Annual Senior Center

Holiday Party

Draws A Crowd

By Nancy K. Crevier

Beneath a shining sun that sparkled off of the year’s first snowfall, a steady stream of Newtown’s senior citizens flowed into the Waterview in Monroe, Tuesday, December 8, to fete the holidays.

Members of the Newtown Senior Center and their guests gathered from 11 am to 1 pm at the banquet hall by the river for the Annual Newtown Senior Center Holiday Party, two hours of chatting, laughing, eating, and making merry with old friends and new. “We always look forward to this,” said Senior Center Director Marilyn Place, as she flitted from table to table making sure that everyone was having a good time, and urging everyone to take part in the 50/50 raffle. In addition, special tickets were also available for purchase on chances to win blankets handmade by members of the center.

The Waterview set the theme with understated elegance. Tiny clear lights twinkled in the branches of potted plants, and small, frosted evergreens decorated the central appetizer station. Tall white candles gleamed from behind glass globes, reflecting gently off of the tabletops draped in white cloths, where bright red napkins added an accent of color.

Near the appetizer buffet of fresh fruits and cheese, tomato and cucumber salad and couscous salad, small tables set next to the floor-to-ceiling windows provided a place to sit and enjoy the view, while others wandered off to the main dining area to enjoy their hors d’oeuvres.

The lively music of the Country Gentlemen provided many with the opportunity to show off some fancy dance steps, including Senior Center line dance instructor Lynne Flanders, who took to the polished floor with a cotillion of her line-dancing followers. Tony and Rosemarie Rigoglioso, ballroom dance instructors, demonstrated the grace that comes with dancing together for 20 years and inspired other couples to take a spin around the dance floor.

The chatter simmered down with the serving of lunch, beginning with a salad of mixed greens and gorgonzola cheese. At the buffet, guests could select from filet mignon, chicken piccata, grilled swordfish, or penne a la vodka for the main course, accompanied by roasted potatoes and a vegetable medley and rice. The meal wrapped up with a dessert of chocolate cups filled with raspberry mousse and fresh berries.

“It’s an enjoyable time for everyone,” said Ms Place.