Do you struggle with the complex and often convoluted language of tax returns? Do you want to understand how to enhance your tax time experience? Available for seniors over 55 and those with low to moderate income, this service allows participants to maximize the benefits of both income tax returns and property taxes.

AARP Volunteer Tax Preparers assist income tax returns from February to April 15th on Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Additionally, they go over property taxes or renter’s rebates from June through August on the second Monday of each month from 9:00 a.m.- 1:00 p.m., no appointment is needed. Call the Center at (218) 751-8836 for more information.

Held on the fourth Tuesday of each month at 1:00 pm, these meetings are an excellent opportunity to become informed on upcoming events and plans for the Senior Center. Members are encouraged to attend and meetings are open to the public.

Come enjoy BINGO with other members of the community the second and fourth Tuesday of each month at 1 p.m. There is no charge to play, just a fun and exciting time for all who participate! 

Come to the Senior Center to have your blood pressure checked. Blood Pressure Clinics are held twice per month at 11 a.m. in the conference room. See the monthly activity calendar for specific days offered each month. Stop by to make sure your blood pressure stays within a normal range. 

We meet on the first Tuesday of each month at 10:00 am. The current book we are discussing and the current book we are reading to discuss in the next month are listed in our monthly newsletter. We are an open Book Club, and all are welcome to join at any time.

The Bemidji Senior Center has a variety of bus trips for the center. Check out "Upcoming Trips."

Do you enjoy card games such as Canasta and Hand & Foot? A group gets together to play every Friday afternoon at 12:30pm at the Senior Center. Come and join the group, beginners are welcome!

We meet every Monday at 12:30 in the dining room. There are multiple players of different skill levels. Feel free to join us no matter how good or not so good you know how to play. We normally have 3 to 5 groups going at a time. This event collects $1.00 to play each week. It is a donation, and no one is turned away if they don’t have a dollar to play. All are welcome.

The Driver Safety Program works in coordination with the Senior Center and the Minnesota Highway Safety Research Center to offer necessary defensive driving skills for our changing streets. Not only do participants benefit from the added feeling of safety when on the road, many are able to receive a direct discount on their car insurance for participating. When asked how they felt about the class, participants described it as “very useful” and an excellent active learning experience. Participants receive classroom training and resources such as test booklets and instructional videos.

If interested, please contact 1-888-234-1294 to sign up. upcoming driver class schedule

Events Committee

Local seniors meet the 2nd Tuesday of each month at 10:00 am to discuss recent events held at the Senior Center, talk about details of upcoming events, and plan for future events. If you would like to contribute your thoughts on the activities that are put on by the Center, come join us at a meeting.

Do you have a creative side? If so, come join some amazing people for card making on Mondays at 9:30 a.m. We meet in the conference room on the main floor next to the dining room. This is a time to socialize, share a treat, and create beautiful handmade cards. Donations of used cards and some crafting supplies donated by the Senior Center are all you need to make a heartfelt card. The cards are sold for $1.00 at the Senior Center! All this goes back into the Senior Center to help fund all the other great activities that are offered.

Line Dancing meets Wednesday mornings at 10:00-10:45 for beginners and 10:45 - 11:30 for the Intermediate level in the dining room. This is a fast-paced activity. All skill levels are welcome. No one is judging, this class is for fun. Come listen to the music and get hooked on line dancing! We have several great teachers who are all getting better at line dancing each week.

Mahjong

Have you ever wanted to learn how to play Mahjong or are you looking for a group to play with? Every Monday at 12:30 pm, friends gather together to play this fun tile-based puzzle game. The objective of the game is to collect tiles to form a Mahjong hand. Players take turns picking one tile from the wall and discarding one tile. When a player picks up a tile that gives a valid Mahjong hand, the player wins. Not only is the game fun, but research studies have shown that playing Mahjong has a positive impact on memory!

The group has several Mahjong sets and extra cards, so you don’t need to bring anything to start out. However, if you are interested in playing regularly with the group, you will need to purchase your own card.

You can also enjoy putting together a puzzle or just drink coffee and visit with other seniors in the community.

If you enjoy listening to LIVE music, come to the Senior Center at 1:00 p.m. every Thursday (except for the 2nd Thursday of the month which is at 1:30 p.m.) local musicians come to play. Join us to listen, dance, or play, cost is $1.00. Coffee and treats are provided.

Served Monday through Friday, the lunch service features homemade meals that include a main dish with sides, dessert, coffee and milk. The service is provided by Nutrition Services Incorporated and is paid for with a suggested donation of $6 for those over 60 and fee of $10.00 for those under 60. 

Enjoy Hildur Lamon’s famous made-from-scratch (best in Bemidji) pancakes at the pancake breakfast on the 2nd Saturday of the month from 8-10:30 a.m. Enjoy your meal while you socialize with other community members. The cost of $7.00 for adults and $3.50 for kids 12 and under includes a meal of sausage, pancakes, and milk. Proceeds go to the Senior Center. This is also a great volunteer opportunity. If interested in volunteering, the Center at (218)751-8836.

Every month, PediCured nurses come to the Senior Center to provide low cost toe nail care to those in need. PediCured charges $25 for their service and appointments can be made by calling 218-760-1423. See monthly activity calendar for days Pedicured will be at the Senior Center.

Pinochle meets Thursdays at 12:30 pm downstairs during the live music jam upstairs. All are welcome to join us for this game. Group size varies week to week depending on everyone’s schedule.

We meet 10:00-12:00 on Mondays in the downstairs where our pool table is located. We have cues, balls, racks and everything ready. Join us if you enjoy playing pool. We are a fairly new group and are willing to grow or change as the group desires.

Do you need to get someone a gift, but can’t think of what to get them? Come visit our gift shop! Members of the Senior Center use the gift shop to sell amazing quilts, cards, baby clothes, wood carvings, pillows, puzzles, and much, much more for outstanding prices! The money that comes from it goes right back to those who made it and the Senior Center. If you would like to volunteer to work in the gift shop, contact the Senior Center at (218) 751-8836.

Silver Stretchers is a exercise group here at the Senior Center in Bemidji. At 11 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays the group exercises for about an hour. The program uses weights and balls to maintain flexibility and range of motion. This is a great way for anyone to stay active. This group takes place in the dining room.

We meet every Monday at 12:30 in the conference room. We have a BSU student who volunteers an hour of his time to help us each week. He answers questions about phones, iPads, printers, computers, cameras and any other device you may be having a problem with.

Are you interested in decorative wood carving? Come join the Bemidji Woodcarvers Club at the Center on Wednesdays at 9 a.m. in the basement activity area. This is a great group for all skill levels of woodcarving and is a great time for everyone involved. If you have your own tools, please bring them.