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11th Annual Silver Stars - May 10

Recognizing 2012 Silver Stars and Tallahassee Senior Center volunteers at FSU's University Center Club - Tickets on sale April 12 at the Tallahassee Senior Center

Some stars just make life a whole lot brighter. Not only those in the night sky, but individuals who touch our daily lives or lighten the load for loved ones, neighbors and friends. Silver Stars come in all shapes and sizes - and from all walks of life. The common thread is exemplary service to others and our community. These individuals inspire others of all ages to continue to live well and stay involved. They maintain a twinkle about themselves and glitter from the inside out.

The Silver Stars celebration - Tallahassee's premier senior recognition event, presented by Tallahassee Senior Services and Capital Health Plan - recognizes individuals for outstanding contributions. Each year a select number of individuals receive recognition as models of active aging and caring for older adults. "Silver Stars" are individuals who have achieved special accomplishments since reaching age 60.

Nominations are sought from the community and must be received by February 1. Send a nomination form or a letter of nomination - not to exceed 100 words - to: Silver Stars Nomination, Tallahassee Senior Center, 1400 N. Monroe St., Tallahassee, Florida, 32303. Be sure to describe the individual's outstanding achievements or contributions since reaching age 60. Include the nominee's and nominator's contact names and information, and be sure to get permission from the nominee. Forms can be downloaded here (PDF).

If you would like to participate in this event as a co-sponsor or Silver Stars table sponsor, call Sheila Salyer at 891-4000.

Tallahassee Active Lifelong Leaders - Introducing TALL Class 5!

Tallahassee Active Lifelong Leaders program provides an opportunity for area seniors to enhance positive change in the community through advocacy and volunteerism.

The new TALL class members include: Sarah Ann Dailey, Carolyn Faust, Patrick Fowler, Ben Girtman, Margo Hall, Kathleen Herzog, Candace Hundley, Christine Inger, Steven Inger, David Jacobson, Carol Lee, William Reece, Peggy Sandford, Donnaclaire Schwekendiek, Marjorie Turnbull, Barbara Varchol, Emily Whitney and Toni Walmsley.

From January 24 - March 13, TALL participants will get an in-depth look at various aspects of our community, and provided a community "snapshot" of the cultural, political, safety, legal and justice, educational, environmental, and health and human services climate. Site visits bring participants together with community leaders, and through interactive activities, they become better equipped to enhance positive change and growth in the community.

Graduation for Class 5 and a Five Year Anniversary Celebration for all TALL graduates will be held the evening of March 13. Graduates, guests, community members who have participated in program days and program sponsors will be invited to the event.

The extremely popular TALL program is a partnership with Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce's Leadership Tallahassee program and sponsored by AARP. Members of the Tallahassee community serve as facilitators, presenters, hosts, and educators.

Christine Frier Rides Mentor's Bike to Record-Setting Performances

By Nick Gandy, Director of Communications, Florida Sports
While Tallahassee's Christine Frier may have been competing in her first Florida Senior Games State Championships, on December 10 and 11 in Polk County, she was carrying with her the spirit of a Senior Athlete of days gone by.

On successive days in December, Frier rode a Cervelo P3 Time Trial bike that once belonged to Vanessa "Van" Hilliard, a former Florida Senior Games athlete who passed away in March, to gold-medal winning and record-breaking times.

"Vanessa got me started cycling in 1984 and taught me how to train and race," Frier said. "It's something I've stayed with for almost 30 years and now it's a lifestyle. She was a mentor and a good friend. "

Hilliard, a St. Petersburg resident, competed in the Florida Senior Games State Championships from 1997 to 2002 and holds javelin, shot put, discus and hammer throw age group records in the 55-59 and 60-64 age group. She holds three national records in the hammer throw and discus. In 2001, USA Track and Field inducted her into its Masters Hall of Fame. On the bike, she, at one time won 19 straight bicycle races, according to the St. Petersburg Bicycle Club.

"You came to gauge your abilities by how well you could keep up with her," said Patrick Ruta, 63, a member of the St. Petersburg Bicycle Club, in her obituary in the St. Petersburg Times.

Not a bad resume for Christine Frier's mentor, who encouraged her cycling efforts.

Frier's mentor was no doubt smiling down on her as she set records in the 55-59 age group with a time of 8:07.426 in the 5K Time Trials and 16:41.513 in the 10K Time Trials. Her time in the 5K was 20 seconds faster than the previous best and her 10K time beat the previous record by 42 seconds.

