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Featured Class
Sketching
Date: January 24, 2018
Time: 8:30 - 10:00 am
Length: 8 weeks
Cost: $8 members
$10 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
Tai Chi
Time: Mondays 11:30 a.m.
Cost: $3.00 members
$3.00 non-members
Location: Exercise Room
Description: The Chinese characters for Tai Chi Chuan can be translated as the Supreme Ultimate Force. The notion of supreme ultimate is often associated with the Chinese concept of yin-yang, the notion that one can see a dynamic duality (male/female, active/passive, dark/light, forceful/yielding, etc.) in all things. Force (or, more literally, fist) can be thought of here as the means or way of achieving this ying-yang, or supreme-ultimate discipline. Or it is possibly from it's origins as a martial art and self-defense technique. Tai Chi as it is more commonly referred to, is practiced in the west today as a moving form of yoga and meditation combined. There are a number of so-called forms (sometimes also called sets) which consist of a sequence of movements. Many of these movements are originally derived from the martial arts and perhaps even more ancestrally than that, from the natural movements of animals and birds. Legend has it that a Taoist monk, first developed a set of 13 exercises that imitate the movements of animals. Some of the movements are even called the Monkey Pick and Horses Mane. It is an exercise almost anyone who can walk can do safely. Tai chi takes the joints gently through their range of motion, while the emphasis on breathing and inner stillness relieves stress and anxiety. Your instructor is Katsuko aka Kats Shiomi and classes held on Mondays and Wednesday from 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., and the cost is only $3.00 per class. Students should wear comfortable clothing and come ready to find their inner peace.
Christmas Open House 2012
By: Mike Sylva
It may not have been snowing at the center, but everyone could sure feel Jack Frost nipping their noses. Still, the halls were decked with boughs of holly as well as silver bells, letting everyone know that it’s Christmas time at the center. That meant it was time to open our doors to all our friends for an afternoon of fun, food, and frivolity.
We started with traditional Christmas songs. Jack Meikle played piano while the crowd sang their hearts out. This was followed by the Highland Pickers and their toe tapping renditions of some holiday favorites. Next came a short intermission that gave us time to serve some cookies and cocoa. After eating their fill till their bellies shook like bowls full of jelly, it was time for Harriet Foucher and her Kristal Bells. The crowd, once again, got into the act as Harriet acted as the symphony conductor for our bell ringers in the crowd.
Maybe it was the scent of the goodies wafting through the air that led our special guests, Santa and Mrs. Claus, to take a break from their hectic schedule. Santa made his way through the crowd possibly finalizing his naughty and nice list on a few of our members, but we’re pretty sure everyone will squeak through to nice list. Even Molly Wright! Then, it was back to work as he and the Missus headed back to the North Pole.
Finally, there was one big gift to be opened up before Christmas, as lucky winner, Mary Oehling who went home with their half of the 50/50 Raffle prize to buy either a nice present for someone, or a really nice present for herself! With that it was time to bundle up and go home over the river and through the woods to sit by an open fire.
Special thanks to our talented musicians and volunteers to helped us to spread a little Christmas cheer. We would especially like to thank our sponsors, Don Davis with Aetna, and the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians for sponsoring the event.
