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Nearly 600 participate in Senior Games

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Samantha Karam/For the Observer-Reporter

Carmichaels Area Junior/Senior High School was a pop of color on Tuesday thanks to the annual Senior Games. This year’s theme was “Peace, Love & Games,” in honor of Woodstock’s 50th anniversary.

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Samantha Karam/For the O-R

Bernie Eagleson, 79, of Uniontown said he’s participated in the Senior Games for the past 12 years. Here, he scores a hole-in-one during the putting event.

Amidst the overcast weather this week, Carmichaels Area Junior/Senior High School was a pop of color.

The campus filled with residents from Greene, Fayette and Washington counties, ages 50 and up, who competed in as many as 11 athletic events at the annual Senior Games. The theme of this year’s event was “Peace, Love & Games,” in honor of Woodstock’s 50th anniversary.

According to Leslie Grenfell, executive director of the Southwestern Pennsylvania Area Agency on Aging (SPAAA), this year’s turnout was the largest to date.

“The theme was a big draw,” Grenfell said of the bubble letters and tie dye associated with Woodstock.

Gloria Miller, 73, of Charleroi and her daughter Cindy Morrow, 50, of Waynesburg were two of the nearly 600 athletes in attendance. The pair competed together in basketball, bocce ball, cornhole, football, softball and putting (golf). Miller said she has participated in three out of the last four Senior Games and plans to continue.

“It’s a matter of just trying,” said Miller, who persuaded her daughter to compete with her. “I think it’s a very nice social and competitive event. It’s great.”

Nancy Riggle, supervisor for the Greene County SPAAA branch, had the idea for this year’s theme after taking a road trip to New York and seeing where the famous music festival took place. She said the Senior Games Task Force, which planned the event, tossed around other theme ideas, but when Riggle suggested Woodstock the support was overwhelming.

“No question about it, it had to be Woodstock,” Riggle said.

Carmichaels students made decorations, including banners, a cutout VW bus for photos and a DVD, which looped videos from that time period. Riggle and her assistant spent seven months making posters of late ’60s-era toys and memorabilia for the event.

“I think it is a huge success,” Riggle said. “We were blessed by the weather.”

Guests could attend a car show, play board games and bingo, walk through a health and wellness fair and try foods from a variety of vendors.

Bernie Eagleson, 79, of Uniontown said he’s participated in the Senior Games for the past 12 years. This year, he competed in bocce ball, cornhole, horseshoes and putting.

“I try to be younger than I am,” he said. “It’s good to be out here, staying active.”

On June 27, the SPAAA will host an awards banquet at the Cumberland Township Fire Hall. Doors open at 4 p.m. and there is a $20 admission fee.

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