AARP Chapter 299
AARP Chapter 299 held its Christmas dinner at noon at the Dunkirk Senior Center. The catered meal was enjoyed by all.
President Milly Jankowski welcomed everyone. A gift exchange followed. Elaine Raczka was thanked for chairing the event.
Irene Rozumalski made the Christmas centerpiece and it was won by Ellie Dietzen.
A wine raffle and 50/50 raffle added to the festivities.
The next meeting is March 17, 2013 at 1 p.m. at the Dunkirk Senior Center unless otherwise announced.
Brocton-Portland Seniors
BROCTON - The Brocton-Portland Seniors' Christmas party at the St. Stephen's in Brocton on Monday. President Robin Carr welcomed 45 members, one guest and opened with the Pledge of Allegiance with Chaplain Alberta Blakely giving a thankful prayer. The committee of the day thanked for the Christmas table decorations, favors and gifts was Bob and Margaret Jagoda and Ruth Neal. Dinner followed and was lasagna or prime rib finished with ice cream topping of mint or chocolate sauce. The St. Stephen's staff chef Ray Johnson, owners Al Seavy and Terri Selig, LuAnn, Mary and Toni were introduced and thoroughly thanked for their generous help and delicious dinner.
A thank you note from Nina's Kitchen Food Pantry for the club's donation was read by President Carr who thanked everyone for her two years as president. Rita Stonefoot and Josie Lautenslaker were welcomed back. Marjorie Diehl introduced her guest. Birthdays celebrated were Baby Jesus, Maggie Rogers and Ruth Stratton, with 56 year anniversary congratulations to Harold and Phyllis Buvoltz. Get well cards passed for signing were for Joe Gatto and Charles Reading.
Door prizes were won by Lena Elliott, Pat Nixon and Alberta Blakely. Santa Claus was introduced by President Carr with much hilarity and "ho ho hos." Numbers were drawn and prizes were passed out by Santa and his helpers. The gift exchange and sharing a Christmas wish with Santa were lively entertainment.
Nominating committee members Lena Elliott, Phyllis and Harold Buvoltz and Don Wilson asked for volunteers. President Carr read the presented list of officers and after no objections, motion to accept was made by Butch McDonald and seconded by Rick Cranston; the motion was passed. Officers for 2013 are President Margaret Jagoda, Vice President Rick Cranston, Secretary Ruth Neal, Assistant Secretary Robin Carr, Treasurer Rita Stonefoot, Assistant Treasurer Patricia Zanghi, Chaplain Alberta Blakely, Sunshine Committee Miriam Wilson and Kate Cranston.
New members are always welcome. Jan. 28 is the next meeting and will be a pot-luck luncheon at the Brocton Legion at noon, with members to bring a pot luck dish to pass and their own table service. To celebrate Valentine's Day at the meeting, the committee will be Joan Bertrando, Patricia Zanghi, Rita Stonefoot and Julia Schrantz.
Door prizes were won by Pat Nixon, Lena Elliott and Alberta Blakely prior to the arrival of Santa Claus.
Mayville Senior Citizens
MAYVILLE - The Mayville Senior Citizens met recently for their annual Christmas Meeting. President Joyce Ayers greeted the 54 members present and Chaplain Dianne Goodrich asked a blessing for the meal and the group.
Louise Richer, Dolly Gilbert, Bonnie Johnson and Mary Carlson set the tables and arranged the many casseroles and desserts prepared by the members for the meal. Jean Kelsey baked several hams to complete the fare.
After the flag salute, Goodrich read, "Don't Ever Try to Outsmart a Woman," and "Christmas," and led the group in prayer. The minutes were read by Izetta Ayling and the treasurer's report was read by Edna Brown. There was no Senior Council report.
Carlson, goodwill chair, listed birthdays for three life members: Richard Curtiss, Aileen Little and Fern Abrams. Others celebrating are: Christine Kroll, Wanda Gustafson, Jessi Syper, Emerson Chandler, Fran Miller, Laura Jean Parment, Sandra Anderson, Bill Barber and Virginia Scriven. Robert and Nancy Cole are celebrating their wedding anniversary.
