COLUMBUS, GEORGIA Parks and Recreation Department MEMORANDUM TO: FROM: Mayor Teresa Tomlinson City Manager Isaiah Hugley Deputy City Manager Lisa Goodwin Deputy City Manager David Arrington City Councilors Parks and Recreation Employees Recreation Advisory Council Members James D. Worsley, Director DATE: Friday, January 27, 2012 SUBJECT: Friday Letter RECREATION CENTER SERVICES FOX SENIOR CENTER Moving into 2012 at The Fox Center, the center is abuzz with activity! We continue to host events for the seniors from The Gallops Center, such as the Friday Night Dance this past Friday on January 20, 2012. Approximately 37 people danced the night away with Charles Money and His Band, and a great time was had by all! On the note of dancing, please note that square dancing from Gallops is now underway and will be on Tuesday nights from 5:30 until 8:30 p.m. These are recurring here at Fox until the Gallops Center reopens. 1
With all the attention that our seniors are receiving here at Fox, we must make mention of the attention being paid to our garden as well! Last week, Master Gardener Diane and a friend (both members of our Foxgloves Garden Club), planted 100 bulbs in preparation for Spring! The bulb mixture consisted of Naturalizing Daffodils, which should produce breathtaking splendor soon enough! Stay tuned for future reports and photos, or better yet just stop by and visit and enjoy the blooms in person! We'd love to have you join us here at Fox! FRANK CHESTER SENIOR CENTER This week we had our first Tea Party of the New Year. Never been to a Tea Party or think that s just for women who want to get together to gossip? It s nothing like that. This event is open to all members of our center and we have a senior volunteer named Ernie Crank who does Karaoke for us during the party. We serve Hot Tea and a wide variety of finger foods. I can t imagine anyone going away hungry or having not had a great time. Ernie does a fabulous job of singing a wide variety of songs for us. This week he played a lot of oldies, so he could tune up for his 70th birthday bash. Imagine being the entertainment for your own party. Several of our seniors were seen getting down to Cubby Checkers Twist and just in case the Twist wasn t for you, he played some slow dances. Before all was said and done, Ernie played a couple of line dances to finish out his performance. We always have a great time at our Tea Parties and welcome you to come see for yourself how much fun the seniors have. Occasionally Ernie will allow a couple of the seniors to try their voice out with a song or two. If you ve never done Karaoke before, it s a real challenge to read the words to the song and keep up with the beat of the music at the same time. I take my hat off to any senior that gives it a try! 2
GALLOPS SENIOR CENTER Seniors your favorite programs are being held at these locations temporarily while the center is under construction. FRIDAY NIGHT DANCE Fox Senior Center - 7:00 p.m. SQUARE DANCING Fox Senior Center - Tuesday Nights - 6:00 p.m. BINGO Fox Senior Center - Wednesday 10:30 a.m. KAROAKE Fox Senior Center - Tuesday 2:00 p.m. HULA Fox Senior Center - Wednesday 3:30 p.m. LINE DANCING Fox Senior Center - Thursday 10:00 a.m. BINGO Frank Chester Senior Center - Tuesday & Friday 1:00 p.m. TOPS Frank Chester Senior Center - Saturday - 9:00 a.m. BIBLE STUDY- Frank Chester Senior Center - Wednesday -10:00 a.m. BINGO Michael Fluellen Recreation Center - Thursday -11:00 a.m. EXERCISE CLASS Michael Fluellen Recreation Center - Monday & Wednesday - 11:00 a.m. BINGO Shirley Winston Recreation Center - Wednesday - 11:30 a.m. TAI CHI Shirley Winston Recreation Center - Wednesday - 1:30 p.m. BID WHIST Shirley Winston Recreation Center - Friday - 1:30 p.m. Please feel free to call Gallops at (706) 653-4193 if you would like more information. Seniors, be ready to have fun again at your favorite Senior Recreation Center once everything is back in place. NORTHSIDE RECREATION CENTER Exercise anyone!!!! We have started a Boot Camp Exercise Class here at Northside. Currently we have six people in the class. We are looking for more to come out and get fit. Classes are Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday 5:45 p.m. 7:00 p.m. We would love to help you get ready for spring break and summer vacation. CULTURAL ARTS Northside Pottery Studio, Psalmond Road Pottery Studio, and Britt David Cultural Arts Studio have all started a full load of classes for the spring. This week we have Adult Hand Building, My Doll and Me Baking, Digital Photography, Clay Babies Pottery Classes, 2 Adult Wheel Throwing, Therapeutic Pottery, Child One Day Pottery Class Kiss a Frog & Love Candy Box, Doodlebugs Pottery, and Drawing 1 for Adults. We are excited to say most of these classes are completely full, and look forward to more upcoming classes. 3
HAYGOOD BOXING GYM The Columbus Boxers will be boxing on Saturday, January 28, 2012 in Macon, GA. The address is Middle Georgia Boxing Club 454 Terminal & 6th Street Macon, GA at 6:00 p.m. We have five boxers going: Rackwon Johnson 104lbs, Travis Kent 108lbs., Money Powell, IV 125lbs, Dejonta Gomes 143lbs, and Linden Thomas 178lbs. Come and support your boxers! THERAPEUTICS RECREATION January 23 rd TR learned about healthy choices to eat as they made a healthy pizza. Each participant played a role in placing at least one ingredient on the pizza. Ingredients included bell peppers, low fat cheese, spinach, mushrooms, turkey pepperoni, onions, olives and whole-wheat dough. We placed it in the oven and later enjoyed our healthy treat for lunch. 4
Lori Swank learning about the food groups Matthew Phillips adding mushrooms to his pizza On January 25 th, TR took a field trip to the Columbus Airport. The group got to look at the different types of planes that landed at Columbus Airport, and kicked off the visit watching a small commercial flight soar in and land on a nearby runway. They learned about the different types of engines and fuel, and even got to meet a very special outgoing passenger; Steve Kenney, a retired NFL player! Mr. Kenney played for the Philadelphia Eagles when they went to Super Bowl XV. He came over to the group and asked if anyone wanted to see or touch his Super Bowl ring! After learning about the private flights at Flightways Columbus, the group traveled over to the main terminal. There they learned how to check in for a flight, check bags, and go through TSA. The group got to observe a mock security check in which the touring team went through proper procedures, including packing your carry on, and showed the steps taken for someone to be cleared to enter the gates. After touring the actual gate and boarding areas, participants were taken around the remainder of the airport and taught about baggage claim and car rentals. The entire airport crew was extremely helpful, friendly, and excited to have TR visit, and all the participants (and staff) enjoyed themselves as well. The group learning about Jet Fuel Time for take-off! 5
COMMUNITY SCHOOLS BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM Site Highlight Each week we highlight a different after school site to acknowledge different activities the students are being offered. Our HIGHLIGHTED program of the week is located at Tillis Gym. Last weekend 59 staff members from our after school locations attended an activities training given by one of the key representatives from S&S Worldwide. Staff members were able to try out new arts and craft kits that will allow the children to create important people in their lives. They were also taught new team building games to incorporate into their daily programs which makes every child a winner! 6