This has been a week to celebrate and honor the active senior citizens of Cayuga County. Organizations like the YMCA, the Cato-Meridian Recreation Center and the Champions for Life Sports Center opened their facilities to local seniors.

But many seniors stay active yearround, not only by participating in sports or crafts, but by lending their talents and experience to people and agencies that need them.

“I like to volunteer,” said Gloria DeMarco, a resident of the Boyle Center in Auburn. “I'll go wherever Ormie King says there's a need.” Ormie King is a volunteer driver for the Retired Seniors Volunteer Program, which is more well-known as RSVP.

Maria DelloStritto has been the director of the RSVP, which has its office at the Boyle Center, since Jan. 1.

“During my time here,” she said, “I have been very pleased with the volunteer opportunities that local seniors have taken. Their enthusiasm and dedication is to be commended.”

Lyman Strong, had been relaxing in the lobby of Boyle Center talking to DeMarco and some of the other residents. Strong worked as a professional musician for much of his life.

“I still play out occasionally,” he said. “I did a lot of traveling in my career. I even worked as a musician on a cruise ship for a couple of years. Now I just like to stay around Auburn. I love to sew and quilt.”

He even does a lot of mending for the residents at the center and enjoys cooking. His many friends at the center praise him for his special tomato pie.

As another example of how busy many local seniors are, the rear entrance to Boyle Center opened and closed several times as residents came and went, including two happy ladies who were carrying packages from an apparent shopping trip.

There are also many seniors who choose to work past their eligibility for retirement. They can be seen working in area businesses, and some are self-employed.

One active senior who is still working in a professional capacity, is Auburn veterinarian Dr. Don Westee. He has operated his small animal hospital since 1960 and says, “I'll be here another 20 years, God willing.”

Another way he stays physically active is by making regular exercise runs at the nature trail behind Cayuga Community College.

“I'll run up hills and walk down and do about 75 pushups on the trail. I put in about four miles. I ride a bike, too, and I like to ice skate in the winter.” He is also one of the founders of the Great Race.

Westee, along with his friend, Dick Balian, rode their bikes to Florida and made two bike tours of Europe when they were both over 55. Westee made his first parachute jump on his 65th birthday and has made two other jumps since then.

“Just to prove to my friends that rigor mortis hasn't set in yet,” he said of his jumps.

In addition to whatever personal activities the men and women may schedule for themselves, there are many opportunities geared for seniors provided by local agencies.

Patty Petrosino is the senior events coordinator for the city of Auburn, and her office is at Schwartz Towers. The regularly scheduled programs and activities include ceramics, quilting, exercise, Bingo and pool, plus monthly blood pressure clinics.

“We (also) go on trips,” Petrosino added. “We're going to the casino in October. We went to the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park. The programs here aren't just for the residents of Schwartz Towers; they're for all the seniors in the city.”

Coming tomorrow

Emerson Park Dance, featuring the band

Ted Mosley and Moondance; sponsored by Blue Cross/Blue Shield Univera HealthCare and Nucor

When: 2 to 4 p.m.

Where: Pavilion at Emerson Park

Cost: Free

This week's programs brought to the Cayuga County community by Cayuga County Human Services Coalition and the Elderly/Disabled Task Group.