City of Weatherford Pioneer Center 1000 Gartrell Place Weatherford, OK 73096 October 2015 Vol. 26, No. 10 When the Pioneer Center opened in 1990, Loraine Witcher began serving as Administrative Assistant/ Secretary to Linda Olson, Pioneer center Director, and continued to serve in that role for 18 years. We appreciate Loraine for sharing her memories with us. Loraine Witcher s Pioneer Center Memories The City of Weatherford had a new building a Senior Citizens Center named PIONEER CENTER and I had a new job as secretary, Jack-of-all-trades. When I went into my new office, I had a telephone and a typewriter on the floor no desk yet. Later some city employees came and set up furniture. It is a large, really beautiful building. Best of all, we had a wonderful director, Linda, already on the job. The whole building was wonderful with a game room with game tables, a large room for quilters, classes, and card players. The large dining room was perfect for lunches or banquets and other events. The library was the perfect place for quiet reading or small gatherings. I remember when my mother turned 100 that we gathered there for an interview. Sunrise, Sunset quickly go the years, One season following another Laden with happiness and tears. When I hear this song, I think about the PIONEER CENTER and the many wonderful people who have had the opportunity to enjoy this facility through the years. These people make Pioneer Center such a great place. 18 years went by quickly with so many memories of happiness and tears. I will always cherish the friendships and happy days I spent there. Loraine Witcher 747 E. Kansas Ave. McPherson, KS 67460 Phone: 620-504-6325 Callie Waldrop, Director Hours: 8-5 Monday-Friday Phone: (580)772-1191 OCTOBER AN AUTUMN EVENING OF FOOD, FUN, & JAZZ Autumn is a favorite season of year for many people. With summer behind us and colder weather approaching in the near future, it seems like a perfect time to join friends at Pioneer Center for some good food, fellowship, and fun. Pioneer Center and Weatherford Nutrition invite you to attend our Autumn Social on Thursday, October 29, at 6:00 p.m. Several people commented about how much they liked the food at last October s evening social when baked potatoes were served with all the toppings. This year we will once again provide the baked potatoes and ask those attending to bring toppings (grated cheese, diced ham, chili, sour cream, bacon bits, butter, etc.) to go on the potatoes. Dr. Richard Tirk from the SWOSU Music Department and Jazz Ensemble B will perform following the meal around 6:45 p.m. Come and enjoy this jazzed up evening. Call the PC office, 772-1191, if you plan to attend. Wanda Hutchinson Custer County Spotlight Award Winner Custer County has many dedicated people who participate in the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program. Pioneer Center is fortunate to have one of the best volunteers, Wanda Hutchinson, who was honored as the Custer County Spotlight Award Winner at the Annual RSVP Banquet in Watonga on September 18. For the past 45 years, Wanda has done many kinds of service work in the Weatherford area where she has spent the last 16 years as an active RSVP volunteer faithfully turning in to the Pioneer Center office a list of her volunteer hours each month. Over the past 10 years, Wanda has worked six hours each day Monday through Friday as a cook aide for the Weatherford Nutrition Site. Wanda arrives at work before 7:00 a.m. and often comes back at night to check to see if food items are thawing properly for the next day s meal. She knows all the people who come to each lunch regularly and is aware of what foods they like and don t like. She is concerned about their well-being and tries to make sure their nutritional needs are met. Wanda helps with Pioneer Center and Nutrition Site fundraisers and also helps with socials by bringing food and staying late to clean up afterward. Wanda and her late husband, Jim, owned a store called The Hutch for many years, and Wanda has (cont. on Page 2)
(Wanda Hutchinson cont.) agreed to let several of her antiques and unique collectibles be displayed at Pioneer Center over the years. An active member of First Baptist Church for 45 years, Wanda serves on the 55 & Up Church Planning Board. She has served as church pianist, played the organ or piano for funerals, and once played accordion in what she calls a fun church band composed of several people having lots of fun practicing lots of hours. Listening to gospel music is one of her favorite activities. Wanda works three plots in the Community garden and shares garden produce with her friends. Wanda visits people in nursing homes and assisted living facilities, calls friends to check on their wellbeing, sends cards, and gives rides to friends. Linda Olson (former Pioneer Center Director) said, Wanda s smile and eyes with their special sparkle bring joy to those around her. Her positive attitude is contagious! Evelyn Penner (Wanda s friend and co-worker) said If something needs to be done, Wanda is there to do it. Congratulations, Wanda, for being such a deserving winner of the Custer County Spotlight Award and thank you for the thoughtful ways you serve others. FOOT CARE IS BACK! Tuesday, October 27 10:00 a.m. The Pioneer Center is so fortunate to have the new Beauty Academy here in Weatherford and owner Kamber Graham to bring back our Foot Care. There will be instructors as well as students coming each month to provide this service FREE of charge. They will be going one step further and providing painted pedicures to those that would like that. Please call the