Magic of Aging March 2008 by R. H. Carter

The City of Sopchoppy has once again taken action to help the senior citizens of Wakulla County.  Commissioner Richard Harden presented the idea to the City Commission to paint, repair and spruce up the Senior Citizens Thrift Shop at 33 Rose Street in the middle of Sopchoppy.  The entire Commission was eager to support the measure.  Leonard Tartt supervised prison labor and coordinated the entire project.  The thrift shop looks like a new place.

The residents of Sopchoppy have always been committed to the health and beauty of their community.  I attended Sopchoppy School in grades 1-12 and at that young age, I could see the community support held by its citizens.  I often write about how the residents love and support the senior citizens of our county.  The unified support of an entire City in Wakulla County is something to cheer about.  I commend Commissioner Harden and the entire City of Sopchoppy for their love and compassion for our older population.

This follow-up story from last month gives more details on the Sheriff David Harvey / Wakulla Senior Citizens Golf Tournament scheduled on March 28, 2008.  Last year Wakulla Bank was Title Sponsor of the tournament and has offered their support as Title Sponsor of our 2008 Tournament.  Last year the tournament sponsors included:

Many of these sponsors have agreed to sponsor the senior citizens golf tournament again in 2008.

This year Ms. Hazel Imperiale has been selected as the Senior Celebrity of the Sheriff David Harvey / Wakulla Senior Citizens Golf Tournament.  At age 84, Hazel Imperiale maintains a close relationship with her friends at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church.  She attends church when able and regularly attends the Senior Citizens Center Monday through Thursday.  She especially enjoys the lunches prepared by Chef Mary.

Born November 29, 1923, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, she grew up and married her Jerry.  They were able to be together in California, New Jersey and Oklahoma before he was sent to Okinawa as a member of the Signal Corps during World War II.  Their marriage produced three daughters:  Mary Ann Imperiale Mooney, Geraldine (Jill) Harvey and Nancy Imperial Wellons.  Mary Ann is a decorator.  Mary Ann and Nancy, who is a writer, graduated from Florida State University.  Geraldine (Jill) is an RN, having graduated from the M.B. Johnson School of Nursing in Elyria, Ohio, and is currently working at Florida’s Agency for Health Care Administration.

Hazel was a former Girl Scout Leader in Westchester, Illinois.  She also served as a Neighborhood Chairman as well as the District Chairman of the Lone Tree Area Council of Girl Scouts.  Hazel is artistic, having painted and donated paintings to the Christmas in July event at the Senior Center, to her church for Octoberfest, as well as the Knights of Columbus and Habitat for Humanity.  In each case, one of her paintings was raffled to raise funds.

Hazel worked as an Administrative Assistant III at the Public Employees Relations Commission until she retired at age 77.  Without the Senior Center to attend daily, she believes eventually she would become bored and perhaps depressed.  She is very grateful for the caring staff and the many friends she has made there.

The senior citizens of Wakulla County are deeply indebted to Walter Dodson and Wakulla Bank for their support and generosity.  They have added so much to the quality of the programs offered by the senior center.

The AARP will continue to prepare tax returns in our senior center every Wednesday from 1 to 4 pm through April 9th.

Early in February, Mary Katherine Westmark of Wakulla.com and JoAnne Strickland of Ameris Bank provided make-up and styled our seniors for glamour shots.  They took glamour photos of more that 60 seniors.  They all had a happy fun-filled day.  The pictures were framed and given to them on Valentines Day.  These pictures did add much joy to the lives of those that participated.

We have many activities regularly scheduled in the center.  I mentioned the last two items since they were one-time events and demonstrate the diversity of senior activities.

This article originally pubished on February 26, 2008.

---

Comments (0)

 Subscribe to this comment's feed