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Saturday
March 13, 2010 Since 1922 |
Movin' and shakin' seniors
By Cierra Putman
The Baytown Sun Published October 3, 2009 Local seniors are doing their best to dispel the image of the rocking chair granny and grandpa wasting their last years at home. The new wave of seniors is an active, competitive and adventurous lot who not only feel young at heart but act the part as well.
FREE FUN FOR THE GOLDEN YEARS
In September, seniors associated with the Harris County Community Centers did everything from play dominoes to compete in a Wii bowling and line dancing competition.
“They have real good programs especially for older seniors in the community,” Laura McIntyre, a regular at the Riley Chambers - Barrett Station Community Centers said. “They have something for everyone … I think I’m more busy now (than before I retired).”
McIntyre retired in 2007 but just recently started frequenting her local community center on a regular basis. Three days a week from 9-10:30 a.m., she gets her boogie on with the other seniors.
More than 100 senior dance enthusiasts like McIntyre participated in the line dancing competition hosted by the Barrett Station centers Sept. 24. At home, the seniors may be sweet neighbors and grandparents, but at the competition they all had their game faces on.
“Oh my God, they are so competitive,” said Riley Chambers - Barrett Station Community Centers Coordinator Malcolm Barrett. “It’s not just that they want to win, they shoot and aim to win.”
Each of the eight Harris County community centers have daily, as well as, monthly activities for anyone over 50. The programs are completely free, and seniors can expect a free lunch and, in some cases, transportation from their home to the nearest center.
The county also hosts a yearly Senior Olympics where those in their golden years can compete in beanbag baseball, volleyball, basketball, a dance contest and other events.
“Seniors need to give their local community centers a call and see what’s going on,” Barrett said. “There are some seniors who think the community center is for the old people and that they don’t have time for that. I’d just encourage seniors to visit their local community center.”
SENIORS HIT THE ROAD
Seniors with the travel bug should call up the Lee College Senior Adult Program and sign up for a chance to travel the local area, different parts of the country and the world.
While the college has provided opportunities solely for seniors for years, it only recently started planning a variety of excursions.
“I kind of conceived the idea of adding travel,” said Lee College Senior Program Manager Lynne Foley. “I’m the one who started the long overnight trips. They seemed to really bring people out. Its fun, adventurous and educational all rolled into one.”
During the last two decades, the program has targeted adults 50-plus to meet up with friends and go on day, overnight and sometimes multiple day excursions.
In the last five years, Foley has led groups of no more than 50 to visit Beijing, Amsterdam, Australia, the California Wine Country and most recently New England.
“I’ve gotten to meet some wonderful people and there’s a family type atmosphere,” Sharon Terrell said. “You all bond and they (Lee College) takes very good care of you. So, you don’t have to worry about getting lost. Lynne Foley is really great about keeping up with all the seniors.”
Glenn and Leura Leissner started traveling with the college in 2005 and agree with Terrell.
“We’ve always liked to travel and it’s easier to go with a group,” Leura Leissner said. “There are people our age or older, and its a fun trip geared to make it as pleasurable as possible.”
“It’s just a way seniors can travel.” Leissner said. “When you go with a group, its usually safer. They have really nice, very informative tour guides. We learned a lot about China, particularly the history and things you read about but think you’ll never get to see.”
Foley plans the day trips to the area theaters, museums and sporting events each month and also three longer trips each year. The longer trips vary from a week to longer and there is usually an overseas and cruise trip every year.
As for a favorite trip, the decision was unanimous.
“They’ve all been great, so it’s hard to say,” Terrell said, “but I think China. I never thought about wanting to go there, but it was a very interesting and exciting trip. We got to walk the great wall, see Chinese acrobats and even eat in a family’s house.”
For anyone who wants to meet new friends but is too shy or afraid to join the group, Terrel says she did not let that stop her and hopes others will not either.
“There probably are seniors who haven’t heard about it,” Terrell said. “When my husband passed away I didn’t know anyone, and I was very lucky to have someone tell me about the Lee College program.
“I would tell (anyone interested in the program) it will broaden their horizons and let them experience new and exciting things and meet great people,” she said. “The people I met are easy to get to know and welcome you right in. They don’t treat you like stranger.”
