Despite the soaring heat, 15 Senior Olympic team members walked to the 14th Street Park with Coach Helene and active living expert Charlie Gandy to prepare for the big game day. Participants sharpened their skills on basketball free throws, tossing the football, ring flinging, and the walking and running relay races. The team even added some extra practice on their own, in hopes of winning the championship trophy!
At 7 am on the morning of the Games, our team met in the main lobby, boarded their team bus, and headed to the event site. Adorned in specially designed cut-up T-shirts created by team captain, Severina, our team made a grand, stylish entrance. Having won the championship last year when we participated in the games for the very first time, the pressure was on to see if we could possibly do it again. Despite the hot, 90-plus degree weather, our team stayed cool under the pressure. As EngAGE founder, Tim Carpenter shouted the cue, “LET THE GAMES BEGIN,” our LBSAC team led the Parade of Banners, which wrapped around the event field. The players then dispersed to the various event areas determined to give their very best.
The team members cheered for one another, they sweated, they laughed, and they played to win! After the field events the teams came inside the large community center and enjoyed lunch, which was followed by the performance competition for both individual and group performances. The competition was tough, with wonderful performances delivered by all the finalists.
As the judges tallied up the points for all 26 teams, the participants danced to the wonderful Rock & Roll group, J.E.S. Band, and waited anxiously for the results. No one was certain of the outcome until the final announcement was made that the 2015 Senior Olympic Champions were…THE LONG BEACH SENIOR ARTS COLONY! Our team stood up and screamed with delight, jumping up and down with excitement and joy. Team LBSAC took to the stage to accept their medals, proudly holding the coveted Championship Trophy as they posed for pictures.
Here’s the video of the winning team.
“Beginning Ceramics” class instructs residents on working with clay, from learning different techniques of building through glazing and firing the work. Instructor Colette Brown focused on Throwing, Centering Techniques (review), and Compressing lip and base. She introduced new glazing mixing techniques and using glaze as a “glue” in addition to reviewing how to apply/where not to apply glaze. For the Coil pots, she reviewed techniques in Coiling, Slipping, and Scoring.
~ Helene Weinberg, Creative Programs Director
EngAGE offers a variety of classes, workshops, and special programs at each of our communities. These posts highlight just a small sample.
