As I write this, I just got back from vacation and now I’m already busy with lots of stuff happening at the Activity Center!
As of April 3 we will be open Monday through Friday, from 9am to 4 pm, which is the schedule we will continue to follow during the summer.
Upcoming events: The Gun and Sportsman Show is schedule for April 1 and 2, and we are taking vendor applications now.
The Rhubarb Festival in June has over 65% of vendor spots taken! We have over a dozen brand new vendors and my biggest fear is that our regular vendors may lose their preferred spots if they don’t renew NOW…we just have too many new vendors wanting those prime spots. So if you want to keep your spot, contact me now! And remember, if you join the Center as a business member at either the platinum or gold level, you can hang your banner at the Rhubarb Festival FOR FREE!
Our membership drive is continuing through March, and just last week we had about 45 people renew their membership. Remember, right now there’s a special membership rate of $35 if you sign up before the end of March. Even if you don’t want to participate in the classes the Center offers, or attend the lunches, your membership dollars keep our door open! For example, our gas bill usually runs about $399 a month….lately it’s tripled to about $1200 a month. And that doesn’t include our electric bill! So we really need those members to help us keep the lights on!
BIG NEWS! The Eclipse Theatre Company of Bend is coming to the La Pine Activity Center! We will have a performance of “Here On The Flight Path” on Sunday, April 16 at 2pm, complete with food and drinks! This is an adults-only play and hopefully the first of many in the future that we can offer this community. See page 5 for more information.
In other news, we are offering two new classes at the Center! We are not a gym or fitness center, but we have people coming here taking these two new classes and loving them. Shondra McGrath is the instructor for “Better Bones and Balance” held Fridays at 9am and Mondays at 11:30, and Carol Spaw is now offering exercise and strength activities. Her class is Wednesday at 1pm for low-impact exercises like weights, pull-ups, etc. Cost is $5 for members and $8 for non-members. See the article on page 7 of this newsletter for more information about these two new classes.
The High Lakes Car Club Swap Meet is scheduled for May 13, and we’re doing our annual Flea Market sometime in May or June. More to come on that!
Grants are being worked on for kitchen upgrades and improvements. We also received $10,000 from the Council on Aging for these kitchen upgrades.
Last year our big project was the asphalt parking lot, and this year our big project is upgrading our kitchen. Next year we may look at expanding our facility because we are growing, and there’s nothing to stop us continuing to expand!

Carol Spaw is our new “Fit for Life” fitness trainer at the La Pine Activity Center, and on Wednesdays at 1pm you can find her in the main activity room, teaching people how to get moving and become stronger at any stage of life.
Originally from Iowa, Carol moved to La Pine about 15 years ago. She currently teaches Piyo (a combination of Pilates and Yoga) and spin classes at Anytime Fitness in La Pine. Through her business, All in Fitness, Carol teaches online and outdoor classes.
Fit for Life includes moving your body and utilizing weights and other workout equipment.
  “My main objective is to get people stronger, and the class can be as easy or difficult as the person wants.,” says Carol.  “The class is geared for all fitness levels, there’s no special equipment required and I ask that students just dress comfortably be ready to move and meet new friends!”
“Even though this is a new class, I think it’s going to be a good fit for the Activity Center,” said Carol. Through her Community Fitness she can do classes at your business for employees and the public.
“I really do enjoy working with the community and bringing health and fitness to everyone. We live in a beautiful place, so get fit and go out there and enjoy it!” 

Do you need “Better Bones and Balance”? If so, then come to the Activity Center on Mondays and Fridays, where Shondra Zimmerman teaches an Oregon State University research-based class for folks with osteoporosis, but anyone who is interested can join.
“I’m about to be a physical therapist so I put my own flair into the class,” says Shondra, “like to work on mobility and bone building — which is a strength workout — to slow down the process of osteoporosis and sometimes actually reverse it. We also work on fall prevention, post-rehab work — we cover all the basics. We work on balance, and strengthening the bones and joints. The class lasts one hour, there are no physical requirements and it is for all levels. We’ll be starting to get on the floor soon, but anyone who can’t do that can use a chair. We accept all ages and injury levels. Participants should wear comfortable clothing and athletic shoes. The class meets Mondays at 11:30am and Fridays at 9am. It’s just $5 for members, $10 for nonmembers, and the first class is always free. I also do punch cards for regular members. I want to make sure everyone can take this, so if money is an issue, please come talk to me before class!”

Please join us in welcoming La Pine resident Matt Tarter to the La Pine Activity Center Board of Directors!
Matt is the owner of Matt Tarter Designs, a graphic design company with customers like Spike TV and Paramount+.
“I also work at the Crescent Fire Department as a firefighter/EMT and paramedic,” says Matt, “and when I’m not doing that, I’m the head coach for boys’ varsity soccer at La Pine High School.”
In addition, Matt runs the La Pine Soccer Academy, a nonprofit organization that starts children as young as three years old learn the sport of soccer.
I asked Matt why he volunteers at the La Pine Activity Center.
“In my graphic design business, I help local businesses with re branding, and that’s actually how I started helping Jamie. What Jamie does for our community really inspires me,” said Matt, “so I starting volunteering at the Activity Center, first designing the new Activity Center logo, and also doing the fliers for the Rhubarb Festival, Sportsman’s Show, and others.”
Matt has lived in La Pine for five years and wants to stay here and help out whenever he can at the Activity Center.
“I love this small town and the opportunity to help out and give back,” said Matt.