NEW ULM - There are lots of new things happening for the senior citizens in the community - from "Treat Yourself Tuesdays" and "Chalk Talks" to line dancing and needlework fairs.
All month long CAST (Community And Seniors Together) has been celebrating "Older Americans Month" at the Senior Center located at 600 N. German St.
"What I'm hearing from the younger seniors - and they're hearing this across the country - is that ... 'We have a different sense of entertainment,'" said CAST Program Director Kathy Austinson.
"'We're not going to come to a senior center and plan things and do committees and play cards ... we're going to stop by like it's a coffeehouse and if you happen to have something going on we'll take part in it.'"
Austinson said this is "a whole different way to look at the up-and-coming seniors and we need to be ready and welcoming to them. This is a transition. There's quite a difference in the mindset of a 55-year old and a 90-year old and we want to be welcoming to everyone."
CAST still has its longtime offerings of activities like card playing, Bingo and shuffleboard.
"Treat Yourself Tuesdays" are now being held "especially for ladies" every third Tuesday of the month beginning on May 17. Ladies need to sign up in advance and get a appointment prior to the event.
Women can get "express" manicures (given by The Hair Boutique), chair massages (by Nancy Hans-On's Therapeauetic Massage) and also reflexology sessions (with Carol Klossner). Each express session costs $12.
"We're booked into July now," said Austinson.
"The ladies that were doing it were very happy and so were the vendors."
The first "Needlework Fair" was held last week.
"It went over really well," said Austinson.
She estimated about 50 to 100 people came through the day-long fair just to look at the various displays of hardanger, embroidery, cross-stitch and other forms of needlework.
There were about a dozen crafters and needleworkers. Some of the crafters were new to the Senior Center, Austinson said.
"They were there all day just chatting and having a good time," said Austinson.
A technology class will be offered quarterly.
Candy Lindmeyer, a sales specialist at NU-Telecom's Tech Trends, gave a class to seniors on cell phone "texting" on May 11.
"I had a good time and so did they," said Lindmeyer.
"They were so eager to embrace the new technology."
Each senior practiced the skills they were learning on their cell phones and sent out some text messages to people they knew.
"Each of their phones was a little different so I went around and explained each one," said Lindmeyer.
Her class touched on the subjects of the acronyms of texting, the state law regarding texting and driving and the cost of text messaging.
CAST is also offering "Chalk Talks" with speakers giving various presentations.
Ivan Raddatz, who is a teacher, artist, public speaker and human relations instructor, gave a Chalk Talk presentation on May 19.
"He's in his 90s," said Austinson. "He brought his easel and he did an entire presentation on how you could you know yourself better by what he's drawing."
Former NUHS coach Jim Senske talked about the history of sports, mainly baseball, Austinson said. Senske will come again at 12:30 p.m. on June 30.
On June 15 at 10:30 a.m. CAST kicks off a new program called "History Hounds" with its initial guest speaker Jim Jensen.
Jensen will discuss the historical events in his book, "Threads of Evidence," followed by a book signing. The book chronicles the criminal case which involved his next-door competitor, who stole clothing and sold it in his own store.
CAST receives funding mainly from three sources: District 88, corporate and individual donations and the United Way.
CAST has been collaborating with the New Ulm Library for various projects like the upcoming Vaudeville in Minnesota to be presented by Michael Callahan from Nicollet County at 10 a.m., Thursday, June 9. Callahan will give people a look at the presence of Vaudeville in Minnesota and a live performance of Vaudeville magic routines.
There is no charge for this event. It will be held Community Center Cafetorium, before the regularly scheduled meal. If people would like to stay for dinner, they should make a reservation at 359-2243 by June 8.
Other upcoming events include:
The annual countywide Senior Citizens Summer Event on Monday, June 6 at the Senior Center. Doors open at 12:15 p.m. There will be a pork chop dinner. The?Concord Singers, Donna Donahue, bluegrass artist Dick Kimmel and his son Ian Kimmel will entertain.
Line Dancing for six weeks this summer. Mondays at 12:30 p.m. at the Senior Center beginning June 13.
An Ice Cream Social will be held in conjunction with a New Ulm Municipal Band Concert at 6 p.m., Wednesday, June 8, at the Community Center. It is sponsored by Bank Midwest. The concert starts at 7 p.m. There is no charge for this event.
Little Dresses for Africa: people of all ages can volunteer to make dresses that are sent to girls in Africa. Simple dresses are made from pillowcases. Volunteers meet on the first and third Wednesdays at 9 a.m. and again at 1 p.m. at the Senior quilting room at the DAC Building, 15 N. State St.
