Arbutus Senior Center Celebrates One Year Anniversary

The Arbutus Senior Center on Sulphur Spring Road celebrated its one year anniversary last week.  Each day was a small celebration of its own as the center offered special activities and refreshments for seniors in the community.

Throughout the week the community was invited to try a wide variety of  free activities: mini massages done by La Bodi’ Massage LLC, Drums Alive, a mini crab feast, sign language classes, as well as live entertainment and refreshments  throughout the week.  Some members of the community volunteered time to come in and teach or give massages while other local businesses provided lunches. 

A few of the week’s activities, like Drums Alive were a preview to upcoming classes this fall.  Drums Alive is an activity imported from Germany and intended to stimulate the right and left halves for the brain according to  Instructor Shawn Bannon who teaches at the Maryland Athletic Club.  There is research that suggests the exercise helps those struggling with Alzheimer’s disease as well as Parkinson’s disease according to Bannon.

“Drums Alive was a real hit. We're going to schedule classes twice a month beginning in September,” says Susan Patry, center supervisor.

Registration for all the wide variety of classes at the Arbutus Senior Center begins this week.  The center does offer memberships to its fitness room as well as several exercise classes, but it also offers hobby based classes as well.

“I like to play Pinochle with the ladies on Monday.  I had been just sitting at home playing on my computer, and I got bored.  I needed to do something, so this is great,” says Joan Mcann.

 The center continues to grow. 

“We’re excited about starting our first travel program,” says Patry.  On Saturday, Oct. 22 a group will be heading to Lancaster, PA. 

The center also has plans to sponsor a Flea Market on Saturday, Sept. 10 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and host a fashion show on Oct. 19.