DICK EARDLEY SENIOR CENTER NEWSLETTER MARCH WHAT S THE TRUE HISTORY BEHIND ST. PATRICK S DAY? Originally published by Time.com on March 16, 2016

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1 DICK EARDLEY SENIOR CENTER NEWSLETTER MARCH 2018 WHAT S THE TRUE HISTORY BEHIND ST. PATRICK S DAY? Originally published by Time.com on March 16, 2016 The modern St. Patrick s Day celebrations that will take place this month, at least in the United States, will likely be characterized by commercial lucky charms and green beer all of which has very little to do with the historical figure of the saint. As it turns out, it took centuries for the holiday to accrue the elements that now seem crucial to its celebrations. The March 17 celebration started in 1631 when the Church established a Feast Day honoring St. Patrick. He had been Patron Saint of Ireland who had died around the fifth century a whopping 12 centuries before the modern version of the holiday was first observed. But very little is known about who he actually was, according to Marion Casey, a clinical assistant professor of Irish Studies at New York University (and a regular marcher in the St. Patrick s Day Parade in Manhattan). We know that he was a Roman citizen, because Britain was Roman then, and then he was enslaved and taken to Ireland, where he either escaped or was released, Casey says. And then he became a priest and went back to Ireland, where he had a lot of luck converting the Druid culture into Christians. Legend says St. Patrick was actually born Maewyn Succat, but that he changed his name to Patricius (or Patrick), which derives from the Latin term for father figure, after he became a priest. And that supposed luck of his is the root of all the themed merchandise for modern St. Patrick s Day. St. Patrick s Day continues on Page 2 ANNOUNCEMENTS The Idaho Senior Games, now in its 29th year, will be held in August. The Dick Eardley Senior Center will be offering information sessions in May. Be sure to watch for details in the April newsletter. We re looking for Pen Pals! If you would like to write to a grade school student (notes of encouragement, way to go, thinking of you), please contact Jill at AARP free tax assistance is being offered every Tuesday and Thursday through April 12. Ada County Assessor s Office offers help with Circuit Breaker on Tuesdays through April 10. Both are first-come, first-served services. Doors open at 8 a.m. POWERFUL TOOLS FOR CAREGIVERS WORKSHOP BEGINS IN APRIL A six-part workshop series designed to help family caregivers find balance while caring for a loved one begins April 4 in Boise. The series, Powerful Tools for Caregivers, is offered by Legacy Corps and will help participants learn to: Manage stress Make tough decisions Navigate family dynamics Connect with resources The series is on Wednesdays, 1-3:30 p.m., from April 4 through May 9. A second series is available from June 6-July 18, 3-5:30 p.m. Registration is $65. Scholarships are available. For more information or to register, call

2 VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT Karen Otto likes that her volunteer position in the thrift store gives her an opportunity to meet new people and to build relationships with the ones she s met since she started volunteering at the Senior Center about 5 years ago. I like the people, and I enjoy feeling like I make some kind of contribution, she said. She started out as a warehouse volunteer, but a broken arm required tasks that were more light-duty, so she switched over to the thrift store and took on a weekly shift, which she has had ever since. Karen has a background in accounting and worked for a total of 15 years at Boise State University s accounting office, so running the cash register in the store is something she takes to easily. While she s good with numbers, her passion really lies in traveling the world and exploring new places. The first of her two daughters was born in Saudi Arabia, where her first husband worked for an oil company. Most of the women she encountered there wore veils. Western women were not required to cover their faces but it was frowned upon if they didn t, so many of them did. Eventually, she and her family moved onto an American compound. There, she was able to buy the groceries she needed, but