Valentine Magic at Mesquite Senior Center

By BOBBIE GREEN

The Progress

The Mesquite Senior Center held a successful Valentine’s Day Dinner on Tuesday evening, Feb. 14. Senior Center staffers Griseyda Belalcazar and Krissy Thornton were hostesses for the evening.

However, the evening was not without some difficulties. So it was that on a rainy Valentine’s Day evening, all the tickets had been sold but the kitchen was short-staffed due to unforeseen circumstances. The volunteer serving staff was also shorthanded. Even a member of the entertainment group was missing.

Yet, it was still a magical evening for all that attended. Head cook Laura Rivas; and staff Marcia Charron, Bonnie Miller and Juan Belalcazar; did a wonderful job. The prime rib or cod dinners, served with all the accompaniments were delicious, and distributed to the tables with smiling faces and sometimes facetiously by the volunteer servers which included Debbie Ayler, Phil Furgala, Richard Cook, Josh Woods, Juan Belalcazar, Nick and Stephanie Montoya and Bart Cassity.

Tammy Dachtyl and Scott Rahme, Sun City Singers were there with their beautiful and fun memory songs enticing dancers to fill the floor and others to sing along.

It happened to be the birthday for Senior Center Programs Assistant Krissy Thornton. She was made the center of attention and Scott Rahme sang to her, his special rendition of “My Girl” to the enjoyment of all.

Though the room was filled with loud voices and laughter, it quieted down when Tammy D sang her favorite Whitney Houston songs she does so well.

Former Mayor Bill Nichols and his wife Maggie were there enjoying the comradery with everyone. Even Mesquite Department of Athletics and Leisure Services Director Nick Montoya was seen on the dance floor.

Grent and Vicki Simmons, who recently moved to Mesquite from Las Vegas, were there to celebrate Valentine Day and meet new friends at the Center. “It is really nice that they do these dinners,” said Vicki. We will come back.”