A School for All Seasons

It was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

And the pins were certainly dropping as a group of senior citizens showed off their bowling skills at Central Regional High School recently.

Minus a bowling alley, the senior bowlers concentrated on screens set up on the walls of the high school cafeteria for a Wii version of bowling.

“I love it, it’s marvelous,” said Joyce Allan, a resident of Holiday City South. “It’s great exercise, and there are good people here.”

Allan said she has been coming to the high school for the Wii bowling program every Thursday afternoon for the past two years.

Vera Arbotofsky, a resident of Holiday Heights, agreed with Allan.,

“It’s a vast difference (compared to regular bowling). But I do better with the Wii," she said.

To add some excitement, the high bowlers eventually are weeded out and then compete with each other.

“They brag about their high scores,” said Richie Benner, of Holiday City South. “It’s a lot of fun. It’s breaks up the afternoon.”

“We mix and match,” said Peggy Mullins, of Holiday City South, whose husband Jim helped set up the program.

Last year, the group of two dozen treated Central Regional schools Superintendent Triantafillos (Tom) Parlapanides to dinner to show their thanks.

“We’re grateful Dr. P invited us in,” said Benner.

“This brings the community in to the schools,” Parlapanides said. “Everybody pays taxes. They come here and are treated like they’re at home. We wanted to get the community more involved… involve the elderly in the community.”

The Central Regional golf club started the Wii bowling three years ago. The library lent a Wii to the group and it was such a success that the program was expanded. The golf club lent a hand in fundraising for more Wiis and donations were contributed from the high school’s foundation. Eventually five more Wiis were donated.

Teachers and faculty members donate to the foundation through payroll deductions. Last year $8,000 was raised, according to Parlapanides.

“(The money) goes towards the kids," he said. "It’s a way to give back to the district.”

Perhaps Mullins summed up the Thursday afternoon groups’ activity the best.

“We all just have a good time,” she said with a laugh.