Coon Rapids Senior Services

We still have spots available for our Mississippi Watershed Tour on Wednesday, July 31!

Visit the Mississippi Watershed Management Organization in northeast Minneapolis and learn about the ways they protect and manage the Mississippi River watershed. You will also learn about the habitats in the watershed and visit sites where they have improved water conditions. There will also be a lunch at Sarnas. The bus will depart at 8:50 a.m. and return at 3:15 p.m.

Cost is $52. Sign up by July 17!

Learn more about this trip and other upcoming events in our newsletter with the link below.

https://www.coonrapidsmn.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/1364

The C**n Rapids Tree Lighting Festival is this weekend! Find details below.

Look at these cuties! This week we had a special polymer clay class where 9 seniors got to sculpt their own mouse ornament and play with clay. Thanks for sharing your creations!

We still have space for you to come to the Genesis Bell Ringers program! Join us Monday, Dec. 11 at 10:30 a.m.

If this program doesn't get you into the holiday spirit, nothing will! Enjoy the performance and some refreshments.

Cost is $5. Call the Senior Center or come in to save your seat.

There will be a blood drive at the Senior Center on Monday, Dec. 4. There are still time slots available if you are interested in donating! Call 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767) for an appointment, or make an appointment online with the link below.

Reminder: There will be no bingo due to the blood drive next Monday.

https://www.redcrossblood.org/give.html/find-drive

What's your favorite club or group at the Senior Center? Tell us in the comments below! We have many free groups that happen almost every day of the week, check out what we offer and think about trying out a new group!

https://coonrapidsmn.gov/367/Activities-Classes

Happy Thanksgiving! The Senior Center will be CLOSED today and tomorrow, Thursday, Nov. 23-Friday, Nov. 24. Have a wonderful holiday!

We have defensive driving refresher courses at the Senior Center!

Take one of these every three years if you are 55+ and receive a 10% discount on car insurance if you have previously taken the 8 hour online course.

4 Hour Course Dates at the Senior Center:

Monday, Dec. 11: 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
*Thursday, January 11: 12:30-4:30 p.m.

$24 due two weeks before class.
*Price increase starting in January: $26
Call the Senior Center at (763) 767-6473 to register.

The 8 hour course is online with the link below.
https://www.minnesotasafetycouncil.org/

Thought of the day: "The happiest people are the givers, not the takers."

Perfect for the holiday season and Thanksgiving! Well, perfect for anytime of the year truly. We hope you are taking time to give thanks this week and appreciate the good things we each have right now, and thinking about the good things we can do for one another!

The C**n Rapids Holiday Lighting Contest is coming up! If you want to enter and show off your holiday light display see more information below.

https://www.coonrapidsmn.gov/1444/Holiday-Lighting-Contest

Do you need help understanding Medicare and navigating the process of enrolling in Medicare or supplemental health insurance policies? Get help from the experts at the Senior Linkage Line!

You can schedule your own Medicare counseling appointment with the link below. There are also presentations offered both in person and online that can help you understand Medicare, avoid scams and health care fraud, learn about health care directives and more!

Get Help - Trellis Senior LinkAge Line We provide Senior LinkAge Line® services, caregiver services and help with retirement rights. Contact us at 800-333-2433.

Parkinson's Support Group is meeting tomorrow, Thursday, Nov. 16 at 1 p.m.

A typical meeting includes a speaker, discussion time and fellowship time with coffee and treats. The speaker is Martha Nance, MD and the topic will be incontinence and constipation with Parkinson's. No need to RSVP, just come!

Thanks to volunteer coordinator Milo for making this group possible.

The C**n Rapids Tree Lighting Festival is coming up soon! Find the details below.

The countdown is on... the annual C**n Rapids Tree Lighting Festival is less than one month away!

Join us on Saturday, Dec. 9 from 3:30-6 p.m. for festive fun at Boulevard Plaza, 11002 Crooked Lake Blvd. Enjoy cocoa and cookies, take pictures with Santa and listen to live music. There will be snow hills to play on and fire pits to keep warm. Make sure you stay for the countdown to a twinkling light display on the tree and fireworks!

