Mary Ann Young Center
9150 Central Avenue NE Blaine, MN 55434
Contact MAYC Staff
763-786-9375
MAYC@BlaineMN.gov
Monday - Friday, 8:30AM to 4PM
Mission Statement
To enrich the lives of older adults by providing educational, recreation, nutritional, social, informational, and volunteer opportunities in a relaxed, friendly environment.
Stay Connected
Are you on our email and phone list? Call 763-786-9375 to make sure MAYC staff have your most recent contact information. Follow or like BlaineParksMN on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. BlaineMN.gov/MAYC
Bring a Youth Day
Thursday, August 17, 10:45am-2:15pm, $5/meal, $2/ice cream
There will be a host of fun things happening on this day. New this year will be face painting from 10:45AM12:15PM! Games such as bean bag toss, ladder golf, putting, nickel plinko, and more will be available for both youth and adults to try their skills and win prizes. Artists of all ages can enjoy the coloring station. A state fair style luncheon will be served at noon. Watch for menu details in the August issue of MAYC Connect. Cost is $5 per person payable at the door. Good neighbor prize bingo will be played from 1-2PM, making sure all youth win a prize. If anyone has youth and adult prizes to donate, please do so a week in advance of the event. The day would not be complete without a build your own ice cream sundae for $2. Advanced registration required for this event. Indicate age of youth when registering.
MAYC Regular Helping Others with His Love for Collecting
Allen S. Fischer, a resident of Blaine who lives just blocks from the Mary Ann Young Center, has been a member of the Spring Lake Park Lions for the past 30 years. He has been collecting used hearing aids, eyeglasses, and cell phones from the MAYC for the past 20 years. A large yellow bin that looks like a mailbox is located outside the main entrance for people to drop off these items. The United States does not allow eyeglasses to be sold or given away, so eyeglasses are sent to developing countries for much needed distribution. The wire from eyeglasses is collected and turned in for cash, which goes into a fund to support eyeglass purchases for local youth in need. Cell phones are refurbished and given to Alexandra House and distributed to those needing a phone to call 911. Al delivers hearing aid batteries to the MAYC, which are available to any senior needing them. Al currently picks up the donated items from eight different sites, in addition to receiving deliveries from many local churches. When asked why he chose to provide this service to the community, he replied “I like to help people. This is the best kept secret in Spring Lake Park. Many don’t know we exist, but we do so much for so many others”. Al lives with his wife of 38 years, Jean. Thank you, Al, for your long-time service to the local community and around the world. You are making a real difference!
Upcoming Outings and Tours
Basilica and Westminster
Guided Tours
Wednesday, August 16,
9am-3pm, $65
The day will start with a one-hour guided tour of the beautiful Basilica of St. Mary’s. Our lunch stop will be at the Prairie restaurant inside the Hyatt on Nicollet Mall. Make your lunch choice at time of registration: cobb salad, grilled chicken club, walleye po boy, or a burger, with or without cheese. A nonalcoholic beverage is included. The afternoon one-hour guided tour will be at Westminster Presbyterian Church. Price includes transportation and lunch. Both churches have donation boxes, please provide your own donation. The suggested is $2 per person, per church. Registration deadline is July 24.
Pepin Heights Apple Orchard
Thursday, September 21,
8am-3:45pm, $90
Start the day with a lovely drive to the Pepin Heights Apple Orchard in Lake City. It is Minnesota’s largest apple grower and largest distributor of Honeycrisp apples in the nation! There are also over a dozen other varieties of apples at the orchard. Time has been built in to explore and shop for apple products and specialized gifts. The next stop will be lunch at Chickadee Cottage Café for old fashioned chicken salad with grapes, almonds, and ring pasta in a delectable creamy dressing, along with fresh fruit, homemade nut bread, a dessert, and a beverage. Over the river and to Wisconsin we go next to Nelson Cheese Factory. The founders made cheese for hundreds of years. Learn about the history of the factory. You will travel the scenic Great Mississippi River Road on the way home through small riverside villages. Weather permitting, we will make a few scenic overlook stops. Registration includes transportation and lunch. Standing and walking is required. Bring spending money if you would like to make personal purchases. Registration deadline is August 25.
