50-Plus Seniors
COLLINS - As the 50-Plus Senior Program is not merely a trip group but offers varied programs during fall, winter and spring, trying to figure out what would be a satisfactory trip for the 50-Plus Seniors at times becomes a disappointing venture when trips have to be canceled due to lack of sufficient interest.
In an effort to avoid this prior to having to pay for tickets, the group shall sometimes request help in determining in advance which participants would like to go to. This is one of those times!
The Buffalo Choral Arts Society (BCAS) is one of the jewels of the Western New York fine arts scene and will be offering its Christmas Concert featuring some of the season's most beloved carols and classical compositions at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 7 at Saints Peter and Paul Church in Hamburg and at 3 p.m. Dec. 9 at St. Joseph Cathedral in Buffalo. This 120-voice chorus, choral ambassadors of Western New York this year will ring in the Christmas Spirit, joined by special guest artists "The Royalton Ringers" Handbell Quartet.
"This prestigious arts organization has performed in a variety of international venues throughout the United States, Europe and Canada and it is a glorious way to celebrate the Christmas season, but I need your help in determining if it is something that people will support," Joan R. Byrne, senior program coordinator of the L. K. Painter Community Center, said.
"Additionally there is a need to know preference of Hamburg or Buffalo and would you be interested in adding a meal to the venture so please call 532-2507 to let me know if there is enough interest in this trip. Price would be kept as low as possible depending on your choices," Byrne concluded.
Time is running out to register for the AARP Defensive Driving Course Tuesday, Aug. 28. There is a special $5 cost for this safety educator appreciation promotion and there are still some vacancies available for current and retired educators and school personnel to take advantage of this opportunity. The course is also open at the regular price of $17 and $19 for all others. Pre-registration is required and can only be made by calling 532-2507. A reminder to those who have previously signed up, payment is overdue. Checks payable to AARP are to be sent to Collins Town Hall, attention AARP, P.O. Box 420, Collins NY 14034.
Bus for the Wednesday trip to Seneca Niagara Casino will depart at 11 .m. from the center's front parking lot. Open Crafts with Pat Tucker has been canceled for this week. Quilting with Florence will be held Wednesday starting at 10:30 a.m. in the Community Room of Collins Public Library. Call Florence Reynolds at 532-3075 for more information.
Seats are still available for the Lennon Sisters performance Oct. 4 at the Riviera Theatre and for the final trip this year to the Seneca Niagara Casino on Thursday, Nov. 1. For more information, call 532-2507.
Brocton-Portland Seniors
The Brocton-Portland Seniors meeting, with three guests and 52 members in attendance, was opened by Alberta Blakeley giving the grace and moment of silence for deceased and fallen heroes. Beaver Tail catering provided a lunch of lasagna, sausage, rolls and salad. President
Robin Carr called the meeting to order with Art Donovan leading the Pledge of Allegiance. The committee that decorated the tables, set up and served the food and arranged the auction items was Tom DeJoe, Lena Elliott, Harold Buvoltz and Phyllis Buvoltz. The secretary's and treasurer's reports were given and approved by June Woolett and Beulah Williams. The guests were introduced by Erma Colt from California and June Woolett's from Ohio.
Becky Blum from Office of the Aging was present and had tickets for the upcoming picnic. She also gave information about a new restaurant in Dunkirk in the Dining Out Program which still includes the Brocton Green Arch. Call Office of the Aging for further details .
August birthdays are Bonnie Suppo, Phyllis Buvoltz, Joan Bertrando, Rudy Arynardi, Josie Titus and Dorothy Reading.
Legion activities announced were D-Day in Ohio, Saturday, which had tickets still available; Sunday is a Cruise-In/silent auction; and Aug. 25, a lawn tractor run benefit and raffle.
Al Valentin announced the Brad Anderson site at Town of Portland Hall is seeking donations for this tribute which may be sent to the Marmaduke Fund at 87 W. Main St. in Brocton. Also, forms for the benefit memory calendar for the 2013 Portland Bicentennial Celebration ($2 each) need to be in by Dec. 1. Volunteers will be needed for the July 2013 event. Art Donovan gave a short history about the Brocton Theatre, 1936-1955.
Discussion for monthly in house sale was held with members contributing items to each meeting and passed by all after a motion by Phyllis Buvoltz and Giambra. Raffle was won by Pat Nixon, Mary Tripi, Mary DeLand, Erma Colt, Elaine Wood and Harold Buvoltz. Door prizes were won by Ethel Hutt and Elaine Wood. Congratulations were given to Carr for winning her flower prize at the fair. Tripi reported on the prison graduation and said it was an excellent service.
A fun time was had by all with auction assistants Bob Jagoda, Phyllis Buvoltz, Pat Nixon, Carr and Blum.
The next meeting will be a picnic at noon at the Brocton Legion at noon on Aug. 27. Members are to bring a dish to pass to go with the hot dogs and hamburgers being prepared by DeJoe, Jagoda, Rick Cranston, Tripi and Bill Norris.
Collins Center Seniors
COLLINS CENTER - The next meeting for the Collins Center Seniors will be Aug. 27 at the Gowanda American Legion Pavilion with a pot-luck picnic at noon. Members are asked to call Norma Pine 532-9098 if planning to attend as hot dogs will be furnished.
Following the picnic, there will be a short meeting with passengers for the Ride the Rails West Virginia trip Sept. 19-21 to hand out final itinerary and luggage tags.
A few seats are available and non-members are welcome on the Sept. 18 trip to enjoy the fall colors of Letchworth State Park with lunch at the Glen Iris Inn. Participants will interact and feed animals from around the world on a guided trolley ride at Hidden Valley Animal Adventure in Varysburg.
