LUCERNE >> Throughout 2015, the people of Lake County may be seeing more of the area”s prominent men than they were anticipating. They have the Lucerne Alpine Senior Center”s “Boomers and Beyond” calendar to thank.
A dozen men, all 60 years and older, were selected to appear in the calendar based on their commitment to the senior center or their prominence in the community. The cover stars Jim Steele, 72, District 3 county supervisor, and inside pages feature Bernie Butcher, 71, owner of the Blue Wing Saloon and Tallman Hotel, Bob Barker, 86, otherwise known as “The Danceman” and Pastor Paul Smith, 67, among others.
“I first asked [the board] to take a look at who supported the center and who was regularly in and out of the center and this was the list that came up,” said Rae Eby-Carl, the executive director of the center. “So we were just looking at who represents us, who do we want to share with the rest of our community as men who enjoy a good laugh and yet who are so active in our community.”
The men didn”t have any hesitations when approached with the idea. “Me and one of the other guys that is in there — his name is Michael Barrish — we were playing at the Blue Wing on a Sunday morning and Bernie Butcher, the owner, was sitting there talking with someone and the lady said something like, ”We need two more people to finish the calendar,”” recalled Jim Williams, 63, owner of Strings & Things. “And Bernie said to us, ”Hey are you guys over 60? Do you want to be on a calendar?” We said ”Yeah, what the heck.” So that”s pretty much how it happened, at least for me and Michael.”
Kenny Parlet, 60, owner of Lakeview Supermarket & Deli, was similarly nonchalant about the whole thing. “It”s a fundraiser for the senior center and I”ve always supported the senior centers on both sides of the lake,” he said. “They wanted someone who was 60 and over and supposedly fit. It wasn”t a very hard thing to do and I didn”t have to make a big commitment.”
Eby-Carl introduced the fundraising idea after finding inspiration in an old calendar featuring the community”s firefighters. “I woke up one morning and wondered what we could do that nobody had done that I had seen in a long time in Lake County,” she said. “I thought, ”Wouldn”t it be a kick if we could do not a flashy calendar, but a fun calendar?””
Every man chose their own theme and how much skin they wanted to reveal. Some kept it conservative but others weren”t as shy. “One of our guys does quite a bit of body building so he”s showing his muscles,” said Eby-Carl. Meanwhile Parlet “has some fabulous pictures where one he looks like Elvis, with the scarf and everything ? And Mr. December of course had to be with a Christmas tree.”
Jim Steele confirmed that he made the decisions at his photo shoot. “We just went out to Rodman Slough and they wanted to know where I wanted to take pictures ? So we went out there, to get that in the background,” he said, explaining that he picked the spot because of his experience with biology. “So I walked out to get a picture and I sunk in the mud and I had to leave a boot behind. One of the pictures is of the boots still in the mud.”
Each page features a collage of the man of the month and a favorite saying or two, so he can accurately represent himself. “That gave them a chance to think a little bit about how they want to be known,” said Eby-Carl. “Our last one is Harry Suydam and he”s 69 and a carpenter and I love it because he”s Mr. December and his favorite saying is, ”Warm cookies with cold milk is good for you.””
To ensure the men, whose modeling experience ranges from limited to none, were completely at ease, Heather Rielly and Zack Burroughs, the photo and editing team, called for a closed set. “We were not allowed to be at any of the photo shoots so they would feel more comfortable posing,” Eby-Carl said. “They made it really clear that no one would intrude on the photo shoots so that everyone would be fully comfortable.”
The photographers certainly succeeded in that regard. The men didn”t have a negative word to say about their experiences. “It was a fun thing, they just came here to my store and took a few pictures and I was surprised when I saw it,” Williams said. “I picked up a few different instruments and they took a few shots of me.”
Though he was happy with the outcome of his photos, Williams was in for a something unexpected when he viewed the calendar in its entirety. “I hadn”t considered the cheesecake aspect of it. I was like, ”Oh wow, those guys took their shirts off,”” he laughed.
Steele also had positive words to share. “They”re very professional,” he said. “It was no big deal as far as I was concerned.”
The men are similarly unconcerned about their faces being hung on the walls of much of the community. “It doesn”t make a difference to me. I have pictures all over the place,” Steele said.
As a performer, Williams is also familiar with some high levels of attention. “I”m a musician so I”m used to being on stage,” he said.
John Brosnan, 61, has no worries about his image. “That”s my motorcycle and that”s my body,” he said. “That”s part of who John Brosnan is.”
The proceeds from the calendars will benefit the center. “It”ll support Lucerne Alpine Senior Center and it”s kinda a fun way to support us,” said Eby-Carl. “And you get 12 months worth of fun ? Because when you see the smiles on all these guys” faces it”s just great. They”re having a good time, you can tell.”
Parlet was happy to be involved in the center”s fundraising work and was pleased with the outcome of the calendar. “I thought they did a good job on it. I thought it was a nice effort,” he said. “Anything to help raise money for the senior centers is always good.” Parlet pointed out that eventually everyone will need the assistance of a center, which is why these types of fundraisers are important for the whole community. “I think it”s sad that we have to work so hard to fund these things,” he said. “We shouldn”t have to do so much fundraising to keep these things open. I think it”s just unfortunate that we have to do that all the time ? We”re all gonna be seniors one day.”
Everyone involved had such a great experience that Eby-Carl plans to organize a second calendar for 2016, to feature women of the community, with a pin-up girl theme. “I see a lot of polka dots and vintage cars and vintage motorcycles and women just looking cute ? Some of us are already planning our outfits,” she laughed.
The 2015 “Boomers and Beyond” calendars are still available for purchase at $12 each from the Lucerne Alpine Senior Center.
Jennifer Gruenke can be reached at 900-2019.
