The Communicator

Official Newsletter of the Senior Citizens of Romulus AUGUST 2013

Downriver Senior Olympics

Romulus seniors and officials participated in the 28th annual Downriver Senior Olympics. Proudly representing Romulus in opening ceremonies in Ecorse are Mickey Durham (left), Goldie Hoffman, Mayor Pro-Tem LeRoy Burcroff, Cathy Burgess, 34th District Court Judge Tina Brooks Green, City Clerk Ellen Craig-Bragg, Treasurer Stacy Paige and Senior Center Director Rose Swidan. For more on the 2013 Olympics, see Page 3.

City Primary Election is August 6

The City of Romulus Primary Election will be held on Tuesday, August 6. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Precincts and polling places have changed. Voters have been mailed updated voter registration cards. To vote by absentee ballot, visit the City Clerks Office in City Hall, 11111 Wayne Road. To receive more information about the election, please contact the Clerks Office at (734) 942-7540 or visit the city website at www.romulusgov.com/ government/clerk/aspx.

Tigers Baseball
Last call for tickets for Romulus seniors day at the August 22 Detroit Tigers baseball game vs. the Minnesota Twins. Ticket holders will leave the Senior Center at 11 a.m. for the 1 p.m. game. Tickets are $23 for lower-level seats, with transportation included. Sign up now. Seats are limited.

Free lunch for seniors on September 14 - See Page 4

CLUB #1
August
August 6 Meeting Games Bag Lunch No Meeting Meeting Birthday Games Bag Lunch No Meeting

BINGO!
Bingo is played at Noon Mondays and Wednesdays at the Senior Center. Everyone is invited to play for free. Thanks to our sponsors. Tender Care will provide pizza and pop on August 14 Mission Home Health will provide pizza and pop on August 21

Dates to Remember
Motor City Casino August 20 9 am Talk to the Lawyer August. 13 1-2 pm Haircuts $5 August 19 10 am Commodities/ Focus Hope August 15 9:30 am Detroit Tigers Baseball Game August 22 11 am

August 13 August 20

August 27

Club Birthday Auaugst 23 Harold Beutner

Game Days & Exercise

Members of the Romulus Senior Center can play games and exercise throughout the week: Bingo is played at noon Mondays and Wednesdays. Bunco is played at noon Tuesdays. Pinochle and other games are played during Wednesday Fun Days. Game Day is scheduled for noon Thursdays. Pokeno is played at noon Fridays. A stress-free chair exercise class begins at 9:30 a.m. Thursdays. To register, call the Senior Center at (734) 9554120. Seniors who enjoy quilting and each others company gather at 6 p.m. Thursdays.

Senior Discovery Days at the Toledo Zoo

During September and October, the Toledo Zoo will host Senior Discovery Days just for people 60 and over. Seniors can take advantage of special discounts, free weekday parking and free admission on Tuesdays, September 3 to October 29. Each Tuesday also will feature free activities, including tours, bingo and live music. The Romulus Senior Center will provide transportation to the zoo on September 10 (seating is limited) or Romulus seniors can visit the zoon on their own with their grandchildren. See Rose Swidan to join in the fun on September 10.

Romulus Farmers Market

The Romulus Farmers Market is open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays through October at the Historical Park Pavilion at 11147 Hunt Street near Goddard Road in Downtown Romulus. Vendors sell such items as fresh eggs and produce, homemade baked goods and handmade crafts. There will be childrens activities, too. Bridge Cards, WIC Project Fresh and Senior Project Fresh are accepted. The market accepts vendor applications. Applications are available on Market Days or at Romulus City Hall, 11111 Wayne Road. Follow market activities on Facebook at www.facebook.com/or at Romulus City Hall, 11111 Wayne Road.

Casino Trips
Romulus seniors will travel to the Motor City Casino on Tuesday, August 20. Buses leave the Senior Center at 9 a.m. The cost is $10 per person. The casino provides $20 in credit upon arrival. Seniors will travel to the Greektown Casino on September 29. The cost is $20. The casino provides $10 in credit upon arrival. More details will be announced next month. For more information about trips, call (734) 955-4120.

DOWNRIVER SENIOR OLYMPICS

Romulus senior Mickey Durham says she enjoys outdoor activities of all sorts, which is why she participated in eight competitive events during the 2013 Downriver Senior Olympics.

AUGUST BIRTHDAYS
1 Fred Michales 2 Olga Komyathy 2 Cecilia Broda 3 Charles Curley 5 Hester Baker 5 Harold Sell 5 Hester Bawer 8 Beatrice Scott 8 Jim Freeman 9 Joyce Tkachuk 9 Minnie Warren 9 La Verne Newton 10 Thelma Leopadi 11 Florence Klein 12 Carol Kochanoski 13 Mary Podlaski 14 Charles Pinter 15 Carol Casmer 16 Juanita Neal 18 Virginia Thomas 21 Marion Bredfield 21 Fay Cook 21 Alice Giabowski 22 Helen Budd 22 Marilynn Kolo 23 Harold Beutner 23 Robert Lee 25 Fanny Markey 26 Mary Mills 27 Louise Rush 28 Virginia Sell 28 Margaret Taylor 29 Blanche Bogotski 29 Chuck Shonta 30 Thelma Massey 31 Oscar Hamilton 31 Steve Pyenta

