January 2025 Lunch Menu

 Dear Seniors & Friends,

Our menu for January 2025 is below.  Please notice that our lunch prices will not be changing

this year.  Rodney donated  so we wouldn't need to increase our lunch prices.  

Happy New Year 2025!  Thank you, Rodney!

Brandy Taylor, LTV Home Pet Care

 Brandy Taylor is a Licensed Veterinary Technician.  She works for the veterinary clinic at JBLM.  She comes to our home and trims our dogs nails.  She is affordable, considerate and professional.  Her card is below.  You can contact her by phone, email or on Facebook Messenger to set up an appointment. 

Bake Sale November 29, 2024

 

Disabled American Veterans Letter 10/25/2024

 

December 2024 Lunch Menu

 

Volunteers Needed at the Senior Center of Rainier

 Dear Seniors & Friends,

Thank you all for supporting the Senior Center of Rainier.  We appreciate everyone's help

keeping our Senior Center operating smoothly.  We still need volunteers.  I have attached 

a copy of our volunteer form.  Anyone who wants to help can find something on our form, 

or add a job description for something they can contribute to the Senior Center.

There are volunteers who bake for bake sales, host BINGO, fill napkin holders, etc.  The

list on our form is simply suggestions.  You may choose a volunteer activity that's not listed

here on our form.  We appreciate the contributions made by our volunteers more than mere 

words can express!

Sincerely,

Linda Johnson

Black Friday Holiday Bazaar

 

Black Friday Sale & Correction

 Dear Seniors & Friends,

The GRINCH has moved to the Senior Center of Rainier!  Whoo Hoo!  Crocheted items, blankets, food, wood items and more!!!  Come to our special Unique Boutique SALE! 

There will be a "Black Friday Sale" at the Senior Center of Rainier on Friday, November 29th.

Kevin Pettit is managing this sale.  Anyone who'd like to be a vendor, or has any questions about this sale can call Kevin at:  (561) 313-1167.

They will be selling a wide variety of holiday gifts and handcrafted items.  

CORRECTION:  This is not the sale for the elementary school kids.  My apologies. That sale will be in December.  You can contact Rachele Stephenson for information on that sale where everything is under $10.00 for the kids.  

November 2024 Lunch Menu

 Dear Seniors & Friends,

We will be serving Thanksgiving Dinner on the Monday before Thanksgiving.  

We will have a "Pizza Potluck" on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving.  

There will be a "Black Friday Sale" in the Senior Center on November 29th.  Please show support for the Rainier Elementary Students and the Senior Center of Rainier.  There will be many vendors with reasonably priced gifts.  

Stay safe and warm in this cold rainy weather.  We are a heating and cooling shelter, so please call George @ (360) 292-5363, if your power goes out and you need us to open the building.  

Medicare Advantage Information

Update:

Aetna Medicare Advantage and Premera Blue Cross Medicare Advantage are pulling out of the State of Washington.

Humana Medicare Advantage isn't pulling out of the State of Washington.  YFM will only be handling United Healthcare Medicare Advantage and straight Medicare.

This is as much as I know right now.  

Linda

 Dear Seniors & Friends,

I went to see Dr. Talbot at Yelm Family Medicine Thursday.  When I went back in on Friday to be checked I received the notice below.  Humana and another Medicare Advantage Insurance company are pulling out of the State of Washington.  YFM will only be handling United Healthcare and straight Medicare.  They only found out about this change a couple of days ago.

Elizabeth Thurnstedt will be at the Senior Center on the 16th of October for anyone who has questions about their Medicare insurance plan.  If you have questions or concerns, you may contact her at:

Elizabeth Thunstedt, MBA

Licensed Insurance Broker

Insurance Answers Washington

Phone:  (253) 226-0806

Fax"  (360) 252-6509

Elizabeth@InsuranceAnswersWA.com

https://InsuranceAnswersWA.com

Note:  All plans may have changes that you may need to be made aware of.

October 2024 Lunch Menu

 

Emergency Preparedness EXPO in Yelm 2024

Dear Seniors & Friends,

There's an Emergency Preparedness EXPO tomorrow in Yelm at their Community Center from 

10 AM - 2 PM.  Everyone is welcome.  I just found out about it, or I would have shared this with

you earlier.  You can donate blood at this event, too.  Please feel free to attend.

Linda

We Love Rainier WA needs Event Volunteers

 Volunteers NEEDED. We Love Rainier WA needs your help! Come join in creating Rainier FUN!

Tenino Community Service Center Fundraiser Dinner

 Dear Seniors & Friends,

George and I attended the Tenino Community Service Center Fundraiser Dinner last night.  The Tenino Eagles Club was filled with people supporting the TCSC.  Several people from the Senior Center of Rainier - Nancy Bay, Suki Hulen, George Ridout and Debbie Sorrells sat with us.  George R. and Nancy won a raffle prizes!  George J, Nancy B and I won silent auction prizes.

