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- Deck the Halls - A Celebration of Wreaths
- Silver Stars Call for Nominations
- Pamela Flory
- Tallahassee Joins 16 Other Florida Communities with Senior Games Qualifier
- CarFit
- Photo Frenzy
- Daily Activities Schedule
- Special Events
- Health and Fitness
- Tallahassee Senior Center for the Arts
- Tallahassee Senior Center Satellite Sites
- Volunteer Opportunities
- TSC Foundation News
Deck the Halls - A Celebration of Wreaths
By: Eunjeong "Jessy" Han
Milling around the Old Armory auditorium, people were enchanted by the atmosphere. Gentle music, soft lights, and holiday wreaths transformed the room into the season of Christmas. Deck the Halls party-goers spent the night singing and dancing, tasting a variety of food and beverages, and bidding on items such as gift certificates for food and services, home and holiday decor, spa treatments, and game tickets.
The sound of people laughing harmonized with the gentle jazz of the Deborah Lawson Band. Holiday merriment celebrated the Tallahassee Senior Center's annual benefit event. Ninety-five gorgeous handcrafted wreaths decorated the auditorium walls. Bidders and buyers browsed.
A large array of silent auction items, donated from local merchants and donors, offered additional shopping opportunity. "The silent auction is always nice." said Rahni Spencer whose mother Gwendolyn is on the TSC Foundation board. "It's a great way to pick up a good gift for the holidays. I usually find one or two things that I want or I can give to somebody else."
The holiday extravaganza, presented by the Tallahassee Senior Foundation and Capital Health Plan, is the primary fundraiser to support Tallahassee senior programming-with a goal of better health, longer lives, and greater independence for seniors.
"We support the Senior Center because they do a lot of good things for the community," said Polly White of Capital Health Plan, a major contributor to Deck the Halls. "This event provides an opportunity for us to not only support senior programs, but also express our creativity and make things (employees of CHP made and donated more than 40 wreaths); it allows us to give back to our community. We want to make sure that the center is successful."
"This event is getting bigger and better every year," commented Helen Conger whose husband Jerry is a past member of the board.
Hats off to the community! The 2009 Deck the Halls was a big success thanks to all of our generous donors and bidders. Winners took their prizes home with happy, delighted looks on their faces.
See you again next year, and many thanks to all of the Deck the Halls sponsors and donors.
Silver Stars Call for Nominations
Deadline for submission is February 5. Recognize a senior for extraordinary contribution to our community!
The 2010 Silver Stars Celebration - Tallahassee's premier senior recognition event, presented by Tallahassee Senior Services and Capital Health Plan, will recognize individuals for outstanding contributions to the community on April 8 at the FSU University Center. Nominations are sought from the community and must be received by February 5.
Each year a select number of individuals receive recognition as models of active aging and caring for older adults. "Silver Stars" are individuals who have achieved special accomplishments since reaching age 60.
Previous Silver Stars exemplify service to others and come from all walks of life-community advocates, nurses, teachers, caregivers, entrepreneurs, musicians, athletes, Scout leaders, moms and dads.
The common thread is exemplary service to others and our community. These individuals inspire others of all ages to continue to live well and stay involved in our community.
Send nomination form (PDF) or a letter of nomination-not to exceed 100 words-to: Silver Stars Nomination, Tallahassee Senior Center, 1400 N. Monroe St., Tallahassee, Florida, 32303. Be sure to describe the individual's outstanding achievements or contributions since reaching age 60. Include the nominee's and nominator's contact names and information, and be sure to get permission from the nominee. Nomination forms are available at the senior center or can be mailed/e-mailed upon request.
If you would like to participate in this event as a co-sponsor or Silver Stars table sponsor, call Sheila Salyer at 891-4000.
Pamela Flory
By: Marjorie Brenner
Pamela Flory, inspires superlatives from everyone who knows her. The bubbly Senior Advisory Council member laughs a lot and shares smiles with all around her. The fun loving Red Hatter Irishwoman possesses the sunny nature and ready humor for which the Irish are famous. These attributes enrich her achievements and are threaded through the story of her life.
Born in Geneva, Nebraska, a small town near Omaha and the youngest of four children, she credits her siblings' childhood escapades for her mother's "first and second gray hairs." Flory enjoyed a fascination with livestock and auctions and loved to dance. "Whenever relatives came to see us I would line them up on chairs as my audience and dance for them," she adds with a giggle.
Being a high school cheerleader, Co-Salutatorian, and runner up Miss Geneva, prepared the eager student for higher education and the position of Executive Secretary to Administrators at the Student Health Center of the University of Nebraska at Lincoln-the Corn Huskers. University life stayed as a thread in her life and today she's housemother at FSU's Phi Mu Sorority. Prior to that, she was housemother at a fraternity in Lincoln, Nebraska, supervising 75 "big, husky boys."
"I've been to Hawaii twice. My mother once said, 'If corn got over $3 a bushel on the market, we'd all go to Hawaii.' It did and we did. We held her to it," Flory chuckled.
Flory married young, in the 1950's, and remarried in 1989. "I have three lovely daughters," she says, "and all had a boy and a girl, so that now I have six grandchildren. My first great grandchild, a boy, was born last November. I am proud that my children and their families are all honest and productive citizens-to date," she adds with a twinkle.
The certified bridge club director and teacher plays in national bridge tournaments, belongs to the Red Hat Society, and involves herself with altruistic activities. She is a founding member of the Tallahassee Active Lifelong Leaders group (TALL for short)-a program of the Senior Center. The current class project is assisting Lutheran Services in the furnishing of "Magnolia Acres"-nine studio apartments for homeless and disabled veterans. This will be a 27-unit gated complex when completed.
