Volunteer of the Month
Archives

September 2018
Ed & Vivian Foster

Photo of Ed & Vivian Foster

This month we don’t just have one Volunteer to show kudos upon, we have two! Ed & Vivian Foster are our newest Thrift Store volunteers. They actually came to us thanks to Vivian who was a member. Once they retired following twenty-five years of retail experience, Vivian told Ed that they should help us out at the Thrift Store. That was all it took. They first started out by bringing in store shelves and then by arranging the stock. Now they work 1-2 days a week moving the items from our center to your house. Ed was originally from Fort Huron, Michigan, and came west to Long Beach thanks to the navy. It was fate that the two met at the Central City Mall (the Carousel mall to you youngsters) where they both worked, each taking turns as the other’s supervisor at various stores. They worked so well together they ended up with six kids, fifteen grandkids, and eight great-grandkids! Thanks to Ed & Vivian for arranging our store and for arranging your time to help us out.

Featured Class

Sketching
Date: September 12, 2018
Time: 8:30 - 10:00 am
Length: 8 weeks
Cost: $8 members
      $8 non-members
Instructor: Robert Placencia
Location: Game Room
Description: Are you a doodler? Or maybe you're a bit sketchy. For our Sketching Class you're perfect. The class is taught by Robert Placencia. He took classes in college, and used to assist in his oil painting class. Although his media is more in oil paintings, sketching is a big part of that so it's a perfect fit. He has been teaching the class for nearly 3+ years now. Robert has been involved in art for over 40 years, having taken art classes in high school and college. He enjoys many mediums including sketching, charcoal, and oil painting. He has even received awards for some of his works. The class will begin with portraits, as it provides the basic foundation that can later be applied to still life and scenery. Students need to bring their own pencils (4H to 6B preferred), a sharpener, as well as a sketch pad. Do not bring writing paper. The size of the sketchpad will depend upon a students personal preference although Robert prefers the large size. Fall class registration will take place on Thursday, August 17th from 9 - 11 am with classes beginning on August 23rd. The Sketching class will be on Wednesdays, in the Gameroom, and will run for 8 weeks. Cost is $8 for members and $10 for non-members.

Featured Activity

Line Dancing
Time: Tuesdays 10:15 am to 12:15 pm
Cost: Donation suggested members
      Donation suggested non-members
Location: Exercise Room
Description: This month wed like to shine a light on our Line Dancing class. The class is actually divided into two classes: a beginners and intermediate. The beginner class is taught by long time instructor, Saundra Binney. She has been line dancing since the early 90's, and has been teaching since 2005. She teaches the basic steps, such as the chase, grapevine, weave, triple step, shuffle step, two-step, and lock step. Everything else stems off from the basics. Intermediate is taught by Glenda Lane. Glenda is fairly new to the center but has taught TAP and ballet for 30 years. Glenda also teaches at other centers as well. Her instruction includes silver lining, and stripes. Don't worry if you don't have a partner. You don't need one. It's a group dance. Classes are held in the exercise room on Tuesdays with the beginning class taught from 10:15 am to 11:15 am, with the intermediate class following from 11:15 am to 12:15 pm. The class is donation only. It's up to students as to whether they want to donate. So put on some comfy shoes and get ready to step in line.
Annual 2015 Open House Christmas Party
By: Mike Sylva
It must’ve been a sign. Just in time for our Christmas party it started snowing in the mountains giving us a nice Currier and Ives background. Down the hill it was nice and chilly, albeit a tad on the wet side, but it needs to rain down here for it to snow up there. Besides we desperately needed the rain so we’ll take it as a Christmas gift.

The rain seemed to keep some away, but didn’t dampen the enthusiasm of those who came to party. As the rain dissipated guests slowly wandered in giving us a crowded room. Guests were entertained by Ed Ford and Jack Meilke with a Christmas Carol sing-a-long, and Harriet Fourcher and her Kristal Bells before special guest, Ole Saint Nick himself showed up. When he’s not making toys you might know him as board president John Rago.

However as popular at the Man with the bag is, the crowd went wild when Elvis (aka: Lil’ Joe-E) showed up belting out his hits and shaking hip hips. Thanks to those who braved the weather to show up, with special thanks to our sponsors, Don Davis with Aetna, and the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians