Almost 20 years ago, Jack McGovern hammered his first nail for Habitat for Humanity of Wake County. Now retired and 71, he's still framing walls, installing cabinets and building porches because he knows that he's improving lives, especially those of children. McGovern worked 10 to 15 Saturdays a year for Habitat when he was working as a division president for Great American Insurance Co. Now he volunteers about 60 days a year and generally works with other seniors.

Consummate bird-watcher has been an ardent observer of all types of fowl for most of his 85 years.

Woodcarver likes to replicate images found in books and magazines.

Mildred Roberts-Davis returns to the food ministry that she started at her church after stroke.

Friendship is the linchpin to a lasting, fulfilling relationship. That's true if you're 30. And it's still true if you're 70. That's the premise of a new book about finding love after 40 co-written by Sol Gordon of Chapel Hill. Gordon, 80, is a retired psychologist, sex educator and professor emeritus at Syracuse University. He wrote the book, "Another Chance for Love: Finding a Partner Later in Life," with his colleague Elaine Shimberg. Gordon is on tour promoting the book, which was released this month.

Virginia Sampson leads a writers group at Carolina Meadows retirement facility in Chapel Hill.

Born without arms, Marty Ravellette is something of a living legend around Chapel Hill and Carrboro.

Carl Allen's trumpet sat in his attic for 50 years. Then last fall, at the age of 80, Allen decided to pull the instrument out, have it refurbished and play in a new band for seniors. The Duke Institute for Learning in Retirement was advertising for members to join its New Horizons Band. Allen wanted to take part, but he was a bit nervous. That's because he had never learned to read music. He had played by ear when he participated in high school band and in marching band at Elon College. In those youthful days, Allen says he wasn't a very good musician.

Pancreatic cancer took a piece of Ed Bodell's pancreas, a part of his small intestine and stomach and all of his gall bladder. But the ferocious disease failed miserably at destroying the 56-year-old's life. In fact, three years after doctors told Bodell he was going to die, he is still going strong. Even though he cannot work because of his physical condition, Bodell has taken his new lease on life and spent it helping others.

Lu Howard takes a belly dancing course as a way to exercise.

Pat Bocckino is a seasoned political activist.