NIAGARA, Wis. — Last week I talked about the Blue Zones throughout the world where people lived extraordinarily long lives, and we looked at the factors that contributed to that longevity. Among them were several that related to the need for socialization. Man is a social animal who needs companionship and interaction with other people. We simply do not do as well when we are alone too much. This is true for humans of all ages — not just those of us who are getting older. This fact became particularly apparent during the COVID pandemic. The isolation saved us physically, but many are still experiencing the effects both mentally and emotionally.

COVID aside, social detachment has become much easier in our modern world. While working remotely, online shopping and grocery delivery services are certainly convenient, they contribute directly to the social isolation in our daily lives. There is simply much less reason to leave the house. Add to this the fact that families no longer stay living in the same communities — sometimes settling great distances from each other — it is no wonder that we begin to suffer loneliness and the loss of our safety net.

The poet, John Donne, once wrote these famous words: “No man is an island, entire of itself: every man is a piece of the Continent, a piece of the main.” In other words, we rely on each other. We need one another to fulfill our basic needs for love and connection, to provide purpose and meaning to our lives, and to fall back on when times get hard.

I experienced this myself just about a week ago. My husband and I have always appreciated each other’s company. In retirement, we have enjoyed spending even more time together and rarely leave the other “sit home alone” to pursue our own recreational activities. He has Kiwanis, and I have book club and study group, but we have never gone out of town without the other one. Our favorite place for a jaunt has always been Marquette. Just this past weekend, I decided to attend a writing conference up there, and he had a Kiwanis activity that kept him at home. While I certainly enjoyed the conference, I did not like spending time in Marquette without him. It felt very strange, and it was quite lonely going to dinner by myself. I learned what being alone meant, and I did not like it at all.

In addition to sharing experiences and simply enjoying socialization with another human, we need each other. Our world is a complicated place that takes the brain power of many to make both livable and comfortable. It turns out that the old adage, “Two heads are better than one” is true. Our ability to collaborate and cooperate with one another has led to some of humanity’s greatest accomplishments. The study group to which I belong just completed a year of learning about some of the greatest inventions and advancements accomplished by mankind. Very few of those breakthroughs were accomplished in a vacuum; they were generally the work of more than one person.

Additionally, we are all familiar with the old adage, “Many hands make light work.” Life in general is simply much easier when more people are involved with getting the work done. When I was in Marquette by myself, I was made painfully aware of just how much effort it takes to load luggage into a motel room alone. My husband always drops me off so I can check in while he does all of the heavy work. I never gave it a thought … until I had to do it for myself. I am truly spoiled!

Last but not least, the very formation of our democratic way of life in America was not accomplished single handed. Granted, our founding fathers did not always see eye-to-eye, but they paved the way to the future we enjoy today through great effort, compromise, and collaboration. Our democracy was very definitely a group effort, and it will take a united effort to continue to build upon the “great experiment” begun by our founding fathers. It’s only by remaining united in the face of obstacles that seek to divide us that we can continue to strive toward a brighter future.

If you doubt the validity of the need for collaboration and cooperation, consider these thoughts:

— “No one can whistle a symphony; it takes a whole orchestra to play it.” — Halford E. Luccock

— “To get the full value of a joy you must have somebody to divide it with.” — Mark Twain

— “My humanity is bound up in yours, for we can only be human together.” — Bishop Desmond Tutu

— “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” — Helen Keller

— “Sticks in a bundle are unbreakable.” — Kenyan proverb

— “If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.” — Isaac Newton

— “Each one of us can make a difference. Together we can make change.” — Barbara Mikulski

— “The ability to direct individual accomplishments toward organizational objectives … is the fuel that allows common people to attain uncommon results.” — Andrew Carnegie

— “If everyone helps to hold up the sky, then one person does not become tired.” — Ghanaian proverb

— “No matter how brilliant your mind or your strategy, if you’re playing a solo game, you’ll always lose out to a team.” — Reid Hoffman

— “There is no such thing as a self-made man. We are made up of thousands of others. Every one who has ever done a kind deed for us, or spoken one word of encouragement to us, has entered into the make-up of our character and of our thoughts, as well as our success.” — George Matthew Adams

— There are no problems which we cannot solve together, and there are very few which any of us can settle by himself. — Lyndon Johnson

— “We must all learn to live together as brothers — or we will all perish as fools. This is the great issue facing us today. No individual can live alone; no nation can live alone. We are tied together.” — Martin Luther King Jr.

