BATTLE GROUND AREA senior citizens can participate in a variety of activities offered by the Battle Ground Parks & Recreation Department. Activities include lunch outings, Senior Potluck Day, a tea party put on in honor of Mother’s Day by the Mad Hatters Club and more.
Spring is coming, slowly but surely, and area senior citizens can stay active until the end of the winter months into the spring months with a variety of activities offered through the Battle Ground Parks & Recreation Department.
Upcoming Battle Ground Parks & Recreation senior activities are listed in The Senior Scene, a quarterly publication of the Battle Ground Senior Advisory Board and the Battle Ground Parks & Recreation Department. This newsletter highlights activities, events and items of interest in the Battle Ground area. The newsletter can be found at www.cityofbg.org by clicking on “departments,” “parks and recreation,” “recreation programs” and then “senior programs.”
Area seniors will have plenty to do and can pick from numerous activities, including lunch outings, the Battle Ground Garden Club Speaker Series, Senior Potluck Day and more. Here are some of the upcoming senior activities in the Battle Ground area.
The Mad Hatters Club
A popular activity among seniors in the Battle Ground area is joining The Mad Hatters Club for their monthly lunch/meal excursions. The Mad Hatters Club meets on the second Friday of each month and there is no membership fee or red hats required. The club, which is the Battle Ground version of the Red Hat Society, offers seniors a monthly chance to get out and have some fun.
Most of the club’s outings are Dutch treat, which means members pay for their own food when the group goes out for a meal.
Upcoming outings/events of the Mad Hatters Club include:
• Lunch at Laurelwood Public House & Brewery, Fri., March 14, 11:30 a.m.: Get in the Irish spirit and join other area seniors for lunch at Laurelwood. The restaurant is located at 1401 SE Rasmussen Blvd., Battle Ground.
• Lunch at Hockinson Cafe, Fri., April 11, 11:30 a.m.: Eat where the locals eat - at Hockinson Cafe. They serve home-style cooking and lots of it. Hockinson Cafe is located at 219 NW 20th Ave., Battle Ground.
• Mad Hatter Tea Party, Fri., May 9, 11:30 a.m., at the Battle Ground Senior Center: It’s time for the Mad Hatters’ annual celebration of Mother’s Day where daughters and/or grandchildren are invited to a Mad Hatter Tea Party. This will be a potluck lunch with a variety of teas to sample. Bring sandwiches, desserts or a salad to share. The Senior Center is located at 116 NE 3rd Ave., Battle Ground.
Senior Center activities
The Senior Advisory Board sponsors a variety of activities for the Battle Ground area. These activities are open to any senior who wants to participate. They are offered on an ongoing basis at the Senior Center, located at 116 NE 3rd Ave., Battle Ground.
Senior Potluck Day
Senior Potluck Day offers area senior citizens a chance to try some different foods and visit with friends. The potluck day is the second Monday of each month, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., at the Senior Center. A $1 per person donation is requested.
Upcoming dates for the Senior Potluck Day include:
• Mon., March 10: Join area senior citizens and celebrate the luck of the Irish and the wearing of the green. Bring a favorite seasonal dish to share with the potluck group. There will be no main entree provided this month.
• Mon., April 14: This month, celebrate the arrival of spring. Bring a favorite dish to share with the group. There will be no main entree provided this month.
• Mon., May 12: Mother’s Day is the May celebration, and attendees will feast on the dishes that remind them of their mothers’ and grandmothers’ cooking. The Battle Ground Senior Advisory Board will provide a main entree this month.
Pinochle
Area senior citizens can participate in Pinochle Tuesdays and Thursdays, noon-4 p.m., at the Senior Center. Having a partner is not a requirement to play. Pinochle card players can join others for single or double-deck games. The day includes a potluck lunch before the game begins, so seniors are encouraged to bring a treat to share. There is a nominal fee per game.