PC office at 772-1191 and make your appointment. WALK WITH EASE We will have only three weeks left to walk and finish our walk with ease session for the second time. Come and join us on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday s if you can at 9:00 a.m. We would love to have you participate with us. This is very relaxing and good for your heart. So come and be a part of our group. SITE BOARD MEETING Tuesday, October 20th, 10:00 a.m. NAIL SPA WITH BRIANNA Monday, October 12th Brianna Reherman with Carter Healthcare will be here on Tuesday, October 12 to provide our monthly Nail Spa. I know many of you have enjoyed this service and we are happy that Brianna will be here to provide the Nail Spa for the month of October. Be sure to call the PC office (772-1191) to get your appointment. EVENTS AND RENTALS AT THE PIONEER CENTER IN OCTOBER 1st OREA 5th Unlimited Friends 7th Ministerial Alliance 10th 80th Birthday Party 12th Hospital Auxiliary 13th Habitat for Humanity 14th Legislative Meeting 17th Square Dancers 18th Baby Shower 25th Agape Fundraiser AMY S HALLOWEEN CRAFTS Wednesday, October 14, 9:00 a.m. Come make a Halloween craft and get ready for the season of tricks and treats. OCTOBER TUESDAYS 11:15 a.m. GUEST SPEAKERS 6th Cyndi Barnett, Faith Hospice 101 13th Weatherford Police Chief, Louis Flowers 20th Weatherford Mayor, Mike Brown 27th Weatherford Food & Resource Center Elizabeth Amen, Executive Director MANY THANKS TO ALL OUR GUEST SPEAKERS FOR THEIR TIME, SERVICE AND INFORMATION!
JAMBOREE Saturday, October 3rd, 17th & 31st The Pioneer Center bus leaves at 12:30 p.m. for the Jamboree near Clinton. Bus tickets are $3.00. Sign up in the Pioneer Center office. The Jamboree is a great evening of music and fellowship. Jim Crow is our Volunteer bus driver for the Jamboree trips and we are very grateful for his service to the Pioneer Center. IT S BINGO TIME ONCE AGAIN Friday, October 9th, 10:00 a.m. October 9th is set aside for a wonderful time to come and fellowship and also play a relaxing game of Bingo. Bring a white elephant gift to share and join us for this special time together. We want to thank Weatherford Living Center for coming during September to call Bingo. This month we will have someone from Sterling House help call Bingo. Our two lucky blackout winners for September are Ernestine Hoelker and Billie Kerdus. Billie gave her prize to Lorene Lawter. Congratulations!!! DON T FORGET!!!! SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 1ST Daylight Saving Times Ends Set Your Clocks Back 1 Hour FLU SHOTS Wed., October 7th 9 a.m. 12 p.m. It s that time of year again to protect yourself against the flu! On Wednesday, October 7 from 9a.m.-12 p.m., Annie Ellis PharmD will be giving immunizations at the Pioneer Center. Medicare (and most other insurances) will cover the flu shot and other vaccinations at NO COST. For the uninsured, the flu shot will be provided for $25. You can pre-register in the Pioneer Center office to guarantee your shot and lessen your wait time. Walk-ins are welcomed, but you may have a longer wait time. ACIP updated their guidelines last year and it is now recommended that ALL adults 65 years and older receive TWO different pneumonia vaccines. This is new so make sure you are up to date! It is also advised that people with diabetes get the Hepatitis B series and anyone over 60 get the shingles or Zostavax vaccine. International travelers, anyone in close proximity to an infant and those with chronic diseases also require further immunizations that can be provided. Detailed information along with pre-registration paperwork will be available in the office or by calling Annie at 580-772-2712. We look forward to helping you protect yourself from preventable diseases! TO OUR VOLUNTEERS We want to express a very sincere thank you to the Emamnuel Baptist Church for taking the time to help deliver our Homebound meals during the month of September. During the month of October we have volunteers from home health agencies, Liberty Church and possible others helping us with our deliveries. It is that time of year where we rely more and more on our outside volunteers to help us. If you are interested in helping please call the Pioneer Center and ask for Sandy Williams. 580-772-1193 FALL PREVENTION ASSESSMENT by CARTER HEALTHCARE Thursday, Oct. 22, 10:00 a.m. Did you know that 35% to 40% of people 65 and older fall each year and those who do fall are 2-3 times more likely to fall again. 10% to 20% of those falls cause serious injuries. Carter Healthcare will be here to do a presentation covering this topic. There will be question and answer sessions following the presentation, as well as doing personal assessment for those that are interested and as time will allow. No sign up is necessary. Just show up for some great information by Carter Heathcare. RADONNA S PROGRAM Thursday, October 29th 10 a.m. Hunger in Oklahoma Have you ever really been hungry and didn t have food? Is there really a Hunger problem in Okalhoma? NECK & SHOULDER MASSAGES Thursday, October 15, 10 a.m. Cyndi and Katie from FAITH HOSPICE will be here to give 10 min. neck and shoulder massages. Please sign up in th PC office. Space is limited. BLOOD PRESSURE/BLOOD SUGAR CHECK Wednesday, October 21st, 11:00 a.m. Weatherford Living Center will be here to do Blood Pressure and Blood Sugar checks. A huge thanks go to Weatherford Living Center for this monthly service. We appreciate their time and service to the seniors at the Pioneer Center. MONTHLY RSVP TIME SHEETS If at all possible, please turn in your RSVP time sheets before the 7th of each month.