— “If civilization is to survive, we must cultivate the science of human relationships — the ability of all peoples, of all kinds, to live together and work together, in the same world, at peace.” –Franklin D. Roosevelt

Each day we are reminded of the divisions that currently separate us in this country. We need only pick up a newspaper or listen to the evening news. This division has been growing over the past several years: we see it, we read about it, we feel it. The movies and the books of the day reflect it. It is a very challenging moment in our collective history.

We have the ability and the power to decide that we no longer want to live at odds with each other. We need to remember what life in America can be and then decide to make it that way again. We need only to acknowledge that we must stand together in order to be strong; only to accept that we cannot continue down the path upon which we currently find ourselves. We have the ability to come together. We must begin the job of collaboration today so we can all enjoy a brighter, and happier, tomorrow.

——

NURSING HOMES/SENIOR LIVING FACILITIES

Freeman Nursing and Rehabilitation Community

Kingsford

906-774-1530

The facility welcomes anyone who would like to entertain residents. Volunteers are also needed to help with crafts and other activities.

Sunday: Church on TV/resident self-activities, 10 a.m.

Monday: Breakfast fun, 7:45 a.m.; resident choice, 10 a.m.; trivia, 11:45 a.m.; Memorial fun, 2 p.m.

Tuesday: Breakfast fun, 7:45 a.m.; room visits, 11 a.m.; music — YouTube, 11:45 a.m.; bingo, 2 p.m.

Wednesday: Breakfast fun, 7:45 a.m.; trivia, 11:45 a.m.; movie time, 1:30 p.m.

Thursday: Breakfast fun, 7:45 a.m.; whack-a-Lisa, 10 a.m.; music, 11:45 a.m.; crafts, 1:30 p.m.

Friday: Morning perks, 10 a.m.; cooking club, 10:30 a.m.; trivia, 11:45 a.m.; bingo, 2 p.m.

Saturday: Resident choice — have fun with the weekend packet.

Iron County Medical Care Facility

Crystal Falls

906-874-1501

Sunday: Room visits, 8:30 a.m.; high rollers, 9:30 a.m.; chair exercise, 10:45 a.m.; room visits, 12:30 p.m.; bingorama, 2 p.m.

Monday: Trivia, 9:30 a.m.; exercise, 10:45 a.m.; room visits, 1 p.m.; bingo, 2 p.m.

Tuesday: Coffee social/just friends, 9 a.m.; hymn sing, 10 a.m.; travel film, 1:30 p.m.; garden club, 2 p.m.; classic movie, 6 p.m.

Wednesday: Coffee social/current events, 9:30 a.m.; exercise, 10:45 a.m.; Dollar General, 1 p.m.; scavenger hunt, 2 p.m.; night bingo, 6 p.m.

Thursday: Puzzler, 9:30 a.m.; bowling, 10 a.m.; Bible study, 1 p.m.; wildlife film, 1:30 p.m.; happy hour with music, 2 p.m.

Friday: Crafts, 9:30 a.m.; exercise, 10:45 a.m.; room visits, 1 p.m.; faces and places, 2 p.m.; comedy movie, 6 p.m.

Saturday: No information available

Optalis Healthcare

Kingsford

906-774-4805

Sunday: File and style, 9:30 a.m.; room visits, 11 a.m.; po-ke-no, 1 p.m.

Monday: Wet your whistle, 9 a.m.; exercise, 9:30 a.m.; room visits, 11 a.m.; bingo, 2 p.m.

Tuesday: Wet your whistle, 9 a.m.; name five, 9:30 a.m.; room visits, 11 a.m.; mix and match, 1:30 p.m.

Wednesday: Wet your whistle, 9 a.m.; chair yoga, 9:30 a.m.; room visits, 11 a.m.; birthday party, 2 p.m.

Thursday: Wet your whistle, 9 a.m.; stretch it out, 9:30 a.m.; room visits, 11 a.m.; “Family Feud,” 2 p.m.

Friday: Wet your whistle, 9 a.m.; reminiscing, 9:30 a.m.; room visits, 11 a.m.; bingo, 2 p.m.

Saturday: No information available.

Maryhill Manor Nursing Home

Niagara, Wis.

715-251-3172

Families are allowed to attend activities and are encouraged to join in.