The next day she jumped back on the bike, this time one built by her husband, and rode the 20K Road Race in 32:58.568. All totaled, in three gold medal winning races, she rode more than 21 miles in less than an hour.

Like many in the Tallahassee area, Frier stumbled across the Capital City Senior Games by chance and it gave her a new opportunity to return to competition.

"I saw something posted online and decided to give it a try," she said. "It was nice to compete against people your own age and the camaraderie is a lot of fun.

Besides Frier, 24 other Tallahassee senior athletes competed in the 20th Anniversary of the Florida Senior Games State Championships in Polk County. Following is a list of medal winners.

Dale East, Archery, Gold Medal Men's 55-59 Compound Fingers, 840/900 (New record for age group)
Robert Estevez, Basketball Shooting, Bronze medals Men's 55-59 Free Throw and Spot Field Goal shooting.
Yvonne Gsteiger, Cycling, Bronze Medal in Women's 50-54 40K Road Race with a time of 1:07:02
Steve Reker, Cycling, Gold Medal Men's 55-59 10K Time Trials with a time of 14:39.738, Silver Medal in 5K Time Trials (7:15.543) and Bronze in 40K Road Race, as all three riders came in within the same second at 57:41
Randall Smith, Cycling, Gold Medals in both 5K and 10K Time Trials 50-54 age group with a time of 7:01.560 in the 5K and 14:08.595 in the 10K
Bruce Hagan, Powerlifting, Three Gold Medals (Bench Press, Deadlift, Combined) in the 60-64, 148 lb weight class
Len Harvey, Powerlifting, Three Gold medals (Bench Press, Deadlift, Combined) 55-59 age group 242 weight class
Josephine Newton, Race Walk, Gold Medal women's 85-89 group with a time of 46:33.62
Rodney Letchworth, Track & Field, Gold Medal in Men's 75-79 in the Shot Put with a throw of 33-02 and a bronze in the discus throw with 81-09
Bill Tharpe, Track & Field, Gold Medal in the 200 meter dash with a time of 27.10 (new record for age group) and silver in the 100 meter dash crossing the finish line at 13.51
Charles Williams, Track & Field, Crawfordville, won a gold medal in the Men's 50-54 age group 800 meter run with a time of 2:28.13. Also won three silver medals and a bronze in the long jump, discus, javelin and 400 meter dash during two days of Track & Field competition.

The 2012 Capital City Senior Games will be held March 15 - 19, and will serve as a qualifier for the 2012 Florida International Senior Games & State Championships in Polk County, December 1 - 9.

The 2012 State Championships are a qualifier for the 2013 National Senior Games, to be held in Cleveland, Ohio, July 21 - August 5, 2013.

2012 Capital City Senior Games - March 10 - 19

Schedule of Events

March 10 - Road Race, Shamrock Scurry
March 15 @ 7:00pm - Swimming, Wade Wehunt Pool @ Myers Park
March 16 @ 9:00am - Basketball, Sue McCollum Communtiy Center
March 16 @ 1:00pm - Bowling, Capital City Lanes
March 17 @ 9:00am - Archery, Beau Turner Youth Center
March 17 @ 9:00am - Table Tennis, Jack McLean Community Center
March 17 @ 10:00am - Horseshoes, Forestmeadows Park and Athletic Center
March 17 @ 10:00am - Track and Field, Godby High School
March 17 @ 11:00am - Billiards, Geo's Pub & Pool
March 18 @ 10:00am - Cycling, Apalachicola Forest
March 19 @ 10:00am - Golf, Hilaman Municipal Golf Course
Power Lifting, TBD
Racquetball, TBD

A Touch of Magic Rings in the Season

By Andrea Personett
Revelers entered a world of holiday magic at December's Deck the Halls, a Celebration of Wreaths in the Tallahassee Senior Center. As carols and Christmas favorites from talented Leon High School guitarists filled the air in the lobby, old fashioned street lamps showed off the bounty in the main hall - long, brimming tables of food, row after row of silent auction items, dozens of handmade wreaths, a Martini bar with festive hand painted glasses, a wine tree filled with bottles for winning and hundreds of happy faces.

