Senior Center "Goes Hawaiian" for Gold and Silver Seniors

"Go Hawaiian" was the theme of the Grand Terrace Senior Center's Gold and Silver Potluck this year, a tradition now 18 years in the making. The annual potluck banquet, put on in a joint effort between the center's banquet and Sunshine committees, paid tribute to the center's 80 year olds, 90 year olds and all veterans as it was held Tuesday, Nov. 11 - Veteran's Day, at the senior center. Each year these seniors are recognized with certificates, and this year Grand Terrace Council Member Darcy McNaboe, also the city's Mayor Elect, presented certificates from California Assemblymember Cheryl Brown and Congressman Gary Miller to this year's recipients. Because the event is always held on the Veterans Day holiday, many senior center members were dressed patriotically and others donned festive Hawaiian attire. Don Bartee, the treasurer of the senior board of the Grand Terrace Senior Center and chairman of the Gold & Silver Committee, said the event is held on this holiday every year "because the center is closed for the holiday and we take advantage of the holiday to honor those veterans amongst us at the senior center, in addition to the Gold & Silver award recipients," Bartee said. This year approximately 80 people attended to honor the center's Gold and Silver seniors and veterans, which seemed to be larger than in years past, said Senior Center President Jane Haines. "Quite often we have films depicting seniors who are no longer there," said Haines of the event's tributes. "We also ask all our veterans to stand so we can applaud them, we do prayer and we salute the flag." Bartee wanted to thank several area businesses for their contributions to the event's raffle section: Flo Elliott, Stater Bros., Thai Kitchen, ProfessioNAIL & Spa, USA Car Wash, Baskets Ahh.. La Carte, Rialto Playhouse, Sally McGuire from Helping Hands Companion Care, Blue Mountain Senior Villas, Nickelodeon Pizza, the Grand Terrace Lions Club, Sara's Barber Shop, Avon Representative Pat Galenc, Medical Health Insurance representative Mike Pichardo, Arlene Weaver of the Inland Empire Red Hat Dolls Chapter of the Red Hat Society, Food Connection, New To You, Antonious Pizza and Chillz. Bartee and Weaver also made personal contributions to the raffle. Weaver helped oversee raffle prizes; Flo Elliott decorations; Marlyn Taub with sea shells; Betty O'Rourke on piano; Jane Haines and Steve Lee, who cooked the roast beef; Solomon Dobynes who performed the meat carving; Carmen Canela and Dorthy Alzen at the reception table; Natalie Garcia, Shirley Wright, Lydia Rogers and Martha Cisneros at the dessert table; Denis Kidd for the cake; and Bitsy Bernor for photography. The Grand Terrace Leo Club's Denise, Dominic, Cleo, Jesus, Craig and Val also helped with set up and clean up for the event. The potluck included a variety of foods and music, and the raffle winners were announced and many seniors in attendance left with hands full of prizes provided by area businesses.