Classes, activities available for young and old

DOWNEY - A variety of classes and activities are planned this spring at the Barbara J. Riley Community & Senior Center.Seniors are invited to socialize as they enjoy their favorite trivia games, board games, cards and puzzles every Thursday from 1-4 p.m. Wednesday Walkers has begun for residents over age 50 who are interested in joining a walking club. New walkers should arrive at 8:30 a.m., and walking/stretching begins at 9. Free promotional pedometers will be provided to all walkers. Sign-ups continue for the free California Telephone Access Program (CTAP) screening and distribution scheduled for April 10. Physicians from Presbyterian Intercommunity Hospital will provide screenings and residents who qualify will receive a free telephone. An eligible person must have existing phone line service and be visually and hearing impaired. The Make-It & Take-It craft class for seniors begins April 2 from 1-3 p.m. Cost is $20 for the 4-week session. All supplies and materials are provided. Pilates is a form of exercise to help improve your body strength, flexibility and endurance. The next 5-week class begins April 6 at 10 a.m. or April 9 at 10:30 a.m. The fee is $35 for seniors over age 50, or $40 for residents 18-49. The city of Downey's licensed child care program will offer day care during spring break, April 13-17. Children ages 5-11 will receive care from 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Cost is $105 per child, per week, and includes daily snack and a mid-week excursion to John's Incredible Pizza. CareMore will offer a free glucose screening to residents over 50 on April 3 from 9-11 a.m. Rhythm, Rhyme and Fun, a 5-week class for children 2-4, begins April 4 at noon. Children will have fun clapping, singing and moving. Cost is $28 per child. The 3-week Fun-N-Messy class for children 2-4 begins April 2 at 4 p.m. or April 4 at 1 p.m. Cost is $15 per child. A 12-week adult jazz dance class begins April 9 at 7:15 p.m. or April 10 at 1 p.m. Cost is $72 per person and is open to beginner and intermediate levels. A chess class for kids ages 6-11 begins April 15 at 3:30 p.m. Cost for the 6-week class is $40. A workshop on April 21 from 6-9 p.m. will show students how to build their own topiary design. Cost is $35 plus a $15 materials fee payable to the instructor. Tai Chi 1 (Chi Gong) for adults begins April 22 at 10 a.m. for adults. The 6-week class costs $35. Tai Chi 2 is the same price and begins April 22 at 11 a.m. An authentic Indian cooking workshop will be held April 23 from 6-8 p.m. Learn to cook with spices, oils and about the main staples of Indian cooking. Cost for adults is $15 plus a $5 material fee payable to the instructor. Learn about Downey's neighborhood watch program on April 27 from 9-10 a.m. Learn how to make your neighborhood a safer place and meet a Downey police officer to ask questions and/or express concerns. For additional information regarding any of the programs, or to learn about other programs and classes, call the community center at (562) 904-7227. The Barbara J. Riley Community & Senior Center is at 7810 Quill Dr.

********** Published: April 3, 2009 - Volume 7 - Issue 50