Hillsborough County Aging Services celebrates seniors with chess, billiards, and Rummikub tournaments, to be followed by Hispanic Heritage Celebration
It was an overcast September morning in Lutz where about a dozen seniors gathered to play chess, one of the three games in the Hillsborough County Aging Services' Annual Championship Tournament series. The other two games, billiards and Rummikub, round out a trifecta of competitions among the County's most dedicated players.
Despite the gray skies, there was nothing dull about the tournament. As usual, the festive Lutz Senior Center buzzed with high spirits as the championship series got rolling.
Cheer fun and chess games
Before Art Matteau, a volunteer at the Lutz Senior Center, relayed the rules to the tournament, players and observers were treated to an energetic routine from the Lutz Senior Center cheer squad.
Four ladies in matching cheer attire - complete with wrist and head sweatbands and pompoms -- lit up the room with motivational chants.
Afterwards, Matteau explained the 30-minute time limit for each game and how a points system would be used to score rounds.
Matteau, 89, is a frequent patron of the senior center and values the game of chess for its mental benefits. Though he's been playing the game since he was kid, he didn't become serious about it until he was 60.
Matteau credits chess and his continued pursuit of challenging activities for maintaining his healthy mind. In his words, playing chess and staying social "gets the mind going."
Tournaments and celebration
In addition to the chess tournament, billiards and rummikub tournaments are also scheduled for September. The grand finale of the National Senior Center Month festivities is the Hispanic Heritage Celebration from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 25, at The Regent, 6437 Watson Rd., Riverview, FL 33578.
The celebration includes music, dancing, fashion, art, entertainment, and Latin food to honor National Hispanic Heritage Month, which is celebrated from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15.
The event encourages older adults of all backgrounds to relish the vibrant Hispanic culture that plays a vital role in communities across Hillsborough County. More than 400 active adults age 50 and older are expected to join the celebration.
Hillsborough County Aging Services
Hillsborough County Aging Services engages seniors all year long. Aging Services has seven senior centers and 14 dining and activity centers where hundreds of seniors participate in programs and activities daily.
Seniors meet each weekday, create friendships, and bond through numerous programs and activities, including painting clubs, art classes, fitness training, Tai Chi, sewing club, Bingo, board games, garden club, book club, dominoes, and chess club, to name a few.
To learn more about Hillsborough County Aging Services, visit HCFL.Gov/Aging or call (813) 272-5250.