Montclair uses the knowledge of its seniors for instruction on special skills
Ruth VanScoy has canned it all - tomatoes, cherries, spinach and even green beans.
Last month, VanScoy shared her talent with a group of seniors at Montclair's Senior Center for their "Senior in the Spotlight" Program.
Each month a different senior will teach a workshop on their special skill.
The long-time senior program volunteer VanScoy said the knowledge she offered in her "How to Can Vegetables" class has been great help to her.
Last month, VanScoy shared her talent with a group of seniors at Montclair's Senior Center for their "Senior in the Spotlight" Program.
Each month a different senior will teach a workshop on their special skill.
The long-time senior program volunteer VanScoy said the knowledge she offered in her "How to Can Vegetables" class has been great help to her.
"I've been canning for 50 years," said the 88-year-old.
The group of 25 seniors learned how to can green beans and requested additional classes on the canning of fruits.
"Our senior citizens are a very good source of knowledge. It does not matter what they did for a living, whether it was a housewife or accountant, everyone has something to offer," said Ester Vargas-Pipersky, the city's senior program specialist.
"It is a win-win program, by us utilizing our seniors we can offer more programs and for the senior citizen they get to shine in the spotlight for the month and demonstrate their talent."
VanScoy said her father had a garden and they canned, and when she got married she missed the vegetables, so she encouraged her husband to make her a garden, too.
"During the Depression that's how people lived," she said.
During the workshop VanScoy shared tips on sterilizing the jars, how long to let the water boil and when to buy produce.
"When peaches come out, don't grab them, they'll cost too much, wait a couple weeks and look at the advertisement in the paper," she said.
Vargas-Pipersky said the center encourages more seniors to get involved in the community and come forth and share their talent with other people in the community.
"It was a pleasure working with Ruth or as I like to call her Ruthie. She was so excited to be a part of the program. She shared with me her childhood, and stories on how she loves to garden but most important the passion she has for canning," she said.
"She comes from a generation who values hard work and the fruits from the hard work. The participants really enjoyed the canning presentation and requested for more in the future."
Last week, seniors learned how to make homemade greeting cards courtesy of Ruby Mattingly.
Mattingly has been the senior volunteer in charge of the scrapbooking class for the past two years. Everyone who attended the class was given supplies and made and took home a greeting card.
Mark your calendar for the next "Senior in the Spotlight" programs:
Learn how to make corned beef and cabbage just in time for St. Patrick's Day from 2 to 3:30 p.m. March 15.
The manager of Elephant Bar Restaurant in Montclair has been very instrumental in helping raise funds for the event. He will be sharing his special recipe for corned beef and cabbage in honor of the Irish holiday.
Learn how to decorate cakes and more with the help of the Ontario Bakery from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. March 23.
Free lunch will be provided for those 60 years and older who RSVP to 909-625-9483 by noon on March 16.
All events require reservations: 909-625-9483.
The group of 25 seniors learned how to can green beans and requested additional classes on the canning of fruits.
"Our senior citizens are a very good source of knowledge. It does not matter what they did for a living, whether it was a housewife or accountant, everyone has something to offer," said Ester Vargas-Pipersky, the city's senior program specialist.
"It is a win-win program, by us utilizing our seniors we can offer more programs and for the senior citizen they get to shine in the spotlight for the month and demonstrate their talent."
VanScoy said her father had a garden and they canned, and when she got married she missed the vegetables, so she encouraged her husband to make her a garden, too.
"During the Depression that's how people lived," she said.
During the workshop VanScoy shared tips on sterilizing the jars, how long to let the water boil and when to buy produce.
"When peaches come out, don't grab them, they'll cost too much, wait a couple weeks and look at the advertisement in the paper," she said.
Vargas-Pipersky said the center encourages more seniors to get involved in the community and come forth and share their talent with other people in the community.
"It was a pleasure working with Ruth or as I like to call her Ruthie. She was so excited to be a part of the program. She shared with me her childhood, and stories on how she loves to garden but most important the passion she has for canning," she said.
"She comes from a generation who values hard work and the fruits from the hard work. The participants really enjoyed the canning presentation and requested for more in the future."
Last week, seniors learned how to make homemade greeting cards courtesy of Ruby Mattingly.
Mattingly has been the senior volunteer in charge of the scrapbooking class for the past two years. Everyone who attended the class was given supplies and made and took home a greeting card.
Mark your calendar for the next "Senior in the Spotlight" programs:
Learn how to make corned beef and cabbage just in time for St. Patrick's Day from 2 to 3:30 p.m. March 15.
The manager of Elephant Bar Restaurant in Montclair has been very instrumental in helping raise funds for the event. He will be sharing his special recipe for corned beef and cabbage in honor of the Irish holiday.
Learn how to decorate cakes and more with the help of the Ontario Bakery from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. March 23.
Free lunch will be provided for those 60 years and older who RSVP to 909-625-9483 by noon on March 16.
All events require reservations: 909-625-9483.
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