Senior Club Celebrates Holiday Extravaganza

Article and Photos Courtesy of Lynn McMullin

Nearly 50 seniors, all members or friends and neighbors of the Canton Senior Club gathered at noon Dec. 1 in the Community Center for their annual “Holiday Extravaganza.” The dining room was festively decorated; and the seniors all wore holiday garb, with many sporting Santa hats, as well, creating a cheerful, holiday feeling that filled the room.

Everyone who attended the luncheon brought a bag lunch and then something for the dessert table to be shared afterwards. The buffet table ended up with an amazing offering of cookies, pies, and other baked goods. Once everyone had visited the dessert table once, seniors were given ‘goodie’ bags which they could fill with dessert selections to take home with them, much like a cookie exchange works.

After the luncheon, the brief monthly business meeting was conducted; and then the seniors were entertained by the Canton High School Chamber Singers, under the direction of Brett Gottheimer. During the introductions, First Selectman, Richard Barlow, who graduated from Canton High School, spoke briefly about the significant changes in the music department which have made Canton a district renowned for its successful music offerings and awards. High School Principal Gary Gula listed the many, many honors the Madrigals and other musical groups in the high school have won over the past year, including one alto saxophonist, Tom Kelley, who spent 10 days in California playing in the Grammy Jazz Band at different events during the Grammy awards week.

The Chamber Singers is a select musical group for which students audition in the fall. It is made up of students in the 9^th – 12^th grades, many of whom participate in Regional Choruses and have won the awards Mr. Gula mentioned.

The choir sang a mix of traditional holiday songs, vocal jazz, and even one hiphop number. The concert ended with “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” and “Jingle Bells.”  Margaret Sangster passed out jingle bells to each table and the seniors played along.

The Canton Senior Club meets in the Community Center the first Thursday of every month.