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Show KpltGSSlOriS B1 Wednesday, November 5, 2008 DANSE MACABRE Seniors cut a rug at Halloween dance BvTabatha Deans . l V P VA; " ' Tl TT Express Reporter The pirate and the ghoul glide across the floor, the Ding-Dongs Ding-Dongs two-step around the outside, while Zorro spins his partner to the music. Elaborate costumes abound and upbeat music blares, as more than 25 couples dance the night away at the Golden Age Center Halloween Dance. The seniors, who gather every Friday night to cut a rug at the center, proved that age is no barrier to having fun. They competed in a costume contest, enjoyed refreshments, played games, and of course, danced to the music of Kay Bullock's Band. Some of the costumes included a hippie, a flapper, a bull rider, a couple of Ding-Dorigs (the chocolate treats), witches, devils and various monsters. Dancing enthusiastically to songs like "Roll out the Bar-rell," Bar-rell," and "Waltz Across Texas," the seniors' dance moves would put many young people to shame. "The kids today don't really know how to dance," says Bill Rasmussen, an organizer at the center. "A lot of them don't have no rhythm." Louise Martin, director of the senior center, said the weekly dances usually draw around 35 to 50 people, and the Halloween night draws about 75 dancers. While the dances are held at the senior center, Rasmussen said they're really "community" dances, and dancers of all ages are welcome. ' "We have some young people, even teenagers, who come here to dance. The good thing about this dance is if you don't know how to dance, some of the older dancers will help you learn," Rasmussen said. "You just need a little bit of rhythm; everybody dances with everybody, so there's really no bad dancing as long as you're having fun." Rasmussen has been dancing with his lady love, Donna, since 1950, when they used to attend dances at the Red Barn in Ballard County where they danced to the music of "Tex Ross and his Rhythm Wranglers." "I was tall and she was good looking. It was a good match," says Rasmussen of the first time he asked Donna to dance. He says dancing has helped them stay happy and active. For those who have a need to keep on dancing, Rasmussen says the weekly dances provide a great opportunity to socialize social-ize and exercise. But, he also says the dances have served as a matchmaking social, with several of the dancers having married, mar-ried, after losing a spouse, or getting divorced. Kay Bullock, leader of Kay's Band, provides music for the dances every week, and says it's wonderful to watch the dancers danc-ers have a good time. "I really enjoy it. Music's my life. I've been playing since I was 5 years old. If there's good music, there's a good time," she said. Ted Wilcken, who turns 90 in February, says he was "born dancing," and he and his wife Fern have been attending weekly dances for about 25 years. Wilcken's age doesn't slow him down, and on this evening he and Fern waltzed around the dance floor all evening. Knowing how to dance, says Wilcken, is always a positive with the ladies. "These young men, all I cap, say is they're missing a good time," says Wilcken, of young men today who don't think learning how to dance islieneficial. tdeansvernar.com ' ... . I I ' V it 1 I b r . v A - I : .-it I . .r . m H I ' .f t -V-V- X ! H 4, ; v 1 ? - 5 f- ( S , Sharon Wilier and Glen McConkie promenade around the floor in costume. Weekly dances at the Golden Age Center draw about 40 dancers. The Halloween dance brought nearly 80 people to the center to waltz the night away. - . '. -. s j M ," Gender is irrelevant when the urge to dance hits seniors at the Golden Age Center dance. Ellen Wooley and Jean McKenzie take a trip around the dance floor. r r f n ' - f x - I . ;. J $ -' f !, i J 7) ( " I I ' ' ; ' ; 1 . 4) ' t 1 'V k V f H - Keeping up with the senior dancers requires some fancy Fern and Ted Wilcken have enjoyed dancing and socializing together at the Golden Age Center for footwork. more than 20 years. r Friends Gene Weeks and Viola Van share a laugh at the Golden Age Center Halloween dance. Call Tonya at 789-35JJ. I r 1 i 1 . .fc-'j-r i t I 1 - ' vvv. . . 1 f f ANsenior halloween9 A costume contest was just one of the many activities at the Golden Age Center Halloween Dance. Winners are: Don Winkler, Laretta Ehlers, Cybil Phillips, Jean McKenzie, George Murray, Jane Sweeney and Don Oliver COMMUNITY SUPPORT Prizes and food for the Golden Age Center Halloween Hal-loween Dance were donated do-nated by local business and residents. "It was rather amazing the support sup-port we got," says Bill Rasmussen. "They went out looking for donations, and brought stuff back by the bucketful." The following people made the Halloween dance a success: Studio 292, Mane Source Beauty Supply, Parts Plus, Garden Gate Floral, Gale's Office Supply, Oak House Furniture, Fur-niture, Showalter Ford, Wells Fargo Bank, Dollar Store, Basin Auto, True Value, C&DOliver, Inc., JLS, Inc., Uintah Auto, Wal-Mart and various anonymous donors. C&uwuuuty November Golden Age Center Dances, 155 S. 100 West Vernal. Every Friday night, 8 to 10 p.m. Kays Band, all are welcome. TOPS club meets in Vernal City Offices, 447 E. Main Street, Thursdays 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Tot and Mom Story Time, 10:30, 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. at the Uintah County Library, 155 East Main, 789-0091. Joy Club, ages 4 grade 6, Grace Baptist Church, 3816 South 2500 East, Vernal, Thursday 6 to 7:30 p.m. Epilepsy support group meets Uintah County Library, second Tues. of the month at 7 p.m. Call Kari (435) 790-8589. 7th Annual Uintah Basin Art(ists) League Show Landscapes In The West," Western Heritage Mus., Nov. 4 - 29. November 5 Detox: Free class, Uintah Care Center, 510 S. 500 W., Vernal, 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Call Dr. Ruth Martinez 621-6664 to sign-up. November 6 AARP Safe Driving Class, Golden Age Center, 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m., $10 fee, but most insurances discount. To sign up call Fred Muller 454-3470 or Brenda 789-2169. Girl Scouts Parent Meeting, 7 to 8 p.m., State & County Building, 152 E Main, Vernal in the cafeteria. Final Report Cards, 1st Quarter, Vernal Jr. High School, in 7th hour class. SEOP will take place on Dec. 3 & 4. November 6, 13, 20 & Decmber 4 and 11 Early Childhood Parenting Sessions, 7 to 8:30 p.m., Uintah County Library upstairs conference room;- 155 East Main, Vernal." November 8 Oh Fudge! Uintah County Library's candy making demonstration, 155 east Main, Vernal at 1 p.m. November 10 &11 Youth Wrestling registration, Vernal Jr. H.S. wrestling room, grades: K - 4 on Mon.; 5 -9 Mon.Tues. 3 to 5 p.m. November 11 Veteran's Day. Mayan Archaeology Project in Mexico, Jeffery Rust speaker, at the Golden Age Center, 100 S. 100 W., Vernal at 7 p.m. November 14-15 Holly Fair Craft Show, Roosevelt, Crossroads Senior Center and Utah State University. Contact: 435-722-4598. November 25 December 1 Trees for Charity, Vernal, Vernal Chamber of Commerce. Contact: 435-789-1352. November 27 Thanksgivng Day. November 28 Holly Days in Vernal. Food, fun, parade and Lighting of the Gardens. Contact: 435-789-1352 ostmg in eienf ? 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