By Maurice Emery, Editor Emeritus

The Eaton’s Ferry Road AARP took time at last Thursday’s monthly meeting to recognize Addie Solomon on her eight gold medals from the Down East Senior Games. Solomon entered eight events and won gold medals in all of them.

She won the 100M dash at 20.63 sec.; the 200M dash at 52.07 sec.; the running long jump at 7’4”; the softball throw at 72’8”; the shot put at 22’8”; the discus at 36’10”; for the football throw she accumulated 80 points; and she completed the silversider fun walk. The fun walk is the only event designed to make sure if you complete it you get a medal, all the other events are competitive.

The games were held earlier this month with 297 seniors from five counties participating. The events were divided by sex and into five-year increment age categories. The games promote fellowship, fun and fitness to residents of Halifax, Edgecombe, Nash, Northampton and Wilson counties who are 55 and older. The next stop for Solomon is the North Carolina State Finals in Raleigh this September.

The program for the meeting was on 55 Alive safe driving program for AARP members. James Taylor gave the presentation combining a sense of humor and important information on the program and other programs offered by AARP.

AARP conducts 200 classes at any given time throughout the country. The courses take two 4 hour days to complete. There are no tests in the course. Some insurance companies offer discounts if you complete the program.

Next months meeting will be the annual spaghetti dinner.