Latest news from Spring Valley seniors

Change is in the air – along with the ushering in of autumn, the Potato Festival is coming to the Valley on Oct. 3-4.

Spring Valley’s Main Street will host a variety of potato foods and crafts. There will be entertainment at Thompson Pavillion and contests for all ages- potato putt putt, 5K run, king and queen, putting on the hits, kiddie tractor pull, pet parade, cloggers, library book sale, vendor booths, chicken and noodles, baked potato sundaes, fries and much more.

Barrett Concrete House Museum will be open 10 or 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Come to the Valley and visit with old friends or make new ones. Our Spring Valley Senior Center will not be there this year but we offer craft items for sale regularly – stop by and check us out when we are open.

Changes are taking place at the Senior Center too. We’ve had a turnover in staff, with Ann Martin leaving the quilt room and Peggy Smith no longer in the kitchen. A new younger face has joined us to help in the kitchen and on computer – Brook Miller (no relation to Janet).

The job is no longer split, although it may be possible we still may need someone who can help with accounting and some kitchen volunteers to fill in occasionally. We are soliciting your input as to what you would like to see going on at the Center. We would still like to have a sewing/quilt room if there is interest and we can find someone qualified to head it up.

You don’t have to be an expert but someone with sewing skills, that enjoys working with people, and a team player for the promotion of our Center, call Janet at 937-862-4475. We still have sewing machines set up and welcome anyone working on their own projects. We also have exercising and line dancing, Euchre, and crafts, a book library, and puzzles, and even wifi for your notebook or use one of our computers – the center is more than just one activity. We serve lunch for those that are coming and call for reservations –mostly from our caterer, Little Miami River Catering. We do occasionally cook our own or have free freezer smorgasbord.

We have also begun plans for our Halloween Party 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23. It’s still a covered dish but with games. We’ll decorate for fall, have a bake auction, and hopefully some door prizes. It would be a great time for a reunion with old friends -let’s see if we can get some past members and neighbors to join us to enjoy the festivities. This is open to all seniors and their families – you don’t have to be a member or even have any plans to come back on a regular basis – just come and have some fun for the holiday carry-in – and you don’t even have to dress up in costume…

We have several crafts planned for October: Monday, the 5th -friendship hearts, Mondays Oct. 12, 19 –polymer clay and gourd faces, Friday, Oct. 16 ribbon embroidery with Marianna. Our next oil painting class with Floyd Hook is Nov. 17.

Susan Allen, GCCOA benefits specialist, is coming here to speak on Medicare and retirement benefits 12:30 p.m. Oct. 12 changes and what you need to know. It’s open to anyone in the area that wants to check it out.

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Brook Miller
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2015/09/web1_sv01.jpgBrook Miller

Janet Miller
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2015/09/web1_MillerJanet.jpgJanet Miller

By Janet Miller

Janet Miller is the director of the Spring Valley Senior Center and guest columnist.