Brea Senior Center Christmas Angel Tree Program
Brea Senior Case Management was honored to provide holiday cheer by delivering gifts to 110 older adults in Brea for the Angel Tree and Adopt a Senior programs. Gift recipients were low-income, undergoing hardship, and had minimal support at home. Seniors’ wish lists were compiled and signed out to mall shoppers. Gifts were then shopped for, collected, wrapped, and personally delivered just in time for the holidays.
Over $2,500 worth of gifts, as well as $3,000 in gift cards, were donated to support the senior’s personalized wish lists. The success of this program was due to the communitywide collaboration and support of the: Brea Mall, Brea Methodist Church, Brea Cub Scout Pack 707, local shoppers, Senior Center volunteers, and Community Services staff.
The program also received a generous donation of $65,000 from a resident to support numerous Brea Case Management individuals with monetary gifts for rent and other significant needs during the holidays. Recipients were surprised and overjoyed by this unexpected gift. The Brea Senior Center has the utmost gratitude for everyone involved, and on behalf of all the older adults who received uplift and cheer this season – thank you for making their holidays so special.
Brea Community Center Hall Floor Refinish
The Public Works Department’s Building Maintenance Division recently refinished the Brea Community Center’s Community Hall floor. The week-long process started with two days of deep cleaning and screen sanding of the old finish. On day three, the first coat of high-performance wood finish is applied and repeated on day four with a second coat. The finish is then left to cure for at least 48 hours.
Public Works also maintains the wood flooring in the Group Exercise Room and the Basketball Gym on an annual basis. Building Maintenance staff have been performing this work since 2001 and has the operation down to a science. The Hall reopened on Saturday for rental events.
2022 Senior Christmas Celebration
The Brea Senior Center spread holiday cheer this past December with its 2022 Annual Senior Christmas Party. The Brea Community Center hosted over 300 seniors for the festive celebration. Decorations filled the room while seniors enjoyed a performance by a Christmas Jazz Ensemble and danced along with entertainer Tony Odell. The day started with a hot cocoa and coffee bar and plenty of sweets, followed by a complimentary delicious traditional holiday meal. Lunchtime was exceptionally exciting, with Brea City Council members assisting in raffling over $10,000 in donated prizes. There was even a visit from Santa, who coincidentally had a shocking resemblance to Brea’s Assistant City Manager, Chris Emeterio.
Every senior in attendance was also surprised with a donated gift of $30 in cash. The supplies, decorations, entertainment, and meals enjoyed at this event were all thanks to generous donations.
The Senior Center is extremely grateful to all our community partners who generously donated to this event, bringing warmth and joy to the hearts of our senior community this holiday season.
Community Service Difference Maker Program
Community Services has come together to implement the Difference Maker Program, which spotlights a member of the department’s amazing part-time staff several times a year. The department’s current Difference Maker, Keith Velasquez Jr., Brea Resource Center Coordinator, has extended support to multiple Community Services programs during his tenure. Keith brings an element of professionalism to each program he works in. His integrity, compassion, and cadence when working with the public are admirable. He positively impacts the lives of co-workers and the public he supports. Keith's genuine and collaborative approach to community service makes him a Difference Maker.
Brea Gallery Opening Reception
The Brea Gallery kicks off the 2023 year with a complimentary opening reception on January 28 from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. To celebrate its newest exhibit, Domestic Detritus, the Gallery will host an evening of refreshments, music, a Gift Shop sale, and many artists to meet and discuss their featured pieces. This event is free and open to the public.
About the exhibit: With the isolation and hardships of the last three years of the global pandemic, Domestic Detritus seeks to investigate the personal and universal transformations experienced.
The artists featured in this exhibition turned inward to create sculpture, painting, video, photography, and installation - an exploration of memory, societal roles, and the vestiges of domesticity.
The Gallery will resume business hours on Wednesday through Sunday, January 29, from noon to 5:00 p.m.
Brea Welcomes Its Sister City Delegation
The City of Brea was excited to welcome a 33-student delegation from Anseong, Korea, Brea’s Sister City, from January 9 through 21. The students participated in many activities during their stay, including visits to Brea Olinda High School and Brea Junior High School. City staff led the students through Brea’s Oil Museum, Fire Station One, the Civic & Cultural Center, the Curtis Theater, the Police Department, as well as various parks. The students were overjoyed to ride the Brea Trolley, which is always one of their most anticipated events. It was great to enjoy time with the student delegation, and we look forward to the adult delegation arriving in August.
