EVANSTON — Due to an active hard-working board of directors and an enthusiastic activities director, seniors can now participate in a variety of activities and events at the Uinta Senior Citizens Center.

Activities Director Debbie Bailey has kept available the regular activities the center always offered and has added many new choices. In addition to activities, the senior center offers breakfast and lunch and delivery of meals to home-bound seniors.

“My dream is to add even more activities in the future, depending on what the budget will allow,” Bailey said. “I would love to bring someone in to teach an art class, have a shuffleboard, darts, movies and bowling. I would also like to be able to offer day trips within the state.”

The senior center’s monthly newsletter, which includes information for both Evanston and Bridger Valley, is compiled by Pam Ward, the center’s director of transportation. Included in the newsletter is a word search, photos of seniors at special gatherings and birthday lunches, medical information, happenings and events, the meal menu for the month, a calendar of activities, the date and time of the board of directors meeting and a list of everyone in Evanston and Bridger Valley who are celebrating a birthday that month.

Bailey added a page to the monthly newsletter, titled “The Activity Buzz.” That page displays little bees going from one listing of an activity to another and highlighting the activities for that month. A special craft time, a book club and the painting of rocks, are all scheduled to start at 12:45 after the noon meal on selected dates.

Local resident Lee Parker volunteers her time and supplies each month to assist the seniors in making a craft. In March, they painted and decorated large plastic Easter eggs. In April, they will make pressed flower bookmarks. Bailey places a sign-up sheet for the craft of the month with the date it will take place, on a table in the cafeteria and at her desk.

Bailey recently started a book club and the seniors who attend the discussions pick the book for the next reading. The month of March they chose “The Thursday Murder Club” by Richard Osman. They meet for the discussion six weeks after everyone has picked up the book from Bailey, who gets them from the Uinta County Library. At least six to 10 seniors attend each time they meet to discuss the book.

Rock painting is scheduled for the third Monday of each month at 12:45 p.m. Bailey provides all of the supplies, and anyone is welcome to join in the fun.

Bailey started a trivia challenge every Tuesday, while people are waiting to get their noon meal. A free lunch ticket is given to each person at the winning table.

Regular games that have continued at the center for years and take place after the noon meal at 12:45 p.m. include: on Tuesdays, bingo is offered; on Wednesdays, seniors gather to play pinochle; during lunch on Thursdays, the Old Maid drawing takes place and the winner receives 80% of the pot while 10% goes to senior activities and 10% stays in the pot for the next round; on Thursdays after lunch, the game of dominoes is available; and on Friday’s, some gather to play bunco. Pool tables, table tennis and an exercise room are available every day. The senior center is open from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

On the first Wednesday of each month, seniors can come from 7 to 10 a.m. for blood draws sponsored by the Wyoming Health Fair.

The second Friday of every month is called Birthday Friday and Silver Eagle Refining sponsors a free lunch. Silver Eagle employees serve the meal to the seniors attending. Those celebrating a birthday in that month have their pictures taken which is placed in the following month’s newsletter.

Special holidays and events are observed with special food and games. During March, the center offered a discount on both lunch and bus tickets and celebrated St. Patrick’s Day by serving corned beef and cabbage and playing a game.

“The Bridger Valley Center is attempting to organize a trip to either Branson, Missouri, or to a Pigeon Forge & Smoky Mountains show trip,” Bailey said. “Whichever trip gets the most interest will be the one they will go on. They need a minimum of 30 people in order to get the group tour and special rate.”

Seniors from both Bridger Valley and Evanston can sign up for the trip, Bailey said. The person to contact for the trip is the activity director in Bridger Valley, Johanna Officer, at 307-782-6502.

All senior citizens, age 60 and up are invited to visit both centers and register for the newsletter, the lunches and breakfasts and participate in the many activities and special events.