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Chris Swingle • Staff writer • Democrat and Chronicle, Rochester • June 27, 2010
 About 30 seniors did gentle exercises to music on a recent Wednesday morning at Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church, laughing at instructor Bonnie Slack's jokes.
After holding onto a chair and balancing on one foot, then the other foot, Slack suggested: "OK, now, both feet up."
The church's new Wellness on Wednesdays effort, which is open to any senior in the community, starts with blood pressure readings at 10 a.m., followed by the low-impact exercise session (which can be done seated or standing), a presentation by a guest speaker and a light lunch.
Rides within Webster are even available from a church volunteer if you call the church by noon the day before.
The goal is socialization. "We were looking for people to have a place to come and meet friends," says Marguerite Manning, who facilitates the program.
Wellness on Wednesdays began April 21, coincidentally after the town's Senior Center at 985 Ebner Drive closed for heating problems that were beyond repair and the town programs relocated temporarily to the Damascus Center, 979 Bay Road, and other locations. The church program had been in the planning stage for months before.
Barb Bills, a Baptist who this month attended Wellness on Wednesdays for the first time, says she liked it and enjoyed seeing people she hadn't bumped into in a while. "I congratulate the church for starting it," says Bills, of Webster. She joked that she might recruit people to attend her own church.
Marge Cario of Ontario, Wayne County, has attended multiple times and believes the exercise is helpful for her health.
Dick Campbell of Webster, one of the few men in the room, joked: "I'm here for all the women."
On a more serious note, he says that the program's speakers have been very good. Recent topics included digital cameras, Lifespan services and a musical performance.
Also, says Campbell, "the fellowship is the big thing."
Marian Kachmaryk of Webster agrees. "It's a good social activity," she says. "It's a different mix of people every week."
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If you go
Wellness on Wednesdays runs from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Wednesdays at Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church, 131 W. Main St., (585) 872-5180.
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Special thanks to the Democrat and Chronicle for allowing us to reprint this article.
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