Seniors, well equipped to face the challenges of today’s financial realities, worked together to save their centers.
The South County Senior Center faced the possibility of losing all of its funding provided by the city of Edmonds. But the City Council eventually did approve funding.
In Mill Creek seniors won a hard fought battle, gaining space at the City Hall Annex for the Mill Creek branch of the Northshore Senior Center. Over the week of July 26 the center moved, beginning a three-year, rent-free lease after the City Council shot down the community’s $2 million request for a new senior center.
Individual seniors shared their rich stories this past year.
Vivian Baer joined her daughter in a free bowling class. Now bowling has become a family tradition. Vivian, now 90; her son Richard; daughter Joan Wimmer; and Joan’s husband, Ron, get together as “The Over the Hill Gang” team.
A brain injury pushed Lou Nash to advocacy. In 1993 the then businessman had a stroke. Now, at 71, he is an advocate for sufferers of traumatic brain injuries. He facilitates a monthly brain injury support group that meets at Stevens Hospital.
Artist Jon Wahl joined his granddaughter and fellow artist, Noelle Burdick, to hang collaborative art exhibits. This year, they showed at the Mountlake Terrace Library.
Halide Patterson, an early resident, remembered her girlhood days in 1928 living on the property at 196th Street Southwest and 44th Avenue West. Her remembrances were spurred as the city of Lynnwood kicked off its year-long 50th anniversary celebration.
Elsie Drueger, aged 90, was honored for her volunteerism. The Edmonds resident was awarded the Outstanding Volunteer Service Award for her work at the South County Senior Center in Edmonds. The award was presented by Gov. Chris Gregoire in Olympia.
Bill Miller, holder of the Purple Heart, Silver Star and Gold Star, shares how his retirement days are fulfilling in service with Lynnwood’s Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1040 and with the Northshore Senior Center in Bothell.
Joannie Jackson Schendel, 86, performed during a USO Review at the South County Senior Center in Edmonds on Nov. 8. She was a USO performer during World War II, launched a Broadway career and was the understudy for screen actress Betty Hutton.
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