JACKSON — With a few stanzas of “Will Ye Go Lassie Go,” about 150 pounds of corned beef, and loads of cabbage and potatoes, 150 seniors recently celebrated St. Patrick’s Day at the Jackson Senior Center.
Sheri Silversmith, the senior center’s program director, said the center was honored to have Bruce Kaufmann, the president of the New Jersey Recreation and Parks Association, NJRPA Executive Director Theresa Dunwiddie, and NJRPA past president and former Jackson Director of Recreation Dolores A. MacKay on hand for the celebration.
Silversmith told those assembled for the St. Patrick’s Day affair that the dignitaries were on hand to honor the senior center for its “Are You Smarter Than a Sixth-Grader” program that won an Excellence in ProgrammingAward at the NJRPA Conference in Atlantic City.
“We just wanted to stop here today to make an official presentation,” Kaufmann said. “[This is for all] the seniors who were involved in the program that was nominated and won the Excellence in Programming Award from the NJRPA for special events programming.”
Food for the annual St. Patrick’s Day party was cooked by members of the senior center staff with the help of the seniors. The desserts were sponsored by CareOne at Jackson and Harmony Bank picked up the tab for refreshments, Silversmith said.
The Anderson Brothers were on hand to entertain the crowd with Irish songs.
Jackson’s Director of Recreation and Senior Services Steve Eisenstein said, “With the turnout we have of about 150 seniors participating, it just shows the interest and the support that they have to come out and have a good time.”
Eisenstein said he was pleased to see the representatives from the NJRPA at the celebration. He said the seniors who participated in “Are You Smarter Than a Sixth-Grader” will know they participated in an award-winning program.
Mayor Mike Reina was on hand and said, “It’s wonderful to get so many great people together and celebrate a day that is as important as St. Patrick’s Day. In Jackson it doesn’t matter who you are, you’re Irish today.”
Councilman Scott Martin and Councilwoman Bobbie Rivere also joined the celebration.
“In all my years of eating corned beef, it was the best corned beef and cabbage I have ever had,” said Elaine Kowalski, senior clerk at the Jackson Senior Center. “It was so soft and flavorful. Any restaurant would be envious.”
Senior Center patron Tom Mangano said the parties that are held at the senior center are the best. Mangano said he is 86 years old and said if the parties continue he will live to be 100.
“This was such a great party, I wanted it to last longer,” said another participant, Joe Murphy.
“The staff and the seniors make these events such a huge success. It could not be done without the help of all the volunteers and a very dedicated staff,” Silversmith said.