all other necessities required a trip into town where she experienced much of the area s culture and social norms. The family s return to the United States took more than two weeks of travel by truck through numerous countries, including Jordan, Syria, Turkey, Greece, Germany, and Holland. From Holland, they shipped their vehicle by boat to New Jersey and took a plane back to the United States. Karen has also spent a summer traveling China and Mongolia, and said her favorite destinations are in South and Central America. Karen welcomed her second daughter into the world in the U.S. with her husband Bruce, with whom she will celebrate 35 years of marriage this year. She now has one daughter on the east side of the country and one on the west. She enjoys visits with her three grandchildren when she gets the opportunity, but it s not as often as I would like, she said. Karen enjoys spending her free time reading and playing Mahjong with a local group. Thanks for all you do here, Karen! We appreciate the time you spend helping out at the Senior Center. ST. PATRICK S DAY continued from Page 1 It wasn t until the early 18th century that many of today s traditions were kicked into high gear. Since the holiday falls during Lent, it provides Christians a day off from the prescriptions of abstinence leading up to Easter, and around the 1720s, the church found it got kind of out of control, Casey says. It was to remind celebrants what the holiday actually stood for that the church first associated a botanical item customary for all saints with St. Patrick, assigning him the symbol of the likewise lucky shamrock. Modern-day celebrations and themes continued to take shape during the rest of the 1700s. In 1762, the first New York City parade took place. It wasn t until 1798, the year of the Irish Rebellion, that the color green became officially associated with the day, Casey says. Up until the rebellion, the color associated with St. Patrick was blue, as it was featured both in the royal court and on ancient Irish flags. But as the British wore red, the Irish chose to wear green, and they sang the song The Wearing of the Green during the rebellion, cementing the color s relevance in Irish history. As for the green beer, that s an even later addition. In fact, it wasn t until the late 20th century that Ireland repealed a law that initially kept everything pubs included shut down for the day. Since then, thanks to a marketing push from Budweiser in the 1980s, downing beer has become a common way to celebrate, regardless of how closely it s tied to the actual meaning of St. Patrick himself. ST. PATRICK S DAY BY THE NUMBERS Information from History.com 250: Times the New York City St. Patrick s Day Parade has taken place since : Pounds of green dye needed to turn the Chicago River green for the day. 450: Churches named for St. Patrick in the U.S. 650,000: Babies given the name Patrick over the last 100 years in the U.S. 39: Percent of the U.S. population who say they celebrate St. Patrick s Day. 83: Percent who wear green on St. Patrick s Day. 8 million: St. Patrick s Day greeting cards exchanged by Americans each year. SPECIAL ACTIVITIES THIS MONTH March 7, Wednesday, 1-2 p.m. Communicating Through Alzheimer s and Dementia. Learn about the many types of dementia, as well as the chemical and structural changes that occur in each. Presented by Brittany Foster of Senior Helpers. Free. March 12, Monday, 12 p.m. Lunch & Learn: Introduction to Dream Interpretation. Sharing your dreams with a safe, supportive community of dreamers fosters a sense of empathy, deepens self-discovery and stimulates profound discussions that can enhance creativity in one s work and play. Hosted by the Senior Learning Network. Free. March 14, Wednesday, 1 p.m. Healthy Living & Wiser Nutrition. We re celebrating National Nutrition Month with Natural Grocers Nutritional Health Coach Aleksey Korenkov who will talk about senior nutrition and important nutrients; brain, heart, oral, and digestive health; and maintaining muscle mass. Healthy snacks will be served! Free. March 15, Thursday, 10 a.m. Beer & Hops: An Introduction to Beer s Most Important Flavoring Component. Presented by Eric Johnson, general manager for Idaho Wine Merchants, who spent time learning the process from brewmasters in Belgium. (Not a tasting.) Cost $1. March 19, Monday, 10 a.m. Buffalo Soldiers. Explore the legend and reality of service among the Buffalo Soldiers. Formed at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas in 1866, the 10th Cavalry was the first of four regiments for African- American and non-white soldiers in the regular Army. Senior Learning Network program. Free. March. 