The North Mecklenburg Senior Center, 16601 Old Statesville Road in Huntersville, has scheduled a variety of activities in April, from computer classes and Wii bowling to lectures and tai chi and yoga classes. Read on for details.

Hours at the center are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays. Activities are open to all over 55 in the community. Call 704-875-1270 for more information.

Here are program notes from center director Joanne Ahern:

• Our Wii Bowling Tournament is in its third week. The tournament concludes on the same day as our Monthly Luncheon on April 20th, so come and cheer on your favorite player then enjoy lunch with all your friends. We’ll have some press coverage, and present our winners with their prizes. And some people have even asked about starting a Wii Bowling League. I think that is a super idea, going around to area senior places and competing with their bowling leagues. We could get t-shirts and make a name for the North Meck Senior Center Bowling Team!!
• Our computer classes continue with more “Intro” classes and maybe even some Facebook instruction.
• Our FREE Ask the Expert series has been going well. We have had our Computer Expert on hand on specific days (see the daily schedule below) and he has been able to help quite a few people with their computer questions. Remember to keep your questions to the ½ hour time slot allotted to you so that others can get answers as well. An extended Ask the Expert Series will start in May and will include Financial Experts, Nutrition Experts and Veterinary Experts and any other experts you would like to hear from.
• Our Spice Lectures include John Currie from Griffin Brothers and Lester Pool of Lowe’s Home and Garden store. You won’t want to miss these topics.
• Movie days, greeting card classes, and flower classes have been well attended so if you want to be included in them, register early and don’t forget to pre-pay to hold your spot.
• Our Tai Chi and Gentle Yoga classes are continuing. We need to maintain minimum numbers in these classes, so if you’re interested, be sure to sign up right away.
• All our usual daily activities are going on in addition to all these new programs mentioned above, so don’t be a stranger. Hope to see you at the center where there is always someone to greet you with a smile, answer your questions, and always something going on.
• The center will be closed for Good Friday, April 6.

PROGRAM SCHEDULE

First Monday of the Month Birthday Bash – 10:30am–Entertainment; 11:30am – Birthday Bash Pot Luck Lunch. Everyone invited. Bring a dish to share for the pot-luck luncheon. Those with the birthday of the month will be honored. Free to all. Monday, April 2, 2012. Please pre-register 704-875-1270

Knit/Crochet Club. We’ve had some donations of yarn lately. The club is really growing and more and more people are coming who have never knitted or crocheted before. Everyone is so friendly and helps all the newbies as well as sharing patterns with everyone. We continue to make prayer shawls, lap robes and baby hats to be donated to local charities. All levels of experience welcome. Instruction available. Please bring your own needles and materials if you have them. Come and enjoy others who love this craft. FREE Mondays at 1:00pm

Spice Lectures (Senior Programs of Interest and Continuing Education). Always free and open to the community. Snacks and Beverages available for a time of socialization after the lecture. Please pre-register at 704-875-1270 for all lectures/Walk-ins always welcome

• Lecture #1 – John Currie of Griffin Brothers, Friday, April 13, 2012, 10:30 – 11:45am.  – John will speak on how to keep your car in good shape, how to know just what is what under the hood and whether you really do need new parts.
• Lecture #2 – Lester Pool of Lowe’s Home and Garden Store, Friday, April 27, 2012, 10:30am – 11:30am. Always a favorite, come and learn the latest in plants, what flowers are new for this year, and how do I keep those aphids off my roses!!

Out to Lunch Bunch – Monday, April 16, 2012 – 12:30pm. Please call 704-875-1270 for information. Movie and Popcorn Free to all, 1:00pm, 2nd and 4th Thursday Afternoons, Thursday, April 12 and Thursday, April 26.

Open Games Day Free to all, April 7, 2012 – 9:00AM – 12:00PM Come join us for Cribbage, Scrabble, Chess, Checkers, cards and more. Bring a friend, bring lots of friends. And if you have a favorite game, bring it as well. The following programs have a fee, one for discount card holders, and the other for those who do not have an annual discount card. Remember, however, that you don’t need a discount card to come and enjoy our programs.

Easy Does It Strength Training Class – Keep your bones and your muscles strong using hand weights and exercise tubes. Improve your flexibility, blood pressure, range of motion, bone density, and posture. This class is on-going. Newcomers welcome. PLEASE NOTE NEW TIME FOR THIS CLASS Time: 9:00am – 10:00am Mondays and Wednesdays. Fees: $32.00 /month. $16.00/month with discount card

Gentle Yoga – Tuesday 10:15 – 11:10am – Fees: $32.00/month. $16.00/month for annual discount card holders. Appropriate for 55+ students, both experienced and beginners are welcome.  Those who prefer to use a chair are welcome as well. We will work on stress relief, balance, ROM and breath.    Please bring a yoga mat and a large bath or beach towel or small blanket to each class and an eye bag if you have one.

