All the fun stuff!

If you've ever received a birthday card from the Senior Center that arrived right on time with a thoughtful message inside, chances are you've experienced a little bit of Paula Kapiloff's magic.

Known affectionately as the Center's "Sunshine Girl," Paula has spent more than 30 years volunteering, making her the longest-serving volunteer at the Senior Center. Whether she's organizing birthday cards, baking delicious desserts, helping cook for special events, or simply sharing a smile, Paula has become one of those rare people who makes everyone feel like family.

Born on April 4, 1959, in Topeka, Kansas, Paula's family eventually settled in Anaheim, California, where she attended school from elementary through high school. After graduation, she spent four months at Fullerton College studying clerical skills and mastering the art of the 10-key calculator—a talent that launched a lifelong career in office work.

Her very first job was in a hospital emergency room. While she worked behind the scenes doing clerical work, she often had opportunities to help in the front office as well. That experience set the stage for a career built around helping others and making people feel welcome.Paula Kapiloff

 Born on July 26, 1953, in the snowy city of

Rochester, NY, Catie Kniess has spent a lifetime

collecting stories, adventures, hobbies, friends,

and more than a few colorful words along the

way. With hair as bright as her personality and a

heart as big as the forests outside her Oakhurst

window, Catie is one of those unforgettable

people who leaves a lasting impression

everywhere she goes.

Catie stayed in Rochester until her mid-twenties.

But life in New York took a dramatic turn

during the infamous “Blizzard of the Century” in

1977. Snow piled so high she couldn’t even get out of her driveway.

While many people were digging out, Catie was making a life-changing

decision. Trailways was offering a one-way bus ticket anywhere in the

United States for just $50, and Catie thought, “Why not California?”

Next thing you know, she was headed west to sunny San Jose on a 5-

day, 5-night adventure.

Before California came calling, Catie’s early life was already full of

entertaining twists. She had three brothers who were 15, 20, and 25

years older than she was, making her an aunt before she was even born!

In fact, because her mother didn’t realize she was pregnant and thought

she was simply sick, some family members jokingly referred to Catie as

“Mom’s ten-pound tumor.” One of her brothers stayed at home until

Catie was around five years old, but for the most part, she grew up as

an only child.

School wasn’t exactly Catie’s favorite thing, though she did attend all of

her schooling in the New York area, including general education courses

at a junior college. In high school she played the clarinet, but academics

never truly captured her attention. Real life, however, certainly did.

Long before she was old enough for an official paycheck, Catie babysat

for extra money. At 16, she landed a job at Woolworth’s, then moved

on to a BB gun factory where she operated a punch press — not

exactly glamorous work, but definitely memorable. After that, she

became a lens inspector for Bausch & Lomb, working with their famous

Ray-Ban sunglasses. She later spent years working overnight shifts at

an answering service in Rochester, and continued doing similar work

after moving to San Jose. Apparently, Catie had a talent for keeping

things running smoothly while the rest of the world slept.

Catie eventually returned to school in California, continuing classes while

building her new life. In 1982, she got married and soon found herself

entering the booming high-tech world at the now-defunct GE Calma

Company. She began in administration before moving into the technical

writing department, where she spent an impressive 25 years building a

successful career with several high-tech companies. When she was laid

off at age 50 from the high-tech world, she took the time to return to

school yet again and learn American Sign Language. She worked at the

California School for the Deaf in Fremont for a couple of years, until the

commute got overwhelming.

Family has always remained at

the center of Catie’s world. She

has two sons, now ages 35 and

40, along with three grand-

children. She’s also an honorary

grandma to eight teenagers,

thanks to her oldest son’s wonderfully large extended family. And then

there’s Bailey — her adorable six-year-old Maltipoo companion who

happily shares life with Catie in Oakhurst.

When Catie isn’t volunteering all over town, she’s usually busy creating

something. Her hobbies include card making, watercolor painting, jigsaw

puzzles, crossword puzzles, and experimenting with many vegetarian

recipes in the kitchen. She volunteers as secretary on the Sierra Senior

Society board, serves on the board for the Friends of the Oakhurst

Branch Library, is Marketing representative for the Sierra Lions Club, a

long-time volunteer with Mickaboo Companion Bird Rescue, and

participates at Mountain Universalist Unitarians.

One of Catie’s most heartfelt projects is creating handmade cards for

shut-in seniors through a Facebook group called “From the Heart.” She

has sent thousands of cards over the past 10 years. Her compassion for

animals is equally impressive. As former budgie coordinator for the bird

rescue group, she once cared for 20 to 30 birds at a time and

estimates she has fostered more than 100 birds over the years. She’s

currently fostering one feathered little friend.

Catie says one of her favorite things about living in Oakhurst is the

beauty surrounding her and the friends she has been able to meet. She

loves being close to town and near the lake, but her absolute favorite

part is the peaceful view out her back window — nothing but trees and

nature, with no neighbors in sight.

Travel has also played a big

role in Catie’s colorful life.

She’s gone on knitting

cruises and rubber stamp

cruises while visiting places

like Russia, Finland, Swe-

den, Germany, Estonia,

England, and Alaska multiple times. While she hasn’t traveled recently,

she still dreams of someday seeing the Northern Lights from a glass ice

hotel room in Scandinavia.