23, Friday, 7-9 p.m. Kings of Swing Trio Dance. Tickets are available in advance in person or by phone at , and at the door. Refreshments included in ticket price. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $8 per person, $15 per couple. March 26, Monday, 12 p.m. Lunch & Learn: The Homestead Act of In this virtual lesson, a park ranger will talk about how the Act populated the west and the needs of those settling. Discussion includes how the U.S. acquired the land given away and the specific requirements to claim one s free land. Free. March 29, Thursday, 10 a.m. Greenbelt in Focus. Photographer and Boise Greenbelt Patrol volunteer Daniel Gonzalez will share photographs he has taken along Boise s beloved path over the years. Enjoy a variety of wildlife, scenic and portrait shots, and hear the stories that go along with them. Bring your questions about Greenbelt etiquette and rules of the road. Cost $1. PINOCHLE QUARTERLY TOP SCORES July-Sept 2017: Bill Allen - 7,450 Oct-Dec 2017: Jeannie Garrett - 7,400 Pinochle: Meets every Friday from 10:20 a.m. to 2 p.m., with a break for lunch (most players sit together in the dining room). Geared toward experienced level of play. Intro to Pinochle: Meets every Friday from 2-4 p.m. Geared toward all levels of play and is more relaxed and less competitive than the morning Pinochle. BOISE MUSIC WEEK CELEBRATING CENTENNIAL SEASON THIS YEAR Boise Music Week is celebrating its 100th consecutive season this year. Free tickets for the main production will be available in April. This year s main production is Meredith Willson s The Music Man. Free tickets are for matinées on both Saturday and Sunday, May 19 and 20, beginning at 2 p.m. Be sure to check the April newsletter for details. MARCH FOR MEALS ON MARCH 17 The annual March for Meals a fundraiser benefiting Metro Meals on Wheels is set for Saturday, March 17, at Kleiner Park in Meridian. Sign-ins start at 10 a.m., and the 1/3-mile march will depart the bandshell at 10:30 a.m. Refreshments and entertainment will be provided. March 17 is St. Patrick s Day, so everyone is encouraged to wear green. Judges will be looking for the best Irish costume (adult, child, and team categories). There is no entry fee. Food Services of America will donate $5 to Metro Meals on Wheels for every marcher. March for Meals is also a month-long observance to spotlight senior hunger and food insecurity and how Meals on Wheels solves the problem by providing hot, nutritious food daily to seniors. WE VE ADDED OPEN-PLAY DOMINOES Bring a friend or come alone to openplay dominoes, held in the library every Friday from 2:30-4 p.m. No experience needed; we ll provide instructions for basic games, or more experienced players can lead. Cost for this drop-in activity is $1 per visit. 2 Dick Eardley Senior Center Newsletter March 2018 Dick Eardley Senior Center Newsletter March

3 MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY :30-10:30 am Gentle Yoga* am Legal Counsel Dick Eardley Senior Center 690 Robbins Road Boise, ID Hours: Monday-Friday 8 a.m. 5 p.m. Salisbury Steak, Gravy MARCH 2018 Ham & Pineapple :30-10:30 am Gentle Yoga* pm Lunch & Learn: Dream Interpretation Chicken Stroganoff over Noodles 11 am-12 pm Your Housing Questions Answered French Toast, Eggs, Sausage am Buffalo Soldiers Scalloped Potatoes w/ Ham 10 am Legal Counsel Chicken Parmesan Chicken & Dumplings 1 p.m. Communicating Through Alzheimer s and Dementia Hamburger Sliders 1-1:45 pm Healthy Living & Wiser Nutrition 2 pm Legal Counsel 9:30-10:30 am Gentle Yoga* Pork Roast, Sauerkraut pm Lunch & Learn: The Homestead Act of 1862 Malibu Chicken BBQ Meatballs over Rice * These programs require monthly registration. For more information, call AARP tax help is offered Tuesdays and Thursdays. Circuit Breaker help is offered on Tuesdays. Billiards room open daily, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. 