A Special Section Highlighting Senior Lifestyles November 22, 2012
This month’s focus: Traveling
Senior center offers great ‘armchair’ travel opportunities BY EMILY HEDGES CONTRIBUTING WRITER Chanhassen seniors are able to experience the history of the Holy Land, man a remote Icelandic weather station, sail the fjords of Norway, and take many more memorable journeys without ever leaving their own neighborhood, thanks to travel programming offered by the Chanhassen Senior Center. “Our Passport to the World program is kind of like armchair traveler series,” said Sue Bill, Senior Center coordinator for the City of Chanhassen. The popular lunchtime series features a different country and culture four times a year. A person who has traveled to or lived in the featured country leads each talk. Attendees receive passports and a sticker identifying each presentation they attend. Food and drink native to that land complete the experience. “Four or five years ago, when fuel costs began to rise, I found people were traveling less and less because of the expense,” she said. “Why not offer the chance to sit down in comfort and experience sights and sounds of various countries?” According to Bill, the community has embraced the series. Each presentation fills up quickly, drawing between 40 and 50 seniors. “People love hearing the experiences of other travelers. The programs are such a success,” said Bill. “Topics will change as presenters
Susan Baker shares her experiences about her trip to Morocco during Chanhassen Senior Center’s Passport Lunch Program. Photo by Chanhassen Senior Center.
become available.” Chanhassen resident Fran Sheffel serves on the Senior Advisory Board. When her husband was alive, the couple loved to travel, visiting every U.S. state except Hawaii, and all of the Canadian Provinces. “It gives you the opportunity to see first hand a lot of countries that you may have an interest in. You’re hearing from people who have been there,” said Sheffel. “It’s wonderful for a lot of people who can’t travel anymore.” Fellow Advisory Board member Marlyn Mauritz also tries to attend as many travel series presentations as possible. “It’s wonderful seeing people experience places they can no longer travel to,” said Mauritz. “We usually have
a waiting list. Those programs go so quickly.” Mauritz credits Bill, the city staff and community of Chanhassen for the success of this and many other programs at the center. “We have quality help from the community. Sue does an excellent job. The community and the city are so supportive,” said Mauritz. The Senior Center added another opportunity for armchair travel through Lifelong Learning presentations offered through Augsburg College, College of the Third Age. Retired professors from the Twin Cities come and give presentations approximately one-and-a-half hours in length on topics selected by Bill from a list of more than 75 options.
The next presentation in this series is called Jerusalem: The City of God. Taking place on Dec. 4 at 10 a.m., attendees will learn about the city that is viewed by Jews, Christians and Muslims to be the City of God. The lecture will give an overview of the ancient and modern day history of Jerusalem, including pictures and stories from recent travels to Jerusalem. Reservation deadline is Nov. 27. The program fee is $3. The Chanhassen Senior Center is located in the lower level of City Hall at 7700 Market Boulevard. Residents from surrounding communities are welcome. For more information, call 952-227-1124 or go to www.ci.chanhassen.mn.us.
2 Mature Lifestyles – Thursday, Nov. 22, 2012
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Thursday, Nov. 22, 2012– Mature Lifestyles 3
The Big Apple is terrific destination for seniors tour BY EMILY HEDGES CONTRIBUTING WRITER Curtis Hedstrom, 68, had always wanted to travel to the Big Apple. When he saw a notice in the Lakeville Senior Center about an upcoming trip, he thought the time was right to finally go. “I had wanted to go to New York City, but I didn’t know where to stay, or what parts were safe. I thought if I go with a group, I won’t have those issues,” he said. Creating turnkey travel experiences for seniors like Hedstrom is a priority for Senior Center Coordinator Linda Walter. “They have no worries about booking sightseeing tours, where to eat, etc. It’s all taken care of up front. They have the chance to meet
York City together were from all over the country, including seven from Minnesota. Also traveling from the Lakeville Seniors was Kathy Hames, 67, who like Hedstrom had never been to Manhattan before. “I had wanted to go to New York for a long time,” she said. “My friend, Bev Sellentine, and I went together and just had a blast.” Both Hames and Hedstrom said the vibrancy and energy of the city was their favorite part of the experience. “I loved going to Times Square. There were people everywhere. I liked the action,” said Hames. “When we went to Ellis Island, and I found my father’s family name on the wall.” new people and enjoy the company of others rather than just going on a
trip by themselves,” said Walter. The 40 seniors who toured New
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Kathy Hames poses with “King Kong” found at the top of the Empire State Building during her trip to New York City with the Lakeville Seniors.
