10 THE CHARBONNEAU VILLAGER April 2022
Charbonneau Tennis Club
By KATHI GRAY
Outdoor membership could be fun option
It is spring ! The sun keeps peeking out and teasing us with warm weather — well , every once in a while . It is coming
GRAY and we at the tennis club are preparing for fun times ahead ! To start things
|
off we are offering free tennis clinics to Charbonneau residents to promote a fun , healthy lifestyle ! This offer will continue throughout the spring and summer . Residents , residents ’ children AND grandchildren are welcome to participate at no cost . Sign up at the CCC office when the clinics are announced . A banner will be displayed on the outdoor courts as the clinic date approaches . Tennis is a healthy , lifetime sport that can bring enjoyment to all ages .
The convenience of living in Charbonneau offers a great opportunity to get back into the sport or to introduce the kids and grandkids to more healthy activities .
The tennis club offers an outdoor
|
membership for only $ 80 ( plus a $ 50 initiation fee .) You can take lessons , attend clinics and book courts for outdoor play . This offer is ONLY for our Charbonneau residents ! The indoor courts are not available with this special membership .
Our pro , Donna Roisom , will again be offering her “ kids camp ” July 11-15 . If you did not take advantage of it last year , do so this summer . The kids had a great time ! Donna has taught for 47 years and has been named coach of the year for both boys and girls . Plus , she is also a Charbonneau resident !
The tennis club will be planning more fun , innovative activities for residents in the coming months ! Stay tuned and get out there and play !
|
|
COURTESY PHOTO
Charbonneau Tennis Club members can participate in clinics held by pro Donna Roisom ( pictured here ) and others .
|
SpringRidge at Charbonneau
By KERRY PHILLIPS
Laughter and humor keep SpringRidge residents young at heart
Springridge at Charbonneau resident Clair Simmons enjoys finding laughter in life .
It ’ s often said that laughter is good for the soul . For Clair Simmons and Spencer Vail — Spring- Ridge at Charbonneau residents — it ’ s also good for staying young at heart !
“ I try to find the humor in almost everything ,” explained Clair , who has lived at the active retirement community for five years . “ It helps to have a positive attitude and outlook . Life ’ s already serious enough as is . My motto is ‘ Everyday is a good day ; some are just better than others .’”
While hosting the Weekly Team Trivia , he quips that if he didn ’ t make participants laugh , he ’ d probably be stripped of his hosting duties .
“ I truly get so much from making others laugh ,” he explained . “ I ’ ve been telling jokes for as long as I can remember . If I can make someone have a good time , then I never have a bad day .”
Clair initiated “ Margarita Mondays ” for residents to gather and enjoy predinner drinks with neighbors , and he ’ s sure to always have a joke to share . The gatherings have been especially meaningful during the COVID-19 restrictions of the past two years .
“ I told jokes before the pandemic , during the pandemic and I ’ ll be doing them after it ’ s over ,” he said . “ It ’ s important to laugh even during the bad times . It keeps our spirits up .”
Zest Director Cindy Foster — charged with planning events to appeal to residents ’ minds , bodies and souls — welcomes Clair ’ s zest for life , especially as the community navigates the pandemic .
“ Our community came together and kept such a positive attitude of togetherness ,” she said . “ It ’ s so great to have
COURTESY PHOTO
residents like Clair and Spencer continuing to spread joy and smiles . It helps us persevere through the ups and downs .”
Spencer , whose professional career involved many public-speaking formats , finds sharing his funny one-liners has helped him feel connected to his neighbors when he moved to the community 14 months ago .
“ It ’ s very gratifying to make someone laugh ,” he said . “ It gives me a feeling of belonging and being part of a group .”
He draws on his 85 years of life experiences to provide content for his comedy . He also looks to comedians like Henry “ Henny ” Youngman and Groucho Marx for inspiration . His oneliners are appreciated by both neighbors and staff , who often thank him for the laugh .
In addition to making his neighbors feel good , Spencer credits humor with keeping him young at heart .
“ I might not keep up with today ’ s music , but I consider myself pretty youthful ,” he laughed . “ I refuse to just sit in a corner and mope . Instead , I seek out happy moments and ask myself how I can learn from them .”
One of his “ happy moments ” involves Jeopardy . He takes his desserts “ to go ” from the SpringRidge restaurant and enjoys them while watching the game show . If he gets a question correct , he takes a bite of his chocolate chip cookies . He proudly shared he very rarely has cookies left after each episode .
“ There ’ s always something to be learned that can provide material to bring a smile to someone ’ s face ,” he added . “ When you share something and the response is ‘ I did that !’ or “ I can relate ,” it helps connect on an even deeper personal level .”
With April being synonymous with April Fool ’ s , both men say they have a trick ( or two ) up their sleeves . In fact , Spencer is already making plans for an epic 2023 prank !
For more information or to schedule a personal tour of SpringRidge at Charbonneau , please call 503-446- 6250 or visit www . SpringRidge atCharbonneau . com .