Volunteer of the Month
Archives
October 2021
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
Brain Fitness
Date: September 15, 2021
Time: 12:15 - 2:00 pm
Length: 8 Weeks
Cost: $8 members
$8 non-members
Instructor: Janette Miksik
Location: Game Room
Description: Your brain may not be a muscle but you need to keep it active to keep it healthy. Some of our members take advantage of our university classes, but learning is only a part of exercising your brain. To help you out we offer this Brain Fitness class. The class promotes brain health through fitness, nutrition, cognitive exercises and activities to boost memory skills and stimulate the brain. Adults are living longer and longer, and we need to promote mental as well as physical health. The group does crosswords, puzzles, trivia, and encourages active discussion. Everything is designed to get those synapses firing. If you want to sharpen your skills and learn new things this group is for you . The group meets on Wednesdays at 12:15 pm. in the game room and is always full, so make a mental note to show up at registration to ensure your spot. If you forget to register, you really need to get fit!
Featured Activity
Water Aerobics
Time: Dailys 10:00 am
Cost: No Free members
Must be a member non-members
Location: Highland YMCA
Description: Join us Daily for Water Activities 10:00 - 10:30 Lap and Free Swim, 10:30 - 11:30 Water Aerobics Class 11:30 - 12:00 Lap and Free Swim You must be a current member of the senior center to have access to the pool. This time is for exercise NOT socialize. Please leave the pool time for those who wish to work out. You must call in the day prior to reserve a spot as the number we are allowed to have in the pool is still limited.
Meet our New Employee
By: Mike Sylva
We’d like to introduce you to the “newest” member of the Highland Senior Center family. Kim Scarcella is actually a familiar face here at the center, being our university computer instructor. Now is officially working here as the new Outreach/Program Director.
She knew that Annette Mendenhall had left us and one day, was talking to Executive Director, Penny Lilburn, about helping out. Penny told her she would keep it in mind, thinking that Kim was being nice. Penny took her at her word, and it turns out, not only was she being nice, but she truly did want to help out!
Now she is busy getting her feet wet in the Transportation Assistance Program, where has been using her formidable computer skills to organize a decades worth of files while updating and creating forms. The teacher is also the student as Misti Stephens shows her the ropes of the TAP program.
Originally from La Mesa, CA near San Diego, it was there that she met her husband, Joe, while he was in the Navy. She earned her degree in Human & Child Development from San Diego State University, before they moved to Missouri for his graduate studies. During that time she did double duty as a mom and some part time work at a Montessori, secretarial work, and a substitute teacher.
Her husband became a professor at Cal State San Bernardino, which brought her to Highland. Once here she got another degree in Vocational Education, then received her teaching credential. Following that she got a job at the Adult Education, teaching computer classes. That, in turn, brought her to us. “Welcome” Kim. Then again, you’ve been welcome here for a long time!
