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Join Us for Good Times with OLLI on September 19!

Were you one of the 200+ people who attended Taste of OLLI? Did you meet and make friends that you would like to see again? Then you should plan on joining us for our next fun-filled event, Good Times with OLLI, at on Thursday, September 19, from 1 to 3 p.m. This is a perfect opportunity to socialize, play games, enjoy refreshments, and share some Good Times with your fellow lifelong learners!

Thank You All Who Helped Make A Taste of OLLI a Major Success!

Coordinating off a massive annual event like A Taste of OLLI takes a village, and it starts with the Events Committee—Marylan Hightree, Joey Miller, Shirley Wise, Connie Ferguson, Karen Sandoval, Katy Steadman, Stephanie Grathwol, Babs Herman, Mary Roberts, Kelly O’Leary, Joan Gray, Ginny Spenner, and Stephanie Grathwol. They brainstorm and talk about what worked and didn’t work at the last event. 

Our office staff and ɫɫ��x team make sure the emails, flyers, Facebook posts, and other communications are ready to spread the word to OLLI members and through our community outreach activities at Famer’s Markets, Expos, etc. 

Then there are the countless volunteers and our heartfelt gratitude to all those who step up for the “one-time” and “special events” duties… 

• Mary Doud, Marcia Watts, and Stephanie Grathwol for assembling 200 folders
• Instructors and Special Interest Group (SIG) representatives who take the time to let us know about their upcoming courses and SIGs
• Babs Herman, Shirley Wise, Mary Roberts, and Joan Gray for staffing the check-in and name tag/folder tables.
• Our Moderator/Escorts, Judy Sivik, Chris Chadderdon, Katy Steadman, and Stephanie Grathwol 
• Madison Watland, Shannon Huneryager, and Toni Woolfork-Barnes for set-up the day before and take-down after the event, along with the others who stepped in to help with take-down.
• Our OLLI at ɫɫ�� Senior Reader’s Theater for reminding us that getting involved helps to combat loneliness seniors sometime face. 
• And to the countless others who make our events so successful!

Congratulations to the door prize winners whose names we were able to capture!

• Diann Martin – Grand Prize winner
• Dan Wherry – Miller Auditorium tickets
• Eurkres Rallings – Miller Auditorium tickets

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Secrets of Vitality Series 

by Tyler Norman, Ph.D., 
ACSM Exercise Physiologist, NCFI Corporate Fitness Specialist, 
and Manager of Corporate Outreach at West Hills Athletic Club, ɫɫ�� 

Vitality has been a common theme in my Wellness Moment series, and it occurred to me that it would be helpful to share a wide variety of perspectives on how to lead a life centered around Vitality, as well as uncover the secrets of many retiree-aged individuals that seem to have found the fountain of youth.  

Introducing Bev Clarke, age 73. Bev has been a member of West Hills for six years and has impressed me time after time with her feats of fitness, strength, and endless energy. In fact, Bev contains so much energy that she sometimes feels the need to do a Tango or a Salsa dance in between exercises. She is a walking advertisement for Vitality, so I asked her to share her secrets, and here are the key takeaways… 

“Nutrition is one of the most important aspects”, she says. Bev describes growing up in Jamaica, where the food they eat is generally as fresh as it can possibly be. They would eat fish that were caught from the ocean that day. The fruits and vegetables they would eat were grown in gardens and harvested before each meal. She has eight older siblings, the oldest of which is 97, and all are still alive and kicking—which Bev attributes to the healthy eating habits her family instilled in them in Jamaica.  

When Bev came to the U.S., it was difficult to continue those habits, but she made the effort. She avoids red meat, will have chicken on occasion, and very rarely eats in restaurants. Bev also likes to make fresh juice with a juicer four or five days per week. Her favorite recipe includes three carrots, one small beet, one granny smith apple, and a small piece of ginger.

Balance in her workouts is paramount. Bev started doing Yoga in 1973, way before it was as popular as it is today. That, combined with her dance background, got her hooked on fitness and now she likes to experiment with all sorts of exercises. “I don’t like to be bored,” Bev explains while describing her versatility of workouts, “and I’m not afraid to try anything.” She works with a trainer twice per week for strength training, does Pilates, and enjoys stretching. “I like to maintain my flexibility,” Bev says, and finds stretching in the morning “invigorating.”

Additionally, Bev says maintaining your sense of humor, involvement in social communities, and keeping your brain sharp are also important to living with vitality and living long. “The way you eat and physical activity will keep you alive or destroy you.” Well stated Bev, and thanks for the inspiration!

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