On Thursday, Aug. 30 I went down to Village View Lodge here in Plumas to check out the Plumas Senior Exercise program. Liz Lychak leades the participants in upper and lower body strengthening. The program started up at the beginning of January of 2012 with the assistance of a grant for supplies and a course for the leader was held in Portage La Prairie prior to January classes starting up. The class started off with upper body warm ups, like wrist turns, neck rotations and leg lifts. I did join in and boy could I feel it, especially in my left leg. I watched the expressions of the participants and all were having a good time. One was giggling, another had a smile of pure joy which was just irresistible not to watch. One participant could lift her legs without the assistance of using her hands like everyone else, including me! Getting into the exercises, the participants were always reminded to drink water and do deep breathing. Hand weights, soft balls to use to squeeze knees together, marching and arm stretches were just a few of the exercises incorporated into the program. The participants also danced around a large table for a few minutes, which was just amazing to watch, as these people are anywhere from 70 to 90-something. I know that I personally wish I could dance like some of these seniors do, just beautiful to watch. I asked a few people to tell me what they think of the exercises: "They are good", "I have been sleeping better since starting the program", " I can get in and out of the vehicle much better than before" were just some of the responses. The participants meet twice a week, Tuesday and Thursday afternoons at 2 p.m. for about one hour. During the summer they met just on Thursdays. Each participant is reminded to incorporate about 150 minutes of exercises on their own during the week. Most do this while watching television, just by lifting their legs, rotating their arms and so on. I think this is a wonderful program for our seniors. It helps them get out and socialize while improving their mobility and muscle strengthening. This program is open to all seniors, not just the ones living at Village View Lodge.  By the way, Liz leads this program on her own time. She does not get paid for this and she is a senior herself. This program allows her to give back to the community, which is predominately senior to begin with. And just to think Liz and her husband moved here from Edmonton only four years ago. Way to go, Liz!! Misty Luxmoore's Aunt Crystal and husband, George, visited from Orillia, Ont. for a few days towards the end of August. They had a great visit and toured around the area a bit. Phyllis and Jim Parsons had her grandson, Gavin McCurry, visit the week before the 15th of August.  While here Gavin celebrated his seventh birthday. Phyllis then left for Victoria on the 15th of August to stay with her daughter and son-in-law, Darlene and Calvin. She went down to attend the wedding of her granddaughter, Brandy. The wedding ceremony was held at a winery in Mill Bay and the reception was held at Hollings Family farm at Shawmyan Lake. Phyllis also visited her son Jamie and his family at Sidney. Jamie is currently on duty on the HMCS Regina somewhere in the Arabian Gulf. Phyllis came home on Sept. 5. Shannon Campbell and girls were up from Archerwill, Sask, to visit with Grandma and Grandpa Reiner and JoAnne Oswald. It was a great visit. Pastor Mark Smith had his father up for a visit from Monroe, Michigan for a week. The Pastor's mother, Dixie, was out a few weeks back helping with VBS. The After School Program will be starting up on Sept. 19. If you plan on sending anything in the way of treats to share, please make sure it is nut free as there is a child who has a serious allergy to peanuts.