How do they do it?

The Peninsula Senior Activity Center (PSAC, psac.site) has been another one of those hidden gems on the Peninsula since Sept. 18, 1998. As board member Billie Warrick says, “In 1995 a small group of seniors wanted a place to get together and have an occasional potluck. Through hard work and lots of fund raising, they created what is now the Senior Activity Center.”

Here’s the biggest revelation I discovered last week when I sat in the library and talked with John Vale, Bob and Beth Tripp and Billie: news flash — anyone of any age can join the center for a mere $20 (though you have to be over 50 to vote). And you don’t have to be a member to partake of the many wonderful meals, food events, special themed dinners, teas, amazing breakfasts or any of the activities. In fact, they are thinking of changing their name and dropping “senior” so that folks understand you don’t have to be old to be part of the fun.

And what is old anyway? Billie, John, Bob and Beth were some of the most lively people I’ve spent time with in a long stretch of weeks. Their talking about the list of activities, classes, events, fund raisers, trips — all outlined in their monthly newsletter (along with great columns by Kathy Vale and others) — kept me tip-tapping notes on my computer like a mad woman. I could barely keep up with them.

So, let me enlighten us all on the range of “activities” this amazing group puts together every month and talk a little about their need for more room in the center — requiring a building addition that nearly doubles the usable space: they’ll celebrate their second ground breaking mid-morning this week, Saturday, June 22.

Breakfast and ground breaking

Yep, a ground breaking for an addition to the existing building will take place after this Saturday’s “Pancake taco breakfast” — 8:30-10 a.m. The design and build project is being led by architect/builder Erik Fagerland, who oversaw the original design and construction in the 1990s. Many local businesses have contributed to the effort: Taft Plumbing, Pacific Coast Painting, and Fagerland himself. Senior Activity Center Director John Vale says, “Eric has been a gem, spending many thousands of dollars of hours with us. Also Joel McEntire, our state representative, and Jeff Wilson, state senator, secured $265,000 for us — about 25% of the building budget. Templin gave us another $30,000. We’ve been steadily raising the rest — we’ve got $175,000, but we still need to get to $300,000.”

“Yes, tell people we still need money,” says Bob, despite the fact that the organization has managed to raise and save money over the years. It’s a huge project, but a much needed one.(Go to spccf.org or psac.site to donate.)

“We only have the one big room for workshops, classes and events,” John says. “In fact it’s one of the only large event centers on the Peninsula.” The new building will provide for a second large room, give the group more storage space and smaller rooms for business meetings. John continues, “ Our board had to meet in the back storage room last week [amid tables, chairs, dishes, paperware, and miscellany]. Sometimes we meet in the kitchen or even the She Shed.”

Classes, workshops and fun

The PSAC has an almost unbelievable array of classes and workshops. The calendar, always a part of the monthly newsletter, is chock-a-block with activities: tai chi, cribbage, swing and line dancing, techie Tuesdays, chair yoga, regular yoga, mahjong, pinochle, zumba, bridge; and seasonal classes like gardening tips and pressure canning. One friend who just joined the line dancing raves about it. “We just learned a routine called greased lightening — then we video taped it, but all us newbies were jockeying around to be in the last row so no one would see our flubs.”

Then there are activities called “open sew,” and “chair dancing through the decades.” (Makes you kind of wonder what goes on.) The big room is also used by the Quilt Guild, and many of our local no-profits and social services organizations also use the space for blood pressure checks, or health classes. On June 27 at 1 p.m. the Ocean Beach Hospital will instruct folks on “Nutrition and Fitness;” the Senior Information Assistance Office will be onsite for questions on July 3 from 9 a.m. to noon. The book mobile was parked out front last week.

Just a reminder that classes and workshops are open to the public, although I hope individuals will understand the importance of joining with that Andrew Jackson bill. Right now the membership will probably top 900 this year, but the center provides fun and service to many more people than that.

Dessert bingo, Tuesday, June 25, is a popular event. “We can’t host gambling,” says John, “so instead of money we feed people desserts. That’s why we ask $5 for this activity.” There’s also an ice cream social the third Monday of the month (if you’ve had a birthday in that month you get celebrated!) and a couple yummy breakfasts. My mother always wanted to make sure she scheduled her visit to coincide with a PSAC breakfasts — it was a time to say hello to and kibitz with all her Peninsula friends.

Trips

The PSAC trips are nearly legendary. “Last year we went to the Tillamook Air Museum,” John says, “I didn’t think it was going to be all that exciting but we had such a great time. The museum is amazing and then we stopped at the Blue Heron creamery for lunch. We had such a wonderful time we’re going to do it again soon.”

Coming up are also a couple other opportunities to mingle with friendly folks and get a cost-effective adventure out of town. The trip to Tokeland and Westport on June 25 has a couple places left. It will include a Westport tour and a visit to the Shoalwater Bay Native American Museum, as well as the Westport Maritime Museum and, last but not least, a stop at the Westport bakery for donuts and lunch. Wait! — even that’s not all: after lunch there will be a stop at the Mermaid Museum and Winery, capped off with a visit to the Rose Cottage in Greyland. All this for $55.

For you baseball fans — and, I say, every American should go to at least one baseball game in their life — there is still room for the July 24 trip to the Mariner’s game with the Los Angeles Angels in Seattle. Costs included the train trip from Kelso — $120 for members and $140 for non-members.

Then there’s the cruise! A mere $1,089 for a double room with a balcony (plus a few other extras, like tips) for a seven-night Norwegian Escape to the Caribbean, sailing from Galveston, Texas, on Dec. 13. A portion of the fee will go to the PSAC building fund. (This price is good through June 25 with $250 down, which can still be refunded if you change your mind by August.) Mayan ruins, sandy beaches, friends and sun! — what could be better when our gloomy winter days descend? (Call Nancy or Ron Schnitger at 360-244-1817 or 360-762-8962 for questions or booking.)

This amazing organization is run mostly by volunteers and they have an annual budget of $100,000. How do they do it? — with a lot of love. Stop by and join the fun.

•••

Also: a big congratulations to the 300-plus people who gathered last Saturday to celebrate the 75th anniversary of AA on the Peninsula! Virtual hugs all around.