Bridgeport Seniors Get Toes Tapping, Plan Trips, Enjoy Life
By Julie Perine on July 16, 2012
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Bridgeport Senior Citizens aren’t painting ceramics and playing cards.
At today’s meeting, the lively group made plans for trips, were treated to free Farmers Market coupons (*see below) and enjoyed live entertainment by Bridgeport’s own innovative jug band, “The Gadgetaires.”
President Lester Filicsky said the organization has upped its membership from 46 to 96 in recent months.
“We’re really trying to get more on board – and doing activities outside the box,” he said.
The group is funded through member dues, $7 per person per year, as well as monies received from both the Harrison County Commission.
For certain expenses, reimbursements are available through the State of West Virginia, Filicksy.
A satellite of the Harrison County Senior Citizens Center, Inc., the Bridgeport Senior Citizens meet the third Monday of each month at the Benedum Civic Center. Each meeting features unique décor, devotions, business session and many times, entertainment and/or a guest speaker.
Betty Hagi of the county organization attends to keep members up to speed on events, including trips planned by the “Seniors on the Go Travel Club.”
In August, a trip is planned to the Sight and Sound Theatre in Lancaster, Pa. for the “Jonah” show.
A week-long New England/Nova Scotia cruise is in the works for September, inside cabins available for just over $1,300 per person.
Member Ruth Jaumot, also a Harrison County Senior Center board of directors member, organizes trips for the satellite group.
Recently, those excursions have included a visit to the Wohlfahrt Haus Dinner Theatre in Wytheville, Va., for a performance of “Oklahoma.”
Closer to home, the seniors are active by attending nutritional programs, summertime picnics, early bird bingo, pig roasts and a host of other activities.
Filicsky encourages Bridgeport residents age 50 and over to consider membership. An effort is presently underway to bus residents of Maplewood to meetings. The group is in need of gently-used wheelchairs to help with that endeavor, he said.
Other ongoing projects also include the creation of a memory book.
“Members bring in old pictures and life stories and I add artwork and add it to the book,” Filicsky said.
A Christmastime cookbook is also in the works. (Hagi’s recipe for mock crab cakes is below.)
When he brought the meeting to order this morning, Filicsky said:
“Please find a seat and we’ll get this circus on the road.”
Members obliged and snickers prevailed.
“That’s the beauty of this age,” said Shirlene Isabella, an active member with the club. “You can say and do what you want and they excuse you.”
In addition to business at hand, the group heard some hand-clapping, foot-tapping music from the Gadgetaires of Simpson Creek Baptist Church. Numbers included “Won’t You Come Home, Bill Bailey” and “Golden Slippers.”
For more information on the group, contact Les or Betty Filicsky at 304-842-4405.
Harrison County Senior Citizens Center Recipe of the Month:
Mock Crab Cakes - by Betty Hagi
2 cups coarsely-grated zucchini
1 small to medium onion, finely chopped or grated
1 cup Italian bread crumbs
1 Tbl. mayonnaise (regular or light)
2-3 tsp. Old Bay seasoning
1 large egg, beaten or equivalent substitute
Pepper to taste
Put zucchini and onion in colander to drain some of liquid. Combine remaining ingredients. Heat oil in skillet. Form mixture into patties and saute over medium heat until golden brown, about two minutes per side. Makes four large or six small cakes.
Photos from today's meeting:
*Read more about free Farmers Market vouchers available through the State of West Virginia:
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