seniors Archives - My Southlake News

Ridesharing has become as commonplace in our modern culture as Tik Tok challenges. Taking advantage of unused resources like the extra seats in your car to turn a profit converted various startups into multi-million-dollar companies. Call A Ride of Southlake (CARS) also relies exclusively on ridesharing to provide reliable transportation to older and disabled adults, except it does it for free!

The City of Southlake is blessed to partner with various nonprofit organizations to enhance the premier services provided to our residents. A world-class organization, CARS provides transportation services for senior citizens and disabled Southlake adults within a 25- mile radius. Founded in 2000, CARS and its incredible network of volunteer drivers ensure those who cannot drive themselves have access to medical, dental, social, business, and personal services.

CARS volunteers have provided over 400 one-way trips to more than 525 registered clients this year. While their efforts are extraordinary, they need more volunteers to continue providing these vital services to our community. Increasing their arsenal of volunteer drivers is more important than ever as seniors become more and more comfortable leaving their homes after the COVID-19 pandemic.

This is a volunteer opportunity for you if you love to drive and are looking for an impactful way to give back to your community. Help give our 55 and better community their autonomy back and become a volunteer driver!

For more information about becoming a CARS volunteer, visit www.callaridesouthlake.org.

Getting the chance to sit down and learn from our Senior Center members is the best part of our jobs.

The City of Southlake has a rich history. Its proximity to DFW airport, access to Lake Grapevine, and thriving Town Square made Southlake a highly sought-after community. But what was this area like before it was officially Southlake? Senior Center staff sat down with long-time member and lifetime Southlake resident, Glen Burgess, to get a first-hand account of Southlake before its incorporation in 1956.

“I didn’t move to Southlake. Southlake moved to me.” Glen Burgess often tells this to those who inquire about his history with the City. Born in 1930, Burgess is native to this area and grew up when it was still called Precinct 19. One of seven children, his family were sharecroppers when this area was “nothing but farmland.”

Southlake was a very different scene in the mid-1900s than it is today. From Glen’s recollections, there wasn't any electricity, running water, bicycle lanes, or paved roads when he was growing up. Open spaces were everywhere, and Highway 114 was a gravel road that connected Grapevine to Roanoke.

Glen attended five area schools before graduating from High School in Grapevine, including spending some time in Carroll ISD. Burgess attended the Florence school, a one-room schoolhouse in Roanoke before attending Carroll. Carroll only had five rooms at the time—one room to accommodate two classes. After 10th grade, children had to move to Grapevine to graduate.

Education looked different during those times. Children had to walk to school. In the fall, kids were often late to school as they had to help with the harvest: cotton, tomatoes, blackberries, and turnips. Glen only had three subjects: Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic. There weren’t any sports teams, and the only decoration in the classroom was the alphabet written above the chalkboard. Glen mentioned how the water fountain was outside, and the outhouse was in the woods. During his freshman year of high school, Glen remembers that 12th grade became a graduation requirement for the first time.

After high school, Glen spent two years in Germany with the Military. It was there that he met his future wife, Alice. Despite not seeing each other for ten years and corresponding solely via letters, Alice moved to Texas to be with Glen in 1963.

“I asked Alice to come over here [the U.S.], and that if she didn’t like it, she could go home,” Glen recalled jokingly.

Glen and Alice have been married for 58 years and have witnessed the rapid changes in Southlake during that time. What is now 1709 was a gravel road called Keller Road. Alice reminisced about having to drive to Grapevine to go grocery shopping and visit the doctor. When he was growing up, people had their own wells for water and septic tanks. Before gas lines were installed in the early 1960s, each house had a Butan tank for gas. Glen also mentioned how his property taxes were only $25 a year when he first bought a 3-acre property in 1954!

Despite the many developments during their lifetime, Glen and Alice Burgess played a vital role in this community. They remodeled and helped start the first Montessori school in Southlake back in 1970 with other local volunteers. Back then, the school only had 12-15 kids. That Montessori school is now in Colleyville. The Burgesses were also one of six couples to see the opening of the Southlake Senior Center in 1993.

Since then, both Glen and Alice have been active Senior Center members. Alice comes to the Senior Center every day to exercise, play Mah Jongg and dominos, and socialize with friends.

