Halloween Extravaganza Offered Frights and Delights at the YMCA Intergenerational Learning Center
Halloween spirits arrived the YMCA Intergenerational Learning Center, with costumed creatures gathering for family fun at the First Annual Halloween Extravaganza on October 31st. Approximately 60 guests attended the evening event at the Jefferson School City Center, which featured activities for a wide range of ages and interests. Young visitors enjoyed a ghostly maze, haunted cemetery, indoor trick-or-treating, games, and art projects. In the center, brave souls navigated through a haunted house and shrieked through a scary pumpkin patch.
“The Halloween Party is a great chance to bring everyone in the community together,” said Brookes M. Sims, Director of Child Care Services. “We want to make this a fantastic tradition that everyone looks forward to at YILC. I think our staff and volunteers outdid themselves this year to make sure that all our guests had a wonderful time. Our parents enjoy having a safe place for their children to come for safe trick-or-treating. Our staff are starting to come up with ideas for next year.”
Local business sponsors helped make the party a success with monetary, product, and personal support. Sponsors included: Lowe’s, Shenanigans, and our YILC Parents who had their workplace donate boxes. A volunteer from the PVCC Early Childhood Practicum course, Ms. Mariah, and Mr. Rupert, helped make the night a spooky success.
JABA Member Annie Merritt Celebrates 99th Birthday
On Wednesday, the Mary Williams Community Center celebrated JABA members’ November birthdays with singing and cake–a monthly tradition. Among those celebrated was JABA member Annie Merritt, who turns 99 today (Nov. 8). However, Merritt didn’t stick around for the party. “She left early to go serve lunch at her church,” Kelly Carpenter, Mary Williams Community Center Manager said. “But that tells you what kind of an amazing individual she is.”
Merritt was recognized for decades of service with the local chapter of the NAACP’s membership committee in September at the annual Freedom Fund banquet. A retired RN who worked for the Health Department for many years, Merritt still lives independently and visits the community center a couple times a week, participating in Tai Chi and meditation classes. “She works hard on our community service projects, such as making Foster Bags, and enjoys interacting with the children of the YMCA preschool during our Intergenerational activities,” said Carpenter.
Common Ground Healing Arts Offers Digestive Health Workshop
On Saturday, November 16, Common Ground will offer a workshop focusing on the Ayurvedic (traditional Indian medicine) perspective on digestion. From the Ayurvedic standpoint, many digestive issues and even seemingly “unrelated” concerns, such as allergies and chronic pain, can be improved by balancing what is called agni, or digestive fire. Students will learn simple ways to keep the digestive fire stoked and balanced through nutrition, lifestyle suggestions, and herbal remedies.
The workshop will be hosted by Caroline Horan, ANC, AADP, an Ayurvedic Nutrition & Lifestyle Curator. Her practice, Ahara Thrive, focuses on bridging the gap between ancient wisdom and modern lifestyles by providing comprehensive and inspirational healing programs to help guide students towards a life of renewal , transformation, and balance. The cost is $20 and the workshop will be held from 2 to 4 pm. Learn more here. Fees from programs such as this enable Common Ground to offer a sliding scale for some of their services, so that the healing arts are accessible to all.
Jefferson School City Center is a voice of the nine nonprofits located at Charlottesville’s intergenerational community center, the restored Jefferson School. We are a legacy preserved . . . a soul reborn . . . in the heart of Cville!
