Westlake Community Services offers drive-in events

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The abundance of creativity displayed by the Westlake Senior and Community Services Department since Covid-19 disrupted virtually everyone’s day-to-day life has been truly inspiring. Interestingly enough, “virtually” is one of the key adjectives to describe how the department has continued to fulfill its mission of engaging and enriching the community it serves during this difficult time – but not the only one.

The department began offering Virtual Programs in May to keep residents – particularly those in the 60-plus community – engaged at a time when many may be feeling isolated, unable to leave home.

While these programs, which allow residents to participate via Zoom or with their phone, have proven extremely popular and effective, staffers still hoped to find ways to safely invite residents back to take part in some in-person, but socially-distanced, activities.

Enter the department’s “Drive-in Events” series. With help from Westlake’s IT Department, the center has been able to host drive-in movies, concerts and Bingo right in the parking lot of the facility. Attendees can listen to instructions and audio via their car radios and yellow dots painted in the parking lot tell attendees where to park in order to maintain social distancing.

In July, the department expanded its in-person programming even further, adding Social Distancing Chess to its list of activities. Players brought their own chess sets and sat at separate tables six-feet apart while mirroring their opponents’ moves.

On one particularly hot day, Bingo players were moved from the sun-drenched parking lot to the shade of the Center’s bocce court.

The next Drive-in Movie Night at the Center is set for Aug. 12 with a showing of “Field of Dreams,” starring Kevin Costner as a farmer who plows under his cornfield to build a baseball field after hearing a mysterious voice telling him, “If you build it, he will come.”

More details about the Senior and Community Services Department’s Virtual Programs and Drive-in Events can be found in the August Pathways Newsletter, which is available online at www.cityofwestlake.org/519/Newsletter.