It’s no secret that Southlake has grown enormously in the last 65 years. We are grateful to have life-long residents like Glen Burgess to remind us of where we were and how far we’ve come. Thank you to the Burgess's for taking the time to reminisce with us!

Southlake Senior Activity Members know all about staying cool. Ask any of our SAC staff or volunteers, and they will tell you that our senior members have fascinating stories to tell. Because our members are amongst the coolest residents in Southlake, the Senior Activity Center hosted an Ice Cream Social on Thursday, July 22, 2021, from 1:30-2:30 PM.

Senior center members enjoyed a delicious ice cream treat fully sponsored by Milwaukee Joe's Southlake and the McGee Law Firm and soaked up an afternoon of staying cool and catching up with friends. It’s always lovely to see our members gather and have a good time. Our staff prides itself in creating fun, interactive, and educational programming for our members.

Special events like the Ice Cream Social make being a SAC member extra special. From the moment you join, you are treated like part of the family by our world-class employees, volunteers, and supporters. The Senior Activity Center is the go-to place to create life-long memories with the best programs! The Ice Cream Social is just one example.

While we all screamed for ice cream this Thursday, there are plenty of other recurring activities at the Senior Activity Center every week. Our members can stay in tip-top shape with Chair Yoga, Line Dance, Zumba Gold, Chair Pilates, and Fun & Fitness classes in their dedicated fitness studio. Poker, Knitting, and Mah Jongg are also popular with our members and available every week. There is truly something for everyone at the SAC.

Make sure to keep an eye out for our monthly Senior Center Newsletter to stay up to date on the latest happenings at the Senior Activity Center.

Senior Activity Center Members will tell you that one of the highlights of being a part of the Senior Center is their weekly Meals on Wheels Luncheon.

Provided by Metroport Meals on Wheels in partnership with the Senior Activity Center, seniors can look forward to a delicious hot meal every Monday. Since the start of the pandemic, the weekly Luncheons adopted a curbside pickup model that was largely successful. It provided Southlake seniors with a means of maintaining access to warm meals while safely socializing.

Last Monday, July 12, brought in a new era of the weekly luncheons. After 12 months of hosting drive-through lunches, The Senior Activity Center conducted the first indoor-Hybrid Luncheon. This new phase of the Senior Activity Center reopening plan will offer hybrid luncheons to senior members during July.

What does this hybrid model look like? In July, Senior Center members can choose whether they want to pick up and take home the pre-packaged meal or stay and enjoy lunch with their peers. At the Senior Activity Center, we are always looking to bring world-class services to our members while letting them choose their comfort level of activity.

Last Monday’s inaugural hybrid luncheon was as popular as ever! One hundred participants enjoyed FeedStore BBQ and pre-packaged cookies donated by Southlake Senior Funding Inc. (SSFI). The Senior Center is lucky to work with multiple partners, including volunteers from the National Charity League. Last week these incredible volunteers donated their time to help safely serve drinks and sanitize tables and chairs.

Senior Activity Center members can look forward to going back to the original congregated weekly lunch program starting in August. This dine-in-only program brings our seniors together to socialize while providing a balanced menu in a friendly and welcoming atmosphere.

We are grateful for the opportunity to serve Southlake’s senior community as we continue to welcome our members. Senior Center members can register for July's hybrid luncheon here.

Nothing says Fiesta like an outdoor celebration featuring delicious comida, contagious musica, and great conversation with life-long amigos.

The Southlake Senior Activity Center celebrated Cinco De Mayo with an outdoor luncheon on the Senior Center Patio and Aria Amphitheater on Wednesday, May 5. The first major in-person celebration after opening its doors for Phase 1 on Monday, the noon fiesta was a smash hit with Senior Center members.

The Senior Center Patio was vibrant in colorful decorations featuring well-known Mexican symbols such as cacti, piñatas, and sombreros. Senior Center members were ready to pull up a chair in the shady spots of the beautiful patio or enjoy the sunlight shining on the Aria Amphitheater lawn. Salsa music played as the aroma of Fajita Pete’s fajitas filled the air. With over 40 members in attendance, it was clear that Southlake seniors are ready to socialize and enjoy a great meal with fantastic weather.