The Baytown Sun Published October 3, 2009 Local seniors are doing their best to dispel the image of the rocking chair granny and grandpa wasting their last years at home. The new wave of seniors is an active, competitive and adventurous lot who not only feel young at heart but act the part as well.
FREE FUN FOR THE GOLDEN YEARS
In September, seniors associated with the Harris County Community Centers did everything from play dominoes to compete in a Wii bowling and line dancing competition.
“They have real good programs especially for older seniors in the community,” Laura McIntyre, a regular at the Riley Chambers - Barrett Station Community Centers said. “They have something for everyone … I think I’m more busy now (than before I retired).”
McIntyre retired in 2007 but just recently started frequenting her local community center on a regular basis. Three days a week from 9-10:30 a.m., she gets her boogie on with the other seniors.
More than 100 senior dance enthusiasts like McIntyre participated in the line dancing competition hosted by the Barrett Station centers Sept. 24. At home, the seniors may be sweet neighbors and grandparents, but at the competition they all had their game faces on.
“Oh my God, they are so competitive,” said Riley Chambers - Barrett Station Community Centers Coordinator Malcolm Barrett. “It’s not just that they want to win, they shoot and aim to win.”
Each of the eight Harris County community centers have daily, as well as, monthly activities for anyone over 50. The programs are completely free, and seniors can expect a free lunch and, in some cases, transportation from their home to the nearest center.
The county also hosts a yearly Senior Olympics where those in their golden years can compete in beanbag baseball, volleyball, basketball, a dance contest and other events.
“Seniors need to give their local community centers a call and see what’s going on,” Barrett said. “There are some seniors who think the community center is for the old people and that they don’t have time for that. I’d just encourage seniors to visit their local community center.”
SENIORS HIT THE ROAD
Seniors with the travel bug should call up the Lee College Senior Adult Program and sign up for a chance to travel the local area, different parts of the country and the world.
While the college has provided opportunities solely for seniors for years, it only recently started planning a variety of excursions.
“I kind of conceived the idea of adding travel,” said Lee College Senior Program Manager Lynne Foley. “I’m the one who started the long overnight trips. They seemed to really bring people out. Its fun, adventurous and educational all rolled into one.”
During the last two decades, the program has targeted adults 50-plus to meet up with friends and go on day, overnight and sometimes multiple day excursions.
In the last five years, Foley has led groups of no more than 50 to visit Beijing, Amsterdam, Australia, the California Wine Country and most recently New England.
“I’ve gotten to meet some wonderful people and there’s a family type atmosphere,” Sharon Terrell said. “You all bond and they (Lee College) takes very good care of you. So, you don’t have to worry about getting lost. Lynne Foley is really great about keeping up with all the seniors.”
Glenn and Leura Leissner started traveling with the college in 2005 and agree with Terrell.
“We’ve always liked to travel and it’s easier to go with a group,” Leura Leissner said. “There are people our age or older, and its a fun trip geared to make it as pleasurable as possible.”
“It’s just a way seniors can travel.” Leissner said. “When you go with a group, its usually safer. They have really nice, very informative tour guides. We learned a lot about China, particularly the history and things you read about but think you’ll never get to see.”
Foley plans the day trips to the area theaters, museums and sporting events each month and also three longer trips each year. The longer trips vary from a week to longer and there is usually an overseas and cruise trip every year.
As for a favorite trip, the decision was unanimous.
“They’ve all been great, so it’s hard to say,” Terrell said, “but I think China. I never thought about wanting to go there, but it was a very interesting and exciting trip. We got to walk the great wall, see Chinese acrobats and even eat in a family’s house.”
For anyone who wants to meet new friends but is too shy or afraid to join the group, Terrel says she did not let that stop her and hopes others will not either.
“There probably are seniors who haven’t heard about it,” Terrell said. “When my husband passed away I didn’t know anyone, and I was very lucky to have someone tell me about the Lee College program.
“I would tell (anyone interested in the program) it will broaden their horizons and let them experience new and exciting things and meet great people,” she said. “The people I met are easy to get to know and welcome you right in. They don’t treat you like stranger.”