ranone. Reservations are required.
On Nov. 11, the center also hosts a review of the book “John Philip Sousa” at 11 a.m.; and Nov. 15, a seniors information fair will be held at the center from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Neighborhood businesses and service organizations will visit the center to talk to seniors. There will be handouts, door prizes and giveaways.
For center information, call Kahn at 328-4863.
News & Notes
CLASSES
Line Dancing: The Greater Lakewood Shepherd Center teaches line dancing on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1:30-3 p.m. The Tuesday class meets at St. Paul’s Evangelical and Reformed Church, 6464 E. Lovers Lane, and performs in the community. The Thursday class meets at Northridge Presbyterian Church, 6920 Bob-o-Link. Call 823-2583.
Art Lessons: Cathedral Gardens, a retirement community at 1500 N. Garrett, offers art classes Wednesdays at 2:30 p.m. to residents for free and non-residents for $5 per class. Lessons are taught by Cathedral Gardens resident Diana Havins, who used to own a design company. Students work with clay, oil and pastels. Call 821-5910.
LUNCHEONS
Kindergartners perform for AARP: The American Association of Retired Persons, Ridgewood Park Chapter No. 3787, will meet at 10 a.m. Nov. 21 at Ridgewood Park United Methodist Church, 6645 E. Lovers. The kindergarten class at Ridgewood Park School will make a presentation. Lunch is served for $1.50. Call Dorthea Sooby at 827-6678 for information.
Making Friends and Playing Bridge: Paula Neiswender of MJ Designs speaks to the White Rock Newcomers Club, a women’s social group, Nov. 5. The club meets the first Tuesday of each month at the Holiday Inn, LBJ and Jupiter. Meetings include hospitality time from 9:30-10 a.m., lunch and the scheduled presentation at 11:30 a.m., and bridge. Cost is $11. The club is open to all ages, but most members are 50 years or older. Call 341-1494 or 495-2397.
HEALTH
Coping with Loss: Doctors Hospital, 9440 Poppy at Buckner, will hold a free seminar about “Coping with Loss During the Holidays” on Nov. 2. The session starts at 10 a.m. in Doctors’ West Tower Conference Center, Suites 206 and 207. SeniorSafe lectures are scheduled Wednesdays and Saturdays at Doctors, and topics change monthly. Call 324-6640 to register.
Shaping Up at the YMCA: The White Rock YMCA, 11221 Lochwood, is offering a fitness class for residents ages 55 and older that combines cardiovascular exercise with strength and flexibility training. The class is held on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9-10 a.m., and Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6-6:45 p.m. The YMCA is also offering seniors a Muscles in Motion class that works to improve muscular strength, endurance and bone density, as well as help with balance and overall energy levels. The class is held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8-8:45 a.m. A senior membership to the YMCA costs $18 a month. Call 328-4621.
SERVICES
Accessing Public Benefits: The Dallas Area on Aging offers a free counseling program that helps senior citizens access public benefits, including long-term care insurance, Social Security, Supplemental Security Income, Medicare, Medicaid and others. The counselors also help seniors create “living wills” and answer legal questions. Telephones are answered Monday-Friday from 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Call 741-5244.
