Volunteer of the Month
Archives

September 2020
Mike & Sharon Pierce

Photo of Mike & Sharon Pierce

This month we’d like to shine the light on some familiar faces around here. Mike & Sharon Pierce are a mix of new and old to the center. Sharon has been a member since 2010, while Mike joined in 2018. Before the shutdown, Mike was wearing several hats, working in the Trip Office and working in the Nutrition Program two days a week. They both also enjoy working at our special events, and were first time drivers for our Operation Senior Cause. During the shutdown they’ve both have been volunteering in the Thrift Store as well as serving as Transportation Assistance Program drivers. Mike and Sharon are both from the area. Sharon was born in Boston, but came out here when she was three. Mike on the other hand was born and raised out here. They met on a blind date when she was 18, and he was 22. They were married 6 weeks later! Together they have two kids and five grandchildren. He worked for Fedco and retired from Beaver Medical for over 20 years each whereas she worked for the same mortgage company. We would like to thank the Mike and Sharon for their ongoing dedication to the center and its members during these troubling days.

Featured Class

Spanish
Date: April 23, 2020
Time: 1:30 - 2:30 pm
Length: 8 weeks
Cost: $8 members
      $8 non-members
Instructor: TBA
Location: Game Room
Description: This class is designed to teach students conversational Spanish. The class will enable you to carry on limited conversation at first just to get you started. Then as you progress, so will the levels. As for what to bring, just bring a writing instrument and paper. Books might come later. We hope to see you there, or as you will soon be saying, Esperamos verte ahí.

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.
Luau a Success
By: Mike Sylva
Our Polynesian party proved to be popular as the Highland Senior Center proudly hosted its annual Luau and it was a sellout with all the seats filled. The mood was festive with the partiers decked out in their finest Hilo Hattie wear and mu mu’s. As people arrived they were greeted with leis and island music.

Duke Ching’s “Duke Kaleolani Polynesian Review featuring lovely girls from Hawaii” served up the entertainment with family members, he has done in the past, including his granddaughters and a cousin. Other entertainment included our very own HSC Hawaiian class dancers. The dancers made it look so easy some of the crowd volunteered to come up and give it a while.

Also served was our version of “authentic” luau food, minus the spam or poi. Hawaiian chicken, rice pilaf, fruit cocktail and a role, washed down with a mango-pineapple punch. The crowd remarked that it was great food and the best show they’ve ever seen!

We’d like to thank all those who bought tickets and came showing their support for the center and its activities. Mahalo and see you next year!