Volunteer of the Month
Archives
September 2018
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
Italian
Date: September 14, 2018
Time: 9:00 - 10:00 am
Length: 8
Cost: $8 members
$8 non-members
Instructor: Rita Sicilliano
Location: Game Room
Description: We welcome back an old class, Italian. The class is taught by Margherita Sicilliano. Margherita, who also goes by the names Margo or Rita, and is from the old country. Born in Caserta, Italy, she was actually born in the Italian Royal Palace (the Reggia di Caserta). Her mom was touring the palace when she went into labor. Not many people can say that they were born in a royal palace, much less a UNESCO World Heritage Site! Raised and educated in Italy, she was still in college when she came with her family to the United States. She continued with her education getting a Bachelor's Degree. She then went back to Italy to get her Master's Degree. Her teaching experience spans 42 years and includes teaching high school French, Spanish, and Italian in New York, as well as French and Spanish Advanced Placement classes at the local Aquinas High School. After retiring some friends told her about the center. She took a trip here and discovered a fellow Italian, Virginia Kautzman, and the two became friends. Margo also found out about our University Language classes, and decided to get back into teaching. She approached us about teaching here, and after offering a choice between Italian and German, everyone decided that Italian would be perfect. Now it is the only Italian class being offered in the area. Student’s need to bring only a pencil and paper to class. There is a work book students can purchase through Amazon for $16, but it is not necessary. The class is open to absolute beginners and those who wish to keep up their Italian. A presto! See you soon!
Featured Activity
Water Aerobics
Time: Dailys 10:00 am
Cost: No Free members
Must be a member non-members
Location: Jerry Lewis Community Center
Description: Join us Daily for Water Activites 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 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.
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!