On stage, the Deborah Lawson Group, Tallahassee's own Big Band, wowed throughout the evening as people bid on favorite gifts and made merry. This was the third year the Deborah Lawson Group donated their performance at Deck the Halls. When asked about the generous donation of their music, Deborah says, "Because I sing with Tallahassee Swing and they have such a great following of seniors, playing at the Senior Center is a priority. (Also) the format of Deck the Halls places us front and center and the audience is always great. The center treats us well and it's a fun time for us. It's a wonderful place and important to the community. Performing is our way of giving back."

Capital Health Plan was presenting sponsor again this year. "CHP employees made a lot of the wreaths you see here tonight," says Donna Wells, CHP staff and TSF board member. "We have as much fun making the wreaths as people do buying them!"

Wandering through nearly 200 different gifts - trips and jewelry and festive hand-painted aprons and table-top trees - one inevitably encounters Dot Carroll, acclaimed Queen of the Cash Give-Away tickets. Each year Dot outdoes her previous year's performance selling chances to win $500 during the holiday event. And, she says, "This is my best year ever." Linda Rabon, a local basket artist, was the lucky 2011 winner.

Cheryl Hebert, Allegro Heritage Oaks, was impressed with the selection of auction items and the festive party atmosphere, "It's just plain incredible!" she said. County Commissioner Bryan Desloge and wife Beth did a lot of their Christmas shopping. "What a fun way to shop," he said.

Mary Carroll, former president and current member of the TSF board, reminisced about being the first chairman for Deck the Halls. "It started as such a tiny event, compared to now," Mary remembered. "We added handmade wreaths - borrowing an idea from another senior center, and look us now - a tremendous party is our foundation's largest fund-raiser," she said enthusiastically.

If you missed the 2011 Deck the Halls, don't despair. The Celebration of Wreaths for 2012 will be here before you know it. To sign up early for sponsor opportunities and other donations, call Ashley Webb at 891-4000.

Come Go With Us

The Tallahassee Senior Center & Collette Vacations Present - The Canadian Rockies & Glacier National Park
September 15 - 22
Book now and save $150 per person!
Offer and tour price only valid until March 15.
Highlights include Waterton Lakes National Park, Glacier National Park, "Going to the Sun" Road Banff, Columbia Icefields, Calgary and more. 8 days, 9 meals, Round trip air from Tallahassee, air taxes and fees/surcharges, and hotel transfers. Call 891-4004.

Orlando Tour
April 4 - 5
Includes: The Holy Land Experience, Arabian Nights Dinner Theatre - with world famous Lippizzaner horses, hotel with continental breakfast, Appleton Art Museum in Ocala, deluxe motor coach transportation, tour escort, and all taxes and meal gratuities. Single per person: $265.00 Double per person: $229.00 $25 deposit due by February 9; balance due by March 6. For tour information or to make a reservation, phone 891-4004.

Photo Frenzy

Deck the Halls glitz and glamour brings out the shine in everyone!

Amy Kelly of Capital Home Health (sponsor of Wreaths & Sweets), and Scott Harrell of HomeInstead Senior Care (a Deck the Halls sponsor) find lots to smile about at the 2011 holiday event.	Michael Spellman shows off his silent auction shopping success. Sniffen & Spellman PA, was a gold ribbon sponsor of the signature event.	Cupcake Fantasia, a colorful and decorative dessert array presented to party-goers by Waldoch & McConnaughhay, P.A., found Leah Bakan serving up tasty treats.

Lew Wilson, Deck the Halls emcee, spends time with friend Helen Ervin of the Children's Home Society.	Party-goers are greeted with sounds of the season as the Leon High School Guitar Band plays in the Old Armory lobby.

It is a "Celebration of Wreaths" and shoppers bid feverously throughout the evening. Phoebe Barrlow is all smiles as she leaves with her prize.	Capital Health Plan was primary sponsor for this year's gala. CHP staff made and donated 34 wreaths for the fundraiser. Gathering for a photo are (l to r) Gert Ladd, Melissa Pierson, Donna Wells, Medicare Sales Manager and Polly White, Senior VP of Marketing and Administrative Services.

Beth Desloge, Sheila Salyer (TSC manager) and Rick Carroll enjoy the festive night.	Gary Coates directs the Tallahassee Community College Bands at a recent TSC concert.

(l to r) Rosalind Parlor and recently retired board member Shirley Gooding Butler share some time during Deck the Halls.	Gregory Hilliard conducts Capital Chordsmen as they sing holiday favorites during a recent TSC performance.

Steve and Sara Halsell, Prudential sponsor, revel with Marc Moncrief of HomeInstead.	Charles Santiago plays for a Deck the Halls sponsors' reception.