by Dennis Dalman
When Tina Hengel talks about the Sartell Community Center and its events and activities, one can hear the upbeat sounds of excitement and eager expectation in her voice.
Hengel is the new “Engagement Manager” of the SCC. She started that job in early May, a job formerly held by Ann Doyscher-Domres, who retired several months ago. Hengel will assume many of the duties Doyscher-Domres accomplished, plus many new ones. At the SCC, she manages a part-time staff of about 15 to 20, depending on needs that arise.
She recently participated in an interview with the Newsleaders.
Hengel is a passionate supporter of the SCC for its ability to connect people of all ages through activities, events, programs, exhibits, musical performances and guest speakers – to name just some.
One of Hengel’s over-reaching goals is to encourage more senior citizens in Sartell and beyond to join the Sartell Senior Connection. That group of senior citizens has for years brought innovative events to the SCC even years before that group was given its new meeting space in the SCC, which opened in 2017.
Just one of Hengel’s hopes is many senior citizens, in-town and out-of-town, come to the “Ice Cream Social” event from 6-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 12 at the SCC. It is, she said, a perfect time for people to discover what the Sartell Senior Connection is all about and all of the brimming variety of programs/activities it offers year-round. An annual membership to the SSC is only $20.
SSC board members will be at the Ice Cream Social to answer questions and to listen to suggestions. During the event, the Riverside Jazz Band will play on the patio just outside of the SCC.
Hengel highly recommends two other SCC offerings – its “Sharing Library” and its “Little Learners Storytime Program.”
Library
The Sharing Library, she said, is made possible via donations. People may bring a book to donate to the library inside the SCC and check out a book among the thousands there in an adult section and a children’s section.
The Sharing Library is also a hub of the St. Cloud Great River Regional Library. As such, people in Sartell can order a book or books from that public library via an order center within the SCC, and they will be delivered, free, to the SCC Sharing Library to be picked up. Those same books can be returned to a drop-off box within the Sharing Library to be picked up by the St. Cloud library.
“That service is used a lot,” Hengel said. “People come to drop off books many times each day. More people should learn about that service.”
Story time
Another of Hengel’s current favorite SCC programs is called the “Little Learners Story Time” program for pre-school children.
It’s a program through which pre-schoolers can enjoy stories and activities based on various themes, such as “Sea Life.” The children then enjoy arts-crafts sessions where they can create art works related to the particular theme. They can also play in the “Kids Zone” (an indoor playground within the SCC) or at a pre-school obstacle course in one of the center’s three gyms or at an outside playground.
To register for the “Little Learners” program, google “Sartell Community Center.” When its webpage appears, scroll down to “Important Links” and under that heading scroll down to “Little Learners Story and Gym Time Registration.” Click on that to register.
The SCC was conceived and developed to involve residents of all ages and interest levels in its offerings. There is a walking track, three gyms (open gym hours are available) and rooms that can be rented by the public for various needs – birthday parties, weddings, meeting venues and so forth.
The Sartell Senior Connection was formed in 2008 by a group of local senior citizens and moved into its new “home” (the SCC) when it was built in 2017. The SSC provides a huge variety of activities/events that include 500 Card Club; gatherings for Mah Jong, cribbage and Pinochle players; a Spirituality Book Club; a game called Mexican Train; Paulette’s Pearls Yarn Group; Music Jammers; Watercolorists Group; meetings of “Seniors and Law Enforcement Working Together” and a Coffee and Conversation meeting just about every Thursday morning at 9 a.m. That event hosts interesting guest speakers on just about every topic imaginable. For example, the Thursday, Aug. 7 Coffee and Conversation speaker will be Lisa Sorenson, who will present insights on the topic of autism. Hengel herself was the guest speaker at the July 21 Coffee and Conversation.
To learn more about all the activities/events at the SSC, visit its website by googling “Sartell Senior Connection.”
Input welcomed
Hengel said she is always seeking input and new ideas.
“My phone line is always open,” she said. “I’m here to listen, and I want to see what seniors and people of all ages want for the community center.”
Hengel’s email: tina.hengel@sartellmn.com
Her phone: 320-258-7324
Background
A Sartell resident since 2014, Tina Hengel has a degree in business administration/management from Bemidji State University with an emphasis in finance. For nearly 20 years, Hengel worked in various capacities for Marco Technologies in St. Cloud. For eight years after that, she was employed as a realtor with Premier Real Estate.
She has served on the Sartell Area Chamber of Commerce and was its president for 2023-24 and was a member of its board of directors since 2019.
“My background centers on building connections within the community, and I’m passionate about creating spaces where people can gather, share ideas and feel a sense of belonging,” she said.
Those goals fit like hand-to-glove with her work for SCC whose every program/activity encourages and succeeds in creating positive connections among people.
Hengel and her husband, Joe, have been married for 22 years and have two children: Riley, now a junior at Arizona State University, and Reagen, who will study at North Dakota State University starting this fall. Joe Hengel is director of finance for Pinnacle Trailers based in Wilmington. N.C., for whom he’s been employed for seven years. He works for the company remotely, from his Sartell home. Raised in St. Cloud, he has an accounting degree from St. John’s University.
Brothers at a COR Robotics e-sports camp play Minecraft July 29 at the Sartell Community Center. They are Brady, 9, (left) and Blake Meyer, 8, both of Sartell.
Friends shoot hoops July 29 at the Sartell Community Center. They are Carter Peterlin (left) and Josh Carpenter. Both are 13 and of Sartell.
Cathy Buchheit of St. Joseph sweeps up a win July 29 at the Sartell Senior Connection’s card club which meets every Tuesday at the Sartell Community Center. Buchheit was one of 27 people playing the game “500.” Members do not need to live in Sartell to join the group.
Tina Hengel is gung-ho about her new job as the engagement manager of the Sartell Community Center.
