At Senior Day at the County Fair, one of our Ellicott City Senior Center members, Tom Flinn, is still bowled over by the fact that he won a laptop! Congratulations, Tom! (Tom, are you finding it something easy to use and useful? I've been wondering if it is something I could use.)

Another item about the senior center, in regards to the results of the Wii Bowling Tournament, on Aug. 13, which was mentioned last week. The winners were: Fran Byron, first place, and Ann France, second place, but "Lady Velva" Howard, president of the Senior Council, got the high score of 224.

A question about this "new stuff"! How could "Lady Velva" have gotten high score, but not placed, first nor second? Fran responded that the tournament was one of elimination, with the competition of the first two groups of six, each, resulting in eliminating six, and so many more the next game, and so on, until they were down to the top two. "Lady Velva" got her top score at a lower level, therefore did not place.

"It is fun and good exercise," Fran said.

She said "exercise" is involved when the players go through the bowling motions, the steps and the swing of the ball, though they just push a button and watch the action on the TV screen. She told of being so "stiff" the next day, after one afternoon doing a rather extensive session, a real workout.

In September, at the Ellicott City Senior Center, a new type of Happy Hour is being initiated. The director, Carla Buehler, urges us all to "get into" this particular Happy Hour.

It has been especially "geared up" for those of 50 years of age or older who work eight or more hours in an office or at a desk, sedentary type of work. This Happy Hour begins at 5:30 p.m. or at 6:30 p.m., on Mondays and Wednesdays, to "exercise away the stress", with "Yoga" (6:30 p.m.) or "Cardio Combo with Jazz & Hip Hop" (5:30 p.m.). Thirteen sessions begin Monday, Sept. 15, through Oct. 29. The cost is $64. Sign up now at the front desk. (Classes are limited; call 410-313-1400.)

Back to the senior center and the Painting Together class members at the Howard County Fair. Nancy Krug was cited earlier for having received six ribbons, but no details were available.

Thanks to Carol Zink, five of Nancy's ribbons have been identified as: a first for a pastel, in the still life category; two third place ribbons, one for a water color, "Flowers," and another third for one, "Historic Ellicott City Bridge" (by the train station, in downtown Ellicott City); and two fourth place ribbons, one a water color of marine life category, and another fourth for the copy class. We do have a talented group of artists at the center! Drop in to check the paintings hung in the Great Room each month. (The annual art reception and exhibition is coming up.)

I happened to be looking through my boxes in cleaning out, and came across a letter from a resident in the area, to the Howard County Department of Citizen Services, Office On Aging. The resident was advocating recognition for an "angel" that he cited, "was on the staff of the Office on Aging."

After several unhappy experiences in placing his father in different facilities recommended by so-called knowledgeable personnel, with his father losing some 20 pounds and depressed, and all in all, very frustrated, he dropped in to the Ellicott City Senior Center.

He went on to tell a story about the unique and outstanding support he had received from Carla Buehler who, hearing his story, went out of her way to help him find a satisfactory professional facility for his father's care. He identified the facility as Harmony Hall to where his father moved, regained his weight, was no longer depressed, and in fact, was again enjoying life.

This letter was dated July 28, 2000. To my knowledge, no follow-up official action was taken. Buehler continues today in 2008, being as caring, helpful, and professional as that letter portrayed her in the year 2000.

Thank you, Carla, for being you!

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