First: Happy St. Patrick’s Day to everyone this Friday, March 17!

Learn how to balance and prevent falls: Join Mary Baudo, Mobility and Balance Trainer for a free presentation on Balance and Fall prevention at The Community Center, Wednesday, March 22, from 12:30 to 2 p.m. Please wear comfortable clothes and sturdy shoes.

We are looking for someone to help us design and create posters/flyers, pro bono. We don’t need to make a flyer too often, but help would be greatly appreciated when we would like to announce an event, gathering, or a special class. Please call us if you have a few hours now and again – 633-9876. Thank you.

And now, just a few more words about Maj-Jongg before I talk about our next topic – Mexican Train Dominoes. Ah, I finally found a website that seems very helpful regarding Mah-Jongg game strategy. I don’t have room to reprint the entire article, but here are some basics: A common lament – “I have nothing.” Understanding some strategy and tactical moves can increase your chances of turning that “nothing” hand it a winning one! Strategies are meant to be flexible. Some general advice: be prepared; be patient; be observant; be flexible; be defensive; be secretive; and be quick! Then there’s tile organization – organize so you can start identifying patterns. Then there’s Initial analysis – choosing your hand to build around strong combinations; look for trends. Then there’s passing strategies and paying attention to what gets passed. Early game strategy: don’t be too quick to pick up discards! Don’t grow a pair; don’t worry too much about discarding “hot” tiles; don’t change you hand too soon. Those are just beginning strategies. The article goes on to Mid-Game Strategies and the End of Game Strategies. Please check out this website if you want to. (https://ilovemahj.com/american-mahjong-strategy)

Here is our program schedule for the week of March 20-March 24

Monday, March 20: Knitting 10 a.m.-noon

Tuesday, March 21: Mah-Jongg 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Wednesday, March 22: Love to Dance 10:30 a.m.; Cribbage 12:30-2 p.m.; Balance and Fall Prevention 12:30-2 p.m.

Thursday, March 23: Mexican Train Dominoes 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.; Mah-Jongg2 noon-2 p.m.; Inner Peace 1-2 p.m.

Friday, March 24: Scrabble noon-2 p.m.

Puzzles and good camaraderie are always available all week long.