On Oct. 23, the group will enjoy a variety of interesting stops in Ohio Amish country. There will be stops at Country Side Bakery, Miller's Custom Cabinet Shop, an Amish family-style dinner, Nauvoo's Family Market, and Ridgeview Farm and Country Market.
A Nov. 6 trip is planned to North East, Pa. Stops include Arrowhead Winery, a family-style meal at the Station Dinner Theater as they present a tribute to the big band era "Swingin Down the Lane," followed by Presque Isle Casino for gaming.
"Christmas with the Superstars" at Salvatore's Italian Gardens on Dec. 9 is full but the seniors are accepting stand-bys.
On March 24, 2013, the seniors are going to enjoy the performance of "Sister Act" at Shea's Buffalo Theater. A dinner is included following the show at Ilio Dipaolo's restaurant.
The seniors should have information and a sign-up sheet for the April 2013 trip to New Orleans at the August meeting.
Contact Irene Pfeifer at 532-4268 or Bridget Farner at 532-9586 for more information on trips. Make checks payable to Collins Center Seniors, 13851 Quaker St., Collins, NY 14034.
Grape Belt Seniors
The Grape Belt Seniors had an enjoyable day trip to East Aurora on Aug. 6.
The group's monthly pot-luck luncheon will be on Aug. 22 at noon. All seniors in the area are invited to come to the luncheon and bring a dish for the buffet table.
There will be a Medicare Fraud meeting held at 321 E. Main St. at 11 a.m. on Aug. 29. An Amish day trip to Ohio is scheduled for Sept. 11. Stop by the Masonic Lodge on Monday, Wednesday or Friday from 9 to 11 a.m. to sign up for the trip.
Share and Care Board of Directors
Share and Care Senior board of directors met on Aug. 7 with Phyllis Laurito presiding.
The board decided to keep the Post Office box in Fredonia.
A memorial was decided for members who made monetary donations in the past. Carolyn LoGuidice will be in charge.
The summer picnic at the Beaver Club is on Aug. 25, reservations required by Friday. Cost is $7 per member. Make checks payable to Share and Case, PO Box 446, Fredonia, N.Y. 14063. For more information, call Rose Cerrie at 679-4386 or Phyllis Laurito at 679-1060.
The menu selected is as follows: punch, veggie tray and fruit tray at 3 p.m.; dinner at 5:15 with chicken, potato salad, mixed veggies, tossed salad, bread, butter and ice cream.
Next meeting will be Sept. 4. The bus trip for Salamanca for August has been sold out. The next trips will be on Sept. 18, Oct. 16 and Nov. 13. Reservations will be taken. Call Cerrie at 679-4386.
Cards will be sent to Nancy Larson for the loss of her husband Charles. Get-well wishes were extended to Lucy Saeli and Norma St. George.
Congratulations are extended to the family at Jennifer Stuczynski Suhr for earning a gold medal for pole vaulting at the Olympics.
Silver Creek Seniors
SILVER CREEK - Silver Creek Seniors met at noon Tuesday on Route 5 in the seniors' building with 28 present. Members were happy to see Conrad Pawlak return. Clara Griffin's son, David, was also present.
A corn roast picnic was enjoyed by all.
President Ed Newman called the meeting to order after the meal, with all saying the pledge and singing "God Bless America." Chaplain Irene Conny read a prayer, "A Trial Run."
It was reported that Milt Griewisch's address is 1178 Moran Road, Silver Creek, NY 14136.
Minutes were read by Griffin and passed by Shirley Sikorski. Winning numbers were won by Rose Falcone and Mary Congdon. The 50/50 was won by several members.
Lorrie Newman read a humorous story. Bingo was played.
A pizza party will be held Aug. 21 at 1 p.m. On Aug. 28 the club will recognize July and August birthdays. A senior bus trip is coming up Sept. 24 to Albion Town Hall. Call Joanne Martin at 934-3458.
United Senior Citizens
The United Senior Citizens met Monday at the Fredonia Beaver Club with 91 members present.
President Charles St. George introduced Ethel Boorady, Josephine Christopher and David Kolassa as new members.
St. George led the Pledge of Allegiance and the invocation.
Lunch was served by Beavertail Catering. The indoor picnic included sausage, hot dogs, hamburgers, potato salad, baked beans, mixed tossed salad, watermelon, coffee, rolls and chilled fruit punch. It was enjoyed by all.
The August calling committee was thanked - Joanne Halasinski, Gen Ludeman, Mary Ann Thompson, Dorothy Hilliker, Gert Majka and Josephine Wierczynski. The calling committee for September will be Olive Rusch, Pat Ebert, Ann Cohen, Lucy Saeli and Hilliker.
"Happy Birthday" was sung to August birthday members: Kolassa, Diane Briggs, Elizabeth Furnar, Frances Gatto, Helen Szydlo, Jennie Castellano, Joan Guzik, Leonard Szablewski, Leonard Schrieber, Sara Sedora, Sharon Wallace, Herb Centner, Joanne Halasinski, June White and Rose Sevola.
The 50/50 winners were Florence Barone, Pat Bradley, Centner, Carrie Gawronski, Carolyn Patton, Peggy Pokoj, Lois Pryor and Russell Turko.
The treasurer's report was given by Mayme Joy.
The speaker was OBSERVER Publisher John D'Agostino. The paper has been in publication for 130 years. Members said he spoke so well and said, "Our generation is a giving one." He had a question and answer period for members and gave a gift to those if they answered. The members enjoyed him as a speaker.
The next luncheon will be on Sept. 10 at the Fredonia Beaver Club. The menu will include baked ham, scalloped potatoes, buttered corn, mixed tossed salad, dessert and coffee, for $7 per person.
Bingo was hosted by Joy and Carolyn LoGuidice.
