For three decades Carson Valley seniors have lunched and played at the Douglas County Senior Center, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary in June. The center has been a home away from home for many, with each day bringing its share of joy and occasional sorrow.
Aug. 9, 2006, was no different.
The first senior citizens club was founded in September 1974, with 45 charter members (now there are 238). One year later, in September 1975, the name Young At Heart was adopted and the club became incorporated.
Groundbreaking ceremonies took place at the end of Meadow Lane in Gardnerville May 6, 1976, and raising funds for construction began.
"This property was leased from the county. They gave us two years to build a senior center," said Esther Hildebrand, who has been ceramics room director for 14 years, as well as a member of the senior advisory board and a YAH board member for several years. She is YAH vice president.
Members held a Walkathon fundraiser on July 17, 1976, and raised more than $3,000 toward the building fund. The grand opening of the center was June 5, 1977.
During the past three decades the center has undergone three expansions to make way for the ever-growing membership and with it, its list of lunch patrons. Young At Heart and Soroptimist International of Carson Valley handled the lunch program prior to 1985, when the county took over and it became Meals on Wheels. Between 1993 and 1994 about 15,000 patrons visited the center for lunch, and 9,620 meals were delivered. By 2006, those numbers were up to 29,000 meals served at the center and 35,000 meals delivered.
The ceramics room, which existed before Hildebrand began volunteering, has become popular at the center, with about 40 seniors participating. The program gives seniors something productive to do, and costs the senior center nothing, according to Hildebrand. The participants purchase the item they would like to paint.
"I cast greenware at home and donate it," she said. "I furnish the paints with the money from the greenware, and of course, I teach (ceramics)."
The senior center is big on events. Throughout the year there is a senior health fair, 90-plus birthday party and Big Mama's Car Show. Every month they throw a party for all the seniors celebrating their birthdays that month.
After spending one day at the senior center, Aug. 9, 2006, it was apparent that the center has become a home away from home for many Douglas County senior citizens. Open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays, and for special events on the weekends, it appears to be run with the efficiency of several "moms."
On Aug. 9, there were seniors sharing in the celebration of the August birthdays. There were card games, turkey with all the trimmings, exercise, elections, visiting grandchildren, bingo playing and lots of happy faces.
"There's always something going on here," said Sandie Morris, who was filling in as a temporary employee in the senior center secretary position. In October 2006, Shannon Geraldo became the center's secretary.
But, just as it can happen in everyday life, the day brought with it one tragedy.
Mary Swerdfeger, then 82, who has worked at the center since 1987, tripped over a phone cord sometime in the late morning and fell, breaking her hip. She has since recovered and although she's no longer volunteering, she attends the center's lunches and events regularly.
"I stir the pot here," she said earlier that morning, unaware of the accident that would soon occur.
As a volunteer, Swerdfeger sat at the information desk, handling incoming calls.
To celebrate the senior center's 30th anniversary, there will be a community event on June 16. Swerdfeger was there when the center opened. The center has always been at the same location, 2300 Meadow Lane in Gardnerville.
"The faces change," Swerdfeger said of her years at the center, where she was first a paid employee, then a volunteer.
Paul Lockwood, who discovered that afternoon that he had been re-elected as president of the Young At Heart Club for 2007, has been trying to get a new, larger senior center approved for years. A utility tax to pay for the new center has been on the ballot twice already.
"It didn't go over well, but we keep trying," he said.
His next challenge was to get Question 2, a 1/4 percent sales tax to fund a senior center, on the November 2006 ballot. The problem was not whether people wanted a senior center, but how to fund it, he said.
"I think we have zero opposition," Lockwood said.
Although the Douglas center is not as luxurious as others he's seen, the people make up for it - the staff, volunteers and members -, Lockwood said.
"I have visited senior centers all over the West and found them beautiful," he said. "Even though we don't have a good building, this senior center is fantastic. People come from Carson City where they have a nicer senior center. The people here are so nice. It's very people-oriented here."
In August 2006, there were 24 staff members at the senior center, all employed by Douglas County, and about 90 active volunteers. The lunch room is often at capacity, and it holds about 140 people.
8 a.m. - A little after 8 a.m. when the center opens, several seniors were already sitting in the cafeteria eating sweet rolls and drinking coffee.
"Everybody comes in for birthday day," said Morris, the temporary secretary.
At the gift shop a new volunteer, Rachel McNeil, was dropping off some crafts she made. All the items for sale at the gift shop are handmade by individuals, mostly seniors, with 15 percent going to YAH, which in turn buys items for the center such as: tables, a walk-in freezer, an ice maker and air conditioner.
At 27, McNeil is young compared to most volunteers. She is the soon-to-be daughter-in-law of the senior center's transportation dispatcher Linda Skaggs, and is planning a wedding in the spring with Skaggs' son, Todd.