Non-perishable food and monetary donations will be accepted at the event for the C**n Rapids High School food shelf and Cardinal Compassion Fund.

https://www.coonrapidsmn.gov/1378/Community-Tree-Lighting-Festival

In honor of Veteran’s Day, we had Jerry and Jana Kyser here for a presentation last week to talk about the Honor Flight Network. They had veterans stand as they called out the different branches. This organization takes veterans to Washington D.C for one day every year to see the various war memorials. Since it began, they have transported over 223,000 veterans from across the U.S. The mission is one of gratitude. For their service, sacrifice and selflessness. Thank you for presenting your organization and thank you to those who attended!

Reading is good for your brain... and being in a book club is even better! We have two book clubs: Book Club and Masterpiece Book Club!

Masterpiece is reading "The Satanic Verses" by Salman Rushdie this month and meeting Tuesday, Nov. 14. Call Judy at 763-785-0983 for more info and to join.

Book Club is skipping a November meeting for the holiday season, but will be back on Thursday, Dec. 7 to discuss "Mad Honey" by Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan. No sign up needed for this club.

More information is available in our Senior Newsletter below.
https://www.coonrapidsmn.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/1301

Important information! There is a school board election happening today for certain districts in the city. Read the information below to find out if an election is happening in your district.

ATTENTION VOTERS! Today (Tuesday, Nov. 7) is a school district election day ONLY. There are NO city, county, state or federal elections in C**n Rapids.

This means that NOT ALL C**n Rapids residents have an election today.

Depending on where you live, only some residents in C**n Rapids will vote for new school board members. The ONLY voting happening today in C**n Rapids is for residents who live in Anoka-Hennepin’s districts 1, 2 and 5. Each district includes a portion of C**n Rapids.

>>Do I have an election?
Use this tool to enter your home address to see your ballot (if you have no ballot, you have no election today): https://www.anokacountymn.gov/266/What-is-on-the-Ballot

>>View a map of C**n Rapids areas that have an election today (pink, blue and orange areas have an election today):
https://www.coonrapidsmn.gov/DocumentCenter/View/15929/2023SchoolBoardElections_Anoka-HennepinDistricts1-2-5

>>Where do I vote?
Use this tool to enter your home address to find your polling location (your polling location will NOT be open if you do not have an election today):
https://pollfinder.sos.state.mn.us/

It will say "Your Next Election is: 11/07/2023" if you are voting today.

Looking to learn something new? We have many classes with spaces still available!

Coming up soon is:
🍎Healthify Your Holidays on Monday, Nov. 13 at 10:30 a.m.
🎨Russian Art: Leningrad Underground on Tuesday, Nov. 28 at 10 a.m.
📘British History: Viking Britain on Mondays, Dec. 4 and 18 at 10 a.m.
🍲The Healing Power of Broth on Monday, Dec. 4 at 1 p.m.

All of these classes are only $5 per class! We also have a special Polymer Clay Holiday Project class on Tuesday, Nov. 28 from 12:30-3:30 p.m. for $28 per person.

Don't miss out on these fun opportunities! Call the Senior Center or stop in to register.

More information is available in the Senior Newsletter with the link below.
https://www.coonrapidsmn.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/1301

The Senior Center Bazaar was a grand success! Thank you to everyone who came out and found treasures at the Bazaar. All the money made will be donated to local charities. Thank you to those who donated as well, and a very special THANK YOU to all the volunteers and the Super Senior Club who make this event happen every year! We can't do it without you, and we hope everyone enjoyed the event!

Daylight Saving Time ends today! Don't forget to set your clocks back an hour. It's a good time to check your smoke alarm batteries as well!

The Senior Center Bazaar is TODAY! Make sure you stop by and shop. There's lots of variety and items are flying off the tables! The Bazaar is open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. today. Thank you to all of our volunteers who make this event happen!

A popular yearly sale at the C**n Rapids Civic Center is this Thursday, Nov. 2 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. All the money raised from the Senior Bazaar goes to local charities supported by the Super Senior Club.

