April is celebrated with Easter brunch, Volunteer Appreciation Day, Spring Fling, and Earth Day

By DIANE LANTER
and TAMARA BYRNES
of the Senior Center

Special to The News

Shelley Swenson from the extension office visited during Earth Day week and shared projects with seniors.

Special to The News

Senior Center Director R.H. Carter with Volunteer of the Year Virginia Davis at the volunteer luncheon.

Special to The News

Another jar of Chef Mary’s peach preserves are sold at a table set up at the door of the Senior Center.

Special to The News

Bruce Ashley of the sheriff’s office talks about disposal of prescription medications.

Special to The News

Nancy Jefferson teaches pottery at the Senior Center.

The few April showers that we had, brought April and May flowers to our flourishing garden. Tamara, her seniors and the Iris Garden Club have worked very hard to establish the raised beds with tomatoes, squash, onions and watermelon. The Master Gardeners of Leon and Wakulla counties, led by Trevor Hylton, built these beds for the center several years ago.
The pergola that Ray Rich so lovingly put together is now covered with cross vines, native honeysuckle and confederate jasmine. The pergola has provided a cool, refreshing place to relax and enjoy the new blooms along our walking trail.  
Don Allen’s blueberry bushes have bloomed and blueberries are growing but we are still hoping for the bushes to thrive.
Thanks to all who donated tomato cages – our tomatoes are standing up tall and producing nice healthy tomatoes. The pots of fennel and wildflowers have been feeding our butterfly larvae.
If you would like a nice place to relax, enjoy the weather or read a book, come by the senior center and enjoy our pergola.
Chef Mary fixed one of her famous brunch menus for us to celebrate Easter at the center. The seniors made the center pieces complete with a bunny.  They were raffled off and a lucky recipient from each table went home with an Easter basket.
Our annual Volunteer Appreciation Day was a great success. We honored more than 150 gracious Wakulla volunteers, who make it possible for us to provide the services that make this senior center a wonderful place to come to for information and activities.  
Karen Henry, one of our volunteers, was our speaker for the event. She is currently delivering meals to our homebound clients and they are enjoying seeing her and her always smiling face. Thank you, Karen and all of our volunteers.
Mid-April we had a visit with Carolyn Kramer and Joey Grubbs, a wonderful singing duo. They had seniors singing and dancing right along with them. We sure do enjoy their visits. It looks like October might be their next visit.
On April 21, the center was rocking with the Tallahassee Swing Band. What a time we had rockin’ and a rollin’ and swinging each other around the dance floor.
Chef Mary’s hors d’oeuvres were the hit of the party. If you haven’t tasted Mary’s Original Peach Preserves, you can purchase jars at the senior center for $6 a jar or three for $15.
Earth Day was celebrated all week at the Senior Center. On Monday, Reenie Rogers from New Leaf Market showed the seniors how to make green cleaning products using baking soda and scented essential oils.

On Tuesday, Tamara and the Iris Garden Club, along with several seniors, spruced up our garden area.  
The Area Agency on Aging from Tallahassee presented our annual Senior Service Day on Wednesday. Medicare, Medicaid and amplified telephones were distributed along with a hearing screening, as well as energy assistance for the elderly and Social Security questions were handled.  
On Thursday, our Earth Day activities were presented by Shelley Swenson and Trevor Hylton of the local extension office and Jo Ann Palmer of Keep Wakulla County Beautiful.
We ended the week with Bruce Ashley from the Wakulla County Sheriff’s Office talking about safe disposal of medications and any pills that might contaminate our ground water if we dispose of them in a hazardous way. Several seniors brought their collections in for disposal. We are glad to have this method available and encourage everyone to take advantage of the service that the sheriff’s office is providing to Wakulla County residents.
Nancy Jefferson was back on the last Friday of the month, teaching her Pottery Class. This time, the seniors made inspirational messages on clay tiles for wall hangings. This program is brought to the senior center through the Healing Arts of Wakulla County (HAWC) program.
On June 7 from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30, a.m., the Area Agency on Aging in Tallahassee will be holding a public hearing in the dining room of the senior center. If you have any questions, call (850) 926-7145.