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Seniors Celebrate The Season In Style

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Seniors Celebrate The Season In Style

By Nancy K. Crevier

 

The highly polished dance floor at The Waterview in Monroe reflected a mirror-smooth Lake Zoar outside the floor-to-ceiling windows and the swaying figures of dancers, as 170 members of the Newtown Senior Center gathered to celebrate the season at the annual holiday party held Tuesday, December 11.

From 11 am to 3 pm, members and their guests, all dressed in holiday glitter and glitz, enjoyed the elegant surroundings as they visited with each other and raised a glass of champagne to toast the holidays. Music by The Country Gentlemen — Denny Cots, Larry Ace, and Greg Chasse — kept the dance floor filled with waltzers and line-dancers, and put high spirits into those visiting the cheese and fruit display during cocktail hour.

Many of the partygoers said that the annual Senior Center holiday party was an event they made sure to attend. For others, the celebration was a new event.

“It’s my first time here,” said Bill Watts, who was at the affair at the urging of friends. He found The Waterview to be a beautiful setting for the party and was having a good time, he said.

Francis and Lawrence Pudelko, longtime attendees of the holiday party, presided at a table of friends sporting glittering garlands, but none could top the Pudelkos with their reindeer antlers and red flashing noses. At a nearby table, John Vollmer took a more subtle approach to dressing up, with just a Santa cap placed jauntily on the top of his head.

Director of Social Services Ann Piccini joined the celebration, as did recently elected member of the Legislative Council John Aurelia and his wife, Karin, Newtown’s registrar of voters. Edward Rees, chairman of the Commission on Aging in Newtown, said he was pleased to be on hand at the special luncheon.

As the dining tables filled up and laughter filled the room, Senior Center Director Marilyn Place took the mic to offer greetings to all and give thanks to her assistant and center exercise instructor Pat Babbage, Senior Center secretary Ida Reiske, and van driver Bob Sharpe. “I also want to thank the many volunteers and past employees of the center who make a difference at our annual holiday party,” said Ms Place. She then read a special holiday toast that stressed, “May this season be rich with laughter of friends, with the closeness of family whose love never ends…May your spirits be light, May your memories be bright…It is a fervent wish that every cup may overflow with blessings rich and eternal and that every path lead to good health and peace.”

Roasted potatoes, carrots, and asparagus accompanied a buffet luncheon of filet mignon, penne a la vodka, chicken piccata, or grilled swordfish. Guests were particularly pleased with the dessert, a chocolate cup filled with a light, raspberry mousse.

Visiting with friends old and new continued throughout the early afternoon before culminating in the announcement of the 50/50 raffle winners, with the top $100 prize going to Leonard and Rachel Plude. Peggy Skilling was the winner of the $50 prize, Michael Csanadi collected the $35 prize, and the $25 prize went to Bruce Hunt.

“It’s a great crowd and I’m so happy to see everyone here having a good time,” Ms Place. “It is the second year we have held the party at The Waterview, and it is a beautiful location. It’s a great way to start the holidays.”

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