Burnham Brook E-News
Shari Rarick
Shari Rarick's tap class has been a Burnham Brook staple for 15 years, since the center’s inception. This summer she is offering Burnham Brook members a new way to get active and improve their physical health: Stretch and Balance.
Class participants will work on stretching exercises and balance, both sitting in chairs and standing, on two feet and one. The goal is to improve flexibility and posture, and to “help stack everything in order,” Shari says.
Working with seniors has been a constant inspiration for Shari. “They don’t care about making mistakes,” she says “They’re not embarrassed or afraid of trying new things. We just have a fun, good time every session, and everybody learns something new.”
Shari has been teaching dance for 47 years. She operates the Shari Rarick School of Dance at 1400 West Columbia Avenue in Battle Creek, where she offers classes in all kinds of dance, for all ages from toddler to grandparent.
Tap classes at Burnham Brook are on Mondays from 10:00am – 11:00am. The new Stretch and Balance class will follow from 11:30am – 12:15pm, June 22 – August 10. Participants should wear easy-fitting cloths that stretch and move well.
Fun with Cedar Crest College Students
On March 16, Burnham Brook welcomed a group of students and teachers from Cedar Crest College in Allentown,Pennsylvania. Their visit was part of a volunteer project to spend the afternoon painting and visiting with seniors.
After many painting tasks were completed, students joined seniors in a game of billiards and line dancing taught by Bob Meredith.
Off to their next gig at Habitat for Humanity, the Cedar Crest crew departed with big smiles, letting us know they had a good time at Burnham Brook - and we had just as much fun having them here!
Governor Granholm Visit
On March 19, Governor Jennifer Granholm took some time out from her schedule to meet and share some smiles with Burnham Brook members. Burnham Brook was proud to host the governor, who was in Battle Creek to discuss the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act with "front line" human service, education, and workforce training providers.
Sam Carpenter
Sam Carpenter's wife has been teaching piano for more than 50 years, but Sam has never taken a single lesson. "My dad showed me some simple things when I was a kid, and I’ve been playing by ear ever since," he says.
Sam's musical ear and memory for melody on the piano have taken him all over Battle Creek, entertaining music lovers with standards and ballads from the American songbook. After a stint playing for the lunch crowd at Burnham Brook, Sam now takes up residence at Shrank's Cafeteria, playing for the lunch crowd there a few days a week.
A retired lawyer and Burnham Brook member for over ten years, Sam says the center is "just a great place to be." He is thankful to have such a wonderful resource for community seniors, and hopes to be sitting at the piano there again soon.