In her 23rd Senior Olympics, Mickey took part in the softball throw, ring toss, football throw, Frisbee toss, soccer kick, horseshoes, shuffleboard and bocce ball. She won some medals, too. I love sports I just love them, Mickey said. I tell my kids Im not a senior, Im a mom. I tell them that age is just a number. Im busy all the time. Mickey said she walks 10 miles a week, putting her feet to the pavement starting at 7 a.m. She played softball for years, even with her children. She also volunteers at the Romulus Senior Center. This years Senior Olympics were hosted by the City of Ecorse, where Mickey was raised as one of 12 children in her family. I just love to participate, she said. Its not a case of being competitive. I love the outdoors. Im a very active person. Ive been that way all my life. Senior Center Director Rose Swidan called Mickey a wonderful person. Her heart is in the right place. Three Romulus seniors Ruth Curley, Goldie Hoffman and Joe Ozog participated in pinochle and/or euchre during the weeklong Olympics. Cathy Burgess played ping pong. City Clerk Ellen Craig-Bragg sang The National Anthem during opening ceremonies. The City of Romulus hosted the swimming competition at the Romulus Athletic Center.

Mickey Durham, above, earns bronze.

Joe Ozog, above; Ruth Curley, below.

Pumpkin Festival News for Seniors

The 2013 Romulus DDA Pumpkin Festival is scheduled for Sept. 20-22. Most events will take place in Romulus Historical Park. Some events will take place at the Romulus Senior Center. Residents are invited to enter contests for canning (homemade tomatoes, green beans, pickles and fruit only), pie baking (pumpkin, sweet potato, peach and apple only), pumpkin growing (largest) and sunflower growing (single blossom). The deadline is 1 p.m. Friday, Sept. 20, for canned items, pies and sunflowers to be delivered to the Senior Center. Pumpkins must be delivered by 2 p.m. Winners of the contests will be announced at 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 21, at the Hospitality Tent. Bingo will be played each day of the festival to raise funds to support the Romulus Animal Shelter. Bingo hours are 6 to 11 p.m. Friday, 2 to 11 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 7 p.m. Sunday. For more information on bingo, call the Senior Center at (734) 955-4140, Councilman Bill Wadsworth at (734) 941-0616 or Joe Ozog at (734) 941-3466.

Romulus Senior Center

36525 Bibbins, Romulus, Michigan 48117 (734) 955-4120 Mayor Senior Center Director Meals-On-Wheels Alan Lambert Rose Swidan Sylvia Dubisky Leota McCraight Rosalie Green Betty Lenossi Karen Kusibab Leondo Smith Jesse Charles www.romulusgov.com

Have a Question? Find an Answer Senior Resources

Prescription Assistance Information (734) 282-7177 Food Assistance/ Wayne County Meals (734) 727-7357 Counseling & Substance Abuse (734) 729-9286 Department of Human Services (313) 277-4800 Care Management Family Resource (734) 282-7177

Drivers Chore Services (CDBG) City of Romulus Website

Hot Meals Daily

Please call the day before if you are interested in having lunch at the Romulus Senior Center: 955-4120.

Closed for the Day

The Romulus Senior Center will be closed Friday, August 16, which is an unpaid city furlough day.

Party Rooms for Rent

The Romulus Senior Center is a great place to celebrate birthdays, baby showers, family reunions and wedding receptions. The beautiful banquet halls and facilities at the Senior Center are available for rent at very affordable rates. There are rooms that can hold up to 120 people and they are available any day of the week. Bring your own caterer or make arrangements to use the Senior Center kitchen. Book early and tell your friends! For more details, please call the Senior Center at (734) 955-4120.

Healthy, Wealthy and Wise Lunch

Mark your calendar for 11:30 a.m. September 24, when the American Heart Association and Romulus Senior Center present a Healthy, Wealthy and Wise Luncheon. The Heart Association will present heart-healthy advice, tips, facts and recipes to ensure that seniors main the best cardiovascular health possible. There also will be information and resources on estate planning. Everyone will take home a free cookbook, a will planning kit and a heart-healthy goody bag. Feel free to send questions by email to Alicia.Long@heart.org to make sure questions are addressed. Questions also can be asked throughout the presentation. Please see Senior Center Director Rose Swidan if you plan to attend.

Need Food?
Low-income residents are eligible for free commodities each month at the Senior Center. A variety of food is provided by The Emergency Food Assistance Program of Wayne County Senior Services. This months food distribution begins at 9:30 a.m. August 15. Romulus Senior Director Rose Swidan encourages anyone in need of food any time to contact the center at (734) 955-4120.

Labor Day Meal Delivery

The Romulus Senior Center is taking applications for a holiday meal delivery on Labor Day, which is Monday, September 2. The Senior Center will be closed that day, but meals will be available for homebound and/or low-income individuals. Apply at the center or call (734) 955-4120.