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The Eagle /Bryan College Station, Texas Sunday, May 24, 1981
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J is a party at Pooh's Park!
The setting is ideal for fun, and the party-
goers are , seniors ... not high school
seniors, bu senior citizens.
Don Dale, owner of the local amusement
center, opens its facilities to local persons
aged 60 and over from 9:30 a.m. until noon on
the third Wednesday of each month. Dale's
friend, former College Station Mayor D.A.
"Andy" Anderson, has formed a committee to
coordinate the monthly event. The group is
now known as the " Pooh's Park Committee,"
according to Shirley Plapp, director of the
Retired Senior VoluntPgr Program, who is
Anderson's co- chairr in.
Every organiza on for older citizens in
Bryan- College Station has been invited to send
a representative to the planning sessions,
Plapp explains. At the first meeting of the
Pooh's Park committee, Crestview
Retirement Community, American
Association of Retired Persons #515 and #2594,
Sherwood Health Care Facility, Brazos Valley
Geriatric Center, National Association of
Retired Federal Employees, Brazos County
Community Council, Texas A &M University
Retirees and RSVP were represented.
In addition to these, representatives from
Programs and Services for Older Americans
and Volunteers in Service to America have
attended subsequent meetings.
Each Pooh's Park party opens with a short
program. A favorite is Dan Warden and his
magic show. Following a break for refresh-
ments, which are locally donated, par-
ticipants quickly disperse to take part in their
favorite activities.
Doris Wheeler glides around the skating
rink after confiding that this is the second
time she has skated in 40 years. "Last month
it took an hour before I could stand up," she
says.
H.A. Moncrief laces up his skates and takes
a turn around the rink. "I don't want those
smart -aleck kids to laugh at me," he warns,
adding that he hasn't had skates on since 1946.
Meanwhile, RSVP volunteers George
Winstein and Gene Adam are taking their
musical instruments out of their cases and
tuning up. Before long, the strains of "Who's
Sorry Now ?" fill the cavernous room.
Winstein, .plays trumpet and accordion,.
while Adam can perform on either guitar or
violin. Some party -goers dance, while others
clap their hands or tap their feet in time to the
music.
"I don't like it when he plays," says Helen
Winstein of her husband, George. "He forgets
all about me." Helen loves to dance. "Dancing
is my pastime," she explains.
George finally puts his trumpet back into its
case, and someone puts Glen Miller music on
the public address system. George and Helen
swing out to "String of Pearls," doing a
strenuous jitterbug to the music from the
1930's and `40's.
Outdoors in bright spring sunshine, a group
of men and women play a round of miniature.
golf. Joe Wheeler remarks on the beauty of
the day and how nice it is to be outside. "I used
to play golf," he recalls.
A woman plays through, telling her friends
that she doesn't want to keep score. "This is
just for fun," she points out.
Back in the bowling alley, a group of seniors
has gathered to bowl or just to watch and offer
encouragement. Chris Dale, son of the
monthly party's host, offer's helpful
suggestions to the bowlers.
When the lightest bowling ball in stock
proves to be too heavy for her, Chris patiently
shows a woman how to rest the ball on the
floor at her feet and let it roll slowly down the
alley. The ball knocks down some pins, and
the spectators give a round of applause.
At the May 20 recreational outing at Pooh's
Park, the seniors celebrated "Older
Americans' Month" with a large cake. En-
tertainment at the party was provided by the
RSVP music group, and Blinky the Clown
(Plapp's alter ego) was on hand for the
festivities.
Attendance at the monthly gatherings h
been a disappointment to the committee.
Transportation. presents a problem, Plapp
says. At present, each participating
organization is responsible for getting its
members to and from Pooh's Park.
Fate of the innovative program, which has
given obvious enjoyment to the seniors who
are able to attend, now hangs in the balance.
"It all depends on the turn -out in June," says
Plapp.
Lupe
Rodriquez
smiles
broadly as
she rolls a
bowling
ball down
the alley.
Margaret