Submitted by the Orcas Senior Center.
Getting ready for Medicare
Is 2025 your year for joining Medicare? Medicare enrollment is not automatic for most people, so you’ll probably need to enroll with Social Security. Then you’ll have to decide what type of Medicare coverage you want. To make an informed decision about your coverage choices, you’ll need to understand a lot of new information.
Trained Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors program volunteers are here to make the transition easier for you. Join us for a free Welcome to Medicare presentation at Orcas Senior Center on Tuesday, Jan. 23, at 10:30 a.m. Learn how Medicare works, what your coverage options are and when you must act to avoid penalties. To participate by Zoom, email shibasjco@yahoo.com.
SHIBA, sponsored by Orcas Senior Center, is a free, unbiased and confidential informational service offered through the Washington state Office of the Insurance Commissioner. Contact the Orcas Island SHIBA office at 360-376-5892 to schedule a counseling session.
Drop-in peer grief support group
Join us for a supportive, nonjudgmental space to process grief and mourning with the Drop-In Peer Grief Support Group Wednesdays at 10 a.m. This group is designed to help normalize your feelings, facilitate healing and provide understanding. We offer a safe space to explore your thoughts and emotions without fear of judgment.
For questions, contact George Eberle at georgeaeberle@gmail.com or John Ehrmantraut at casadonjuan12@gmail.com. We look forward to supporting you.
Discover your artistic side: Art with Carla
Unleash your creativity at Art with Carla every Friday, 1-3 p.m. Led by experienced artist Carla Stanley, this lighthearted class focuses on the creative process with a strong belief in your artistic potential, regardless of skill level. Stanley’s lifelong passion for drawing, backed by an Associate of Arts degree in visual communications from The Art Institute of Seattle, makes her the perfect guide for a fun and inclusive artistic journey.
With a background in teaching classes at the Funhouse Commons, Orcas Island Parks and Recreation, Poppie’s, and Orcas Island School District and a history of art contest victories, most recently for the San Juan County Luci B Community Wellness Van, Stanley brings a wealth of experience. The class is $10 (or $8 for OSC members). Contact Stanley at 360-317-5652 or onlyonorcas@gmail.com to secure your spot. Uncover your artistic potential and join us for creative Fridays at Orcas Senior Center!
Island Hearing Healthcare’s Stacie Nordrum, Au.D., CCC-A, offering monthly hearing services
Stacie Nordrum, Au.D., CCC-A, from Island Hearing Healthcare, provides hearing care at Orcas Senior Center every first Thursday of the month. To secure your slot, it is advisable to schedule your appointment well in advance, as availability fills up rapidly. The range of services offered encompasses hearing assessments, personalized consultations, hearing aid programming and various other hearing aid services. Additionally, complimentary cleaning and checks for hearing aids, along with general consultations, are available. For appointment scheduling and any inquiries, reach out to Stacie directly at 360-378-2330 or islandhearing@gmail.com. Discover more about Island Hearing Healthcare by visiting www.islandhearing.net.
Nourishing body, mind and spirit: Yoga with Sam
Join Samantha Fisher in a holistic movement practice suitable for all experience levels, prioritizing an attuned connection to your body’s inner wisdom. Drawing from her training in Hatha yoga and integrated movement therapy, Fisher integrates insights from diverse healing modalities and spiritual traditions, offering a unique yoga experience. With over three years of teaching experience, Fisher is excited to share her practice at Orcas Senior Center.
Classes take place on Fridays at 11:30 a.m. Fisher suggests a $15 donation per class ($12 for OSC members); no one will be turned away due to financial constraints. Participants are encouraged to bring their own mats and, if available, blocks and blankets. For inquiries or supply needs, contact Fisher at 360-600-7372 or samantharichellefisher@gmail.com. All are welcome!
Discover gentle flexibility: A balance class inspired by the Feldenkrais method
Join Andrea Preiss, a seasoned Feldenkrais practitioner and therapeutic eurythmist, for a relaxing movement class at Orcas Senior Center, Tuesdays at 11 a.m. (Beginning again on Feb. 11.)
Emphasizing a seated position, these subtle exercises rooted in the Feldenkrais method and eurythmy aim to improve your mobility, stability, balance and vision. Please wear comfortable attire and non-slip shoes.
Session fees are $15 per class ($12 for OSC members). Preiss, a dedicated physical therapist with almost four decades of experience, obtained certification in Germany in 2002. She has taught in various Seattle locations and established a private practice in 2019.
For inquiries, contact Preiss directly at sound-movement@hotmail.com or 206-383-7705. Explore more about Preiss’ expertise at www.sound-movement.org.
Stacie Nordrum.