Sunday: Coffee and trivia, 10 a.m.; delivery of communion, 12:30 p.m.; prize bingo, 2 p.m.; church service, 2:30 p.m.; Chaplet of Divine Mercy, 3 p.m.

Monday: Rosary/communion service, 9 a.m.; pamper and polish, 10 a.m.; courtyard cabana — ice cream sodas, 2 p.m.

Tuesday: Rosary/communion service, 9 a.m.; Protestant service, 10 a.m.; short stories, 10:15 a.m.; deal or no deal, 2 p.m.; Chaplet of Divine Mercy, 3 p.m.

Wednesday: Rosary/communion service, 9 a.m.; word maker, 10 a.m.; ice cream outing, 1 p.m.; jokereno, 2 p.m.; evening prayer, 3:30 p.m.

Thursday: Rosary/communion service, 9 a.m.; tall tale adventure, 10 a.m.; creative art, 2 p.m.; Chaplet of Divine Mercy, 3 p.m.

Friday: Scattegories, 10 a.m.; C & R happy hour, 2 p.m.

Saturday: No information available.

Northshore Healthcare

Florence, Wis.

715-528-4833

Sunday: Independent activities

Monday: Group puzzle, 10 a.m.; bowling, 2 p.m.

Tuesday: Social/hot chocolate, 10 a.m.; manicure, 2 p.m.

Wednesday: Exercise, 10 a.m.; bingo, 2 p.m.

Thursday: Pastor Jason, 10 a.m.; air hockey, 2 p.m.

Friday: Catholic communion, 10 a.m.; happy hour, 2 p.m.

Saturday: Independent activities.

Victorian Pines

Iron Mountain

906-774-5158

Sunday: Juice time, 10 a.m.; Bible study, 1:30 p.m.

Monday: Juice time, 10 a.m.; exercise, 11 a.m.; bingo and refreshments, 1:30 p.m.

Tuesday: Juice time, 10 a.m.; exercise, 11 a.m.; trivia and refreshments, 1:30 p.m.

Wednesday: Juice time, 10 a.m.; exercise, 11 a.m.; bingo and refreshments, 1:30 p.m.

Thursday: Juice time, 10 a.m.; exercise, 11 a.m.; refreshments, 1:30 p.m.

Friday: Juice time, 10 a.m.; exercise, 11 a.m.; refreshments, 1:30 p.m.

Saturday: Juice time, 10 a.m.

Pinecrest Medical

Care Facility

Powers

906-497-5244

Sunday: Morning visits and reality orientation; bunco, 10 a.m.; trivia and coffee, 11:15 a.m.; church services, 1:30 p.m.; coloring pages; daily chronicles.

Monday: Morning visits and reality orientation; open room, 9:30 a.m.; shopping, 10:30 a.m.; who-what-where, 11 a.m.; bowling, 1:30 p.m.; The Minister’s Cat, 4 p.m.

Tuesday: Morning visits and reality orientation; open room, 9:30 a.m.; hang man, 11 a.m.; bingo, 2 p.m.; can you picture this? 4 p.m.; daily chronicles.

Wednesday: Morning visits and reality orientation; open room, 9:30 a.m.; pondering prompts, 11 a.m.; crafty Wednesday — to go tissue holder, 2 p.m.; “Jeopardy,” 4 p.m.; daily chronicles.

Thursday: Morning visits and reality orientation; open room, 9:30 a.m.; what’s in the bag? 11 a.m.; bingo, 2 p.m.; birthday party/farkle, 4 p.m.; daily chronicles.

Friday: Morning visits and reality orientation; open room, 9:30 a.m.; table talk, 11 a.m.; sip and paint, 2 p.m.; off to the races, 4 p.m.; bingo outing, 5 p.m.

Saturday: No information available.

SENIOR CENTERS

Alpha-Mastodon Center

906-875-3315

The center at 415 Main St. is open four days a week, serving soup and sandwich meal from noon to 1 p.m. Thursdays, fish fries from 4 to 7 p.m. Fridays, pizzas from 4 to 7 p.m. Saturdays and dinner from 2 to 3 p.m. Sundays.

Amasa Center

906-822-7284

Menu for the week —

Tuesday: Deluxe chef salad ham and cheese slider, cottage cheese, pineapple .

