On a crisp fall day recently in Richmond’s Church Hill neighborhood, laughter rang out from inside the Linwood Robinson Senior Center on North 26th Street. Seated at rows of tables, about 21 people played cards and dominoes, put together a puzzle, knitted a scarf, sat quietly, mingled in small groups or watched an oldies group sing and dance on a big-screen TV.

Ah, the golden years, a time for dreaming about retirement—or kicking back and enjoying the fruits of one’s labor after decades in the working world. Sadly, though, retirement has turned into financial turmoil for some seniors and is an uphill battle to pay the bills and preserve their assets. A better life is possible, though, some experts say, even in today’s troubled economic times, if seniors will follow these steps:

Judy Turner, Robert Terry and the others walking in to notes of “Pomp and Circumstance” were not your typical graduates—some were a little gray around the temples and some had grandchildren in the audience. But an uncertain economy and dismal job prospects sent them back to class. Yesterday, they earned certificates for completing an 11-week job-skills program in which topics included everything from how to use a flash drive to dressing for interviews.

Tiger Woods eyes his tee shot on the fourth hole. He leads Padraig Harrington and Sean O’Hair by one shot after shooting a 2-under 68. ATLANTA - Tiger Woods had a chance to pull away from the field, but had to settle for a one-shot lead yesterday in the Tour Championship. Over the final four holes, Woods missed consecutive putts from about 4 feet - one putt for eagle, the other for birdie - and closed with a bogey for a 2-under 68 at East Lake to lead Padraig Harrington and Sean O’Hair.

CARMEL, Ind.—Amateur Tim Jackson left Greg Norman and Joey Sindelar behind yesterday in the U.S. Senior Open. Jackson shot a 5-under 67 at Crooked Stick to take the lead at 11-under 133—matching the lowest 36-hole total in event history. He opened with a 66 on Thursday, the best score ever by an amateur in the tournament. Norman struggled in the round but ended with two straight birdies to get to 8 under. He was three strokes back after a 70.

SILVIS, Ill.—Steve Stricker vaulted into second place at the John Deere Classic, tying a course record and matching the lowest score of his career with a 10-under 61 that left him three strokes behind Darron Stiles through two rounds. Stiles (65), who in 1999 won the Dominion Open in Richmond, remained on top at 13-under 129. Stricker needed just nine putts on his first nine holes and 22 in all, matching a career best.

All of us can agree that our current health care system is in need of fundamental reforms that will expand access, improve quality, and increase value. As Congress prepares to spend a long, hot summer working to find bipartisan agreement on many proposed reforms, it is important that we also have a discussion about one area of health care reform that makes many of us uncomfortable: the care that we provide to our seniors and others with life-limiting illnesses.

Less pay, fewer benefits, lower prestige—and greater job satisfaction. Older workers and retirees moving into different lines of work can take heart from a new study that finds they are likely to enjoy their new jobs more than their old ones. In an era when pink slips are increasing and some career paths may be cut short because of the economy, all too many job switches may be forced rather than voluntary for the foreseeable future.

Rose Gettenberg, 93, knows one secret to a long and healthy life: Stay active. Yesterday, her activity was the Chesterfield County TRIAD Senior Day program at Victory Tabernacle in Midlothian, where she was browsing the vendor tables to find out what she might be missing. “I belong to the senior center,“ she said. “I think they are wonderful. It gets us out of the house. I’m only 93. This is what keeps you alive. If you’re in the house day after day, it’s so boring.“

Fruitcake, as we all know, has a less-than-stellar reputation when it comes to holiday food. “If you want to get even with a person,“ said Mattie Clayton with a laugh, expressing a common line of thinking, “give them a fruitcake.“ But she’s not talking about her fruitcakes. She uses those for genuine gifts, not retribution.

Seniors are invited to attend classes during the winter term of the Shepherd’s Center of Chesterfield’s Adventures in Learning Program. Classes will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesdays, Jan. 7-Feb. 25, at Chester Baptist Church, 4317 School St., in Chester. New course offerings include “Let’s Talk Antiques,“ “Dealing With Stress in Daily Living,“ “The Art of Storytelling,“ “Budgeting for Seniors,“ “eBay for Fun” and a class to discuss the new book “The Shack” by William P. Young.

Richard Ferguson hits a forehand during a practice session at Westwood Club. The Westwood Club is extending an open-armed invitation, at no charge, to those wanting to join a weekly tennis party. There is one catch, however. To qualify, you must be at least 80 years old. Westwood’s octogenarian club meets Thursdays at 2 p.m. and is on the lookout for fresh competition.