Seniors celebrate holidays at CCMV anniversary party

The Community Center at Mercer View turned 5 years old this month with a daylong celebration on Dec. 16.

Tuesdays and Thursdays are normal days for the Senior Social Program, which dates back 16 years — to the days of the old center, which was at the same location. In one room, a group of serious bridge players convened. When asked how she liked the new center, Vicki Reddy said she likes it because it’s light and warm and a nice place to get together.

In the library, where there is a piano and several comfortable chairs and tables, the majority of the seniors gathered for the social. This included a sing-along to several Christmas carols. Led by volunteer Margy Corder, who once was the Senior Social Program lead, the group started out with “Santa Claus is Coming to Town,” and wound it down with “Auld Lang Syne.”

Accompanying Corder was Patty Murphy, the current leader of the Senior Social Program, her friend Jeff Chase, pianist Toni Bouvet and violinist Linda Karki. Karki volunteers at the CCMV, and she drives seniors to help them out with errands and appointments.

“Patty started this program,” Corder said. She explained that she took over for Murphy for about four years, then she retired and Murphy is in charge again.

“That Patty does a lot,” one senior said.

Chris and Edna Berger sat in front as Chris played bells, and they both sang along. The couple has volunteered with the senior program since day one, and now they, too, are senior citizens. They’ve been on the Island since 1952 and remember the old center well. Chris likes the new facility and is grateful that the group gets the Slater room twice a week for the senior program, which includes social time, a discussion of current events, games, physical activities, lunch and a snack.

“It’s a bit more sterile,” Chris Berger said of the new CCMV.

“The other place was more homey, but it wasn’t safe.”

The Ad Hoc task force was honored at the evening banquet.

Those individuals, Lynn Taylor, Jim Pearman, Randy Mintz, Mary Ann Flynn, Bob Still, John Strasburger, Lila Ballard, Lori Brillhart-Schalouni and Jo Ferullo were very involved with the creation of the new facility in the beginning.

Contact Mercer Island Reporter Reporter Linda Ball at lball@issaquahreporter.com.

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