Wednesday: Sloppy Joe with bun, baked macaroni and cheese, sweet potato fries.

Thursday: Chicken club sandwich, baked french fries, baked macaroni and cheese.

Breen Center

Kingsford

906-774-5110

Open for dine-in eating Monday through Thursday, serving at noon. Friday and night meals are on hold indefinitely. Carryout meals are available. Soup and salad bar are also available.

Menu for the week —

Monday: Closed — Memorial Day.

Tuesday: Scrambled egg muffins, oatmeal with fresh banana, turkey bacon, yogurt cup.

Wednesday: Chicken salad on a bun, cold carrot salad, macaroni and cheese, granola parfait.

Thursday: Swedish meatballs, buttered noodles, mixed vegetables.

Note: All meals served with a choice of skim milk or juice and fruit.

Crystal Falls Center

Head Cook: Elizabeth Peryam

Assistant Cooks: Debbie Bigalski and Shannon Stapleton

906-875-6709

The center is now open on Mondays and is serving meals for dine-in or takeout — call the center by 1 p.m. to make reservations or to place an order. All food is purchased from local vendors. All dinners include warm vegetables, salad bar, soup, homemade desserts, coffee, tea, or milk. Salad bar begins at 4:30 p.m. and dinner is served at 5 p.m. Pickup for takeout meals is 4 p.m. — call ahead and leave a message with a phone number. A volunteer will deliver meals to homebound citizens only.

Menu for the week —

Monday: Closed — Memorial Day.

Tuesday: Spanish rice casserole, tortilla chips

Wednesday: Glazed ham with sweet potatoes, oven-browned potatoes

Home-delivered meals (prepared by DICSA – independent from above menu)

Monday: Closed — Memorial Day.

Tuesday: Mushroom Swiss burger, oven-baked fries, baked macaroni and cheese

Wednesday: French bread pizza, Italian blend vegetables, fruit crumble

Thursday: Chicken Florentine casserole, buttered pasta, baby carrots

Dickinson-Iron Community Services Agency

DICSA

Iron Mountain

906-774-2256, ext. 230 or 235

This is a Meals on Wheels program only. Home-delivered meals only — call to make arrangements.

Menu for the week —

Monday: Closed — Memorial Day.

Tuesday: Mushroom Swiss burger, oven-baked fries, baked macaroni and cheese.

Wednesday: French bread pizza, Italian blend vegetables, fruit crumble.

Thursday: Chicken Florentine casserole, buttered pasta, baby carrots.

Friday: Scrambled egg muffins, sausage, baked oatmeal with banana, yogurt cup.

Note: All meals include a choice of skim milk, juice, or no beverage.

For more information, call Christine McMahon at 906-774-2256.

Crystal Lake Center

Iron Mountain

906-828-1776

Schedule for the week:

Monday: Closed — Memorial Day.

Tuesday: Cards — Pinochle and cribbage, noon to 4 p.m.; Happy Quilters, noon to 3 p.m.

Wednesday: Bingo, 1 to 3 p.m.; cards cost 25 cent with 10 games played.

Thursday: Spinning Spools quilting, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Friday: Cards — Smear, noon to 4 p.m.

Felch Center

906-246-3559

Open for dine-in eating — call for serving times. Carryout meals also available.

Menu for the week —

Monday: Closed — Memorial Day.

Tuesday: Pork roast, fried cabbage, peas, garlic and cheese biscuit.

Wednesday: Grilled ham and cheese sandwich, creamy tomato soup, baked chips, fresh fruit.

Note: All meals served with skim milk or juice.

Home-delivered meals —

Monday: Closed — Memorial Day.

Tuesday: Mushroom Swiss burger, oven-baked fries, baked macaroni and cheese.

Wednesday: French bread pizza, Italian blend vegetables, fruit crumble.

Aging and Disability Resource Center

Florence County, Wis.

715-528-4890

Director: Tiffany White

Menu for the week —

Monday: Closed — Memorial Day.

Tuesday: Tater tot chicken pot pie, cucumbers in sour cream, fruit

Wednesday: Pasties, coleslaw, fruit, rainbow sherbet

Thursday: Liver and onions or chicken breast, mashed potatoes, green beans, fruit

Friday: Tuna pasta salad, toasted cheese sandwich, vegetable medley, fruit

Note: All meals served with whole grain bread, butter and milk

Fence Center/Town Hall

715-336-2980

RSVP for meal at 855-528-2372

Same as ADRC menu, served at noon on Wednesday only.