Cinco de Mayo is a popular celebration with the Mexican-American community in the United States. While commonly believed to be Mexican Independence Day, Cinco de Mayo actually commemorates the Battle of Puebla of 1862, where the Mexican army successfully fended off a French invasion. Today, the holiday provides another reason to celebrate within our community and welcome back our seniors to the Senior Activity Center.

Holiday-themed luncheons are a staple of the Senior Center. Our staff and volunteers work diligently every day to provide our senior community with ample opportunity to gather safely and have a great time. Cinco de Mayo provided the perfect occasion to transition from our curb-side holiday luncheons to an outdoor event in our world-class facility. We thank everyone who was able to join us.

Make sure to keep up with our website to learn more about our upcoming events.

Nothing says Fiesta like an outdoor celebration featuring delicious comida, contagious musica, and great conversation with life-long amigos.

Make sure to keep up with our website to learn more about our upcoming events.

The Luck of the Irish was in Southlake yesterday as the Senior Activity Center celebrated another successful drive-through luncheon.

Everyone was greening from ear to ear as the Saint Patrick’s Day Luncheon began. Senior Activity staff and Southlake Sister Cities volunteers passed out tulips, Irish-themed goody bags, and a traditional Irish meal to Southlake seniors. The menu consisted of a delicious Shepherd’s Pie from Scratch Kitchen Catering.

Decked out in green, the Legends Hall parking lot was feeling the Irish spirit. Irish jigs played, lucky shamrocks were creatively placed, and volunteers waved celebratory signs as Seniors rolled up to collect their food. The sun was shining and the birds were singing, making it the perfect afternoon to celebrate this global pre-Spring tradition. There was even a leprechaun sighting! A huge thank you and shout out to the Southlake Sister Cities volunteers that helped make this event festive and fun.

Over the last year, the Southlake Senior Activity Center has perfected the art of the curbside luncheon. Forced to be creative due to Covid-19, Senior Center staff are determined to continue spreading cheer to the Southlake Senior community. Whether it's conducting wellness calls, hosting weekly drive-through luncheons, to celebrating fun holidays, the Senior Center aims to offer world-class experiences to all Southlake Seniors.

Exciting things are always happening at the Southlake Senior Activity Center. Keep an eye on our website to stay up to date on all upcoming events!

Winter weather did not stop the Southlake Women’s Club from spreading the love at the Senior Activity Center last Friday during the annual Senior Valentine Luncheon.

The beloved community event finally came to fruition on February 26, after being postponed due to weather concerns. A large turnout of around 80 seniors showed up in front of Legends Hall at The Marq Southlake for the Luncheon. The Southlake Women’s Club provided a wonderful afternoon complete with goody bags, roses, and a catered meal for our seniors to celebrate the month of love.

The Luncheon looked a little different this year, adapting to a curbside pick-up model due to COVID-19 restrictions. However, that didn’t stop our wonder women from delighting Southlake seniors with Valentine’s surprises. Seniors rolled up sporting pink and red to pick-up a warm meal provided by Fajita Pete’s Mexican restaurant. Fan-favorite love songs played, bubbles filled the air, and volunteers cheered on the streets with signs as seniors pulled up to receive their treats. Southlake Women’s Club members alongside Senior Center staff were even spotted dancing to the “Cupid Shuffle.”

Seniors were all smiles as they collected their warm meals.

“This always makes my day," one senior stated as he received a yellow rose.

“I always look forward to the events at the Senior Center,” claimed another Senior Center member.

The annual Senior Center Valentine Luncheon is one of the Southlake Women’s Club’s signature events. Dating back to the early 2000s, the first Valentine Luncheon took place at the old Southlake Senior Center before moving to the Senior Activity Center at The Marq. Since then, the event has only grown in popularity, with festivities and community spirit increasing every year. With so much love to go around, it's easy to see why this event is a highlight of the year for Southlake seniors.

Partnerships like the one between the Southlake Women’s Club and the Senior Activity Center give our residents world-class experiences. Coming together to celebrate Southlake's giving spirit through events like the Valentine Luncheon creates life-long memories for our residents and staff.