Tai Chi –  Tuesdays at 9 am at the Hut at Mt. Zion UMC, Cornelius Join Tai Chi Instructor Mike Gentile as he leads Arthritis Foundation Tai Chi, recommended for all older adults. Benefits include increased balance, coordination, and strength, all of which greatly benefit older adults. Fees: $30.00/month. $25.00/month with discount car. Also, Wednesdays at 1:30pm here at the North Meck Senior Center. Also led by Mike Gentile. Fees: $30.00/month. $25.00/month with discount card. These are two different classes and must be paid for separately.

Line Dance Class – This class is for persons of all abilities who want to enjoy a good time of dancing for exercise and fun. Fees: $20.00/month. $10.00/month with discount card. Thursdays at 9:30am

Bingo – Two cards is the limit and we ask that you donate $2.00 per person to help with purchasing prizes, which you will get every time you win. Tuesdays at 1:00pm

Hand and Foot Card Game Wednesdays at 10:00am – This card game, based on Canasta, is easy to learn and very addictive. Fees: $2.00/day. Free with discount card

Pinochle – Thursdays – 11:00am – Fees: $2.00/day. Free with discount card

Mexican Train – First and third Thursdays every month. 10:00am – Bring your lunch. Fees: $2.00/day. Free with discount card

Bid Whist – Tuesdays and Thursdays 12:30pm. Fees: $2.00/day. Free with discount card

Greeting Cards and Paper Folding Techniques Class with Beverly Terry – Make your own greeting cards using a variety of paper folding techniques under the expert tutelage of instructor, Beverly Terry. Beverly has been teaching for many years and is the owner of her own shop in Cornelius called Terryfic Times. Thursday April 26 at 10:30am – 12:30pm. $10.00 per person and all materials are included to make 4 different projects. Please pre-pay and pre-register. (704-875-1270)

Monthly Luncheon – Friday, April 20. Enjoy a healthy lunch and gather with special friends. Pre-register 704-875-1270. Fees: Lunch this month is FREE!!!!  Caterer and Sponsor: The chef from The Laurels and the Haven will be our caterer this month. Representatives from The Laurels and The Haven will be our speakers and inform us about their wonderful location and what services are provided there.

Flower Arranging – Thursday April 12, 11:00am – 1:00pm, $20.00. Bring a wreathe (no bigger than 12 – 14 inches) either brand new, or an old one that needs resurrecting, and glue gun and glue sticks. Our instructor will provide the expertise and the silk materials to make your wreathe beautiful for your spring-time enjoyment. Date: Thursday, April 12, 2012 Time: 11:00am – 1:00pm Please call to PRE-REGISTER and PRE-PAYMENT IS A MUST. 704-875-1270

Lunch at Tenders Fresh Food every third Wednesday of each month from 11:00am –4:00pm. This month it is Wednesday, April 18, 2012. A percentage of all the proceeds for that day are donated to our center. Invite your friends and neighbors to help with this great cause.

Wii Bowling Tournament – Fun prizes for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners. Tournament finishes up on Friday April 20th from 9:00 – 10:30am. Come join the fun and cheer on your favorite player as they vie for the championship on the last day of the tournament on April 20. We’ll celebrate the winner at our Monthly Luncheon on Friday April 20th.

Computer Classes – Call for a list of classes, and to pre-register and pre-pay, at 704-875-1270.  Fees for all classes $20.00/$10.00 for annual discount card holders.  Intro. To the Personal Computer (PC )Monday April 2 – 10:00am – 11:30am

Ask the comptuer expert- Do you have a question for our computer instructor Bruce Terrill that can be answered in a short period of time? Need some individual attention?  Bruce will be available on Mondays 11:30 – 12:30. Please call for a ½ hour FREE appointment. 704-875-1270

6th Annual Senior Fun and Fitness Day – Come join the fun at Jetton Park on Tuesday, April 17, 10:00am – 2:00pm, Jetton Park on Jetton Road in Cornelius. $3.00 pre-registration fee/$5.00 day of event. Call 704-875-1270 to pre-register. All Food donated by Shads Landing.  Organized by Cornelius, Huntersville, Davidson, Mecklenburg County Parks and Recreation Departments along with the North Mecklenburg Senior Center. Join us for a day of fun and fitness at Jetton Park walking the 1.4 mile walking trail and participating in fitness games and activities along the way.