BCC 2022 highlights and things to come in 2023

Remembering 2022 at the

Buffalo Community Center

 

The Buffalo Community Center (BCC) had a great year in 2022. Adam Leiferman became the new Community Center Manager in January. He and Assistant Manager Teri Welter began working on offering many exciting and new events and programs at the community center.

“It’s fun to look back and remember all the events that were successful, and the ones we will bring back this year,” Leiferman said as he recalled some of the best moments at the community center from last year. “At the beginning of the year, we saw people coming back more and more to enjoy the community center and get back to regular programming,” he shared.

Beginning in April of 2022, new events and programs began to be added to the Buffalo Community Center’s calendar. Family Fun Night, which is held on the third Friday of each month, began in April (2022). Hours are extended for Family Fun Night, there’s snacks available for purchase, many games to choose from, and Bingo with many prizes for kids to choose from.

“There was more interest from the community for active programs,” Leiferman stated. In the spring, when the weather was warming up, the community center began hosting outdoor events, such as picnics, walking groups, disc golf and more. The first picnic was held in May of 2022 at the old fire station due to inclement weather.

In June, during Buffalo Days, the community center hosted a variety of events and activities for families to enjoy. Laser tag was very popular during Buffalo Days. “We had laser tag games going on outside, and so many people stopped by to play on their way to the Buffalo Days festivities,” Leiferman shared.

The community center organized a Family Oktoberfest event. There was traditional German food, dancing, and live music. The event was held at the old Buffalo Fire Station and was very well-attended by local families.

At the end of December, a Winter Break Party was provided at the community center. Many activities were offered for kids during their time off of school, including pool, ping pong, air hockey, video games, and more. Snacks and pop were also offered.

The number of volunteers and volunteer hours were impressive throughout 2022. Bison Fishing Forever had 60 volunteers that gave 744 hours of service, Buffalo Community Toy Shop has 20 volunteers that gave approximately 2,080 hours of service, Meals on Wheels had 75 volunteers that gave 780 hours of service, The Weavers had 10 volunteers that gave 1,665 hours of service, and for general activities at the community center there were eight volunteers that gave 360 hours of service. “I want to give a huge thank-you to our volunteers who helped make this year successful,” Leiferman stated.

If you are interested in volunteering, email communitycenter2@ci.buffalo.mn.us or call 763-682-6036.

 

Exciting things to come to the

community center this year

 

“This year we will be paying closer attention to the school calendars and try to offer some fun activities for students on their off days,” Adam shared. One example of a new activity coming to the community center is de-stress days, perfect for students to take a break from heavy studying.

The Buffalo Community Center will be offering a variety of events, activities, and guest speakers during Buffalo Strong Week (Feb. 6-10) focusing on mental health and wellness. Visit https://www.buffalostrong.care/ for a schedule.

Beginning in February, card playing groups will be held on the first three Mondays of every month. They get together during the evening, and it is open to people of all ages. There is a senior exercise program held every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Activities include shuffleboard, beginners’ yoga, and more.

There will be many holiday celebrations at the community center this year in 2023. For example, in March, the community center will be doing a green theme on St. Patrick’s Day. There will be potted plants for people to take home and healthy green smoothies to snack on. In May, there will be a Cinco De Mayo celebration with a DJ, good food, and more fun to enjoy.

This year, the community center will be offering more variety on Family Fun Nights. Last Friday, January 20, the theme was Karaoke Night. “It was so good,” Leiferman said. “Kids sang Disney songs from “Mary Poppins” to “Moana,” and parents sang with their kids,” he explained.

He shared that Bingo has continued to be very popular at Family Fun Night. “Some people just come for the Bingo games at 7:00 p.m.,” Leiferman stated.

There will be a variety of music events held throughout the year. On Wednesday, January 25, a live Elvis impersonator performed, and lunch was offered. In March, there will be a Johnny Cash impersonator performing.

A popular activity the community center will continue to offer is the monthly pool tournaments. “People come from surrounding areas, such as Monticello and Waverly, to participate in the pool tournaments,” Leiferman said. Toddler Tuesdays have also been very popular. On Tuesday, January 10, there were 32 kids with their parent(s) participating in the fun events.

To learn more about the community center, visit https://www.ci.buffalo.mn.us/182/Community-Center, on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/BuffaloCommunity, or call 763-682-6036.

 

Publication: 

The Drummer and The Wright County Journal Press

PO Box 159
108 Central Ave.
Buffalo MN 55313

www.thedrummer.com

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