Ridley Park Senior Club celebrates 35 years
RIDLEY PARK >> Thirtyfive years ago, the late Chuck and Mary Pearsall of Ridley Park founded a club to meet in the thennew Ridley Park Borough Hall so that senior residents of Ridley Park could gather together and socialize. Thirty-five years later, about seventy seniors gathered together in that same borough hall at 105 W. Ward Street to celebrate three and a half decades of good times shared and new friends made in the Ridley Park Seniors Club.
Ridley Park Borough Hall was festive last Thursday, adorned with balloons, jazzed-up floral centerpieces and lots of colorful accents and numeral “35” decorations. A full lunch buffet was presented by Capozzoli Catering, followed by a door prize drawing and the cutting of two large cakes, one designed in the number 3 and one in the number 5.
“This club was a lifesaver for me after my husband George passed away,” shared former club president Marie Nicolai, who will turn 95 in June and has been a member of the club for 23 years. “This club is what kept me going. I met many good, wonderful friends here and created years of warm, wonderful memories.”
Nicolai, who was accompanied to the celebration, by her daughter Janet McSwiggan of Aston Township, said the club offered many opportunities for fun throughout the years that she’s been a member.
“I went with the club to some Canadian islands, Lancaster, Nova Scotia, and just too many trips to list. We’d always go to the casinos in Atlantic City,” Nicolai recalled with a smile. “Something seemed to always be going on— and always there was bingo!”
Party attendees appeared excited that bingo was going to be played at the end of the anniversary celebration too. Senior Community Services (SCS) Executive Director Arthur Weisfeld and SCS Aging At Home Director Christine Helmandollar were present at the celebration and announced, to thunderous applause, that SCS donated cash prizes for the party’s bingo games. SCS was not the only generous donor. The centerpieces were made possible due to the donations of jars by Ridley Park Police Sgt. Jim Nasella, lace and ribbon by member Shirley Borowy and fresh flowers by the club. The celebration was completely paid for with funds donated by Rep. Nick Miccarelli (R-162), Ridley Park Borough Council and Ridley Park Mayor Hank Eberle. Both Eberle and Miccarelli were also in attendance at the party to offer their personal congratulatory messages.
“Everyone here looks pretty good for being 35 years old,” Miccarelli joked with the seniors before getting more serious in offering his congratulations. “It’s the Ridley Park seniors to whom I go when I want to know if I’m doing a good job. They pull no punches and always give me honest feedback. This is a great group. Ridley Park is my hometown and I never would have missed this opportunity to come
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