by>Audrey LevineStaff Writer
MANVILLE —Everyone looked toward the front of the room where a pumpkin, a witch and a ghost stood waiting for directions.
As each was acknowledged, the 30 guests at the Manville Senior Center Halloween party Friday clapped to choose the winner of the costume contest.
By an overwhelming response, Jeanne Zydalis, of Orchard Street – dressed as a witch complete with black flowing robes, a pointed hat, long black hair and green makeup – took home first place and a scarecrow statue prize for her home.
”This is the first time I have dressed up since I was a kid,” she said. “My sister talked me into it and I thought it would be a fun day.”
The Halloween party, which has been held every year since the center opened in 1981, provides members with an opportunity to come in costume, play games and snack on candy with friends.
”Everyone loves it and a lot of people will dress in costume,” said Joanne Pearson, Senior Center manager. “It is fun to see the creativity they have with the costumes.”
As guests arrived, they were greeted by banners proclaiming “Happy Halloween,” and orange tablecloths topped with orange and black balloons. At each place setting, was a small bag of candy.
But despite all the Halloween decorations and the festivities, for most of the guests, it was just another excuse to come out and spend time with friends.
”It’s fun to socialize with your peers,” said Manville resident Carol Burgess.
Evelyn Scrape, of Sedorski Street, said she also enjoys the opportunity to spend time with her friends.
”I come to the senior center all the time,” she said. “It is a way for us to get out.”
Betty Wolfgang, of West Frech Avenue, said she came just to enjoy the party.
”It’s fun times for the old people and the younger ones,” she said.
Ms. Wolfgang said she decided to get into the Halloween spirit by dressing as a pumpkin for the festivities, and won second place in the costume contest. She said she found the homemade orange top and stem hat at a senior center in Branchburg, and even bought extra hats for some of her friends.
”I was at Branchburg’s senior place where they had things for sale,” she said. “I saw the pumpkin and I said I think it’s cute. At a Halloween party, you have to wear something.”
After guests had spent time feasting on colored Jell-O, cake and orange punch, they had the chance to participate in a bean bag toss through a cardboard pumpkin and a shooting game where they tried to knock down cans.
Though many got the hang of the bean bag toss right away, several participants had difficulty knocking down the fifth can in the second game, pressing the trigger of the fake gun furiously to hit the target.
”Here, I’ll get it,” said Brenda Omilian, senior associate with the center – who was dressed as a pickle barrel, with pickles hanging and swinging from her straw hat – as she knocked the final can down with her hand to laughter from the crowd.
Ms. Pearson said the games are always part of the Halloween party to give the guests something to do besides sitting at their tables. She said Ms. Omilian often picks up games she finds or creates them herself.
”We try to have different games each year,” Ms. Pearson said. “Brenda made the bean bag toss this year.”
Though some guests dressed in costume and others simply wore orange Halloween sweatshirts, everyone said they were attending the party to spend time with their friends and to get out of the house.
”This is the first time I’ve come to the Halloween party, but I come to the center every day,” Ms. Zydalis said. “There are a lot of nice people here.”
As the guests finished the games and sat down to prepare for the daily lunch the center serves, Ms. Scrape said she comes to the center two to three times a week, and was glad to get out of her house again before the holiday’s trick-or-treating began.
”Now we have to go home and wait for the little kids to come,” she said.
