Pickleball for the Seniors

Tallahassee, Fla.- Pickleball's senior popularity
By Aishah Walker-Brown

On Friday, the Tallahassee Senior Center hosted one of its biweekly games of Pickleball, one of America’s fastest growing sports. The game has been around since the 1970s. Even though Pickleball is open to all ages, it has become popular for many seniors.

Pickleball is a paddle sport played on a court similar to Badminton, but the net is two inches lower than a Tennis net. The game is played with hard wood paddles and a plastic whiffle ball. The ball is served underhand instead of overhand like Tennis.

“It is great exercise and it’s really good for senior citizens who can’t run as far and as fast,” said Judy Bentley, a regular Pickleball player at the Tallahassee Senior Center. “The Pickleball court is a third the size of a Tennis court and it makes it easier to get to the ball.”

Pickleball was originally invented as an easy game that a whole family could play. Today, it has developed into a quick, fast-paced, competitive game for experienced players.

“It’s relatively easy to learn and it’s a lot of fun,” said Barry Powers, another Pickleball player at the Senior Center. “I’m an ex-Tennis player and have bad knees. Pickleball is much easier on my knees than singles Tennis, so it was a great compromise to get out and play.” Powers has been playing Pickleball ever since the Senior Center first hosted the game a year ago.

Pickleball does not require as much physical movement as Tennis. The court is smaller which makes it easier to hit the ball, and players do not have to run as much.

“I’m too old to play Tennis,” said Gail Long, yet another Pickleball player at the Senior Center. “This being the senior version of Tennis, is more that I can handle.”

For more information about Pickleball, visit http://www.usapa.org/  

https://soundcloud.com/aishah1-walkerbrown/pickleball
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cwMKHiVADvE

 Pickleball players get in their starting positions

Players change teams

Two players chase after the ball

 Players get ready for another game of Pickleball

 The ball is served underhand

Tallahassee Has Big Plans

By:Patrice Rush

Restaurants, new shopping plazas and mom and pop stores will not only bring revenue and tourists into Tallahassee, but also new jobs.

The City of Tallahassee has invited over 20 different entrepreneurs and company owners to build their stores here in the city.

These new businesses will be able to hire residents from all over the county, leaving Tallahassee with a decrease in unemployment.

The unemployment rate in Tallahassee for 2013 is 6.9 percent,which 2.7 percentage points lower than the rate in 2010, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

BJ’s Brewhouse, a restaurant located on Apalachee Pkwy, recently opened this October. Since then they have hired over 20 staff members to join their team. 

“ I believe this is just what Tallahassee has been looking for,” said Demetrius Wright, an employee at BJ’s Brew House. “ I haven’t been able to find a job so quickly before.”

The parking lot of BJ's Brewhouse

The menu of Bj's Brewhouse

A Now Hiring Sign at the new Stevie B's on Tennessee Street

The construction site of the upcoming restaurant "Newks"

The Sign of Stevie B's Pizza Buffet.