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The
Peter A. Torigian Senior Center in Peabody hosts a St. Patrick's Day party on
Wednesday. (Spenser Hasak) Purchase this photo
Peabody
senior center celebrates St. Patrick’s Day
Richelle Melad
March
13, 2024 by Richelle Melad
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PEABODY
— The Peter A. Torigian Senior Center was all decked out in green and shamrocks
as seniors from the city and surrounding communities celebrated St. Patrick’s
Day.
Around
200 people registered for the center’s party. The event was mostly run by
volunteers who worked the registration desks, walked around the venue ready to
assist, and signed people up for multiple raffles. Volunteer Bill Drinan,
dressed up as St. Patrick, walked around to take photos with people.
“We
wouldn’t be able to do what we do without the volunteers,” Peabody Council on
Aging Director Carolyn Wynn said.
“Everyone
is just all hands on deck, all the time,” Council Board member John Sacramone
said.
The
Friends of the Peabody Council on Aging partially funded the event. Guests paid
$15 to attend and were treated to a traditional St. Patrick’s Day lunch of
corned beef, boiled potatoes, cabbage, turnips, Irish bread, and pistachio cake
prepared by the center’s kitchen staff.
DJ Alan
Labella was the star entertainer, encouraging those in attendance to form a
line dance and sing along to classic songs like “Sweet Caroline.”
Susan
Lowry, a Peabody resident and a regular at the Senior Center, commended the
event’s volunteers for getting everyone to participate.
“They
do such a good job,” Lowry said. “Everyone is friendly and happy, Alan Labella
puts on a great show, and people in their 90s still come. There are a lot of
lonely seniors, they need to know about the Senior Center.”
Administrative
Assistant Carol McMahon also emphasized the importance of making sure there are
many activities available for seniors in the city.
“Almost
37% of the Peabody population are over 60,” McMahon said.
McMahon
said that even though there were twice as many people at the annual parties
before the COVID-19 pandemic, many seniors still look forward to the
event.
“They look really happy,” McMahon said.
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