Florence Community Center/Town Hall

RSVP for meal at 715-528-4261

Open Monday through Thursday serving at 11:30 a.m.

Reservations for a meal onsite need to be made 48 hours in advance by calling the above number.

Tipler Town Hall

RSVP for meals at 715-674-2320

Same as ADRC menu, served at noon on second Thursday only.

Hillcrest Senior Dining Center, Aurora

RSVP for meals at 715-589-4491

Same as ADRC menu. Now open, served at 11:30 a.m. Monday through Friday.

Hermansville Center

Coordinator: Barb Peters

906-498-7735

Center is open 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. Meals are served through the Menominee-Delta-Schoolcraft Community Action Agency in Escanaba. Meals-On-Wheels program is available for those who are homebound.

Monday: Closed — Memorial Day.

Tuesday: Dinner frank, hot dog bun, coleslaw, corn-on-the-cob, warm apples.

Wednesday: Turkey roll-up, mashed potatoes with gravy, green beans, whole wheat bread, peach cake.

Thursday: Tahitian meatballs over rice, Key Largo vegetables, tropical fruit.

Friday: Meat lasagna, Brussel sprouts, side salad, scalloped apples.

Iron River Center

906-265-6134

Dine-in meal served at 11 a.m. Salad bar is available, as are carryout meals. No night meals are being served at this time. Menu for the week —

Monday: Closed — Memorial Day. Meal delivered tomorrow — Chicken salad on a bun, hard-boiled egg, string cheese, granola parfait.

Tuesday: Pancakes with bacon, oatmeal, hash browns, pears and yogurt.

Wednesday: Chicken teriyaki bowl, low-fat cottage cheese, fruit crumble.

Thursday: Garlic salmon linguine, steamed asparagus, whole wheat dinner roll.

All meals are served with choice of skim milk or juice and fruit.

Niagara Senior Center/Café

715-251-1603

Dinner is served at noon Monday through Thursday. Reservations are required one day in advance. Suggested donation is $5 for those older than 60 and $11 for 60 and younger. Bingo played on most Wednesdays. Transportation is available.

Tuesday: Tuna noodle casserole, romaine salad with diced tomatoes and cucumbers, wheat dinner roll, apple dump cake.

Wednesday: Chop suey, brown rice, Oriental vegetables, chow mein noodles, banana.

Thursday: Baked fish, sweet potato tots, baked beans, corn, wheat bread.

The center will have bingo on Tuesdays and Wednesdays this month.

Norway Center

Director: Joyce Olesky

Head Cook:  Brian Gutkowski 

906-563-8716

Dine-in eating begins at 11:15 a.m. Salad bar available from 10:30 to 11 a.m. Takeout meals available for pick-up from 11 to 11:30 a.m. Let staff know if planning to dine in or pick up. Menu for the week —

Monday: Closed — Memorial Day.

Tuesday: Roast beef, mashed potatoes and gravy, vegetables.

Wednesday: Biscuits and gravy, hash brown potatoes, sausage.

Thursday: Spaghetti and meatballs, breadstick, cauliflower.

All meals include milk, juice, fruit, bread and dessert.

Center activity schedule:

Mondays and Thursdays — Exercise at 10 a.m. and card bingo after the meal.

Monday through Thursday — Card game 101, noon to 3 p.m. Call Joe at 906-563-5587 for information.

Tuesdays — Quilting and sewing.

Wednesdays — Ceramics and crocheting.

Second Thursday of each month — Birthdays and bingo.

Sagola Center

906-542-3273

Dine-in meals available. Salad bar opens at 11 a.m. and meal is served at 11:30 a.m. Carryout meals also available. Menu for the week —

Tuesday: Chop suey with vegetables, egg roll, Lo Mein, fortune cookies.

Wednesday: Cheese ravioli with marinara sauce, Italian vegetables, garlic bread.

Thursday: Deluxe hamburger, seasoned potato wedges, corn-on-the-cob, pudding.

All meals served with an option of milk, juice or no beverage.

Home-delivered meals —

Monday: Closed — Memorial Day.

Tuesday: Mushroom Swiss burger, oven baked fries, baked macaroni and cheese.

Wednesday: French bread pizza, Italian blend vegetables, fruit crumble.