Herding Kats Jazz Band
Eighty dancers and jazz enthusiasts enjoyed two hours of upbeat Swing, Latin, and other jazz music on Sept. 30. All age groups were represented for this family fun afternoon; dancers ranged in age from 3 to 83. For those who missed this great “West Coast Cool Jazz” band, they perform frequently in Oak Harbor and other nearby locales. Check them out on Facebook, and check www.orcasseniors.org for more fun music and dance activities during the coming year.
Watercolors class
Are you interested in exploring your artistic side? Join a watercolors class for beginners at Orcas Senior Center on Mondays, 9:30-11 a.m. Basic supplies are required to participate and the cost per class is $10. There is a limit of participants per session, so please reach out directly to the instructor, Robbie Walker to join. To learn more about supplies needed and other details, reach out to Robbie directly at 360-376-7714 or robbielouwalker@orcasonline.com. There is a limit of participants per session.
Robbie took drawing and watercolors classes with her sister for four years, prior to teaching watercolor classes in Texas.
Art with Carla
Are you interested in exploring your artistic side? Art with Carla, Fridays, 1-3 p.m. at Orcas Senior Center, is lighthearted fun, structured around process, with an emphasis on you CAN do it! Folks of all skill levels are invited to come be creative people together (no experience required!).
Carla Stanley has been drawing since childhood and is still drawing today. She has an Associate of Arts degree in Visual Communications from The Art Institute of Seattle. Carla has taught classes for the Funhouse Commons, Orcas Island Parks and Recreation, Poppie’s and Orcas Island School District. She won her first art contest at age 12 and most recently for the San Juan County Luci B Community Wellness Van.
The cost for the class is $10 ($8 for members of OSC). For all inquiries, reach out to Carla directly at 360-317-5652 or onlyonorcas@gmail.com.
Alzheimer’s Disease and Memory Loss by Birchview Memory Care
Orcas Island has an elderly population, and all of us know someone, a friend or family member, with dementia or memory loss. Statistically, 1 in 10 people over age 65 live with dementia, suggesting that in 2020 in San Juan County there were 733 people with dementia. We project that in 2030 there will be 808.
On Thursday, Oct. 19 at 1:30 p.m. speakers from Birchview Memory Care in Sedro-Woolley will provide a general overview of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of memory loss. Presenters will discuss how to recognize dementia and ways that caregivers can assist people living with memory loss live safely and as fully as possible.
The presentation is suitable for caregivers, family, and friends as well as those living with dementia. Participants will have an opportunity to ask questions and discuss them with the presenters. The talk is free, and all are welcome.
As part of Dementia Friendly America, Orcas Senior Center has undertaken a “Dementia Friendly Orcas” (DFO) project. Over the next year, the center’s DFO Work Group will assess our community’s current ability to support people with cognitive difficulties and memory loss. As we identify needs for improvement, we will plan for providing the education, community support, and resources that people living with dementia, their families, and caregivers need to live fully and safely. To learn more, see www.orcasseniors.org/dementia-friendly.
