Volunteer of the Month
Archives

November 2019
Linda Sowell

Photo of Linda Sowell

This month we’d like to shine the light on a new, yet not new volunteer. If you read last month’s newsletter, specifically the Activity Spotlite, you would have read a bit about Linda Sowell. Well this month we’d like to shine an even larger spotlight on her as our Volunteer of the Month. Linda is the new Gadabouts Trip Coordinator. She had been working in the Thrift Store and was asked to be a relief in the Trip office. When a vacancy occurred she was asked to take over, which she was more than happy to do. Since then she has been busy scheduling new trips, chaperoning trips on occasion, and generally managing our hustling and bustling trip office. Linda also serves on our Board of Directors. If needed she also helps out at our special events. Originally from Chicago, IL, she moved out to California with her husband who was in the Navy. Once out here she was not content to stay at home raising her two kids (who themselves provided her with five grandkids), but worked in numerous types of jobs. Her main career was in Food Service. She started out at McDonalds as a cashier, and worked her way up to manager. Then she transferred to the school system where she became the Director of Children’s Nutrition for the Bear Valley School District before retiring. Thanks Linda for helping to take our members on trips of a lifetime.

Featured Class

Fall Class Registration
Date: September 20, 2019
Time: 9:00 to 11:00 am
Length: 8 weeks
Cost: $8.00 members
      $8.00 non-members
Instructor: varies
Location: Game Room
Description: Time to register for the Fall session of Highland Senior Center University classes. Be sure to show-up on registration day as a late fee ($4) applies if you do not register on September 30th. Classes run for 8 weeks and cost $8.

Featured Activity

Double Pinochle
Time: Tuesdays 8:30 am - 12:00 pm
Cost: Free members
      Free non-members
Location: Parlor
Description: This month we'd like to put out the call for some card sharks. Specifically for those who enjoy Double Pinochle (aka: Double Deck Pinochle). The game is slightly different from pinochle, but not much. A game consists of 4 players, two playing as partners sitting across from each other. The deck consists of 80 cards, containing A 10 K Q J in each of the four suits, and with four identical copies of each card. This deck can be formed by mixing together two normal Pinochle decks, having thrown out the nines, or from four regular 52 card decks from which you throw out all the numerals 2 to 9. After the deal there is an auction in which players bid the number of points their team will try to win. Whoever bids highest has the privilege of choosing trumps and leading to the first trick. The object of the high bidder's team is to win at least as many points as the amount they bid. Points can be scored in two ways: 1. by declaring and showing (melding) combinations of cards held in a players hand; 2. by winning aces, tens and kings in tricks The game is won by the first partnership to achieve a score of 500 or more. If both sides reach 500 on the same hand, the bidding side wins. Don't worry if you still don't feel confident. The group is more than willing to take on new players and ease them into the game. The fun takes place every Tuesday beginning at 8:30 a.m. and continues until 12:00 p.m.
Pastor Zinn Honored
By: Mike Sylva
The Highland Senior Center’s held it’s biggest event and fundraiser of the year on April 19th at the San Bernardino Golf Club: The annual Golf Tournament and Senior Recognition Dinner. God must have approved of the selection of Pastor Zinn as we had perfect weather for golf.

The day began with golfers hitting the greens. The shotgun start seemed appropriate as some of the golf balls were hit in the same pattern. Some to the left, some to the right, and some right one. This year’s Law Enforcement winners made it a repeat of sorts, as one of the teams from Patton Corrections: Darrin Martin, Bobby Hawkis, Carl Eversol, and C.J. Eversole wrested the Law Enforcement Trophy away from their fellow Patton mates shooting a 54. With that score, they also won the overall tournament. 1st place senior division winners: Jim Stark, Bill Mills, Rene Johnstone, and Marcos Alonzo, who shot a 59. Taking honors for “Most Honest” (aka: Highest Score) team of Yevette Ramos, Toni Callicott, Laura Tolbrit, and Ryan O’Donohue. Regardless of the score, everyone has a great time. Trading in a day of work for a day of golf made everyone a winner..

This year the center recognized Pastor Rob Zinn as our Outstanding Senior for his hard work and dedication to the community. Our many thanks to our major sponsors - San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, California Strategies, and Patricia Fischer. Also, thanks to all of our other various money and product sponsors, and raffle donors. Finally, we’d like to thank all of the volunteers, golfers, and everyone else who helped support the center and honor Pastor Rob Zinn.