Name: Monica Jarzyna

Department: Office for the Aging

Tell us about what you do with the County: Health Promotion and Activity Coordination, in this title I get to plan and facilitate fun stuff that helps keep our county residents age 60+ happy, healthy and engaged. A few events from this year include: paper flower making classes, exercise series, Tai Chi, scam prevention, hands-only CPR, heimlich training, solar eclipse presentations, Seneca Zoo visits, picnics, ice cream socials and, of course, BINGO. 

What part of your job motivates you the most/makes you happiest? It's motivating when someone comes to a program for the first time and then signs up for more and I love when I get cards or messages from people telling me how much they've enjoyed an event.  

Any notable professional accomplishments you'd like to share? In the last 2 years we have expanded one of our most popular programs, Tai Chi for Arthritis and Fall Prevention.  We now offer multiple classes and levels in several different towns throughout the year.

Favorite sports team, if any? Livonia Bulldogs, whichever sport my kids are playing at the time.

Favorite hobby? Working in my garden or anything outside in the warm weather. Paddleboarding and yoga are top of the list too.

If you had to bring one movie, one book and one album to a desert island, which ones would you pick? I don't like to read a book or watch a movie more than once but anything with Chris Farley or Adam Sander is worth another watch. The album I would take is Billy Bragg and Wilco- Mermaid Avenue.

Best place in the County to relax? I like floating in my pool if the weather is just right and there are no kids doing cannon balls.