As a dedicated Senior Advisory Council member, Flory has some definite ideas about the present and future of the Tallahassee Senior Center. "Along with our satellites," she declares emphatically, "I'd like to envision another full time center with more parking, because we're bursting at the seams."
Clearly the admiring comments her acquaintances make about Pamela Flory are well-deserved-summed up in the words of council member, Roger Owen, "After you talk to her, you come away feeling refreshed and happy." Flory says, "...it takes more energy to be negative than it does to be optimistic." With all that energy turned outward toward "making people happy," she epitomizes the well-known "Energizer Bunny."
Tallahassee Joins 16 Other Florida Communities with Senior Games Qualifier
By: Nick Gandy
May 20-24, 2010 local senior athletes can participate in the Capital City Senior Games and compete on a statewide level.
Three Tallahassee athletes won medals at the recent Florida Senior Games State Championships. Winning Track and Field medals at the 2009 State Championships were Bill Tharpe, with 60-64 age group gold medals in the 100 and 200 meter dash, and Rodney Letchworth, with a silver medal in the shot put and a bronze in the discus throw in the 70-74 age group. Jeff Davidson won a silver medal in men's singles racquetball in the 55-59 age group.
When the Capital City Senior Games debuts in May, Tallahassee area senior athletes will have a chance to qualify for the 2010 Florida Senior Games State Championships that will be held in December 2010, in Lee County and the City of Cape Coral.
On the roster for the Inaugural Capital City Senior Games is competition in 17 sports including; Archery, 3-on-3 Basketball, Basketball Shooting, Billiards, Bowling, Cycling, Golf, Horseshoes, Powerlifting, Race Walk, Road Race, Softball, Swimming, Table Tennis, Tennis, Track & Field, Volleyball.
Of the sports in the 2010 Capital City Senior Games, 3-on-3 Basketball, Basketball Shooting, Bowling, Cycling, Golf, Horseshoes, Swimming, Table Tennis, Tennis and Track and Field require a qualifying performance. The top five finishers in each age group will qualify for the 2010 Florida Senior Games State Championships, which is a qualifier for the 2011 National Senior Games in Houston,Texas.
Archery, Billiards, Powerlifting, Race Walk, Road Race, Softball and Volleyball are "Open" sports and do not need a qualifying performance.
Be a part of history here in North Florida and join the Senior Games movement in Florida. The Inaugural Capital City Senior Games is the only North Florida qualifier to take place in the spring. For years, only fall qualifiers have been available in the northern part of the state as Pensacola, Jacksonville and Gainesville hold their annual Games in September and October.
For more information about the 2010 Capital City Senior Games including a tentative schedule of events, please visit http://www.visittallahassee.com/seniorgames/.
CarFit
Senior drivers eagerly accept tips for safer driving from trained technicians at a recent CarFit held at Thomasville Road Baptist Church. Senior adult pastor Neil Brown directs traffic for the busy event. The Tallahassee Senior Center partnered with the Area Agency on Aging of North Florida, Florida Dept of Transportation, AAA, Tallahassee Memorial Hospital, and TRBC to offer the free program. CarFit is designed to help mature drivers explore how the "fit" of their personal vehicle affects their driving. Trained volunteer professionals lead the driver through a 30-minute, 12-point checklist of his or her vehicle and recommend adjustments and adaptations that could make the vehicle safer and more comfortable to operate.
Photo Frenzy
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| TSF board president Mary Carroll (c) and Leslie Puckett (r), TSC's art coordinator play a bit at the chocolate fountain as a young partygoer whirls coconut bread in the warm confection. | Willie and Charlotte Cromartie listen to soft jazz performed by the Deborah Lawson Band. | Deborah Lawson belts out a favorite tune and entertains a crowd of 300 with popular selections. |
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| In the company of Ed Duffee, TSF vice president, at the benefit event were (l to r) Marie Spencer, Minnie Beatrice Crump, Alberta Duffee and Gloria Sulliven. | (l to r) James Wright and Ronald, wife Gwendolyn and daughter Rhani Spencer share an evening of music, dining and shopping. Gwendolyn serves on the TSF board. | Nancy Daws, Jean Bryant and Linda Roberts enjoy the evening together. |
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| It was all about wreaths. Ninety-five wreaths to be exact. Mrs. O'Neal bids on her favorite and proudly took it home at evening's end. | Margaret Hamilton and Roger Owen browse the Silent Auction. More than 100 items were up for bid. | Judge Errol Powell and his wife Patricia pose in front of the silver-accented wreath made by Mrs. Powell and donated to Deck the Halls. |
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| Representing the Alzheimer's Project are Elaine McConnaughhay, Karen James, Recee Culpepper and Bill Wertman. The signature event proceeds benefit senior programming in the local area. | ||
| Techno Mania is Coming! | ||
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| The extremely popular workshop returns for an encore March 22, 2010. Learn all about Facebook, Twitter, Skype, Ebay, smart phones, Ebook readers, gaming, digital media and much, much more. | ||
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| FSU Library services staff Policia Cline, Gloria Colvin, Nick O'Brien and Genesis Cuesta sit ready to assist techie wannabes. | Roundtable discussions with topic experts finds Al Sulkes (far r.), a popular TSC lifelong learning instructor, chuckling. | Techno Mania offers November attendees an opportunity to meet one-on-one with Florida State University Library staff to learn the latest technology tips, tricks and twitter. |
We Want to Recycle Your Old Cell Phone - A Special Fundraiser for Senior Centers!
Through a partnership with the National Institute of Senior Centers and Cellular Recycle, the Tallahassee Senior Center can raise funds for programs and services. Just bring us your old cell phone to 1400 North Monroe Street. The Senior Center will recycle the phones and receive money to support activities that help keep seniors well and connected to their community. Call 891-4000 for more information.