Friday, October 9th Catching Faith Unated Family Drama, Sport 88 Min. From the outside, Alexa has the perfect life. Her son is the high school football star, daughter a straight A student and her husband is CFO of a booming start-up company. The sudden death of her father, however, causes Alexa to realize there is more to life than appearances. Her perfectly crafted social image is disrupted when she embarks on a journey of selfdiscovery. Learning to embrace truth, Alexa rediscovers her faith and what it means to be family. Friday, October 23rd WILD Rated R Adventure, Biography, Drama 115 Min. Driven to the edge by the loss of her beloved mother (Laura Dern), the dissolution of her marriage and a headlong dive into selfdestructive behavior, Cheryl Strayed (Reese Witherspoon) makes a decision to halt her downward spiral and put her life back together again. With no outdoors experience, a heavy backpack and little else to go on but her own will, Cheryl sets out alone to hike the Pacific Crest Trail, one of the country's longest and toughest through-trails. HOLIDAYS 1 National Walk Your Dog Day 2 World Smile Day 4 National Taco Day 9 World Egg Day 10 National Family Bowling Day 14 National Take Your Parents to Lunch Day 17 National Pasta Day 18 National Chocolate Cupcake Day 29 National Candy Corn Day 30 HAPPY HALLOWEEN/National Carmel Apple Day SENIOR NIGHT OUT Several of you have requested to eat again at Olive Garden. We plan to leave the Pioneer Center at 3:45 p.m. on Thursday, October 15, to go to Oklahoma City to enjoy some of Olive Garden s fine Italian food. Olive Garden offers a wide selection of Italian specialties as well as American food. One popular meal is the Buy One, Take One Dinner starting at $12.99. Guests can order all-you-can eat salad or soup and breadsticks, select a freshly prepared entree to eat for dinner, and then choose another entree to take home to enjoy the next day. After the meal, we will stop in Yukon to shop at some of your favorite stores. Bus fare is $6.00 with dinner on your own. Sign up for this trip by calling the Pioneer Center office, 772-1191, starting at 8:00 a.m. on Thursday, October 1. ED & AMY S DAYTIME ADVENTURE Wednesday, October 28, 9:30 a.m. In October our trip should have a Halloween theme. Unfortunately haunted houses are not open during the daylight hours. So, instead we will go to the OKC Zoo on October 28. The entrance fee (and ride around the zoo) will be $4.00. During the trip, we will stop at a party store to view their display and may purchase our Halloween treats and decorations. Of course we will stop for lunch. Departure time from the Pioneer Center will be 9:30 a.m., Wednesday, October 28. Call the Pioneer Center office at 772-1191 on Thursday, October 1, to reserve for this trip.
Pioneer Center offers its programs to eligible persons regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, or handicaps and is an equal opportunity employer. OCTOBER 2015 EVENT CALENDAR MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY 5 12 NAIL CARE 19 Thursday, October 29 the November newsletter will be available at 8:00 a.m. 26 Please note: Bus trips require a minimum of 6 passengers. 6 11:15 Faith Hospice 101 with Cyndi Barnett 13 11:15 Chief Flowers & Chief Karlin 20 10:00 Site Board Meeting 11:15 Mayor Brown 27 10:00 FOOT CARE 11:15 Weatherford Food & Resource Center, Elizabeth Amen 7 9am-12pm Flu Shots & More Walmart 14 9:00 Amy s Crafts 21 12:30 Mah Jong 11:00 Blood Pressure and Blood Sugar Checks by Weatherford Living Center 28 9:30 OKC Zoo Ed & Amy s Daytime Adventure 1 8 9:00 Habasketry 15 10:00 Faith Hospice Neck & Shoulder Massages 3:45 Senior Night Out Olive Garden 22 10:00 FALL PREVENTION ASSESSMENT Carter Home Health 29 10:00 RADONNA S PROGRAM 6:30 HALLOWEEN SOCIAL Baked Potato Potluck 2 9 9:30 Exercise 10:00 B-I-N-G-O 12:30 MOVIE Catching Faith 16 23 30 12:30 MOVIE Wild Call and sign up for October trips and more on Thursday, October 1 at 8:00 a.m. (580) 772-1191