Minnechaug gives local seniors a special day

Date: 11/24/2008

By Debbie Gardner

PRIME Editor



WILBRAHAM Minnechaug Regional High School paid homage to the town's elders with a special Senior Citizens Day at the school on Nov. 14.

According to Dean of Students Heidi Drawec, 28 elders from Hampden and Wilbraham accepted the school's invitation to attend a special 10:30 a.m. concert in their honor, followed by a luncheon prepared by the school's culinary arts class and a tour of the school.

The visiting elders were escorted to and from all of the events by members of the Minnechaug Student Council.

"We had [an invitation] at our senior center.We love to come here," Philip Schneider told Reminder Publications as he waited for the main course of lasagna to be served at the luncheon.

"We had two children who graduated from here," he added.

Schneider also declared the concert "uplifting," while his wife, Virginia, praised the first-course salad as "wonderful."

Helen Lynch said her daughter and son-in-law had signed her up for the event at the school.

"I thought the band was fantastic and the singers were great," she said.

"We enjoy very much the hospitality of Minnechaug and the people of Hampden," said Krystina Lawina who, with her husband, Michael, shared a table with juniors Kim McCarthy and Peter Campfield.

Originally from Poland, the Lawinas now live in Hampden. Krystina said friends had signed them up to attend the concert and luncheon.

√Drawec said the school last hosted the town's elders for a similar event about two years ago. She found a file on the event this summer when she assumed the duties of Dean of Students and decided to revive the intergenerational program.

Culinary Arts teacher Linda Pickreign said that because of the school's block scheduling, it took her students about two weeks to prepare the luncheon of Italian salad, meat and vegetable lasagnas, garlic bread and an assortment of Italian-inspired desserts.