Resources

Did you know there's a lot going on in your community that you may not know about?  And that you would like to participate in? Here are some resources for you to check out.

Greenwood Senior Center in Seattle

The Greenwood Senior Center is a subsidiary of the Phinney Neighborhood Association, located in Seattle.  It offers a wide variety of programs for Seniors.  The aim is to reduce isolation, build camaraderie, and enrich each other’s lives.

It provides programs in the areas of fitness, the arts, technology, memory loss, social opportunities and social services, including a daily hot lunch program. 

In addition to events and activities, the senior center has a collection of ongoing groups, such as the men's group, book group, art club, song circle, watercolor painting, line dancing, tech support, world affairs roundtable, bridge group, Scrabble, Spanish, Mah Jongg, Pilates, tai chi, and yoga.

The Greenwood Senior Center has a staff of experienced social workers. So, for example, if you or a loved one has an issue with memory loss and feelings of isolation, they can counsel you on ways to solve those problems.

The senior center puts out a weekly email newsletter to announce their events. Sign up for their newsletter here

Phinney Neighborhood Association

The Phinney Neighborhood Association provides a range of community programs, services, and events. It aspires to create meaningful connections, nurture a sense of belonging, support local businesses, and make positive change. It aims to build a community where everyone belongs and thrives.

Phinney Neighborhood Center

Long Dark Book Club

Several members of the Greenwood Men's Group are also members of the Long Dark Book Club. The Club is a multigenerational men’s book club which aims to build community, especially throughout Seattle’s long, dark winters. They meet on the second Tuesday of each month at 7PM to discuss a book which allows them to get to know and learn from each other. To this end, they choose titles from a wide variety of genres to keep the discussion lively and try to keep the length manageable so they can all get through the book prior to meeting up.

Men at a Book Club Meeting in Greenwood

You’re warmly invited to participate in this book group. You don’t have to be a bookworm to participate. Everyone with an interest is welcome. They always have lively discussions punctuated with a lot of laughs and side commentary. It’s not just about reading books; it’s also about developing community and friendships. 

If you’d like to know more about the group and some of the books they’ve read, click here.

If this sound interesting, fill in the form below and a Club representative will get in touch with you.

Woodland Park Lawn Bowling Club

The Woodland Park Club offers lawn bowling, bocce, and croquet in Woodland Park. The Club’s two large putting-surface quality greens, four regulation bocce courts, and clubhouse are perched on a hillside overlooking Green Lake.

Watch the video below to take a tour of the Club.

Furry Friends on the Woodland Park Lawn Bowling Club Greens

AgeWise King County

AgeWise King County encourages access to resources, benefits, and services for all ages and abilities, and includes inspirational stories about people in the Puget Sound area. They have an extensive information library of useful articles and resources.

PNA Village

The purpose of the PNA Village is to help you stay in your home for as long as possible as you get older and become less capable.  Most of us would prefer to live in our homes rather than an external facility. The Village helps you to do that by providing you with resources and assistance.

They have volunteers available to assist you with a wide range of small tasks and projects, in and around your home. These tasks could include dog walking, minor plumbing or electrical repairs, installing grab bars, weeding and pruning and tech help with your computer or smart phone.

Do you need a ride? Village can help with that by arranging rides to anywhere you need or want to go, whether its medical appointments, grocery store, community events, the local coffee shop or something elsse.

Feeling isolated or a bit depressed? You can request to be matched with volunteers for regular or one time social visits. Maybe go for a walk together, work on a puzzle together, talk about current events, have a coffee together or share a weekly phone call.

Or maybe you need some repairs around the house. Who do you call and who can you trust?  The Village has a list of favored local businesses that they refer members to. They conduct reference checks, background checks, and research into each vendor on this vetted list.

The Village can help you if your live in any of these neighborhoods: Ballard, Bitter Lake, Broadview, Fremont,  Green Lake, Greenwood, Haller Lake, Licton Springs, Phinney Ridge, and Wallingford.

PhinneyWood.com

PhinneyWood.com a good website for staying up to date with the latest local news and community events in the Greenwood and Phinney Ridge neighborhoods.

ROMEO

We first heard about ROMEO from a  men's group member who had been a member of a very successful ROMEO group in Bellingham that met for lunch for some years before the pandemic dispersed them.

ROMEO stands for "Retired Old Men Eating Out" and is a term used to describe a group of men who meet regularly to eat and socialize.  Groups meet for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, once a week or once a month, depending on the group's preferences. 

Typical ROMEO Meeting

These groups are not bound by rules or membership restrictions, and are simply informal socializing groups. 

Members meet regularly to discuss topics like politics, family, hobbies or whatever they want. They support each other through hard times, such as cancer. 

Some groups are made up of people with similar interests or past professions, while others are more diverse. 

The AARP reported in 2011 that men who participate in ROMEOs are healthier due to the high level of social interaction.

The Greenwood Men's Group is interested in forming a local ROMEO group. Would you be interested? If so, let us know!

Men's Shed

A Men's Shed is unique way to build community and friendships among men. It started in Australia but has not been very popular in the United States.

A Shed is basically a work space dedicated for men to work on any projects they choose, or just spend time socializing -- or both.

Men's Shed Guys Working on Benches

The Men's Shed website says: "Most men have learned from our culture that they don’t talk about feelings and emotions many do not take an interest in their own health and well-being. Becoming a member of a Men’s Shed provides a safe and busy environment where men can find many of these things in an atmosphere of old-fashioned friendship. And, importantly, there is no pressure. Men can just come and have a chat or dig in and work on a project."

Busy at the Lathe

Please note that Men's Sheds are not confined to projects such as woodworking. Like the Greenwood Men's Group, they can do anything they want, such as volunteering.

ROMEO Volunteering at Food Bank

The main problem with creating a Men's Shed in the Greenwood area is that there is no space available for us to do projects. If you have any ideas on how to solve this problem, please let us know!

Senior Discounts

Did you know the City of Seattle has a discount program for seniors? 

If you are age 60 or above, or aged 18 or over with disabilities, you can get discounts at many of our local businesses. 

Age Friendly Discount Card

For more information, visit Age Friendly Seattle discount program.

PNA Tool Library

Need a tool to take care of something around the house? If you're a member of the Phinney Neighborhood Association (PNA), you have access to a tool lending program from their inventory of 2,000 tools.  This facility is open at limited times each week and is located at 6615 Dayton Ave N., Seattle.

3rd Act Magazine

3rd Act Magazine was founded here in the Northwest. It is a quarterly publication focused on how to live well as an older person.

The magazine invites you to "Discover the art of aging with confidence and living your best life in your third act. 3rd Act Magazine offers expert insights, inspiring stories, and practical advice for a vibrant retirement journey. Embrace your potential, explore new horizons, grow your health-span, and thrive in your senior years with us."

Their website has a nice collection of articles, podcasts and videos that you may find relevant and interesting.  Subscription to the magazine is $25 per year.

Property Tax Exemptions

Does your household qualify for a property tax exemption or deferral if you're a senior with a relatively low income or are disabled?

It may be worth your time to check out the possibilities below.

King County

Washington State

The Greenwood Men's Group's mission is to provide a supportive environment where men from diverse backgrounds can foster camaraderie, develop friendships, share wisdom, enrich one another's lives -- and contribute to the Seattle communities of Greenwood, Ballard, Crown Hill, Fremont, Green Lake, Greenwood, Licton Springs, Loyal Heights, Phinney Ridge, Ravenna, Sunset Hill, Wallingford, Wedgwood, Whittier Heights and beyond.