By Mel Kositsky
This month starts a new era in my life as a regular columnist for Today’s Senior. Probably because I now admit I have become one.
Experts say “Life Begins At 60”. I hope they are right because I have a lot of living to do and I hope you will join me each month as to explore issues and topics facing our aging population.
By way of self-introduction (many longtime Langley and Cloverdale residents may know me), I have been in this area since 1976 after coming back here from my first real newspaper job at the Medicine Hat News.
Or perhaps you may have followed my career in the local media and then local government as a Langley Township Councillor. As an Honorary Lifetime Member of the Lower Mainland Local Government Association, it has given me a well-rounded background and a greater understanding of communities and people in all the areas Today’s Senior is read. (And of course you can now follow us on the Internet too. Have you checked out our website?).
But most of all the column will feature the fun part of community life that many of our active seniors are involved with. Retirement can bring on many new challenges but there is no need to stay at home worrying about them. And many people are working way past 65 and still enjoying their jobs. How good is that?
There is so much going on in our communities that often those stories are not written about because they are not considered “news”. I always felt good news is just as important as bad or “hard” news. And in this day of multimedia, 24-hour television, radio and internet services, this column will leave that action to the political bloggers and broadcasters.
Call me old-fashioned but lots of people still like to read and talk about what their neighbours are up to. They like to keep in touch with old friends and acquaintances. They enjoy reading about their activities and maybe once in a while they can get out and join them.
Today’s Senior is also going to profile community builders – people who are still very active in the community and have a wonderful story to tell.
For those of you who enjoyed watching the high level curling at the Langley Events Centre in January, there is more to come soon. While it will not be the world caliber curlers of the Continental Cup, it will feature great competition.
The Abbotsford Curling Club will be hosting the 2012 Canadian Senior Championships from March 17 to 25. Volunteers are needed to help put on the event and registrations are now being accepted at the club. Contact Barb Sinclair at 604.852.9002 or send an email to milt_sinclair@telus.net.
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Tickets are now on sale for the 10th annual Fraser Valley Cultural Diversity Awards to be held Friday, March 2 at the Ramada Inn plaza and conference centre on Highway One in east Abbotsford. The event involves the four communities of Langley, Abbotsford, Chilliwack and Mission.
Do you know anyone who embraces diversity? Nominations are now being accepted in a number of categories. For more information about the event contact 604.302.9707 or email amelia@crosspointcommunications.ca.
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So that’s what I will be doing here each month. Filling in our readers about special events, awards, ideas and suggestions. That is your role too. I need you to be an inter-active reader. You can follow me on Twitter @MelKositsky, on Facebook, or/and send in your ideas or comments to: Write As I Please column c/o: todayssenior@shaw.ca.