Jody and her volunteers did a wonderful job of cooking, serving and setting up the whole event.  It took a many volunteers to put on this successful event.  There are many volunteers in the pictures, however not all of the volunteers are pictured as they were working while the pictures were being taken.   

Many people from Rainier attended including Pastor Pat Cooley and his wife, Tina from Valley Heart Assembly of God Church, which runs the Rainier Food Pantry.

It took a lot of volunteers to put on this event.  A special "thank you" to all of the volunteers! They did a wonderful job. Jody and Crew worked very hard to put this event together.  Dinner was delicious.  The leftover food was donated to the Senior Center of Rainier, so we will be having Pork Loin, rather than fish sticks for lunch today!!!  

We are all grateful and appreciate the support we receive from the Tenino Community Service Center!  Thank you all for a wonderful evening!

Jody Stoltz presented the ne "Tenino Community Service Center Logo" last night. 

Below are some of the other pictures I took last night:

Medicare Insurance Answers October 16, 2024

 Dear Seniors & Friends,

Elizabeth Thunstedt, with Insurance Answers WA, will be at the Senior Center October 16, 2024.  She will talk privately with anyone who has questions about their Medicare plan.  We look forward to seeing Elizabeth and finding out about the changes to our plans that are taking place in 2025.

If you have any questions or concerns about your Medicare insurance plan, or the changes to a Medicare Advantage Plan. Please feel free to call her at (253) 226-0806.

Senior Driving Class September 25, 2024

 

There will be a senior driving class held on Wednesday, September 25th from 9:00 AM to

3:30 PM at the Rainier Senior Center. The cost of the class is $15.00. One of the benefits of

this class is that you will be given a certificate at the end of the class that will give you a 5 to 10

percent discount over a two to three year period on your automobile insurance. This class

is endorsed by the Washington Traffic Safety Education Association (WTSEA), the Washington

Traffic Safety Commission (WTSC), American Automobile Association (AAA) and The

Department of Licensing(DOL).

You must be 55 years old or older to take this class. A "no host" lunch will be available.

The instructor is Gerald Apple who has taught Traffic Safety Education in the Public Schools for 

fifty four years and also provides the DOL written and road tests in several commercial schools. 

Last year he was named the national Traffic Safety Education Teacher of the Year by ADTSEA 

(American Driver Training Safety Education Association). He was president of this association in 

1997. Plus, he is the coordinating Secretary of WTSEA and is currently serving on the ADTSEA 

board of directors

The topics covered in this class are texting and driving and other new TSE laws, driving in bad

weather, handling emergencies, freeway driving, stop positions, reference points, what

to do in case of a collision, road rage, drowsy driving, roundabouts, new traffic signals, head

checks, parking maneuvers, insurance, prescription drugs, new vehicle technology and

other topics.

We have two guest speakers: One from the Washington State Patrol and the other from

Operation Lifesaver (Railroad Safety).  

The contact information for Gerald Apple:  

• Phone 360-480-5330 and his 
• email address:  GeraldAppl@yahoo.com. 

Please register at the Senior Center of Rainier - 360-446-2258

Rainier Pickin'Party '24 Thank you

 

Rainier Pickin' Party '24

It's done. The 30th Rainier Pickin' Party is over. Who would have thought that such a hot and sunny festival season would have produced an honest to goodness stereotypical Pacific NW weekend? Despite the damp, it went well. Thanks to hard-core campers, and the general public's attendance, I would consider the weekend a success.

For those of you who don't know, the festival was started by Art and Char Runyan and the Rainier Lions but, with the Lions' disbanding a few years ago, is now put on by We Love Rainier, WA (WLRWA). Free admission and low camping fees are made possible through volunteers and the generous donation of time and talent by the bands and MC. The bands don't leave empty-handed, however. They are handsomely rewarded with wooden nickels redeemable for hamburgers. This year, using grant money, band members also got a T shirt. Those braving the open mic received the traditional Snickers bars. Let me know if you would like to play next year, we had three bands lined up by the week's end.

Of course there are many others involved, including the sound, stage and WLRWA volunteers. In addition to the usual jamming and shows, there were food vendors, a corn feed and the Sunday gospel show. A short walk away, in town, other activities included the Roundup Days parade, craft market and street dance.

As in years past, performances were recorded by The Right Country, KYLM, Yelm and will soon be available at therightcountry.com. Information about the Rainer festival, a list of NW bluegrass festivals and other info can be found at rainierpickinparty.com.

So, a big thanks to you all for making the festival possible.

Remember to mark the fourth weekend of August on next year's calendar and, when offered a wooden nickel, consider taking it.

See you at Rainier next year.

David Wuller

September 2024 Lunch Menu

 Menus are subject to change...

