Ridley Seniors stage 35th annual holiday party
RIDLEY PARK » For 35 years, the Ridley Park Seniors Club has celebrated the holidays with galas at the Springfield Country Club, The Oaks and other local venues. This year, 75 seniors gathered recently at the Springhaven Club in Wallingford to eat, dance and be merry together at their 35th annual Christmas party.
“We have about 85 members in our club, so this is a really big turnout,” club President Shirley Ruger of Ridley Park said. “We’re an active club with a lot of energetic members, so it isn’t too big of a surprise that so many came out for our annual Christmas party.”
Ruger was joined at the party by other executive officers and board members. Ready to step into their new officer positions on Jan. 1 as the club readies to enter its 36th year in March, are officers Jim Nasella of Ridley Park, vice president; Janet Hammet of Ridley Park, sunshine; Lucy Buck of Ridley Park, secretary; and Shirley Borowy of Glen Mills, treasurer. New and returning board members will include Lee Frist, Janice Curran, Rich Wysocki, Rose Crowley, Theresa Gonnella, Doris Hayes and Marie Nicolai.
The Ridley Park Seniors Club meets on the second and fourth Thursday of each month from noon-3 p.m. in the lower level Community Room in Ridley Park Borough Hall, 105 W. Ward St. After members socialize and accomplish whatever business is on the program, bingo and cards are played. Ruger said that new members are always welcome and if anyone in the community is interested in membership, he or she can just stop by borough hall during meeting times. The club’s annual dues are $8. Weekly meeting dues are $1 which covers the cost of the many special refreshments offered at various meetings, including hoagies, boxed lunches, coffee and donuts, and pizza.
The Ridley Park Seniors Club also hosts bingo 7 p.m. every Monday for cash prizes at Ridley Park Borough Hall. Proceeds from the bingo game pay for the holiday party, which includes the full luncheon at Springhaven, music by D.J. John Scibello, and door prizes of money, wine and jewelry for every single attendee.
Tom and Nancy Drummond of Eddystone will be married 60 years on Christmas Eve. The couple was decked out in their festive Christmas sweaters at the party. They have been members of the Ridley Park Senior Club for four years.
“We really like the people in this club,” Nancy explained. “They’re always busy doing things. It’s a good club for because it keeps us active.”
“I started out just going to the bingo on Monday nights,” added Beverly Carroll of Morton as she tapped the table to the Christmas songs playing. “But they are such a nice group of people, that I ended up becoming a member of the club this fall.”
The snow on the ground, when viewed through the poinsettia-lined picture windows in the Springhaven ballroom, provided a picturesque backdrop at the annual holiday party.
“No weather is going to keep this bunch away,” joked Ruger as she glanced over at some members dancing on the dance floor. “A great time was had again by all. It’s really special to get together with friends like this to celebrate the holidays. We’ve been planning and looking forward to this day all year!”