9:30-10:30 am Gentle Yoga* Liver & Onions or Chicken Fried Steak 2 pm Legal Counsel 10-11:30 am Chat-n-Chew Sweet & Sour Chicken over Rice 10-11:30 a.m. Chat-n-Chew Philly Steak Sandwich 10-11:30 am Chat-n-Chew: Beer & Hops Corned Beef & Cabbage 10-11:30 a.m. Chat-n-Chew Tater Tot Casserole 10-11:30 a.m. Chat-n-Chew: Greenbelt in Focus Polish Sausage w/ Sauerkraut 11:45 am Senior Goldmine Crunchy Tuna Casserole 9 am-12 pm Foot Clinic by Stonebridge 11:30 am Birthday Friday! Irish Bean & Cabbage Stew - NEW! Breaded Fish w/ Tartar Sauce Vegetable Penne Pasta 7-9 pm Kings of Swing Trio Dance Cheesy Cod 4 Dick Eardley Senior Center Newsletter March 2018 Dick Eardley Senior Center Newsletter March

4 EATING FOR HEART HEALTH Photo by creative-culinary.com French Silk Pie A family favorite of Mary Lou Hay for over 40 years Ingredients: 2 squares of baker s bittersweet chocolate 2/3 cup sugar 1/4 lb butter 2 eggs 1 tsp vanilla Cool Whip or fresh whipped cream Shredded coconut Graham cracker crust Directions: Melt chocolate in a double boiler. Let cool. Cream butter and sugar until fluffy. Add cooled chocolate and vanilla. Mix well. Add eggs one at a time, beating with an electric mixer for 5 minutes after each. Pour into a pre-made or homemade graham cracker crust. Top with whipped topping, and sprinkle with shredded coconut if desired. Refrigerate at least 6 hours. We celebrated Valentine s Day with Dietitian Molly Tevis from Albertsons in Eagle, who taught us how to make healthy snacks and beverages using easy-to-find ingredients that promote heart health. Participants enjoyed sampling Quinoa Power Salad, Peanut Butter & Chocolate Performance Balls, and Sunrise Juice Blend. Delicious! Don t count your calories with this dessert, Mary Lou said. Share your recipe with us! If you would like to share a favorite family recipe, bring it to the Senior Center, or mail it to Attn: Erika Harmon, Dick Eardley Senior Center, 690 Robbins Rd., Boise, ID You can also it to eharmon@ cityofboise.org. 6 Many thanks to our monthly crossword puzzle sponsor! Serving the Treasure Valley since 1911, the staff of Summers Funeral Home has a long-lasting commitment to serve with understanding & compassion while providing a variety of funeral and cremation services. Summers also offers Pre Planning services to give you and your family peace of mind for the future. For more information please contact: Ken McCarthy at or Ken.summersfh@gmail.com Dick Eardley Senior Center Newsletter March 2018 Left: the Senior Learning Network was live with Ella Torrey, personal assistant to Eleanor Roosevelt. Ella, now in her 90s, talked about her experiences working alongside the First Lady. Above: The Capital City Mulligan Band performed after lunch on a Friday and drew rave reviews. We promise we ll bring them back for another performance! For more information about Senior Center programs, call Dick Eardley Senior Center Newsletter March

5 Dick Eardley Senior Center 690 Robbins Road Boise, ID Phone: Hours: Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Website: seniorcenter.cityofboise.org DID YOU KNOW? Photo by collegeofidaho.edu We offer excursions designed just for seniors age 62+, and we would love to help you get signed up. Some upcoming trips include: March 6: Basque Museum, Boise. Tour the Basque Museum & Cultural Center with us. It s a wonderful opportunity to learn about a culture that is deeply ingrained in the Treasure Valley. Depart from Whitney Community Center at 12:10 p.m., or the Senior Center at 12:30 p.m. $12/$18.05 April 10: Orma J. Smith Museum of Natural History, College of Idaho, Caldwell. Presentation is by the museum curator, who is also an archaeologist and Egyptologist. Explore the museum s wonders and learn about entomology, fossils, mammals, and archaeology. Depart from the Senior Center at 12 p.m., or from Whitney Community Center at 12:30 p.m. $15/$22.70 For more information or to sign up, call us at BIRTHDAY CORNER Thank you to those who celebrated February birthdays with us! Dale Entrikin Judi Schroeder Andy Asp Carole Oremus Bill Allen Gary DeSalvo Celebrate your special day with us on the second Friday of every month, beginning at 11:30 a.m. A huge thank you to Edwards Greenhouse for providing lovely flowers for our monthly birthday celebrations!