MISSION: To create opportunities that allow older residents of Douglas County to remain independent and active in their homes and communities.
October 2014
Volume 41 No. 10
INSIDE Business Spotlight ��������������������������� PG 2 Calendar of Events �������������������������� PG 5 Leisure and Learning Catalog ������� PG 8 Menu����������������������������������������������� PG 13 Legalese ��������������������������������������� PG 14
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PICKLEBALL POPULARITY GROWING by Evan Jorn
The game of pickleball had its humble beginnings on Bainbridge Island, Washington in 1965. On a family vacation that included a badminton court but not enough equipment, Congressman Joel Pritchard and his friend Bill Bell got to tinkering around with some ping pong paddles and wiffle balls that they had around. Eventually they lowered the badminton net to the ground like a tennis net, started hitting those wiffle balls back and forth over the net with their ping pong paddles, and created a game using the badminton lines. The first game of pickleball had begun! In Lawrence, pickleball had a similar humble beginning in 2007. Someone on the staff at the This group photo was taken recently at Lyons Park Douglas County Senior Center bought a box with during a break in the action at regular morning pickleball. a net, four wooden pickleball paddles and some pickleballs and invited people to set up the net in the ballroom above the fire station and give it a go. For nearly a year, an intrepid group of retirees, chided by the nearby pool players who called what they were seeing “the stupidest thing you’ve ever seen,” set up the net several mornings a week and hit the ball back and forth. For over a year, there were no lines on the floor and no actual games played. This group was happy to hit the ball back and forth, visit with each other, try to get a little better at keeping the ball going, laugh at what would happen on mis-hits (one person was extremely adept at hitting the ceiling,) and get a little exercise to boot. In the summer of 2008, one of that group found out that pickleball was now a sport in the Sunflower State Games in Topeka. I decided it was time to move forward and actually play a game with lines, rules and scorekeeping. What a concept! I entered the Sunflower State Games competition in singles, since I did not want to impose myself on a partner in doubles, but lo and behold they assigned me a doubles partner anyway. I was able to play with a group in Topeka on one occasion before the competition, so at least the day of the Games was not my absolute first time out. I had a blast that day, met a wonderful group of pickleball players in Topeka who were ready to help us grow the game in Lawrence in any way they could, and our growth had begun. The Senior Center was soon ready to use our space for other activities, so they arranged with Lawrence Continued on page 6
Watch for our 2014 Senior Resource Guide.
THANK YOU
to this month’s Community Sponsor,
Black HIlls Energy
Improving Life with Energy