Volunteer of the Month
Archives

October 2021
Don Harper

Photo of Don Harper

This month we’d like to shine the light on Don Harper is one of our longtime Transportation Assistance Program (TAP) drivers. Don has been a member for about 7 ½ years, and has been driving for 5 ½ years. During that time he has become one of our go-to drivers driving multiple times a week, and sometimes several trips in one day. He first heard about the center from his mother-in-law, who is a Wii Bowler. She got him a membership and he came and joined the Wii Bowling league. He then remembered then Outreach Director, Holly Andrade, talking about TAP and how they needed drivers. He gave it a test drive, enjoyed it and has been doing it ever since. He loves driving, and loves the people. He thinks of this as his job, but a job he enjoys. The clients love him too and has clients who ask for him. Originally from Fort Worth, TX, his mom brought him out here when he was two. He inched his way over from Blythe, to Beaumont, to Highland. We are thankful that his travels brought him closer to us. Thanks Don for driving that extra mile for us!

Featured Class

Watercolor
Date: September 14, 2021
Time: 9:00 - 11:00 AM
Length: 8 weeks
Cost: $8 members
      $8 non-members
Instructor: Avon Hall
Location: Game Room
Description: Not only is this one of our oldest classes, but is also one of the oldest art forms going back to paleolithic times. Watercolor is a painting method in which the paints are made of pigments suspended in a water-based solution. Watercolor refers to both the medium and the resulting artwork. Working with watercolors is difficult because with paint, it stays put. However, with watercolor, the paper and absorption changes the outline and appearance as it dries. Additionally, you have to be careful as colors can run into each other as they are absorbed, changing the shape and color of objects. If you mess up with paint you can paint over or scrape off the paint but in watercolor you might be able to partially correct a mistake by re-wetting and blotting making errors costly. To help you with this is Avon Hall, our Watercolor instructor. While Avon has no formal instruction as an art teacher, but does have lots of experience in art. While in the Air Force, and stationed in France 50 years ago, he took some art classes in oil painting and drawing. He did not take up watercolor until eight years ago, when he heard that we had a class and he was curious about it. Avon has won several prizes for his art, and has even sold some.

Featured Activity

Zumba - NEW TIME
Time: Fridays 9:00 a.m.
Cost: $2.00 per class members
      $2.00 per class non-members
Location: Exercise Room
Description: We’d like to welcome back Zumba. Zumba is a mix of low-intensity and high-intensity set to interval-style, calorie-burning Latin and World dance moves. For those who see the words "high-intensity." Fear not. The class, like all of our exercise classes, is designed with seniors in mind. This class will be tailored towards active older adults who are looking for a modified Zumba class that recreates the original moves at a lower-intensity. The instructor is Carole Fiedler, a certified Zumba instructor, who says the class will consist of toning and stretching before moving on to the dance moves. She has been taking Zumba for six years, has been a licensed Zumba instructor for over five years, and certified for Zumba Gold for one year. Class will still be on Fridays, but the time has changed to 9:00am. Classes are only $2, and be sure to bring some water, a towel, and wear comfortable clothing and good shoes.
Kitchen Volunteer Wanted
By: Mike Sylva
Can you spare a few hours a day? How about a week? The Highland Senior Center Nutrition Program is looking for volunteers to help out in the kitchen. Helpers won’t be cooking. The food is all cooked off site. We are looking for people to help set up the dining room, serve the food, and then clean up.

It only takes a few hours a day. You can volunteer one day a week, or several days. If we could get several people to help out it would lighten the load even more. So if you are willing to help serve your fellow seniors, or if you have some questions, please see Timi or Penny.