And if you’ve ever met Catie, chances are you remember her hair. For

the past 20 years, she’s proudly rocked every imaginable color —

purple, blue, teal, pink, and often several colors at once. Catie says it

makes her happy, makes others smile, and starts conversations

wherever she goes. It’s become part of her signature style, right

alongside her wonderfully colorful vocabulary.

Catie also happens to be a huge science fiction fan. When asked whether

she’d rather ride a dinosaur through its natural habitat or travel

through space with aliens, she didn’t hesitate for a second: aliens,

absolutely. A lifelong fan of Star Trek and science fiction, Catie says

exploring space alongside extraterrestrials sounds like the ultimate

adventure.

Whether she’s fostering birds, volunteering in the community, solving

crossword puzzles, cruising across oceans, or showing off brilliantly

colored hair, Catie proves that life is best lived with creativity, kindness,

humor, and just a little bit of sass. Around Oakhurst, people may know

Catie for many things — her volunteer work, her artistic hobbies, her

love of sci-fi, or Bailey trotting faithfully beside her — but most of all,

they know her as someone who brings color into every room she enters.

Next time you see her give her a wave hello and count on her to bring a

smile to your day.

Family has always been one of Paula's greatest joys. She's the proud mother of two children, a daughter, 43, and a son, 41—and an even prouder grandmother to three grandchildren, ages 18, 13, and a brand-new four-month-old bundle of joy. May was especially exciting as Paula traveled to Arkansas to meet her newest grandbaby before heading to Reno, Nevada, to spend time with her son. While her daughter and grandchildren call Arkansas home, Paula makes every visit count. Paula also happily shares her life with two loving cats.

Those who know Paula know she simply loves people. “I just love being around people,” she says with a smile. Friends, family, neighbors, it doesn't matter. If there's laughter and conversation, Paula is right at home.

That warm personality is one reason she's become such a beloved fixture at the Senior Center. She doesn't volunteer because she has to, but because she genuinely enjoys making someone's day a little brighter.

When she's not volunteering, you might find Paula with a paintbrush in her hand or playing Bingo. Her love of art began as a child. She laughs while remembering how every painting she created ended up hanging somewhere in the house, turning it into her own personal art gallery. In fact, she still owns paintings she created when she was only 12 years old.

Flowers, Halloween cats, scenic landscapes, even a painting of a bum have all found their way onto her canvases over the years. Painting remains one of her greatest passions, alongside Bingo and just about any creative project she can get her hands on.

Her adventurous spirit also appeared early in life. At just 15 years old, Paula traveled to Europe, creating memories she'll never forget. Today, one of her favorite family outings is visiting the San Diego Zoo.

When asked what kind of business she'd open if money weren't an issue, Paula answered without even taking a second to think. "A flower shop!"

The funny part? She freely admits she knows absolutely nothing about flowers.

"I just think they're fun," she says, shrugging her shoulders.

Her favorite bloom is the delicate violet, with the cheerful daffodil coming in a close second.

Although she dreams of living by the beach again someday, Paula admits she isn't much of an ocean swimmer. After nearly drowning as a child, she's perfectly happy enjoying the view from the sand. After retiring, she lived near the beach for about 15 years and spent nearly every weekend there, often bringing her boyfriend's children along to enjoy the sunshine and surf.

Purple is Paula's favorite color, but surprisingly, she rarely wears it. "I like looking at it more than wearing it," she jokes.

When asked what accomplishment she's most proud of, Paula's answer wasn't about work, travel, or awards. "I'm proud that I'm not selfish." Those simple words describe the woman everyone already knows. She gives freely. She expects nothing in return. She celebrates birthdays, bakes desserts, lends a helping hand, shares a laugh, and makes people feel remembered.

In a world that often celebrates the loudest voices, Paula quietly reminds us that kindness, generosity, and friendship can leave the biggest impression. The Senior Center may officially call her the Sunshine Girl, but to everyone who knows her, she's been spreading sunshine for nearly her entire life, and the community is brighter because of it. So when you see Paula, wave at her and see what happens. You are more than likely to get a fully raised arm in the air, a wave, and a fun smile.

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If you know of someone who would be a great (local) senior to write about, contact Georgia Kopel at 510-499-4973.

Welcome to Sierra Senior Center, a non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing the lives of senior citizens in the Eastern Madera County area. Our mission is to organize and promote education, nutrition, health, and overall well-being for our cherished community of seniors.

We go beyond just fostering well-being; we strive to create bonds of friendship, goodwill, and mutual understanding among our members, extending these values to all seniors in the region. At the heart of our mission is the commitment to open communication and the sharing of experiences.

As active community contributors, we take a keen interest in the civic, cultural, and social welfare of our area. Sierra Senior Center serves as a platform for open discussions on matters of public interest, creating an inclusive space for voices to be heard.

Join us in our journey to build a thriving community where every senior citizen can flourish, connect, and enjoy the richness of life. Welcome to Sierra Senior Center – where every moment matters!

 Navigating to Sierra Senior Center is a breeze! Once you spot the Oakhurst Community Center, head left at their entrance onto Cinder Lane. Follow the road along the parking lot and a dirt parking area. As you continue, a Baseball Field will appear on your right, and voila – our entrance is right in front of you. No need for detours; just follow these simple directions, and you'll be with us in no time! And, to make things even easier, we've included a map for you. See you soon!