Cook County News Herald

Warm up with the Senior Center

Brighter side of aging


Thank you to all of you who have helped your less able neighbors with errands and ice removal. It appears that these folks will need your help all winter. Keep up the good work! If you would like to help an older community member, please call the Senior Center.

February is already busy at the Cook County Senior Center. We have hosted at lunch Human Development Center Counselor Jerry Lilja and gone on a sleigh ride. There are many new things happening.

We will be remembering Cook County Sheriff John Lyght on Thursday, February 11. Carrie McHugh from the Cook County Historical Society will be at the Senior Center, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., to record your story. If you cannot make it on the 11th, you may email your story to history@ boreal.org.

There is now a coffeebar at the Senior Center, where you may serve yourself a hot beverage and from 8:30 to 11 a.m. Breakfast pastries and “heart smart” edibles are available; all for a modest donation. Stop in for a snack.

This month some special guests have been invited to share lunch at the Senior Center at 11:30 a.m. and to talk with folks afterward. Our February guests will be: Cook County Commissioner Jim Johnson on Monday, Feb. 8; Teresa Borak, RN, of Sawtooth Mountain Clinic for Heart Health Month on Tuesday, Feb. 16; Veterans Service Officer Richard McKenzie on Wednesday, the 17th, and Sheriff Mark Falk on Wednesday, Feb. 24.

Dog sled rides are scheduled with Rita Wehseler, Stoney Creek Kennels, on Thursday, February 18 for $31 per person, including bus transportation. These rides are accessible for persons with disabilities. Call the Senior Center at 387-2660 for more information or to register. We will be stopping at Coho Café after our rides.

The AARP Tax Aides are preparing federal and state tax returns at the Senior Center on Mondays. They do returns on a first-come, first-served basis 9:00 a.m. – 4 p.m. Tax Aides are also at the Birch Grove Center in Tofte on Wednesdays and at the Elder Nutrition Program (ENP) in the Grand Portage Community Center on Fridays. TheTax Aides will be following this schedule until April 15.

Are you age 55 plus and want a 10% discount on your auto insurance? An eight-hour Beginning AARP Driver Safety class will be at the Senior Center on Saturday, March 6, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. By taking the class you will qualify for the discount. On Monday, February 15 there will be an AARP Driver Safety Refresher class at the Senior Center noon – 4 p.m.

Marjori Bottila, Arrowhead Regional Development Commission (ARDC), will be offering Medicare counseling on a first-come, first-served basis on Tuesday, February 16 at Grand Portage ENP, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. and on Wednesday, February 1 at the Senior Center. Bottila will help resolve Medicare problems, help select a supplemental or Advantage Plan, and advise people new to Medicare.

To keep warm we will be making a BBQ chicken soup on Tuesday, February 9, 1:30 -4 p.m. Bring a container for your soup at $4 per pint.

Call the Senior Center at 387-2660 for more information on activities.

News from the “Brighter Side”
of aging is provided by Pam
McDougall, assistant director

of the Grand Marais Senior
Center. Pam can be reached at
(218) 387-2660 or via e-mail at
CCCOA@boreal.org.



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