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BY HILLARY VIDERS
SPECIAL TO NORTHERN VALLEY PRESS
TENAFLY, NEW JERSEY —— On Feb. 13, green and purple beads and colorful masks, hats and party favors were everywhere at the Tenafly Senior Center, where a grandiose Mardi Gras party was in swing.
More than 70 people participated in the jubilant New Orleans-style celebration that included a buffet lunch with Cajun creole southern food from Loui Loui restaurant in Fort Lee that included shrimp, mussels, crawfish, fried chicken and a host of side dishes. Music was provided by Boris K, a saxophonist from the current New York City jazz scene.
High spirits and smiles were everywhere as Boris K performed a mix of New Orleans style jazz, Dixieland jazz and ragtime. He played upbeat favorites, such as “Hello Dolly,” “When the Saints Go Marching In” and “Come to the Cabaret,” as well as slow songs to which couples danced.
Director Rebecca “Becky” Stauffer and Assistant Director Michele Hausch organized and hosted the party. After lunch, they cut up eight king cakes that had been baked and sent from a New Orleans bakery. Stauffer explained, “According to an old Mardi Gras custom, a king cake has a plastic baby toy hidden in one of the pieces, and whomever finds the baby has a year of good luck. We embellished on that tradition by having the person who finds the baby in our king cake host next year’s Mardi Gras party!”
A superior senior center
The Tenafly Senior Center is one of the most popular senior centers in Bergen County. It serves some 85 participants daily, ranging in age from mid-50s to late 90s. The center offers a diverse schedule of classes and events Mondays through Fridays which include: exercise classes, classes geared towards individuals with osteoporosis, chair yoga, tai chi, qui gong, brain and body exercise and Zumba Gold.
For seniors who want a social experience, the center also offers dances classes in line, folk, tap and ballroom dancing. Art enthusiasts can learn watercolor and drawing and take advantage of art studio time.
Other activities include languages classes, English as a second language, bridge, canasta, mahjong classes, bingo, knitting, craft classes, discussion groups, monthly luncheons, monthly speakers, weekly films and day trips.
Next month, the Tenafly Senior Center will have a trip to the Broadway show, “Beautiful,” and on another day, a Rodney Dangerfield impersonator will be the guest entertainer.
The Tenafly Senior Center is so popular that people come from many different towns to participate in the events and activities.
Dorothy Cones comes from Norwood four times a week for exercise as well as entertainment. “I take balance classes, strength training and much more. The instructors are excellent.”
A few weeks ago, two friends, Arlene Remington came from Waldwick with her friend, Debbie Obarrio, to the Tenafly Senior Center for a lecture about the Palisade Amusement Park. She recalls, “I saw their flyer about this Mardi Gras party and we couldn’t wait to come. There are many senior centers closer to where we live, but people here are really lively and so nice. This is a great place for seniors.”
A major reasons why the Tenafly Senior Center is so popular it because of Stauffer and Hausch. Hausch said, “I love my job. I was looking for something fulfilling and what I received was something much greater than I could have ever imagined. My seniors thank us all the time for the wonderful things we do for them. Our response is always the same: ‘You make it easy.’”
Photos by Hillary Viders
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