La Conner Weekly News - Your independent hometown award-winning newspaper

After a 16-month absence, the Senior Center at La Conner’s Maple Hall reopened in early July. Although indoor fitness programming is still not allowed, favorite and familiar activities are back on the schedule.

Every Tuesday folks pursue a variety of interests including woodcarving, non-fiction creative writing, a ‘quasi philosophical’ discussion forum, a knitting and crafting group, as well as games including Scrabble, canasta and mahjongg. Participants range in age from 45 to 99.

Yet for many attendees, the activities are only part of the appeal. The opportunity to mingle regularl...