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HomeNewsLocal newsHoliday Expressions: Zumba Gold Class Donates in the Spirit of the Season

Holiday Expressions: Zumba Gold Class Donates in the Spirit of the Season

Zumba member Doris Brown presents the program's donation to Luis A. Alicea, Sr.St. Croix has its own Field of Dreams at the Armapavie Sports Club in Castle Coakley.

The Luis A. Alicea Sr. Field of Dreams Ball Park, mostly known as a facility for sports and fitness programs, also has dormitory accommodations for 40. The accommodations are used by visiting sports teams, leagues, bands and artists for stays as long as 10 days.

Luis Clemente, son of legendary Pittsburgh Pirate ballplayer Roberto Clemente from Puerto Rico, recently was on St. Croix. He was in a faith-based program with major league players doing community service. There were 36 people from Puerto Rico using the accommodations during the training program for youngsters.

An AARP sponsored Zumba Gold dance class is one of the community fitness programs held at the center at 5 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

Following the departure of a team and a quick turnaround of guests arriving to use the dormitory, Zumba instructor Monsita Diaz, a member of the sports center, asked her class to help launder the sheets.

Zumba Gold class members, who use the facility at no charge, pitched in, stripped beds and washed sheets.

After doing the laundry and making the beds, Vincenta Pilgrim said they noticed there were odds and ends and worn mismatched pieces of bedding. Speaking for the Dynamic Zumba class of 2016, Pilgrim said the group doesn’t only take from their community, but they also find a cause to give back to.

In the spirit of Christmas giving and to show their appreciation, Pilgrim came up with the idea to have the Zumba class members, mostly senior citizens, donate new twin sheet sets to the sports club.

Friday the Zumba class had a holiday celebration at the facility and presented 42 sets of sheets to Luis A. Alicea Sr., president of the board and namesake of the park.

Robbie Comacho, volunteer administrator of the dorms, said they are very grateful for the donation of sheets.

“This is a blessing,” Comacho said. “We really needed new sheets.”

Diaz also presented Emerito Torres, president of the VIPR Friendship Committee, with an AARP VI Zumba Gold T-shirt. Torres is the newly elected vice president of AARP VI Local Chapter 3167.

Ricky Lambert, 86, does Zumba for fun and fitness.Noemi Garcia, AARP associate state director of communications and community outreach, said the Zumba class started at the AARP office in Estate Diamond Ruby more than two years ago. She said the move to the sports center was perfect.

“I hope people continue to have a happy and healthy experience here,” Garcia said.

She told the 40 gathered Zumba dancers to keep coming out and socializing and don’t stop exercising.

Zumba is a dance fitness program. The Latin beats keep participants energized and burning calories – while the sultry, seductive moves target hips, abs, and tighten thighs and gluteal muscles. It’s exercise in disguise and you forget you are working out.

Ricky Lambert, 86, was dancing and kicking up his heels at the holiday event, which included refreshments. He said the Zumba class keeps him young and feeling good.

Armapavie Sports Club Inc. at the Luis A. Alicea Sr. Field of Dreams Ball Park, between Hovensa and Sunny Isle intersection, was incorporated in 1967. The land was donated by Norman H. Skeoch for the purpose of sports-related activities on St. Croix. There is a negotiable fee for overnight accommodations. Alicea, who has been president of the board since 1972, said people always ask him what is happening when they see cars and people at the park. He said people are always welcome to stop and see what is happening. 

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