Two generations mingle hourly at Urbana center

Thursday, April 26, 2007

Two generations mingle hourly at Urbana center

— Margarita Raycheva |

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Tom Fedor⁄The Gazette

Toni Minkel, 62, of Mount Airy leads a tai chi class for seniors at the Urbana Senior Center March 19.

At 10 a.m. on a recent Thursday, a group of seniors moves in sync, practicing tai chi, an ancient Chinese martial art. One floor above them, it’s storytime for toddlers.

The building playing host houses the Urbana Regional Library and the Urbana Senior Center.

Offering puppet shows and reading activities for pre-schoolers and teens, the library is a favorite place for the young.

At the same time, seniors are drawn to the senior center for yoga, bridge or computer classes. On any day, the two generations mingle:

10:02 a.m., lobby

As library staff unlocks the reception desk shutters, the first student in the senior center’s tai chi class strolls in.

Dressed in a green sweater, black sweat pants and white sneakers, the 65-year-old looks ready to work out.

A few seconds behind her, a young mother and a little girl in a red-striped shirt walk through the door and head to the second-floor children’s section.

10:08 a.m., senior center studio, 1st floor

Three students sway outstretched hands around their bodies to the tune of Chinese music. As she guides them through warm-up, instructor Toni Minkel, 62, talks about tai chi — Chinese energy work for health and exercise.

10:16 a.m.: A tiny head with blonde curls pops through the door. A little girl watches intently as the older students turn sideways and stretch out their palms. ‘‘Put some bend into your elbows ... step forward ... lean out ... stretch ...,” Minkel instructs.

10:32 a.m., children’s reading room, 2nd floor

Hissing noises and laughter seep through a closed door. Inside, toddlers, parents and grandparents are lined up along a wall. A librarian is singing a song about animals. The toddlers happily growl like lions, hiss like snakes and jump around like monkeys.

10:39 a.m.: Toddlers listen as the librarian reads a story about a little gorilla. At the end of the story, they answer questions about colors.

Most of the adults in the room are young mothers. A few grandparents, such as Bill Determan and Roseanne Castellano also attend.

‘‘We come every Thursday,” said Castellano’s daughter, Debra Fairbanks.

11:22 a.m., senior center lunchroom, 1st floor

Four seniors sit in chairs, moving their hands and feet, instructed by a videotaped workout. They lift their legs and stretch their arms. ‘‘Great job!” says the instructor on the television. The group claps.