Lynden Tribune | Wednesday, December 21, 2011 | Ferndale Record
ENCORE 13th site for food service, she said. Ferndale, Blaine, Everson, Sumas and Point Roberts already have some form of hot meals service, whether by delivery from Bellingham or with a cook on-site at their own senior centers. The Lynden Senior Center was tied into the county senior nutrition network until the fall of 2009. At that point Lynden decided it could run a successful hot meals program every day out of its own kitchen, even delivering some meals to homebound seniors in the Lynden area. That self-standing independent program continues. Meyers said that the new service isn’t meant to get entangled with issues of the past or to compete with what exists. “Basically, we’re trying to meet the nutrition needs in the northern part of the county,” she said. “There is a need out there.” The response was “slow” through the first three days of service in December, but publicity is still getting out through various channels, Meyers said. “It’s the word of mouth that really counts,” she said. Flyers posted at churches, food banks and clinics are in both English and Spanish. There is no need to give advance notice — people can just come to the meals on the two days. If demand picks up, the meal preparation could eventually be done right in the Lutheran church kitchen, Meyers said. A $10,000 grant through the Whatcom Community Foundation helped to get this effort off the ground in 2011. Some funding for senior nutrition programs comes from the federal government.
Tour opportunities abound for local seniors Bellingham and Ferndale senior centers organize various trips throughout the year Mark Reimers Lynden Tribune WHATCOM — Planning a trip is a chore for anyone. But for many seniors, the hassle of picking an activity, itinerary and parking is even more of a hassle given the limitations that sometimes accompany age. That’s why the monthly day trips hosted the Ferndale Senior Center have become so popular, said Director Lacey Greene. In fact, a representative of the Lynden Senior Center said that members there often make use of the Ferndale trips for recreation. One of the biggest draws to the Ferndale hosted trips, Greene said, is the fact that they require no stressful planning on the part of the participants. Instead, from the moment the group boards the bus, to the time they return, everything is taken care of for them. The Ferndale Senior Center’s next trip will take a busload of shoppers down
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to the Tulalip Casino and Seattle Outlets on Jan. 25. The bus for that event will leave the Ferndale Senior Center at 10 a.m. and return at about 6 p.m. Final per-person costs haven’t been finalized but Greene expects it to be $25-$30. The following trip, set for Feb. 29, will be a tour trip to Boeing’s Paine Field in Everett. Attendees will get a 90-minute tour of the world-class aircraft manufacturing facility. “Boeing’s the second largest manufacturer of aircraft in the world and they are right in our backyard,” Greene said. The trip, which will include a box lunch, highlights another aspect of what these trips can offer, Greene said, and that is just the opportunity to explore and experience new things in life. The March trip is equally informative, as it takes participants down to Seattle for a tour of the Channel 9 news TV station. After that, April will allow seniors an opportunity to experience the Skagit Valley tulip fields in bloom. Greene said the trips are not exclusive to members of the Ferndale Senior Center and technically aren’t only for seniors. However, one additional perk that may be a draw for many regular trip participants, Greene said, is the chance to experience something with a group of good
friends. For more information on Ferndale Senior Center day trips, call the center at 384-6244. The Bellingham Senior Activity Center, 315 Halleck St., also hosts the Whatcom County Tour Program. That center offers an even higher frequency of trips that take participants all over the Puget Sound area. The next three area trips are: • Jan. 27 — Tulalip Casino Trip: The bus departs from Bellingham Senior Activity Center at 9 a.m. and returns at 4:45 p.m. A cost of $39 is due ahead of the trip, with $5 additional charge for nonmembers. Legal photo ID is required. • Jan. 31 —Tea Time and Art Viewing in La Conner: Enjoy exploring gift shops and outdoor sculptures, tea with all the goodies as well as a tour of the Museum of Northwest Art. Bus leaves at 12:30 p.m. and returns at about 5 p.m. The cost, due ahead of time, is $49, with an additional $5 fee for non-members. • Feb. 10 — Northwest Flower and Garden Show: Get a sneak peak at the newest gardening ideas. Enjoy display gardens, exhibitors and seminars held at the Seattle
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