Seniors: Healthy heart month

Well, this has been a very sad week for me. Last Thursday I had to say good-bye to my wonderful dog, Remmy. He had been ill for some time and just couldn't seem to get well. It seemed he constantly was fighting an infec-tion someplace or other. Remmy was not only my friend, but for several years was a wonderful Therapy Dog. He loved visiting Prince William Hospital and local nursing homes. We even spent one day at a camp for young burn victims, where he made a special friend of a young girl who was, at first, afraid of him. When I told her his name was Rembrandt, she beamed and said, "you mean like the toothpaste?" From then on they were bud-dies. Many people will miss him.

Learning Institute

The Manassas Lifelong Learning Institute is offering one of its monthly speaker forums on Wednesday at 10:30 am in the Colgan Theater on the Manassas Campus of Northern Virginia Community College.

The guest speaker will be Dr. Robert K. Sutton, chief historian of the National Park Service. Sutton is a pioneer in guarding our country's historical parkland.

When he was the superintendent of the Manassas National Battlefield Park he planned and oversaw the restoration of a 100-acre area of the park through a wetland-mitigation partnership with the Smithsonian Institution's Air and Space Museum at Dulles Airport. This partnership was responsible for improving both venues.

Sutton's presentation, which is free and open to the public, is based on decades of experience with the Na-tional Park Service, as well as his many years of research.

Healthy heart month

In honor of Healthy Heart Month, Sharon Clark, our center nurse, will present a seminar on Wednesday at 11 a.m. Her topic is "The Healthy Heart: What keeps it Ticking?" Heart disease continues to be the number-one killer of both men and women in the United States, while at the same time it is one the most preventable. Take the first step toward a healthier heart by attending this seminar and learning just "what makes it tick."

Chair exercise

The new fitness class, Chair Exercise, offered on Wednesday at 12:30 p.m., has gotten off to a great start. The exercises, all of which can be done while sitting, focus on flexibility, strengthening and balance. Bobbie Henderson is the coordinator for the group and new participants are always welcome. There is no fee for this class.

Step Sisters

The Step Sisters, the center's very own tap dance group, will offer special entertainment following the Valen-tine luncheon on Friday. Sign up in the office quickly, because seating is at a premium.

Happy Hoofers

The Happy Hoofers continue to practice their hoofing on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday at 10 a.m. in preparation for five February "gigs."

The Manssas Senior Center is at 9320 Mosby St., Manassas. Call 703-792-6405.