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Posts Tagged ‘Skagit Valley Herald’

Art brings young, and young at heart, together

By admin: 09/18/2012 @ 10:40 am

 

By Erinn Unger
Skagit Valley Herald 

SEDRO-WOOLLEY — Sadie Linn and Yelena are pals.

They worked carefully and happily Friday on a holiday card together, both leaning over the small table affixed to Yelena’s wheelchair.

Yelena, 10, pressed a vibrant autumn leaf to the paper. Linn, 89, drew a heart in red. Soon, the feathers meant for their paper art project were in their hair instead.

“Are you happy I’m here?” Linn asked.

“Yeah,” Yelena replied simply before flashing a megawatt grin.

The residents of Country Meadow Village retirement community went back to school Friday, visiting Evergreen Elementary to complete an art project with the Life Skills class, a program for students with disabilities that combines academics with teaching social interaction skills.

“It definitely brings a lot of joy to them,” said teacher Amryl Geary of her students and the visits from their friends at the Village. The visits bring out conversational interaction for students who are usually nonverbal and gives a safe, joyful environment for the students to practice their social skills.

“We fight over the kids. We want them all,” Linn said.

The program started about three years ago and the class has traditionally visited the retirement community. However, budget cuts have taken a toll on the finances available for field trips, Geary said.

Working around the financial limitations, the seniors visited the school for the first time Friday as part of the retirement community’s Art for the Ages celebration.

Despite the change in scenery, there’s still hot chocolate and cookies all around, just like the kids get when they visit the Village.

Rodrigo, 10, had been looking forward to the visit all week. He made one card for his mom and another for his dad with Janet Monk, 75.

“They’re very fun,” Rodrigo said of the seniors.

Monk said the students teach her “so much” — including how to play Uno.

“They lift my spirits,” she said. “…They make the whole day worthwhile.”

Pictured: Sadie Linn, 89, helps Yelena, 10, paste a gold leaf on her fall greeting card Friday at Evergreen Elementary School in Sedro-Woolley. Seniors from Country Meadow Village visited the Life Skills class at the school to help the children with art projects. Scott Terrell / Skagit Valley Herald

 
 
 

Bopping balloons for healthy fun

By admin: 09/12/2012 @ 2:42 pm

 

Skagit Valley Herald

Exercise that’s fun can help generate good health and a cheerful outlook for people of all ages. What better way for seniors to gain both than with a friendly game of Flyswatter Volleyball?

What began as a casual activity for Country Meadow Village residents in Sedro-Woolley has spilled over into other community teams, according to Program Director David Bricka. The game is played much like volleyball, except players sit in chairs and hit a balloon with flyswatters.

While competition was once limited between Village teams the Falcons and the Meadowlarks, word of the good times has spread. Teams from other area clubs and centers have sprouted, including the Burlington Blasters at the Burlington Senior Center, the Whippersnappers from the Sedro-Woolley Boys & Girls Club and the Sedro-Woolley Rotary Club.

The teams holds a weekly practice to implement technique and strategy, Bricka said. They even scheduled competitions with one another and have effectively established a league among the participating senior centers and community hubs.

“It is much more than just the games on the calendar,” Bricka said. “It is about teamwork and community, and most importantly, exercise that is fun and creative. Laughter is a key part of the process.”

Sedro-Woolley Boys & Girls Club Director Jill Reid said she is excited to see a partnership forming between the Country Meadow Village residents and the kids from the S-W Boys & Girls Club.

“It is great for the kids to see that exercise is a lifelong opportunity,” Reid said in a news release. “They have made new friends with this experience, and that is a great thing.”

Bricka said the popularity of the flyswatter volleyball competitions has prompted him and others to begin working to create a Flyswatter Volleyball Commission.

The Burlington Senior Center certainly is on board. Their latest newsletter reads, “We are currently issuing challenges to Anacortes, Mount Vernon, Sedro-Woolley and Concrete senior centers to come play against us!”

Top Picture: Bryan Armstrong (from left), Sage Armstrong, Case Wilson and Jesus Lopez of the Whippersnappers play in August against Elva Sherwood (front, right) and the Falc-O-Larks at Country Meadow Village in Sedro-Woolley. 

 
 
 

A flyswatting showdown

By admin: 04/18/2012 @ 10:41 am

 

Scott Terrell
Skagit Valley Herald

Pictured: Members of the Burlington Blasters cheer from the bench during their team’s game against the Country Meadow Village Falcolarks from Sedro-Woolley in a competitive game of flyswat volleyball Friday afternoon at the Burlington Senior Center. The Blasters came out on top, 15-13.

 
 
 

Country Meadow Village Flyswatter Volleyball teams join forces to take on Burlington Senior Center

By admin: 04/03/2012 @ 3:20 pm

 

20110418073058822-300x177Country Meadow Village Flyswatter Volleyball teams the Meadowlarks and Falcons are joining forces to take on a team fielded by the Burlington Senior Center on Friday, April 13. Equal representation from each team will hop on the bus and head on over to the Center to compete in a “Flyswatter Volleyball Smackdown”. New Senior Center Director Jackie Cress had the idea to challenge Country Meadow Village after reading an article that ran in the Skagit Valley Herald.

“We’re taking you down Country Meadow Village,” Cress recently said to Country Meadow Program Director David Bricka.

“In your dream, Cress,” Bricka replied, knowing the strength and power of the Flyswatter way of life. “In your dreams.”

Pictured: Program Director David Bricka referees a game of Flyswatter Volleyball

 
 
 

Red, white and blue were the order of the day during 77th Loggerodeo

By admin: 07/14/2011 @ 11:36 am

 

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Skagit Valley Herald

Country Meadow Village won Best Decorated Business at Loggerodeo this year. The retirement community was decked out in red, white and blue. The decor included the Statue of Liberty and rockets made from recycled packing tubes. Country Meadow received a plaque for its efforts.