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FROM PREVIOUS PAGE She also loved seeing the 911 Memorial. “It was touching. All the names of the victims were there,” she said. “We went into the museum and watched a film about the experience. It was hard to watch.” During the group’s backstage tour of the theater where they saw Mary Poppins, she was able to live out a life-long fantasy. “I broke into a little soft shoe on stage and sang New York, New York,” she recalled. “Now I can tell people I sang and danced on Broadway.” Hedstrom particularly enjoyed walking the city streets and seeing so many sites he’d always heard about, including Grand Central Station, the Empire State Building, Rockefeller Center, the Ed Sullivan Theater and Carnegie Hall. He found a few things he saw were not what he expected. “Taxis were cheaper than I thought they would be. The restaurants weren’t as big, and the number of them was amazing,” he said. Hames said that she can now mark New York City off of her bucket list, and that traveling with the Lakeville Seniors is as
easy as it gets. “A shuttle bus comes to your home to pick you up. It’s all included in the price of the trip,” she said. “I feel it is important to offer trips like this to the community,” said Walter. “If we didn’t, some people would not get the chance to go. Our trips are so convenient for people. All they have to do is pay the money and everything else is taken care of.” Upcoming trips planned with the Lakeville Seniors in 2013 are: Hawaii, Jan 31 to Feb. 9; a riverboat tour of the upper Mississippi River, July 4-13; Canada and New England cruise, Aug. 31 to Sept. 8; and a Bahamas cruise, Nov. 10-17. The mission of the Lakeville Senior Center is to focus on the wellbeing of individuals aged 50 and older in order to enhance the emotional, physical and psychological aspects of their lives. The Center strives to provide programs of interest for seniors of all ages and to be a fun, friendly place for seniors to come to meet friends and enjoy the day. The Lakeville Senior Center is located in downtown Lakeville, just behind the Post Office at 2011 Holyoke Ave. It is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday - Friday. For more information, call (952) 985-4622 or go to www.lakevillemn.gov.
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Thursday, Nov. 22, 2012– Mature Lifestyles 5
Mary Wanderers travel extensively BY EMILY HEDGES CONTRIBUTING WRITER Mary Odell may have the best job in the world. In fact, she says if she ever retires, the City of Golden Valley should auction it off. “I enjoy my job. I’ve met some truly wonderful people,” she said. Odell serves as the escort for Golden Valley’s popular travel program. If you ask Jeanne Fackler, senior citizens coordinator with the City of Golden Valley, she’ll tell you that Mary is one important reason for the program’s success. In fact, she is such an integral part, the program has taken on the name Mary Wanderers. For more than 20 years, the Crystal resident has led excursions all over the country. “Mary is the perfect escort. She has a positive attitude, pays attention to details, can ‘go with the flow’ if there is a glitch, and has a great laugh,” said Fackler. “Our participants, some of whom have traveled with her for 20 years, have shared her joys and sorrows. Plus, when a
2013
MATURE A Special Section on Active Adults
We are looking for fitness centers who have special programs for seniors! We want to talk to you for our January issue, which will focus on Health & Wellness. Please contact Krista Jech at 952-392-6835 or krista.jech@ecm-inc.com
The “Mary Wanderers” are pictured during a bus trip to Chicago earlier this year. Photo provided by Golden Valley Seniors Program. trip ends with chocolate, it has to be good, right?” Mary and Jeanne plan trips with the help of Alice Norman from Medicine Lake Tours. Mary says that ideas come from her and
Jeanne, along with suggestions from their seniors. She finds the most popular experiences include boat and train rides, home tours, and anything involving music. Some of her recent favorites have been a
train trip to Chicago; Mackinac Island; a boat ride up the Mississippi River; Bayfield, Wisconsin; Washington D.C.; and Nashville. “Every trip I take is one of my favorites,” she said. “This has been a very good year. I especially love holiday trips. They really get people in the mood,” she said. Barb Bailey, longtime recreation director for Golden Valley, began the travel program more than two decades ago that has grown in popularity each year. “Our trips are very popular with Golden Valley seniors, but we get a lot of people from the other suburbs,” said Odell. “We have a wonderful following. It keeps growing and we have new people all the time.” Mary believes meticulous planning is one of the reasons seniors keep coming back to the program. And she agrees with Jeanne that WANDERERS: TO NEXT PAGE
6 Mature Lifestyles – Thursday, Nov. 22, 2012
Y O U ’ R E
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A Mary Odell has served as tour escort in Golden Valley for more than 20 years. Photo provided by Golden Valley Seniors Program.
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Wanderers FROM PREVIOUS PAGE chocolate doesn’t hurt. “I always have special treats, and I like to stay positive. Things are well planned, and people like that. It’s the people that really make it for me,” she said. Odell wasn’t always a traveler. In fact, she didn’t fly in an airplane until she was 40 years old. She and her husband took their three children on small vacations. Now, when she isn’t on the go, she is probably spending time with her three grandchildren, who she says makes her heart smile. She especially loves to take them to Gopher football games. She is a season-ticket holder, although she will admit, she goes mainly to hear the band.
Mary may also be found leading a crafting group at the Senior Center. Volunteers hand-make a variety of paper crafts for local groups, such as the Good Samaritan Home, Golden Valley Rehab, and the Dinner at your Door program. “I just like doing things. I have a very good time, and I just love this job,” said Mary. Golden Valley Senior Center will host a travel show at the Senior Center located at 200 Brookview Parkway in Golden Valley on Jan. 28 at 1 p.m. Seniors are invited to come hear about upcoming travel opportunities over coffee, pie and ice cream. There is a small fee to attend. The group also hosts a travel show at the Hopkins Senior Center the end of March. For more information, call (763) 512-2339 or go to www.goldenvalleymn.gov.
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Thursday, Nov. 22, 2012– Mature Lifestyles 7
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