HOME program offers a little help around the house for seniors

Thanks to the Senior Law Project at Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid, we are able to offer free legal services to people age 60 and over on the fourth Monday each month.  Assistance is provided for Social Security, family law matters, consumer issues, housing and nursing home issues, Medicare, Power of Attorney and Health Care Directives, and Medical Assistance and other public benefits programs.  Please note that help is not provided for criminal matters, wills, estate planning, or real estate transactions.  Call the senior center at 763-295-2000 soon to make an appointment for March 27.

We have a fun trip coming up in May that you might want to sign up for soon.  Explore the Wabasha Street Caves in St. Paul with a very knowledgeable tour guide on Wednesday, May 10.  The Wabasha Street Caves are the only remaining restored Gangster Era site.  The caves are carved into the hillside in a long-abandoned mining venture from the 1800’s.  Later the caves were a mushroom farm, and then developed as a Restaurant Casino and gangster hotspot during the 1930’s prohibition era.  Prior to the tour, you will have lunch onsite.  The menu will be The Italian Mobster Buffet:  Caesar salad, beef lasagna, penne pasta bake with chicken alfredo, fresh green beans, garlic bread sticks, and assorted cookies, bars and coffee.  The cost is $75 per person.  The coach bus will depart the community center at 11:15 a.m. and return at about 3:45 p.m.

You should also sign up soon if you want to get tax assistance help at the center, as there are not a lot of appointment time slots remaining.  Low to moderate-income people of all ages can get their taxes prepared at the center free of charge on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays thru April 13.  Be sure to bring with you to your appointment a copy of your last return, picture ID, Social Security card, W2’s, 1099’s, SSA-1099 forms and other income and/or tax documents for 2022 and rent receipts (CRP) for 2022 or property tax statements for 2022 and 2023.  It is important that people organize their information prior to their appointment.

I submitted the April newsletter to the publisher last week, so hopefully by the time you are reading this, printed copies will be available at the senior center.  You can also access the monthly newsletters on the center’s website, monticelloseniorcenter.org or Facebook page.

Doug Przybilla was the winner of last week’s cribbage tournament.  Kathy Kronbeck came in second place and Gary Bimson third.  Sharon Schreiner was this month’s 500 tournament winner.  Monica Schreiner came in second place and Norm Olson third.  The last euchre tournament winner was Harley Thompson.  Deanna Cahill came in second place and Alice Halverson.

Spring officially begins on March 20th.  Many of you know that my family and I are snowmobilers and really like the snow, but I have to say, I am ready for winter and the snow to come to an end!  Welcome, Spring!

Activities the week of March 16-23:

Fri. – 8 a.m. ceramics; 8:30 a.m. Pickleball; 10 a.m. Women’s Pool; noon St. Patrick’s Day dinner; 1 p.m. euchre tournament

Sat. – 8 a.m. – noon center open

Mon. – 7-11 a.m. Pickleball; 8 a.m. ceramics; 9 a.m. cribbage tournament, tax assistance (by appt. only); 1 p.m. bridge, Movie Monday

Tues.  –  7 a.m. Pickleball; 8:30 a.m. Tech Support (by appt. only); 9 a.m. tax assistance (by appt. only); 10:15 a.m. line dancing; 10:30 a.m. choir; noon dinner; 1 p.m. Hand and Foot

Wed. – 8 a.m. ceramics; 10 a.m. Bible Study; noon dinner; 1 p.m. 500 

Thurs. – 7 a.m. Pickleball; 9 a.m. tax assistance (by appt. only); 10:30 a.m. bingo, Caregiver One on One; noon dinner; 1 p.m. bridge

Fri. – 8 a.m. ceramics; 8:30 a.m. Pickleball; 10 a.m. Women’s Pool; noon dinner; 1 p.m. euchre tournament

Dinner Program menu the week of March 20:

Mon. – no dinner today

Tues. –  beef mixed vegetables, chicken wings, fried rice, fortune cookie

Wed. – chicken pot pie, coleslaw, dinner roll

Thurs. – lasagna, breadstick

Fri. – spaghetti, Caesar salad, dinner roll