Senior Center of West Seattle

Toni’s Tips

Posted on by Binh Thai

If you are currently on Medicare and are thinking about changing your Medicare plan or adding coverage, or if you are turning 65 soon and want to sign up for Medicare, there are some important dates coming up that you will want to remember. Open enrollment for Medicare this year is October 4 to December 4.

There are several ways you can sign up or receive advice and assistance during this period. One is to go to the official Medicare website, which is www.medicare.gov. Another way is to contact SHIBA, a program of the State of Washington Office of the Insurance Commissioner. Their phone number is (800) 562-6900 or you can reach them through www.insurance.wa.gov. SHIBA volunteers are trained to assist with free, unbiased, and confidential information about all aspects of Medicare.

In addition, the Senior Center of West Seattle has a SHIBA volunteer the first Tuesday of every month. Appointments are limited, and you must sign up in advance by calling our
front desk. Or, come to a Medicare 101 Workshop provided by Medicare Specialist, Ann-Marie Murray.

If you are low-income, Holly or Toni may be able to help you apply for a program that will pay your Medicare premiums. Medicare is a complex program and Medicare recipients have many decisions to make about the various plans. We want to help you make the decisions that will best meet your needs!
Holly (206) 932-4044 x2 or Toni (206) 932-4044 x9.

Greetings from the Executive Director!

Posted on by Binh Thai

Center Takes 1st Place!
The Senior Center of West Seattle joined the West Seattle Grand Parade on July 22. A combination of Center members, volunteers, board members, and staff made our contingent nearly 40 strong! Some folks walked the route, while others rode in style in the Emerald City Trolley we had for the day. Both marchers and riders carried signs representing various activities and classes at the Center that were made in advance by a group of volunteers. Everyone had a wonderful time and the Center won first prize for best entry in the car/motorcycle category! Thank you to all who participated in this fun event. Hope you can join us next year!

Lion’s Club Generosity Helps Our Center Thrive
The Center is so very grateful to have again received The West Seattle Lion’s Club annual donation of $1000. This year we are proud to be partnering with them on their Annual Pancake Breakfast on Saturday, September 16th from 8am to 11am, here at the Center. Breakfast is only $7!

Board of Directors Accepting Applications to Serve 2018-2020
Once a year we have an extraordinary opportunity for energetic members and community leaders to join our Board of Directors. We are seeking committed stewards and ambassadors to expand our programs and services while serving a three year term. If you are interested in helping us become
even more vibrant and more essential to those we serve, please come in and talk to me or call me at (206) 932-4044 x5 or call Richard Kromm, our Nominations Committee Chair at (206) 909-7708.

Sound Generations’ 50th Anniversary Golden Gala, Friday, September 29th
The Center is hoping to raise $10,000 from this event. If you’d like to help, we are currently seeking donation items for the live auction: time shares, chef-prepared dinners, wine baskets, artwork, etc. Please contact me if you are interested in donating or attending this event which will be held at
the Grand Hyatt Seattle, September 29, 2017. This celebratory event will pay homage to the Golden Age of Motown which was at its peak in 1967, the first year Sound Generations opened their doors
to the aging community. Guests will enjoy a live & silent auction, multi-course dinner, and live band playing all the hits from the Motown era. It’s going to be a blast! Please join us if you can!

Junction Diner announces lower prices!
Effective September 5, the suggested donation for meals in the Junction Diner will be $4 rather than $5. This is good news for our members and guests as the increased price kept some from coming for lunch. Please join us for lunch in the Junction Diner Monday through Thursday. Chef
Francisco’s menus can be found here.
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Put on Your Dancing Shoes!

Posted on by Binh Thai

The Center is pleased to announce two new social dance classes- Swing I and Waltz I. These classes will be led by one of Seattle’s most in-demand dance instructors, Dean Paton. This
former shortstop abandoned the baseball diamond for the dance hall in 1994, and he’s been dancing ever since.

The Center and Dean are both very excited to bring some partner dancing to West Seattle. Social-style dancing prepares you to dance with multiple partners when you go to dances. “Once you learn some basics, there’s no doubt you’ll get hooked once you see how much fun it can be to glide around the room in the arms of another person,” says Dean.

You won’t want to miss these classes! Dean makes it safe for dancers to screw up, step
on the incorrect foot (including your partner’s), and do the simplest of moves completely
wrong. Dean says, “You get extra credit for making mistakes!”

Dean suggests wearing shoes without sticky soles. Suede or leather soles work best, but even rubber soles or sneakers can work, as long as the bottoms are well worn. Women should avoid spike heels, opting for flats or wider heels of an inch and a half or shorter.

No previous dance experience is necessary to join these classes, nor is a partner. Classes will begin Tuesday, October 3rd and run for six weeks. After a one-week break, another six-week session will begin, concluding before Christmas. Each class lasts one hour. Swing I is at 7p.m. and Waltz I is at 8:15. Sign up early for one or both classes. And put on your dancing shoes!

City of Seattle Technology Matching Fund Grant Awarded!

Posted on by Binh Thai

We are excited to announce that the computers will be replaced in the Burke Dykes Computer Center. Congratulations are in order due to the hard work and diligence of Burke Dykes who has been the brains behind our technology and upkeep of the computer lab since 1994. The Center was one of fifteen awardees selected out of a pool of 35 projects.

City officials believe one of the benefits of distributing the money is that it reaches residents whom the municipal government often struggles to engage. This year the fund is expected to help more than 6,000 residents of Seattle in underserved or underrepresented communities, including those of immigrants and refugees, at-risk youth, people with disabilities, and seniors.

This is very exciting news and we couldn’t have achieved it without Burke. Thank you, Seattle! And thank you, Burke!