Donations of baked goods can be dropped off on Wednesday, Nov. 1.

https://www.coonrapidsmn.gov/1315/Senior-Center-Bazaar

Happy Halloween from the Senior Center! Stay warm and safe tonight and watch out for trick or treaters, and don't forget to come visit the Senior Center sometime soon. We have so many fun events coming up as we transition into winter and the holiday season!

Do you participate in our Live 2B Healthy Fitness Classes? They are a great opportunity to improve balance, flexibility and build strength. There are three classes weekly, Mondays at 8:30 a.m. and Wednesdays and Fridays at 9 a.m. The first class is free!

Led by a certified instructor. Classes are $35 per month, but there's no cost to "SilverSneakers" and "Silver and Fit" members. Most insurance plans accepted. Bring your insurance card to determine eligibility.

Sign up to come on Friday, November 17 at 1 p.m. and enjoy giving thanks with the Goldentones! Listen to their lovely music, talk with friends, and eat some pumpkin pie! Payment of $5 due by Wednesday, Nov. 8. Call the Senior Center to sign up, spaces are limited!

We have flu and pneumonia shots available by appointment on Wednesday, November 8 starting at 9 a.m. here at the Senior Center.

Cub pharmacists will be administering the shots. They have high dose and standard flu shots available, as well as the Pneumovax and Prevnar pneumonia vaccines.

There is no charge for a flu shot or pneumonia vaccine for some insurance plans. Bring your insurance card and information to the appointment! Call the Senior Center at 763-767-6473 to schedule an appointment.

Bazaar donation drop off is THIS WEEK!
Drop off hours are Monday, Oct. 23-Friday, Oct. 27 from 10 a.m. to Noon.

Items needed: Misc. Christmas decorations, jewelry, books and new or gently used items for the flea market (no clothing, electronics or furniture please). Please drop them off at the Senior Center and volunteers will be available to help.

Baked Goods can be dropped off on Wednesday, Nov. 1.

The Bazaar is on Thursday, Nov. 2 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Senior/Civic Center. All proceeds benefit local charities, so don't forget to come shop for flea market finds, Christmas décor, baked goods and more!
Sponsored by the Super Senior Club.

Rocky's Pumpkin Patch is this weekend! Bring the grandkids and have some free fun! More information about the event below.

If you're looking for something to do over MEA, Rocky's Pumpkin Patch is this weekend!

Bring the kids to Sand Creek Park on Saturday, Oct. 21 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. for trick or treating and fall fun! Every child will receive a FREE pumpkin (while supplies last). Costumes are welcome! If you dress up, you could win a prize.

🎃 Bingo
🎃 Musical chairs
🎃 Inflatable obstacle courses
🎃 Face painting
🎃 Free photo booth (pictures will post on our page)
🎃 Prizes! Giveaways! Candy!
🎃 Concessions sold by the North Star Lions Club.

More details here:
https://www.coonrapidsmn.gov/1314/Rockys-Pumpkin-Patch

Clear out those unused, unwanted medications safely on Drug Take-Back Day! More information below.

If you can't drop off medications on Drug Take-Back Day, the C**n Rapids Police Department has a medication disposal bin in the Police Department lobby available during business hours year-round.

The C**n Rapids Police Department is a drop-off site for National Drug Take-Back Day on Saturday, Oct. 28. Stop by between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. and leave your unused prescriptions for safe disposal.

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) coordinates the event twice a year. There are more than 4,000 drop-off locations nationwide.

More info:
https://www.dea.gov/takebackday

Bazaar donation drop off is next week! Now is your opportunity to clear out unused items gathering dust and bring them to the Senior Center!

Drop off hours are Monday, Oct. 23-Friday, Oct. 27 from 10 a.m. to Noon.

Items needed: Misc. Christmas decorations, jewelry, books and new or gently used items for the flea market (no clothing, electronics or furniture please). Please drop them off at the Senior Center and volunteers will be available to help.

Baked Goods can be dropped off on Wednesday, Nov. 1.

The Bazaar is on Thursday, Nov. 2 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Senior/Civic Center. All proceeds benefit local charities, so don't forget to come shop for flea market finds, Christmas décor, baked goods and more!

Sponsored by the Super Senior Club.