From building gingerbread houses to singing along to Christmas carols, the Special Talented Adult Resident (S.T.A.R.) program provided a wealth of activities during December for adults in The Villages with special needs. On Dec. 29, participants of the program wrapped up the month at Ezell Recreation with a few rounds of bocce golf.
Bernadette Cecchini, recreation area supervisor for The Villages Recreation and Parks Department, said the S.T.A.R. program is a great social outlet.
“This is another means for the community to socialize,” Cecchini said. “Now it’s usually the same group of residents and they have become friends. It’s nice to see.”
Cecchini, who plays in a bocce golf league, said the game is “very easy to learn” for those with little to no experience.
“One of the main differences between bocce golf and bocce is you put the golf ball as close to the pallino ball as possible,” she said. “The S.T.A.R. program gives people the chance to try different activities that they may want to try but are too apprehensive about it.”
Jeffrey Drake, of the Village of Lake Denham, said although this was his first time playing bocce golf, he was excited to try something new. He said the event will be good practice for him ahead of the Special Olympics, a competition for athletes with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).
“I’ve never done this before, but I play putt-putt golf and I have my own golf clubs,” Drake said. “My aunt ordered them for me. I do know that I have to hit the ball softly. My aunt used the word ‘finesse.’ She said I have to have finesse with the ball.”
Bethany Stineman, of the Village of Lake Denham, has participated in the S.T.A.R. program for a little over a year and a half, since moving to the Villages. She said she enjoys taking advantage of the opportunity to learn new things and having a chance to be social.
A quick learner, Stineman got into position before getting a good hit on the ball — a tactic she repeated several times throughout the game.
Stineman has been competing for over 10 years in the Special Olympics, winning two gold medals in shot put and javelin during the 2022 Special Olympics USA games.
“I’m a sports fan fanatic,” she said. “I’ve been competing for a long time and I’m having fun doing it.”
Albert Rodriquez, of the Village of Lake Denham, said he has played bocce golf with the S.T.A.R. program during a previous event held at Big Cypress Recreation.
“It was pretty fun,” Rodriquez said. “I like hitting the golf ball. In my opinion, the S.T.A.R. program is a fun way of getting out of the house and spending time with friends and family. For my family, we go out to eat after a S.T.A.R. activity.”
Participating in several of the program’s events, Cecchini said she was excited to see everyone during the holiday season, allowing her the chance to wish them all a happy New Year.
“In November, for Thanksgiving, we made turkey thanksgiving plates with the plate and some tissue paper. That’s how they kicked off the holiday season,” Cecchini said. “They had a ball (while building gingerbread houses) — everyone did.”
Melinda Losey, of the Village of Lake Denham, said she’s noticed a shine in son Matthew’s eye since participating in S.T.A.R. events.
“I love all the instructors and having a chance to meet other parents,” she said. “We’ve gotten to be very close in the two and a half years since moving here and they have accepted us with arms open wide. Before we moved here, I didn’t have any activities for Matthew to do besides the Special Olympics, but that stopped after COVID-19. Since moving to The Villages, I have him in five or six different groups and it brings him joy.”
To stay informed about upcoming S.T.A.R. events, visit http://www.thevillages.com/recreation/star-program/, call 352-753-1716 or check The Villages Recreation News.
