Senior Center Honors GT's Gold and Silver Seniors

"Tell Me 'bout The Good Ol' Days" was the theme of the Grand Terrace Senior Center's 17th annual Gold & Silver potluck banquet held at the Senior Center on Nov. 11 - Memorial Day - and just as the theme encouraged, many seniors gathered to reminisce on the "good ol' days" and engage in a potluck-style meal. The Grand Terrace Senior Center has been hosting the annual Gold & Silver Banquet for nearly two decades. Put on in a joint effort between the center's banquet and Sunshine committees, the event recognizes those senior center members aged 80 and up. Seniors were recognized with certificates distributed on behalf of Assembly Member Cheryl Brown and Congressman Gary Miller, Gold & Silver potluck banquet committee members explained. The event is always held on the Veterans Day holiday, and for that reason many senior center members come out patriotically dressed up with shirts or hats representing the wars in which they fought. Along with award recipients, veterans were also honored at the event. Approximately six senior center veterans attended this year's Gold & Silver Senior Potluck: Don Bartee, George Wood, Dennis Kidd, Bob Peter, Dorothy Alzen and Gerard Dunn. Don Bartee is the current treasurer of the senior board of the Grand Terrace Senior Center. "We put on this event on Veterans Day 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. Banquet committee members felt each year the event seems to draw more seniors. This year 80 seniors attended the potluck, which is, according to board member and Sunshine Committee chairman Arlene Weaver, a rather successful number. More than half of the Grand Terrace senior residents attending were awarded with either Gold or Silver awards. The Silver award certificates recognized those senior center members ages 80 and up, while Gold award certificates recognized senior members 90 and up. This particular year there were awardees upwards of 100, explained Weaver and Bartee. Recipients received their certificates as Socorro Pantaleon, a representative of Gary Miller's office, individually presented the certificates to each recipient. Jane Haines, two-year Vice President of the Grand Terrace Senior Center, explained that the senior center presents opportunities for socialization between the seniors, which she feels is beneficial. This year's larger crowd was also a good thing, she felt. "People who don't usually come to the senior center attend the big events like this potluck, and it is good since it gets them to socialize and be up and about." Many Grand Terrace senior residents take part in the socialization opportunities the Senior Center has to offer. According to Grand Terrace Senior Center Board Secretary Lois Hansen, one of the most rewarding parts of serving as a board member is being able to provide those seniors who feel alone in their latter years with fellowship through engaging activities. Jim and Gloria Carroll, active Grand Terrace Senior Center members and Silver Award recipients, expressed their enthusiasm for the center by describing it as a a "very fun place filled with friendly people." President JoAnn Johnson said, "There have been a lot of good things working as president; I wouldn't be able to point out one specific thing. It's simply great. The fact that I've stuck with it for 26 years comes to prove how amazing this senior center is." The Gold & Silver Senior Potluck ended with an audio soundtrack of the song "Grandpa Tell Me 'bout The Good Old Days" by The Judds. Following the soundtrack, the raffle winners were announced and many seniors in attendance left with hands full of prizes provided by area businesses like The Tire Guys, Rialto Players, Nickelodeon Pizza, Sara's Barber Shop, Stater Bros., Thai Kitchen, and more.