McNeil explained she was in a "bad" car accident three years ago while working as an extra on films in Hollywood, where she met her future husband who was a production assistant.
"I had to learn how to talk and walk again," said McNeil. "My mom wanted me to do something, to get out of the house. I'm here for a reason - to get married, have kids and be happy."
McNeil was helping three women who were bustling around the kitchen, preparing the noon meal.
"There's a schedule. These are the Wednesday ladies," said Warren Bottino, senior services supervisor for the last five years, who had also arrived at 8 a.m.
Irmgard Mortensen, 84, sets the tables and serves on Wednesdays, "with one helper sometimes," she said.
"This is my fun day," she said, explaining that other days she works at the Carson Valley Christian Center for the children's ministry. "That's a fun day, too, but it's more structured."
Mortensen walked the Great Wall of China at 80 and was the first woman waitress at the Brown Derby in Hollywood.
"Everyone tells me that I think too young," said Mortensen. "That's my whole problem."
Head cook Tammy McComb, who has worked at the center since March 1999, got her cooking experience first by taking college classes, then working as a cook at other jobs including six years for Bently Nevada Corp.
"I went to school to be an EMT, but I like cooking better," said McComb. "You know, so many seniors are grateful. The biggest pleasure I get out of this is the people who really need it. For a lot of them this is their dinner. The nutrition part is great for the ones who really need it."
McComb introduced Marlane Alioto and Ron Hill. Alioto works in the kitchen, and Hill transports and serves 40 meals at a satellite kitchen in Topaz Ranch Estates three days a week.
"We get a lot of help," said McComb. "We get high school kids who earn community service. It's a great place for kids to earn their community service."
In addition to lunch, plans were being made for a volunteer recognition dinner that was taking place on Aug. 12 for 200 people.
Cindy Petersen was in training to take Kathy Davis' place as volunteer coordinator. Thirty-two volunteers work in the dining room alone.
"If it wasn't for the volunteers, we would have to do it cafeteria style," said McComb. "This is like a restaurant. They're actually served. We used to have linen napkins, now we have rolled up paper napkins. The growing is tough. Space is our problem right now."
McComb said they are trying to encourage homebound people to come to the senior center for lunch.
"This is more than just nutrition," she said. "It's 50-50. It's socializing."
Nell Agnello, 75, started going to the senior center in March 2004 for the ceramics classes and bingo games.
"I sign up for every trip they take everywhere," she said.
Agnello was also elected to the 2007 YAH board of directors that day. Others who made it on the 2007 board are Howard Althouse, June Bachman and Diane Patton.
Coming in close second with driver Joe DiPietrantonio for the employee with the longest name, Linda Kyriakopoulous is recreation coordinator . She organizes all the activities and events at the center.
"There's always something," said Kyriakopoulous. "My whole year is already booked."
About 11 a.m. - Swerdfeger fell near her desk and paramedics took her to Carson-Tahoe Medical Center in an ambulance.
11:30 a.m. - The Family Support Council of Douglas County's family resource specialist, Laura Quinn, set up a table to help those who may have needed crisis management.
"A lot of the time people come up to me here who wouldn't come into the Family Support Council," she said.
Members of TRIAD arrived to have their photo taken for The Record-Courier. They were handing out new senior directories during lunch.
Lead homemaker Donna Bournazian was also there. She supervises the homemakers and does senior assessments, determining what their needs are.
"Actually, it's fun," she said. "I love meeting the people. They enjoy talking about their lives and a lot of people don't take time to listen. It's a very rewarding job."
Homemaker volunteers do grocery shopping, pick up prescriptions and help with house cleaning in the Valley as well as at the lake, TRE and in Indian Hills.
Noon - The winner of the 50/50 raffle was announced, Phyllis Pedrojetti, who ironically was also the one who organized the raffle. In the 50/50 raffle, half the funds raised go to the winner, the other half to YAH.
Seniors gathered at tables, many trying to keep their usual spots, although center officials discourage this. At one table Margaret Grimm, 91, introduced herself as an ancestor of the brothers Grimm who wrote the "Grimm Fairytales." Around the table people introduced themselves.
"I'm a former engineer," said one man, followed by two women, Janice Frost and Lois Frazee, who both said they were former teachers.
Frost said usually a former banker sits with them..
"I'm a former student," a new resident, Mary Atkins said, and everybody laughed. Atkins had moved to the Valley in May 2006.
A piano player, Rosanne Burian, provided lively background music for the lunch.
1:30 p.m. - The lunch crowd had all but left. Occasionally someone would stroll through the front door. Esther Paul, who has been a waitress at Sharkey's Casino for 36 years, came in to ask if she could volunteer on her days off from work. John C. Pekar, an unofficial handyman at the senior center, was putting together two new vacuums.
"I repair little things and fix little things that I know how to do," said Pekar.
He said he used to serve food before he hurt his shoulder.
