New director for Highland Senior Center Without Walls

Monterey, Va. –

There have been changes in the programs for senior citizens in Highland County recently. Last month we heard from Kathryn Coit, Director of the Monterey office of the Valley Program for Aging Services about the new “Senior Center without Walls” concept. Last week Mrs. Coit had a special announcement.

“VPAS (Valley Program for Aging Services) held interviews recently and we are pleased to announce we have hired a Community Programs Director for the new Senior Center Without Walls concept program,” said Kathryn Coit. “That will replace the Senior Center that was meeting at the Highland Center building. The individual we have hired is Kathy Solomon. She has recently moved to Highland fulltime, but she has been a weekender for several years, knows the area well and is very enthusiastic about offering services for seniors and giving back to her community,” she said.

Mrs. Coit goes on to talk about Kathy Solomon’s background.

“She has at least seventeen years experience in this type of work in a continuing care community and other aging services and health care services,” said Mrs.Coit. “She has developed programs from the ground up in previous jobs. So we have a lot of confidence that she’s going to take off and get some things out there available to the public. She started work on Monday, the twenty-fourth. She is working about half-time. She will be at the fundraiser that will be held October 6th at Tim Duff’s farm, that we are holding to help generate funding to help support this program. So she will be there to meet with people, answer questions, get their ideas of what types of activities, events, and programs they’d like to see offered in Highland County,” she said .

Mrs. Coit also described the new theme for the Senior Center Without Walls and several possible activities being considered for the new program.

“The new program of community activities will be called “Second Wind – A Life of Leisure, Laughter, and Learning,” said Mrs. Coit. “Hiking, yoga, Tai Chi, water aerobics, and bowling (are being considered). Lecture topics (including) birding, gardening, cultures, history (are also under review) as well as crafts like painting, jewelry making, stained glass, scrapbooking, and quilting. Different health topics that might be presented on like in home safety, fall prevention, nutrition. Story telling, dancing, bingo, movies, photography, and choral groups (are also being considered),” she said.

Stay tuned to Allegheny Mountain Radio later this month to her from Kathy Solomon, the new senior programs director. You can meet Kathy this coming Saturday, October 6 at the first “Old Fashioned Lawn Party” at Tim and Terri Duff’s Fair Lawn Farm on Rt. 84 south of Monterey. This party will be a benefit for Highland County’s senior citizens program. The party starts at 11 AM and continues til 4 PM. The rain date is Sunday, October 7.