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Boardman Park hosts Senior Fun Day
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Neighbors | Alisa Manna.Everyone worked very hard to make this event a success and had a great time doing it. From front left, Ann Lipinsky, Kay Varga, Helen Wilkinson, Peg Hoffman; (back) Connie Daugherty (activity director), Audrey Slanina, Ruth Eddy and Ruth Burns (volunteer) pose together during an event for the Senior Fun Day.
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Neighbors | Alisa Manna.There was friendly competition to win games, and prizes, offered at the Fun Day. Phyllis Simmers (left) and Jenny McCreery (right) pick out their Bingo prizes after winning a game.
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Neighbers: Alisa Manna.Senior Fun Day is a great chance for local seniors to get out and have fun with one another. From left, Carol Osberg, Pat Chamberlain, Shirley Wichert, Jenny McCreery, and Phyllis Simmers pose for photo during one of the activites.
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Neighbors | Alisa Manna.From left, Megan Crisucci, administrator at Sateri Assisted Living, Monna Behnke, director at Senior Independence, and Karen McCallum, recreation director at Boardman Park, were all very excited about how well the Senior Fun Day is received and how many seniors look forward to it.
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Neighbors | Alisa Manna.Games were also part of the fun offered in the Boardman Park. From left to right, Loretta Stas, Charlotte Gilliland, Barbra Hartman, Joan Catherman and Ilene Pavlich play Bingo.
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Neighbors | Alisa Manna.There were many crafts available to the participants of this event. From left, Ruth Eddy, Audrey Slanina, Connie Daugherty and Ann Lipinsky work on a USA door-hanger craft.
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Neighbors | Alisa Manna.The Fun Day was also a great chance for seniors to show their creativity. Jenny McCreery from Boardman (left) and Phyllis Simmers from Canfield (right) display their finished crafts.
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Neighbors | Alisa Manna.The Senior Fun Day in Boardman Park was a chance for seniors to catch up with old friends and make new ones, too. Kay Varga (left), Helen Wilkinson, Ruth Burns and Peg Hoffman (right) all work on a craft together.
By ALISA MANNA
Senior Fun Day at Boardman Park offered older adults in the community recreation, health and social services. Held at The Lariccia Family Community Center every third and fourth Thursday, Senior Fun Day includes exercise, crafts, blood pressure screenings, Bingo and lunch.
The Fun Day is sponsored by Boardman Park, Senior Independence, Sateri Assisted Living, Sunrise Assisted Living and Black Burn Home, and it provides participants with a fun and relaxing afternoon.
Though it began in January 2004, Senior Fun Day has been conistent.
“It’s always been where the sponsor provides lunch, the senior center does the exercises and crafts, senior independence does the blood pressure screenings and Boardman Park provides the facility, paper products and drinks,” said Karen McCallum, recreation director at Boardman Park.
To make sure each event runs smoothly, assistants from the sponsorships work as team. Working with McCallum is Monna Behnke, director at the Senior Independence Center, and Megan Crisucci, administrator at Sateri Assisted Living.
“Senior Fun Day is open to the community and only costs $1,” Behnke said.
They schedule speakers to come in and advocate beneficial information for seniors in the area. The topics of discussion range from health-related services to identity theft.
Connie Daugherty has attended Senior Fun Day for years working as the activity director at Blackburn Home. She said seniors at Blackburn Home look forward to seeing their friends and even arrange to carpool.
“It’s a big cooperation that works hard to give seniors a fun day,” she said.
Phyllis Simmers from Canfield said she and her friends walk in the morning and then go to Senior Fun Day for the activities.
Ruth Burns worked at Blackburn Home for 30 years. After retiring, she now goes back to visit and volunteer with Daugherty. She said the seniors like to go every month — rain, snow or heat.