Jersey Boys
Chanhassen Dinner Theatre
Wednesday, November 1, 9:45am-4:15pm, $99
With phenomenal music, memorable characters, and great storytelling, Jersey Boys follows the fascinating evolution of four blue-collar kids who became one of the greatest successes in pop-music history. Winner of Best Musical at both the Tony Awards® and Olivier Awards®, Jersey Boys takes you behind the music of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons to discover the secret of a 40-year friendship as the foursome work their way from the streets of New Jersey to the heights of stardom. Trip includes motorcoach, play, and lunch. Dessert is on your own. Register by Oct. 3, no refunds thereafter.
Registration required for all events. For questions and to register call 763-786-9375 or visit BlaineMN.gov/MAYCRegister
Program Spotlights
Pinochle Card Group
Mondays, 1pm
Intermediate pinochle card players are invited to register to play double deck pinochle on Mondays at 1PM. If you have never played before or need a refresher, new classes will begin in September on Mondays at 10AM. Watch for dates in the September issue of the MAYC newsletter.
Root Beer Floats and Trivia
Thursday, July 6, 1-2pm
Register in advance to enjoy a rousing game of trivia while sipping on a refreshing root beer float. Sponsored by Allina Health/Aetna.
Pork Chop Dinner
Thursday, July 27,
Dinner $9 @ 5:30pm, Music @ 5:45pm
Advanced registration, in-person only, is required to attend this delicious meal of seasoned, grilled pork chop, baked beans, potato salad, pasta salad, fresh vegetables and dip, a deluxe brownie, and more! The Wendinger Band will perform on the patio, weather permitting. Bring a lawn chair to enjoy outside seating. Music is open to the public.
Registration for programs at the MAYC is required unless otherwise noted. To sign up, call 763-786-9375 or visit BlaineMN.gov/MAYCRegister
Watercolor Classes with Deb
Tuesdays, August 1, 8, 15, & 22, 10am-12pm, free With guidance, learn step by step how to create a beautiful watercolor painting. Debra, owner of Hoffoss Insurance Agency in Circle Pines, will lead this series of four classes. Debra believes in the importance of being involved in the community, so she will supply the materials and instruction at no cost to participants. Expect to complete the project by session four. At that time, you may take your painting home to enjoy or give as a gift. All levels of experience welcome.
This class will likely fill up fast, so don’t delay, register today at BlaineMN.gov/MAYC Register or call 763-786-9375
National Noon Out at the MAYC
Tuesday, August 1, 11am, prizes to winners
Thanks to the help of the MAYC staff, we now have a new and improved version of Wheel of Fortune using the TV on rolling cart with light up board showing the letters in the puzzle, as well as the used letter board. Register for lunch and Safety Wheel of Fortune as we think about what we can do to keep neighborhoods safe while having fun, with a chance to win a prize. Similar rules as before will apply: guess a letter when it is your turn, if the letter is in the puzzle, you may guess one more letter. Player must then solve the puzzle or pass to the next person. Good neighbor rules apply whereby one prize maximum allowed per person until the final puzzle, when anyone can win. If on your turn you know the puzzle but have already won, solve the puzzle, and allow the neighbor to your right to pick out a prize. If several people raise their hand indicating they know the full puzzle, it will be at the discretion of the game host whether a group answer will be allowed. Great fun is sure to be in store for those who attend.
Movie of the Month
Champions, Thursday, July 13, 1pm, Free Woody Harrelson stars in this hilarious and heartwarming journey of a former minor-league basketball coach who, after a series of mishaps, is ordered by the court to coach a Special Olympics team. Expect great one-liners as he muddles through his preconceived and inaccurate notions to realize this team could go farther than he originally thought. Watch this film on our large screen TV with overhead speaker system. Rated PG-13 and just over 2 hours long, popcorn will be served at intermission. Register in advance.
Register in advance to attend. To sign up call 763-786-9375 or visit BlaineMN.gov/MAYCRegister
Nutrition Class: Curb the Cravings
Friday, July 14, 10am, $6
Looking to lose a few pounds and/or wondering if there is a way to feel healthier? Try a sugar detox! Removing sugar from your diet can boost your immune system, balance blood sugar, and help lose those extra pounds. Health and Wellness Consultant, Heather Carpentier with Chronicles in Health, LLC will provide a PowerPoint presentation discussing tips and tricks about curbing your cravings, in addition to providing you with easy-tounderstand handouts you can take home to review. Her presentation is sure to be insightful and beneficial to start you on the path toward accomplishing your health goals. Advance registration required.