BINGO will be held on the 4th Monday and the Board Meeting on the 5th Monday.  (It will be

the 3rd and 4th Mondays we meet during September 2024).  Thank you!

First Responders Potluck BBQ 2024

 This event is to say thank you to all the 1st Responders of Thurston County. 

I would be nice if you could bring a side dish but it is not necessary. 

This is not a political event.

Tenino Community Service Center Dinner

Tenino Community Service Center

BENEFIT DINNER!

The Senior Center of Rainier is supported by the Tenino Community Service Center.

We receive a lot of food from them, which helps our meals to be affordable.  There

will be raffles and FUN!

Please support the TCSC!

August 2024 Lunch Menu

 

Peaches, Pears & Nectarine Sales

Peaches, Pears & Nectarines Fresh from Yakima!

Buzz to the Thurston County Fair

 

FAMILY FUN FOR EVERYONE!!!

Kids Day Thursday 8/1/2024

Kids ages 5-14

$2.00 admission

5 & under are Free!

Sponsored by KXXO

One Buck Wednesday 7/31/2024

Each person gets in for $1.00

with a donation to the food bank!

Military Appreciation Day 8/2/2024

Active, Retired, or National Guard & families

each person gets in for $2.00

All Entertainment Free with paid Admission

General Admission

Adults:  $9.00

Seniors 9over 60)   $8.00

Youth (6-14)   $7.00

Kids 5 & under always FREE

Season tickets available at the fair office or online

Free off site parking w/FREE shuttle

See website for details:

https://thurstoncountyfair.org

Animals - Carnival - Exhibits -  Fair Food

Speaking of History Project

George and I attended the STEDI (South Thurston Economic Development Initiative) Breakfast Meeting last Friday that was held in the remodeled Tenino Quarry House.  These meetings are held on the third Friday of every month.  They cover smaller cities Thurston County:  Bucoda, Rainier, Rochester, Tenino and Yelm.  They are held in these various cities on a rotating basis.

The Senior Center of Rainier has been helped tremendously by what we've learned at these meetings.

We Love Rainier WA was born out of the information and help received through these meetings.  

The public is welcome.  

The Grand Mound Rochester Chamber of Commerce is working on a "Speaking of History Project".

They're preserving historical documents, photos & personal stories from their local area.  They're encouraging the other small cities in Thurston County to do the same.  They have been working on preserving the  "Gates City Historical School".  They've done a beautiful job on restoring their building.  Now they're continuing their work through this project.

Anyone with stories or items they're interested in sharing about this project, please feel free to call them.

If you have information or items to share about Rainier, contact the Rainier Historical Society.  They're located in the Rainier School District Office Building.  (Rainier Historical Elementary School Building).

Senior Fun Daze August 5 & 6

 The Rainier Chapel is hosting Senior Fun Daze

Six Pennies Founders Club Membership

 

Samuel Edwin Taylor III Memorial July 5 2024

Sam passed away June 24, 2024, leaving behind a family that loved him and our entire community cherished him.  

A funeral service will be held on Friday, July 5th 2024 at 10:00 AM at the Mills Funeral Home.    

Mills Funeral Home, 
5725 Littlerock Rd SW, 
Tumwater, WA 98512

You can find Sam Taylor's memorial page online here:

https://www.echovita.com/us/obituaries/wa/rainier/samuel-edwin-taylor-iii-18275709

Please feel free to leave a sympathy message to his family in the guestbook on the memorial page of Samuel Edwin Taylor III to show support. 

A reception will be held on Friday, July 5th 2024 at 12:00 PM at the Rainier Senior Center. 

Senior Center of Rainier
108 Michigan St S
Rainier, WA 98576

MAGIC SHOW featuring JEFF EVANS in Wilkowski Park!

 GREAT FAMILY EVENT THIS FRIDAY

JULY 5th 2:15 pm

MAGIC SHOW featuring JEFF EVANS

Great for kids of all ages

Come sit on the grass and be amazed

This show was originally scheduled to be held at the Rainier Senior Center but has been moved to Wilkowski Park!

Spirit of '76 Living History Association

 

Habitat Garden Party August 13, 2024

 

DSHS Mobile Office Coming to Rainier!!!

 

Visitor: Ronda Litzenberger

 Ronda Litzenberger called and asked if she could come and speak to our seniors during lunch.  She and a member of her team came yesterday.  She's from Eatonville.  She has been on the Eatonville School Board for the last 16 years.  She's endorsed by Gary Edwards. She will be attending the STEDI Breakfast Meeting on Friday, July 21st.  The meeting starts at 8 AM and usually lasts until 9:30 AM.  

Although the Senior Center of Rainier doesn't endorse any candidates, we do allow them to come and speak during lunch. 

We encourage speakers from other non-profit & civic groups to speak just before lunch, also.

If you would like to come speak on a Monday or Wednesday around 11:15 - 11:30, please feel free to call George at:  (360) 292-5363.