December 20, 2007

Nothing but the best

Seniors celebrate the season

By Jeanne Carbone Lewis
Staff Writer

Music teacher Terry Bermudez led the Simonds Elementary School choir in original renditions of classic holiday songs. Photos by Jeanne Carbone Lewis

Gaiety and a celebratory mood filled the air during a holiday luncheon for seniors at the Almaden Community Center this past week.

“The Almaden Rotary is so generous to do this event for us each year,” said Almaden Senior Program gerontology specialist Torie O’Reilly. “We really appreciate it and it’s a fun holiday event.”

The Almaden Rotary supplied the guests of honor with a grand luncheon of 200 filet mignon steaks, roasted potatoes, green beans, apple cider and cupcakes. Cooking the gourmet meal was the Almaden Senior Program food service coordinator Desean Williams and volunteers Erin Barkley and Charles Camilari. The South Valley YMCA served the lunch and the Simonds Elementary School choir entertained with holiday carols.

“It’s really wonderful what the Rotary Club has done for the seniors,” said Almaden resident Art Boudreault. “And the Almaden Senior Program has done a nice job of bringing the community together.”

Someone’s in the kitchen with Dinah. From the left, they are Erin Barkley, Desean Williams and Charles Camilari.

The senior holiday luncheon is just one of many events the Almaden Senior Program hosts during the year. Residents also come together to share needed information such as health issues, legal advice and even serve lunches during the week. A multitude of classes for exercise, art, history, creative writing, games, dance, choir and many others are also available. But for the 200 seniors at the holiday event, it was all about celebrating the season—and a birthday.

“It’s Gordon’s birthday and I’m wearing the birthday cake,” said Chickie Nemeth sporting a candle headdress.

Gordon Alliano may have been the birthday boy but he also volunteers at the senior center, brewing coffee and setting up chairs. And Diane Hindiyeh came to dine. Wearing her reindeer ears hat, she did a couple of moves she learned at the belly dancing class she takes at the senior center during the week. Larry Matthews even met his girlfriend at one of the events.

“I’m here almost every day for lunch,” said Matthews. “This is real special holiday event with the filet mignon and everything, very nice. Almaden is like a small town. It really is great.”