PHOTO PROVIDED / THE VILLAGE REPORTER
SISTERS … Marilyn DeMond and Mary Jane Storeholder.
WAUSEON, OHIO — The Fulton County Senior Center has announced a full slate of programs, classes, and community events for spring and summer 2026, offering area seniors opportunities to stay active, informed, and connected.
Senior Spotlight: Sisters Lead Popular Chair Exercise Class
With National Siblings Day falling on April 10, the senior center is highlighting sisters Marilyn DeMond and Mary Jane Storeholder, who lead and participate in a chair exercise class that has become one of the center’s most popular offerings.
What started more than two years ago as a search for something to complement a water exercise class has turned into a three-day-a-week routine that keeps a growing group of seniors moving.
Participants work through 96 different muscle exercises over 45 minutes—all from their chairs.
“We have all noticed benefits, like more flexibility, muscle definition, and arm strength,” said Mary Jane Storeholder. “Our sides even slimmed down from doing a simple seated side-bend stretch.”
Both sisters say the social connections at the center are just as valuable as the physical benefits, and they encourage any interested senior to try the class.
Blood Drive — June 10
The senior center is partnering with the American Red Cross to host a blood drive on Wednesday, June 10, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 695 S. Shoop Ave. in Wauseon.
Every two seconds, someone in the United States needs blood, and a single donation can help save more than one life. To schedule an appointment, visit redcrossblood.org or contact senior center staff at 419-337-9299.
Free “A Matter of Balance” Classes at Two Locations
The senior center will offer “A Matter of Balance,” a free eight-session course designed to help seniors improve strength, flexibility, and confidence on their feet. Two sessions are available:
Fayette: Wednesdays, 9:30–11:30 a.m., June 3 through July 22, at the Family Life Center, 306 E. Main Street. Instructor: Dr. Tina Williams, Area Office on Aging.
Wauseon: Mondays and Wednesdays, 9–11 a.m., August 3 through August 26, at the Fulton County Senior Center. Instructor: Robert Sullivan, Area Office on Aging.
To sign up and reserve a noon lunch, call 419-337-9299. Suggested lunch donation is $3 for Fulton County residents age 60 and over, or $5 for all others.
Free Diabetes Education Series Begins June 3
The Diabetes Empowerment Education Program (DEEP), an evidence-based six-week workshop, will be offered Wednesdays from 9 to 11 a.m. beginning June 3 through July 8 at the Fulton County Senior Center.
The free program, led by instructor Robert Sullivan from the Area Office on Aging of Toledo, encourages small lifestyle changes while educating participants about diabetes management, weight control, healthy eating, and medication. Call 419-337-9299 to register.
Museum Senior Discovery Days Continue Monthly
Registration is open for the April Museum Senior Discovery Day on Thursday, April 16, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the Museum of Fulton County.
This month’s theme is “Become a History Detective.” Programs are scheduled for the third Thursday of each month through November and are open to all seniors age 60 and over. The $5 fee includes museum admission, light refreshments, and a special program—a $25 value.
Bus transportation is available from the senior center for a $3 suggested donation if at least ten riders sign up. To register, call the Museum of Fulton County at 419-337-7922 or the senior center at 419-337-9299.
Quarterly Veterans Gatherings
Senior veterans are invited to informal gatherings with Matthew Roesel, Director and CVSO of the Fulton County Ohio Veterans Service Office, for Q&A sessions and updates on benefits.
Sessions are scheduled for 1 p.m. on Wednesday, April 8; Wednesday, July 8; and Wednesday, October 7 at the senior center. No reservations are needed.
Information & Referral Specialist on the Road in April
Val Edwards, the senior center’s Information and Referral Specialist, will offer free assistance with Medicare, Social Security, insurance questions, bill assistance, and applications at locations throughout the county in April, from 10 a.m. to noon at each stop: Delta Library (April 8), Swanton Library (April 16), Wyse Commons on the Fairlawn campus (April 23), and Evergreen Library in Metamora (April 28).
Appointments are also available at the Wauseon center. Call 419-337-9299 well in advance to schedule.
Nutrition Tip: Fill Half Your Plate with Fruits and Vegetables
The U.S. Department of Agriculture recommends filling half your plate with fruits and vegetables at each meal.
People who do so as part of an overall healthy diet are likely to have a reduced risk of chronic diseases including heart disease, stroke, and certain cancers.
Women over 31 should aim for 1½ cups of fruit per day; men over 19, two cups. When choosing canned fruits, select those packed in 100% fruit juice and opt for whole fruits—fresh, frozen, canned, or dried—over juice when possible.
Additional April Highlights
April brings a full calendar of activities across all four satellite sites in Archbold, Delta, Fayette, and Swanton, as well as the Wauseon location.
Activities include BINGO, card games, day trips, live music, a spring concert by the Senior Center Choir, and programs on topics ranging from online security to epilepsy awareness.
The center will be closed on Good Friday, April 3, though a special Good Friday Breakfast will be held at the Wauseon site from 8 to 9:30 a.m. by reservation. Call 419-337-9299 by March 25 to reserve a spot.
About the Fulton County Senior Center
The Fulton County Senior Center is located at 695 S. Shoop Ave. in Wauseon and is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Satellite sites operate on varying schedules throughout the week.
For more information on any program, to make a lunch reservation, or to learn about daily activities, call 419-337-9299.
The Fulton County Senior Center is a program of the Fulton County Commissioners, funded through levy money, donations, and under a grant administered by the Ohio Department of Aging and the Area Office on Aging.