CENTERVILLE — As we start another new month we look forward to spring with the trees budding and the flowers blooming. The first day of March has on the menu; liver and onions, potatoes, marinated carrots, banana’s and oranges, fresh wheat bread and no bake cookies. Our group really enjoys this menu so make sure you have called in early if you choose to come.

Friday, March 2 we are having our pizza party. Those that want the meatless pizza we will have cheese pizza. Remember every Friday during lent we will offer a substitute fish product. Those wanting the fish must order the day before in order to have proper amounts prepared. Today at the meal we will be quizzed about the Oscar winners.

Wednesday, March 7 we will have our Caregivers Program at 11 a.m. followed by a program by Hospice of Central Iowa at 11:15 a.m. The chicken dinner will follow at 11:30 a.m.

Thursday, March 9 we will have our Wheel of Fortune game. Those wishing to play in the game must sign up prior to the event. Again we will have partners, so grab a friend and spin the wheel for prizes. Last month’s winners were Charlotte Dixon and Jack Zurlinden. Remember “Day Light Savings” starts Sunday so turn those clocks forward one hour.

Monday, March 12 is the sign-up for the Lakeside Casino trip this month on March 29. The trip will cost $20 per person and will cover the motor coach, $10 to game with and a free buffet lunch. We depart from the club at 9 a.m. and return home at 5 p.m. The first 50 people will get to go. Everyone has cabin fever and is anxious to get out and go someplace. If the weather turns off bad we will not go and those that have paid will be carried over to next month.

Tuesday, March 13 we will have our first Wii Bowling Tournament. The brackets will start at 10 a.m. and finish at 11:30 a.m. for lunch. Immediately after lunch we will have the winners of each heat play for the overall winner. February winner for Wii was Walt Spiker with the high score for the day going to Midge Gebhart.

Wednesday, March 14 we will have the Appanoose County Public Health nurses in taking blood pressures. We will also be talking about dementia and the problems it causes with personal hygiene.  

Thursday, March 15 we will have our birthday party with co-op and bingo at 5 p.m. Bring your favorite covered dish with table service and drinking cups and the drinks will be provided. The bingo will start immediately after the meal. Now with day-light savings time we will not have it getting dark so early some of you will be able to come easier.

Friday, March 16 we will have our St. Patrick’s Day party. The games and trivia will start at 11 a.m. followed by the lunch at 11:30 a.m. The menu for the day will be; roast beef or fish, boiled potatoes with gravy, steamed cabbage, cinnamon apples, cracked wheat hot roll and cookie. Call in at least the day ahead so we can get a good count for this bigger event.

Monday, March 19 we will have our “Deal or No Deal” game. This will start at 10:45 a.m. Lunch will follow immediately after the game.

Tuesday, March 20 we will have our First Day of Spring party. We are very anxious to start the spring off with the beauty of flowers. We will discuss how easy it is to still have a nice garden with all the arthritis that good old Charlie gives us.

Wednesday, March 21 will be the Chef Charles Program. This is also the day that 56 of the seniors will travel to Tama for an over-night stay at Meskwaki. This over-night trip costs $50 to go and included; motor coach transportation, hotel accommodations, $40 to game with and two $5 food vouchers. We are sold out for this trip however if you are interested we will be going again this summer and fall.  

Tuesday, March 27 we will have our second Wii bowling tournament. Call or stop by and get signed up for the event. We really enjoy this day and like to see the large number of seniors participate in it.

Wednesday, March 28 we will have our Mercy Home Care Nurses in at 11:15 a.m. talking to the seniors about the way carbohydrates we eat break down to simple sugars. Our chicken dinner will follow at 11:30 a.m.

Thursday, March 29 we will have our one-day Lakeside Casino trip. As long as the weather cooperates we will depart for the club at 9 a.m. and return home at 5 p.m. The cost for the day is $20 and includes; $10 to play with on your card and a free lunch buffet. This will also be a 56 passenger motor coach so get signed up early to ensure a spot.  

We have two, seven-day trips planned this year. The first one will go to Colorado and the Rocky Mountains. We depart Centerville on June 3 and arrive back on June 9. The cost for the trip is only $550 per person double occupancy and includes; 10 meals, tour of the Garden of the Gods, visit and tour the United Air Force Academy and seeing Colorado’s “National Wonder” the Royal Gorge on the Aerial Tram and the Incline Railway. Our group has chosen to add a ride in the Gorge in a glass-topped dome train. This train will allow unparalleled views of the Royal Gorge while it travels 24-miles round trip on the two-hour adventure, visit Historic Manitou Springs at the foot of the famous Pikes Peak, guided tour of Colorado Springs and tour the Olympic Training Center. Then on the way home tour the Prairie Museum of Art and History in Colby, Kan. Several seniors have already signed up for this trip so stop by as soon as possible to assure we have space for you.  

From Oct. 14-20 is our second seven-day trip. We will be heading south to the Smoky Mountains and Pigeon Forge. This trip will include; 10 meals, guided tour of the “Great Smoky Mountains National Park,” four evening shows at Pigeon Forge including: Smoky Mountain Opry Show, Cirque De Chine Show, The Smith Family and the Hatfield-McCoy Dinner Show, two morning shows including: Patty Waszak and The Country Jamboree Breakfast Variety Show staring the Blackwood family. We will also have free time in Historic Downtown Gatlinburg. This entire trip with all the inclusions is only $569 per person, double occupancy. We have had several already sign up for this trip also, so if you are interested stop by and get signed up too.

Throughout the summer we are planning several other one-day, two-day and three-day trips. If you are interested in the trips and did not have a chance to come to the meeting we had last month, feel free to check on the times set so far. From April 17-19 we will have our trip to Red Wing, Minn. Tuesday, April 17 we will travel and check into the Treasure Island Casino Hotel.  Wednesday, April 18 we will travel to Winona County and visit the; History Center with three floors of exhibits, step-on guide tour of the county with a stop at the Watkins Company and travel to Garvin Heights lookout. We will also tour the “Stained Glass Capital” of the country where craftspeople design, paint and assemble stained glass windows, in the event the studio is closed that day there is many windows they have manufactured throughout town. Our guided tour also takes us to the Winona National Bank where they have a gun collection and African safari trophies of the banks original owners. We will take in a lunch break along the way, returning back to the casino to have supper and game. The cost of the trip will be $165 per person double occupancy and include; everything listed on the day’s tour, lodging at the casino, $40 to game with, one free game of bowling, two $5 table match plays and one free buffet. Sign-up starts today for this trip.  

Our May trip will lead us to St. Louis. The exact date has not been determined as of this printing.