Page 10 - Lifestyles in Palm Beach Gardens - October '23

Page 10, Lifestyles in Palm Beach Gardens
Jupiter Senior Softball

As registration begins for its 2024 season the Jupiter Senior New players this year include
Softball Association (JSSA) experienced unprecedented Temple Houston, 60, who said,
growth this year when 41 new players were added, bringing “It’s been fun and I like to
total membership to a record 236. compete and there are very few
Commissioner Paul Storch attributed the program’s places when you get this age that
success “to the members doing what we all love to do; play you can compete.”
softball in an atmosphere that is competitive and filled with Mike Igneri, 69, a member of
endless camaraderie.” The slow-pitch softball program is the JSSA Board of Directors, began
open to persons 55 and over and players of all skill levels are playing in the town’s evening
welcome. Games are every Monday, Wednesday and Friday adult league while still working as
morning at Jupiter Community Park. a mailman and joined the senior
Now in its 35th year, the senior league is sponsored by the softball league upon retiring in
nonprofit Jupiter Senior Softball Association in cooperation 2014. “I can’t believe how many
with the Town of Jupiter. Interested persons are encouraged friends I’ve made,” he said.
to give the softball program a try even if has been some years Another longtime player, Norm
since they played. Haltrich, 87, has been playing since Norm Haltrich Temple Houston Mike Igneri
Former JSSA commissioner Tom Cosentino characterized the league began 35 years ago. He
the softball program as “a Little League for old guys that after said he’s incurred a number of injuries, including torn quad For more information about the senior softball league
a while becomes addictive.” There is no upper age limit but muscles and pulled hamstrings but never considered quitting. contact Gary Newman at (917) 623-0791, or to register go
most participants are in their 60s and 70s, with some in their Haltrich is also among ten JSSA players who have been to www.leaguelineup.com/jssa.
80s, The oldest is Mike Manasia, who turned 91 last July. enshrined in the National Senior Softball Hall of Fame.
Connecting Children To Safety

What Is This Decade Teaching caregivers to assist with connection through social- become trained to understand and respond to children and

Us So Far? That Connection emotional behavior support and interventions. A Way of families when they experience crisis. Together, we can
be stronger in preventing and protecting children from
Being with Children: A Trauma-Informed Approach to
Can Be Our Safe Shelter Building Resilience is an online curriculum consisting becoming victims of trauma and abuse and build safer
of a manual, live workshops, and public campaign homes, schools, and communities.
By Renée Layman, designed to support anyone who regularly interacts with About Center For Child Counseling
President and CEO children and families. The resources promote everyday Since 1999, Center for Child Counseling has been
of Center for Child practices that connect to and support children’s emotional building the foundation for playful, healthful, and hopeful
Counseling needs while helping them grow more resilient. For more living for children and families in Palm Beach County.
After seeing information, visit centerforchildcounseling.org/training. Its services focus on preventing and healing the effects
fi rsthand how We connect when we talk. The center also offers free of adverse experiences and toxic stress on children,
the effects of online workshops, tip sheets, and videos that address promoting resiliency and healthy family, school, and
isolation, division, ongoing fears and stressors, including the hardest topics community relationships.
and detachment to discuss with children, such as: self-harm and suicidal For more information and resources for parents, teachers,
are altering thoughts, war and violence, frequent school shootings, caregivers, and children, visit: centerforchildcounseling.
our children’s sexual abuse, death, grief, divorce, and loss. You can access org. Visit Twitter: @ChildCounselPBC; Facebook:
experience of the world and their hope for a safe place in these resources at: centerforchildcounseling.org/resources. @CenterforChildCounseling; or Instagram: @
it, Center for Child Counseling has made connection and We ask you to join us in connecting children to safety; childcounselpbc.
safety the center of supporting children’s mental health.
We all wish we could say it’s getting better. But
the stress of the past few years is still taking a toll on
our mental health, well-being, and safety. Economic
insecurity, racism, discrimination, political unrest, and
youth suicides are still on the rise – with war and genocide
leading the nightly news. These experiences, even the
knowledge of them, are potentially traumatic, and without
balance from positive influences, may cause long-term
health consequences for our children and teens.
How can kids feel safe and hopeful when they are
also the primary targets of sex traffickers and school
shootings? It’s a question we wrestle with daily in our
mission to bring children to safety and healing within
their homes, schools, and community.
Building hope and resilience for the future means
creating a community where all children and families
feel loved, safe, protected and connected. As we continue
to emerge from the pandemic, we must actively develop
positive social connections, particularly for children,
families, and communities who have experienced an
overabundance of grief and trauma.
As CEO of Center for Child Counseling, a local
nonprofit, we have been dedicated to transforming the
lives of children and families in Palm Beach County
since 1999. We continue to forge partnerships and new
connections with other agencies, businesses, schools,
system and community leaders, and funders who
recognize the importance of keeping children safe.
Every one of us has the opportunity to make a
difference for a child facing adversity. Children have
tremendous potential – which our society needs – and
which we have a shared obligation to foster and protect.
The goal is for all community members to understand and
own the idea that we each have a stake and role in child
and family well-being.
But how do we, as adults, carve safe spaces for children
while struggling to make sense of things ourselves?
Center for Child Counseling provides the tools to connect.
We connect when we interact. The center offers
online training and resources for teachers, parents, and