Published: April 15, 2007 12:07 am            

Let’s keep walking, Mississippi

With all the activities happening in Meridian this time of year it’s easy to overlook the Meridian Activity Center. We’ve thought of having a scavenger hunt to lead people to our door, but fortunately word is getting out about our classes, so we’ve not had to initiate those kind of tactics. Every eight weeks we hold classes in watercolor, oil painting, drawing, paper mache, tole painting, one stroke, colored pencil drawing techniques, sewing, quilting, smocking, stained glass, yoga, strength training, floor exercise computer, tatting and hardunger, crochet and knitting, and line dance. Besides offering classes every eight weeks we have several other activities you don’t even need to register for: Vietnamese bamboo pole exercise, seated exercise class, duplicate bridge lessons, pool, snooker, literary group meetings, walking — and many Saturday workshops.

Advertising pays off! The Blue Cross/Blue Shield walking program advertised by our Governor, who has admitted he could loose a few pounds, caught our attention. So, Meridian Activity Center began a walking program in March. On Tuesday and Thursday mornings beginning at 8 a.m. we walk around the parking lot twice to allow late comers to join in and then out the gate and around the neighborhood. We’ve had no dog bites thus far and although we do break into a faster and slower group we’ve managed to keep up the mile, sometimes more, route. We’ve registered with the state office of Blue Cross and received free pedometers for our efforts. The idea is to get comfortable with a 20-minute mile and then walk on your own the rest of the week. (Or start your own neighborhood group.)

Tell me more about this Vietnamese bamboo pole exercise class you say? Anything with the word bamboo‚ in it has to be good, right? Well, not when it applies to caning — which is still a workshop we’d love to offer by the way, if I get enough people.

Tillie Maddox will teach us how to use cane on the bottoms of our old chairs. “Caning” as some people know is what happens if you are a tourist in Singapore and throw your gum on the sidewalk. Lowell Hummer, a retired art teacher who has been traveling in Europe, learned of this particular bamboo pole exercise in a monastery in France. We love good stories at the Activity Center — and she has one to tell. Another name for this exercise is “Longevity Stick” because the royal physicians felt it increased flexibility, balance and longevity. (When a member of the royal family died, the physician died with him, so it was in his best interest to keep them alive as long as possible.) Lowell is teaching this class until May when she returns to France with a group of teens from her church. Monday, Wednesday and Fridays at 10 a.m.

Speaking of stories, Sara Mutziger who was a children’s librarian at our local library, wants to teach adults how to tell stories. If you ever get an opportunity to go to a storytelling conference, don’t let it slip by. One of the best vacations I ever had with my sister was to Arizona with a couple other friends to a conference in the hills above Phoenix. There must’ve been 30 storytellers at campfires all over the mountain; if you wanted to hear about Pecos Pete or Paul Bunyan you went to this fire, children’s stories, to that one, etc. Telling stories and keeping a child’s (or an adult’s) attention is something that can be learned. If you are interested, call.

We are talking about some cooking workshops in the summer with Timothy Quick who cooks at the Church of the Mediator and News Restaurant. He has also worked at D.T. Grinders, Weidmanns and Cafe Latte. He is a versatile instructor who also teaches sociology and history at Meridian Community College. Call if you are interested in joining in.

Saturday, April 28, beginning at 9 a.m. Linda Martin returns to show us how to apply ‘rouging’ to a porcelain plate. There is a $25 fee for this all day workshop; she supplies all materials. Please call to preregister.

Don’t forget the East Mississippi Master Gardener Plant Sale on April 28 beginning at 7 a.m. in the morning. You know about the early bird, right? The sale is always held under the 18th Avenue overpass on Front Street.

The Meridian Activity Center is located in the heart of Meridian, at 3300 32nd Ave. The best approach is from 29th Avenue. Turn west at 36th Street, drive two blocks and turn left at 32nd Avenue. We are at the end of that street. If interested in any of the workshops, classes, or for more information call (601) 485-1812.



Barbara Wells is director of the Meridian Activity Center

        

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