Senior games return for their second year
By Angela Randazzo Special to the Acorn

It seemed the Olympics had come to town last week when more than 100 people attended the kickoff ceremony for the second annual Simi Community Games. Last year's gold medal winners carried game flags and the Disabled American Veterans Chapter 55 provided the color guard.

Karen Kalsman and fellow recreation coordinators Stan Kalsman and Sue McElvogue organized the event for gamers age 50 and over at the Simi Valley Senior Center.

With 170 sign-ups this year, participation was way up over last year, when 107 joined in.

"It's friendly competition. Everything is free. We're doing it because we love to have fun," Kalsman said. "Our motto is: 'We don't stop playing because we grow old. We grow old because we stop playing.'"

The Simi Valley Council on Aging, the Rancho Simi Recreation and Park district, medical and service groups and local businesses sponsored the games.

Doug Gale, recreation administrator for the park district, attended the opening.

"The goal of the games is not competition but participation. Our concern was that older people wouldn't think they could win so they wouldn't participate," Gale said. "The supporters have done a good job to get the word out that the idea is to get out there and have fun."

Jeanette Madden, 66, a retired cashier and local resident for the past 34 years, won a gold medal last year for shooting basketballs. "The games keep me active and my weight down," Madden said.

Bingo, bunco, eight-ball pool, horseshoes, ping-pong, poker, shuffleboard and golf were included in the competition. All participants received free event Tshirts.

Ben Diede, 66, has lived in Simi Valley for 43 years. Now retired, he entered the horseshoe competition, a game he's enjoyed playing since he was a young boy.

"I was looking for people to play with when I got introduced to the center," Diede said. "My dad bought me a pair of horseshoes when I was 6 years old. I still play with them."

Game play extended over seven days at various times and locations including the senior center and park and recreation centers. Family and friends dropped by to watch the competition and cheer on the players.

Jesse Cordell, 69, a Simi Valley resident for 42 years and a retired postal worker, won a gold medal last year for a round of golf played at the Sinaloa Golf Course. "I like to play golf whenever I can," Cordell said. "The games are a great way to get out and meet some people."

Ron Bristol, 70, a Simi resident for 42 years, entered five games last year and won four medals including a gold medal in shuffleboard doubles. He signed up for seven games this year, including shuffleboard.

"I'm partially disabled so I stick to the lighter games," said the longtime resident. "I'd tell people to come and have fun."

For more information, please call the Simi Valley Senior Center at (805) 5836363.