Anderson and Kelsey, trip co-chairs, asked for suggestions for trips for the coming year.
Ayers reminded all to contribute to the "Christmas Family" fund. This is given to a worthy area person or family each year.
Goodrich installed the officers for the coming year: President Ayers, Vice President Miller, Second Vice President Gustafson, Secretary Ayling and Treasurer Brown.
Ayers thanked all the committee members for their work in the past year and wished them well for the coming year.
There were nine door prizes won by Laura Jean Parment, Sandy Wagner, Miller, Bev White, Louise Richer, Nancy Navarro, Joanne Westpfahl, Dick Boerst and Carl Witherow.
There was no winner for the lottery drawing.
One of the seniors' favorites, Skip Roberts, sang the old tried-and-true Christmas songs made famous by Bing Crosby, Nat King Cole, Burl Ives and Tony Bennett. He ended his performance by singing "Silent Night." It is hoped that Roberts will return.
The next meeting of the Mayville Senior Citizens will be on Jan. 3, 2013, at noon in the Mayville VFW. Mitch Cummings will speak about the time he spent with the ROTC in New York City helping Hurricane Sandy victims. Bring a dish to pass and table service.
Silver Creek Seniors
SILVER CREEK - Silver Creek Seniors met Tuesday, Dec. 11, on Route 5 at the Senior Center with 27 members present.
President Ed Newman opened the meeting by leading everyone in saying the pledge to the flag and singing "God Bless America." Dorothy Miniri said a prayer in place of Irene Conny who was ill.
The recent audit of books was approved. Christmas decorations or items were to be raffled off at the next meeting, which is the club's Christmas luncheon, with each member bringing a dish to pass.
Prizes were won by Ed Prowse and Shirley Sikorski. The 50/50 drawing was won by Newman, Marv Smith and Prowse. Lorrie Newman read an amusing story and Smith called Bingo.
Steger Hi-Rise Tenants
On Sunday in the community room, the Steger Hi-Rise tenants enjoyed a Christmas dinner hosted by Director Judy Presutte. Josie Wierczynski said grace. There was a moment of silence observed for all of those who were killed in Newtown, Conn. This was followed by a Christmas prayer titled "The Gift."
Pat's Catering furnished the meal, which consisted of prime rib and breaded pork chops, salad, rolls, baked potatoes, broccoli with cheese sauce and a dessert of cheesecake topped with cherry sauce.
The tenants really enjoyed their meals.
The 50/50 raffle winners were Joanne Tegler (two), Josh Hughes, Sharon Scott, Alba Santiago, Josie Wierczynski, Hilda Medina, Cherrie Torres, Evelyn Chelsy and Arnaldo Morales.
Westfield Senior Citizens
WESTFIELD - The Westfield Senior Citizens met on Dec. 13 at the YWCA. A pot-luck meal was enjoyed by 27 members. The tables were decorated by Gladys and Dan Hess in the theme of Christmas.
The meeting was opened by President Shirley Kolpien who read as devotions "More Blessed to Give Than Receive."
The 50/50 was won by Dan Hess and the door prize by Sally Merwin.
Pat Everts announced that birthdays were celebrated in December by Darla Augur, Merwin, Betty Wilson, Erma Lloyd, Ralph Wakeley, Dick Lancaster, Marybelle Beigh, Newell Near and Chris Vestrand. Dan and Gladys Hess had an anniversary and get-well cards were sent to Dolores Kaufman and Middy Riddle.
Past president Fran Anderson installed the officers for the coming year. They are President Kolpien, Vice President Geri Harper, Secretary Sylvia Colbey and Treasurer Dolores Kaufman.
A Christmas gift exchange followed the meeting.
The January 2013 meeting will be a pot-luck held at noon at the YWCA. The kitchen committee is Everts, Pat Smith, Merwin and Ann Cochran. Each member should bring a dish to pass and his or her own table service. Desserts will be brought only by the kitchen committee. The program will be singer Pat Cook.
