NEWBURY — Spilling over into the senior center’s meeting room, the Newbury Council on Aging’s annual holiday lunch on Wednesday saw seniors smiling and laughing together as staff and volunteers did all they could to amp up the festivities.
“We welcome you all here today. We’re glad you’re all here. Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy New Year,” COA Director Cindy Currier said, addressing the crowd.
Roughly 70 seniors filled the COA, packed tightly across six long tables spread throughout the two rooms. Tables were festively decorated, with candy canes and a Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer pins at each seat.
“The pins were donated to us by Martha Moulton. She is the owner of Surfland on Plum Island. She makes these pins and drops them off to us throughout the year,” Currier said.
Providing background music, pianist Serge Novakov played at a level where that folks could still hold conversations.
Catering was done Newburyport’s Starboard Galley, with all the food, entertainment, and decorations sponsored by the Friends of the Council on Aging.
“They are a fabulous group of people,” Currier said.
The meal was similar to what was served at Thanksgiving, with seniors receiving turkey and gravy, mashed potatoes, bread, stuffing and a vegetable. Refreshments available included apple cider, coffee and tea.
One of the seniors in attendance was 70-year-old Byfield resident Kathy Malone, who credited events at the COA like the holiday lunch for helping her meet her current friend group.
“We moved here five years ago. We didn’t know anybody, and now we know everybody. It’s really nice,” Malone said.
She said the COA staff is incredibly welcoming, often popping by to chat when not busy.
“The staff knows everybody’s name, and they’re so nice,” Malone said.
Sitting next to her was fellow Byfield resident Laura Short, 68, who said she is grateful for all the work the COA staff puts in to their events.
“I witnessed it firsthand, and they do an amazing job. I came in yesterday and saw the tables all set up. Cindy, Kathy, and Janine work very hard to do this,” Short said.
She said she was looking forward to the meal.
“The food is great. It’s Starboard Galley, and he does an amazing job. They stay with him because he’s just so good at it,” Short said.
Selectman Bill DiMaio, who sat at one of the tables in the COA meeting room, spoke about the joy he feels seeing the COA full of socializing seniors.
“It makes me happy. Seeing them in active discussions is huge,” DiMaio said.
Much like Malone and Short, he had nothing but praise for the COA staff.
“Cindy, Kathy, and Janine do a tremendous job decorating the place and organizing it, and the volunteers are really here,” DiMaio said.
Matt Petry covers Amesbury and Salisbury for The Daily News of Newburyport. Email him at: mpetry@northofboston.com.