Featured Resources
Medicare Counseling 1:1 Assistance
1st and 4th Wednesdays, 10am-1:15pm
In-person appointments are available at the MAYC by online registration to help you navigate the Medicare process. Get your questions answered by a professionally trained representative of Trellis, a partner of the MN Board on Aging. Appointments are informational and neutral. You will be given the facts about the insurance options available, so that you can make informed decisions. Time slots are 45 minutes in length.
To register for an appointment at the MAYC, visit Trellisconnects.org/Get-Help/Medicare
Once on the site follow these steps:
1. Scroll down to “make an in-person appointment” and click on “schedule an appointment”.
2. Choose a date on the calendar, 1st or 4th Wednesday.
3. Next click on the select staff drop-down menu and scroll to the site: Mary Ann Young Center.
4. Select an available time, complete the form, and submit.
Powerful Tools for Caregivers
Six Week Series, Wednesdays beginning July 12, $50
This evidence-based series of classes will help caregivers develop the skills to take care of themselves while taking care of someone else. Facilitated by trained leaders of the Anoka County Family Caregiver Connection program. Registration limited to 16. Fee includes a $30 handbook entitled The Caregiver Helpbook, plus other class materials.
Property Tax and Rent Credit Assistance
Wednesday, July 19, 9am-12pm
No appointments taken. It is first come, first served. Enter through door #2 on the south side of the building. A sign-in sheet will be used to serve participants in order. Checklists are available at the MAYC counter to ensure you have what you need to file.
Room Rental at the MAYC
Monday - Friday, 5-10pm, Saturday, 8am-Midnight, Sunday, 8am-8pm
Looking to rent a room for your meeting or event? Rooms at the Mary Ann Young Center may be rented on evenings and weekends. Blaine residents receive a discount at time of rental. A minimum of two hours must be rented for each booking. Deposits are required for parties and for rental of the two larger Tom Ryan rooms. Fees vary based on day of the week, size of the room, and resident vs nonresident. You must book a minimum of 14 days in advance of the event. Rental space tours are available and need to be confirmed in advance and generally are best between 2:30-3:30PM Monday through Friday.
Book online at BlaineMN.gov/FacilityRental or by calling either 763-786-9375 or 763-785-6164
Senior Companion Program
2nd Wednesday of the month, 9am
Senior Companions are volunteers (age 55+) who are trained by Lutheran Social Services of MN to support older adults in their area. Companions provide dependable transportation to activities, meaningful friendship, and the assistance older adults need to remain living as independently as possible. Volunteers provide weekly visits that keep older adults feeling well-both physically and emotionally.
Benefits include a non-taxable stipend of $2.65 per hour (volunteer 10+ hours per week to qualify), travel reimbursement, insurance coverage during regular service hours, training, and more.
To get started, call 1-888-205-3770, or to find out more, call Terry Hollingsworth at 651-310-9459
Jewelry Donations Needed
It’s that time of year to request jewelry donations. Spread the word to family and friends that we accept a wide variety of items such as earrings, necklaces, bracelets, watches, and more. One person’s discards are another person’s treasures. Our jewelry leader and helpers are awaiting donations so they can sort, clean, and price items for the October 10 sale. Volunteers will be needed to set up the morning of October 9, work the sale, and help box up items following the sale until about 6PM. Call MAYC staff if you would like to be on the jewelry volunteer list and what times you are available to help. This is the main fundraiser of the year for the MAYC. Proceeds go toward entertainment and activity program expenses.
Thank You
• To Karynn Petersen, Brenda Eisenbeisz, Sue Lashinski, Carol Wyman, and Shirley Eklund for donating prizes.
• To Allina Health/Aetna for sponsoring prizes for birthday bingo.
Thinking of You
On the Mend
We wish you the best in your recovery:
• Dorthy Albers
• Mary Bruss
• Cindy Hill Sympathy
Our sympathy goes out to the following families who recently experienced the loss of a loved one:
• Irene Beran, age 76, sister of Ken Kittelson.
• Lu Gallipo, sister of Sharon Dirschel.
• George Gardner, age 95, former bus rider and senior diner.
• Darlene Morse, former MAYC volunteer receptionist and crafter extraordinaire.
• Kathy Riebe, previous tenant of Town Square Apartments and friend to many.
• Marian Schwartz, age 83, recent senior diner who loved musical events.
• Barb Spranger, age 81, loved attending movie of the month. Survived by loving husband, Scott.