2:30 p.m. - Sounds could be heard from the kitchen where volunteers were preparing for Thursday's breakfast and lunch. A foursome was playing cards in the front lobby. Sylvia Mitchell arrived to wrap silverware. She said she could spare one afternoon a week to do this "small" job. Other volunteers do the wrapping on other days.
Wednesday was coming toward its conclusion, the earlier sights and smells were gone, but the friendly conversations continued as a few people lingered.
5 p.m. - The senior center closed for the day.
Transportation:
To the south of the center sits a small building that provides space for 11 vital employees who keep seniors moving from one end of the Valley to the other and may be the only link to the outside world for some. Last year the transportation department gave 65,000 rides. Rides are given on a donations-only basis, with a suggested cost of $4 locally, $6 to Carson City and $10 to Reno. Although a transportation program was in place for limited by-appointment-only services such as to medical appoints, in 1999 the program expanded becoming the Douglas Area Rural Transportation program, and in 2000 a daily schedule was introduced that is still in place today.
The day begins with transporting of people who need medical attention and employees to the center so they can begin work. The first transportation person arrives before daylight Monday through Friday.
4:30 a.m. - Ed Martinez arrives at work to transport dialysis patients to the Carson City facility. At around 6:30 a.m. he transports employees to their jobs, picking up seniors with medical appointments in Carson City. At 10 a.m. he picks up the dialysis and medical riders and returns them to their homes.
5:30 a.m. - Joe DiPietrantonio begins his regular route. His first pick ups are in Topaz Ranch Estates at 6:20 a.m. He picks up workers headed to Carson Valley Inn, as well as a handicapped woman who works at Wal-Mart. On his return, he picks up a handicapped man who works at Starbuck's. He picks up several seniors and delivers them to the center for lunch and bingo. DiPietrantonio, who began working in transportation at the senior center in 2005, said it's more rewarding working with old people.
"You feel sadness when they're aging and get frail," he said. "You do get attached to them - it's like family."
7 a.m. - Pete Duffy arrived to begin transporting people to and from Alpine County, including schoolchildren who go to the Early Learning Center. On Wednesdays, he does special trips for seniors. On this Wednesday and all second Wednesdays of the month he takes seniors to Carson City to go shopping.
7:30 a.m. - Ron Schnur comes to work. He provides lunches to the seniors, first transporting seniors who can't drive to the center, then delivering all the Meals On Wheels to approximately 80-100 Douglas County seniors. For some seniors, Schnur was the only visitor they had during the day. He also alerts the center if nobody answers the door. Meals On Wheels takes about four hours.
8 a.m. - Sheila Waller, a utility driver, comes on duty. Waller's responsibility is to transport seniors and the handicapped to and from medical appointments in Gardnerville and Minden. Being a utility driver requires her to be available to fill in for any driver who calls in sick, may be on vacation, or has resigned their position.
"Everyone's here for each other," said Waller. "We cover each other."
"I've seen a lot of changes here," said dispatcher Skaggs, who is in constant contact with each driver as they make their rounds. "We've got probably the best crew here in the five years I've been here."
Skaggs also drives if needed.
9 a.m. - Garden Mosely comes on board. As a part-time driver, Mosely assists with medical transportation and delivers Meals On Wheels to outlying areas - TRE, Indian Hills and the Douglas County portion of South Lake Tahoe.
9:30 a.m. - Dave Thomas, the mid-day route driver, begins his day. Late afternoon, Thomas called in to ask if he is picking up "Sabrina" after going to Wal-Mart.
"Yes, you are," said Skaggs.
Among his duties, Thomas takes a couple of handicapped seniors to their jobs. Thomas is valued, especially for emergencies, at the senior center, since he is also the fire chief at the Topaz Ranch Estates Volunteer Fire Department.
11:30 a.m. - Diana White arrives to pick up the route started by DiPietrantonio at 6 a.m. She also transports employees who came in on earlier buses, as well as riders who are shopping in North Douglas County.
Noon - Ray Delasangelos, also a part-time driver, transports seniors home after lunch and continues the Alpine County route at 3 p.m.
The transportation coordinator, Marvin Aultman, has been in transportation five years, four of them as coordinator. He attends all required Nevada Department of Transportation meetings and other meetings that involve transportation. He assigns drivers to their routes and responds to difficulties that occur, as well as doing all the scheduling of vehicle maintenance. He hires employees and completes reviews.
In August 2006, there were 11 county employees who could drive at the senior center. All drivers need a commercial class driver's license. They are trained in ADA requirements, first aid, elder abuse issues and CPR, as well as use of wheelchair lifts. All drivers have to take classes through NDOT.
"It's rewarding, knowing you can get homebound people to the doctor," said Aultman. "You get to know all the seniors, you know their names and who they are. You know them on a first-name basis.
"It's always rewarding knowing that you're filling a purpose, especially for the elderly and disabled."
