By Drew Johnson
As we head into 2025 (by the time you read this, 2025 will already be 1/12 of the way over!) I wanted to talk about the extensive plans that we have at the South County Senior Center for Active Aging!
The Advisory Council at SCSC, which consists of representatives from the Village of Vicksburg, Vicksburg Historical Society, Vicksburg Arts, Vicksburg Rotary, and South County Community Services as well as a few unaffiliated local seniors, has been hard at work putting together a great slate of events for us to start out 2025.
Our focus for 2025 is putting together quality programming that will appeal to seniors in the South County area. We are working with students at Vicksburg High School, for example, to schedule quarterly Tech Help Events – seniors helping seniors! – and with Vicksburg Arts and local musicians to present quarterly concerts. In February, we are bringing back the popular Historical Show and Tell Lunch and Learn put on by the Vicksburg Historical Village—bring your own local artifact, or come to look at what other people show up with! Our March Lunch and Learn will focus on Cybersecurity Awareness for Seniors. We are also working to schedule more arts classes—there will be a Woven Wall Art class on February 4 in conjunction with Vicksburg Arts.
All events take place at Vicksburg United Methodist Church—you can find details in the schedule printed in the SC News, on our website, or on the South County Senior Center Facebook page. Most events are free but some arts classes have a materials cost.
We are also working hard to bring wellness programs: We currently offer monthly blood pressure clinics along with our weekly exercise classes. A headlining event in 2025 will be our April Lunch and Learn: “A Toast to Healthy Hearts: A Tasting, Talking, Moving, and Fun Experience”, where we will have multiple local healthcare professionals join us to learn more about heart health. Food will be provided at this event, and registration is required. And of course, we offer Cardio Drumming, Beginning Pickleball, walking group, and FUNctional Fitness, taught by our very own Sherri Martin, on a weekly basis.
Other monthly Lunch & Learn events that are upcoming but not yet scheduled include An Update on The Mill Restoration Process and State of the Village. Keep an eye out for those!
We are also considering putting on another open house in 2025 to celebrate our one-year anniversary! There have been so many people involved and connected with the success of the Senior Center that we would love to come together and celebrate with you all. It’s hard to believe that those initial conversations to put on a one-time open house at Vicksburg United Methodist turned into all of this in less than a year!
I’d especially like to thank the Vicksburg Foundation and Vicksburg United Methodist for providing the startup funding and space for us to put on this programming—your support has been vital to getting this programming up and running!
If you are a senior, come on out! We would love to have you!
South County Senior Center Schedule
All events are at the Center, located in Vicksburg United Methodist Church. (VUMC), 217 South Main Street, Vicksburg.
TUESDAYS
- Walking Group 10-10:45 a.m. (Indoors at VUMC).
- Beginner Pickleball 1-2 p.m.
WEDNESDAYS
- Cardio Drumming noon-12:45 p.m. (Registration Required).
- Walking Group 1-1:45 p.m. (Indoors at VUMC).
THURSDAYS
- Coffee Hour noon-1 p.m.
- FUNctional Fitness 2-2:45 p.m.
SPECIAL EVENTS
- Blood Pressure Clinic – 1/23, 2/20, 3/20, 1:30-3:30 p.m.
- Senior Tech Help Open House – 1/22, 4-5:30 p.m.– Bring in your phone, laptop, or iPad to gain help with various tech concerns.
- Music Concert Series: Best Day Ever Band with Benjammin Gauthier and Emily Hewitt – 1/28, 6-7 p.m. – All ages are welcome to attend.
- Lunch & Learn: Cybersecurity Awareness for Seniors – 3/20, noon-1 p.m.– Learn about tech security traps to avoid with Jenner Wile.
- Lunch & Learn: A Toast to Healthy Hearts: A Tasting, Talking, Moving and Fun Experience for All – 4/10, noon-2 p.m. (Registration Required) – Join multiple healthcare professionals to learn more about Heart Health.
For questions about the South County Senior Center or to register for Cardio Drumming or Healthy Hearts Lunch & Learn, call SCSC Coordinator Sherri Martin at 269-720-0974 or email: smartin@southcountycs.com.
Updates to this schedule are made frequently. Please visit www.southcountycs.com for the most up to date programming.
Classes and Special Events are free unless otherwise noted.
