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

Excel Class
Date: January 26, 2022
Time: 10:00 - 11:00 am
Length: 8 weeks
Cost: $8 members
      $8 non-members
Instructor: TBA
Location: Game Room
Description: The class is on hiatus until the new year. Look for an Excel class!

Featured Activity

Pool
Time: Dailys
Cost: Free members
      Free non-members
Location: The Game Room
Description: With the recent restoration of our pool table, and the kind donation of a new pool bridge, we thought it only fitting to shine the spotlite on pool. Billiards is an umbrella term for billiards and pool, which are not the same thing. Billiards is pool without pockets, played with smaller balls (three balls; white, yellow, and red) striking a ball after a bank. A type of snooker could be played on our table with a bit of imagination. Snooker involves a larger table, smaller pockets and red and colored balls and a white cue, alternating sinking red and colored, except after sinking a colored ball you put it back in it's original spot. Pool involves a table with 6 pockets, a clue ball, and 15 object balls that may or may not be pocketed in order, depending on whether you're playing 8 or 9 ball pool. Nine ball is played with nine balls numbered one through nine, and a cue ball. On each shot the first ball the cue ball contacts must be the lowest-numbered ball on the table, but the ball need not be pocketed in order. Players are not required to call any shot. A match ends when one of the players has won the required number of games (as determined by the players. Eight ball is a call shot game played with a cue ball and fifteen object balls, numbered 1 through 15. One player must pocket ball of the solid colors, and the other player pockets the stripes. The player pocketing his group first and then legally sinking the 8-ball wins. If this sounds confusing we usually have someone in the room playing, especially in the late afternoons. If we get enough interest we can even set up a dedicated pool time for you sharks.
Wii Bowling - Seniors vs Cops vs Firemen
By: Mike Sylva
If you looked out at the parking lot, you might have thought all heck was busting loose at the center, what with firetrucks and cop car parked out front. However, it wasn’t a bad thing. They came to the center to participate in a very special Wii Bowling match.

The firemen and police officers played against our Wii Bowling Leagues Top Team. Fire consisted of C. Valenzuela, G. Mowat, R. Acevedo, and John Hagen (a former deputy who subbed for them). The Cops consisted of R. Collins, E. Ogaz, M. Maker, and E. Popa. Now the fact that the seniors bowl every week, year round, while the firemen and cops haven’t Wii Bowled in years didn’t discourage our safety personnel. And while the scores may not reflect it, they actually did well. Final scores were: Seniors 1747, Cops 1196, and Fire 1173. We hope to make this an annual classic. Who knows how it will turn out next year with a year to practice.