Bunco
Bunco is offered at the Senior Center the third Friday of each month, noon-3 p.m. Seniors can roll the dice and play Bunco. Participants usually agree this game is fun and fast paced, anyone can play, no previous game experience or partner required. Most seniors find it’s easy and fun to learn and play. There will also be a potluck at noon. Cost to play Bunco is $5 per person, per day.
Battle Ground
Garden Club Speaker Series
The Battle Ground Garden Club now calls the Battle Ground Community Center home. The garden club holds its monthly meetings and speaker series as a part of the Battle Ground Parks & Recreation program activities.
The garden club offers a monthly guest speaker series that the public is invited to attend. Seniors can come and learn from experienced professionals and avid gardeners who are passionate about sharing their knowledge and techniques for successfully growing plants and vegetables. The club is open to all ages, from beginners to experienced gardeners.
Meetings are held the first Tuesday of each month, 12:30 p.m. potluck lunch, 1:30-2:30 p.m. guest speaker, in the Moulton Falls Room of the Battle Ground Community Center, 912 E. Main St., Battle Ground. The meetings, speakers and potlucks are free to attend.
Upcoming meetings of the Battle Ground Garden Club Speaker Series include:
• March 4: Topic will be the Battle Ground Rose Float. Sandy Helyer, member of the Battle Ground Rose Float Association, will talk about how the float is constructed, what natural plants and flowers are used and how the yearly theme is selected. The BG Rose Float is the only float in the Portland Rose Festival Parade that is made by an all-volunteer organization. The BG Rose Float was established in 1955.
• April 1: Topic will be Natural Fertilizers. Learn how easy it is to incorporate Eco-friendly natural fertilizers into regular garden maintenance.
• May 6: Topic will be Building a Raised Garden Bed. Fred Davis of Mutual Materials will speak about how to build a raised garden and/or flower bed using natural products. Raised beds warm up faster in the spring, have better drainage and are easier to weed and pick the harvest. Join other garden enthusiasts to learn how easy this DIY project can be.
Senior Lunch Program
Seniors, age 60 and older, are invited to join the Meals on Wheels People on weekdays for a hot and nutritious lunch at the Battle Ground Community Center, 912 E. Main St., Battle Ground. Typically, there are two entrees offered each day. Meals are available daily, Mon.-Fri., at noon. A monthly newsletter, which includes a complete menu, is available at the community center. A $3 donation for seniors is suggested. Younger guests can also join the lunch crowd for a fee of $6.30 per person. Senior lunches are not available on major holidays, including May 26.
Senior Exercise
and Fitness Classes
There are three different senior exercise and fitness programs available to choose from at the Battle Ground Community Center, 912 E. Main St., Battle Ground. From a more traditional-type group exercise program with a bit of “rumba” in it to a more meditative and relaxing atmosphere, there is seemingly something for everyone. Seniors can participate in one, two or all three and find the one that fits their needs best.
The Enhanced Fitness Program is for people 60 years old or older and aims to help improve balance, flexibility, bone density, endurance, coordination and mental sharpness and helps decrease the risk of falling. This program is offered Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, 8:30-9:30 a.m. or 9:45-10:45 a.m. There is a fee of $1 per person, per day.
Zumba Gold is often perfect for active older adults who want camaraderie, excitement and fitness. All classes are a six-week session. Zumba is offered Tuesdays and Thursdays, 11-11:45 a.m. Registration fee is $45 per month, and registration is through the Battle Ground School District Community Education Program at (360) 885-6584 or www.battlegroundps.org.
Yoga Class will be Wednesdays only, 10-11:15 a.m. Yoga has proven to have profound healing benefits such as increased flexibility, stamina, strength, muscle tone and range of motion and an overall well being and ease in daily life. Experience yoga as a tool for revitalizing the body, deepening the breath and quieting the mind. All classes are a six-week session, registration fee is $59. Registration is through the Battle Ground School District Community Education Program at (360) 885-6584 or www.battlegroundps.org.
