Dunedin Committee On Aging Honors SeniorsThe City of Dunedin, as the first Community of a Lifetime, is dedicated to creating an environment promoting independence and enabling older Floridians to remain in their communities for a lifetime. One of the ways in which the City of Dunedin promotes this idea is through the Older Americans Month, Senior Hall of Fame program, which is held annually. The City of Dunedin Committee On Aging calls for nominations once a year to Dunedin's Senior Hall of Fame. The Dunedin Senior Hall of Fame honors and celebrates older Dunedin residents who have made significant contributions to our community. Honored inductees must be 75 years old or older and have lived in Dunedin for 10 years or more. More importantly, they have demonstrated the art of aging successfully, and inductees have donated time and abilities to activities serving the community. The 2010 Senior Hall of Fame recipients are Irwin and Syd Entel, Allen Edelman and Betty Ferris. This award was presented on May 19th at the City of Dunedin Older Americans Month Celebration event at the Dr. William E. Hale Senior Activity Center at 330 Douglas Avenue in Dunedin. The award ceremony included a luncheon sponsored by Mease Manor Retirement Community. The program began with a presentation on the National Academy of Aging, 2010 theme "Age Strong! Live Long!" and the pledge to age strong through physical, nutritional, brain and social, emotional, and financial fitness. A pledge sheet and wristbands were provided to each participant. The next event on the program was the Dunedin High School NJROTC Five Flags of Freedom color guard presentation. Welcome and introductions of elected officials and recognition of Committee On Aging and Senior Hall of Fame Selection Committee members was made by Kelli Edwards, Chair, Committee On Aging. Committee On Aging committee member, Brenda Stewart, introduced Megan Littlejohn, "My Favorite Older Person" Essay Contest winner from Dunedin Elementary School, who read her essay on the accomplishments of her grandfather, Donald J. Sykes-Free. Next on the program was the awarding of the 2010 winners of the Senior Hall of Fame awards. A slideshow of each of the inductees was produced by Hospice Teen Volunteers and provided a backdrop for the presentation. Committee member and nominator, Dr. Earl Tapley, introduced award winner Allen Edelman, who since moving to Dunedin, has been deeply involved in the life of the City. Service to the City is demonstrated by his work with the youth of the community and his service on the Dunedin Recreation and Parks Advisory Committee and the Dunedin Arts & Culture Committee. Committee member and nominator, Sharon Williams, introduced winners Dr. Irwin and Syd Entel describing their service to the City over a 40-year period in bringing the arts to their community through the founding of the Dunedin Fine Arts Center and the evolving realization of that vision to the benefit of the residents of the City of Dunedin. Nominator Roxie Smith, introduced winner Betty Ferris describing her extensive volunteer service to the City of Dunedin Library, Senior Center and other City events and functions, as well as her humanitarian outreach to her community. Entertainment for the event was provided by pianist, Sid Keithly, the Dunedin High School Falconaires song and dance troupe, and the Dedicated Dulcimers of Dunedin. Twenty floral centerpieces by area businesses were given as door prizes at the end of the event.
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