JELM Center has it all for Winter Texans

Golden Oldies jam sessions draw a variety of musicians. Winter Texans can’t complain about being bored or lonely thanks to the Joint Effort Leisure Ministry (JELM) Center.

The JELM offers five days of fun including, but not limited to, arts and crafts, music and line dancing, brown bag lunches, fitness classes, games, lectures, hands-on workshops, meals and socials.

The program kickd off in October and will continue through mid-March.

All activities are open to the public, but participants are asked to complete registration forms and liability releases prior to engaging in JELM activities.

The program is funded by donations at JELM events and modest fees collected for some activities.

The season opened with aerobics classes, writing, blood pressure checks, bridge games and pinochle. The pace picks up in November when woodcarving and ballroom dancing are offered for the first time this year. Also, the Coastal Bend AIDS Foundation is providing free blood tests on the first Tuesday of the month.

Several types of dance classes are offered at the Jelm Center. The Golden Oldies live jam sessions will resume soon in the Pollock Center from 6 to 9 p.m. on Tuesday and Friday.

The City of Port Aransas Parks and Recreation Department gets in on the action with the We’re Having Fun workshops from 2 to 4 p.m. on Tuesday afternoons starting in December.

The parks and recreation department also provides a bus for the JELM bird watching and other local outings.

Trips to area cities and attractions will be taken in January through March.

JELM posts weekly activity updates in the South Jetty and on the city’s local cable channel.

The JELM Center is located behind the Community Presbyterian Church office at 113 S. Alister St.

JELM is operated by volunteers from Community Presbyterian Church (the umbrella under which the center operates), and volunteer Winter Texans.