Gravette seniors rock at sock hop

Photo by Susan Holland Mary Kay Kelley, director of the Billy V. Hall Senior Activity and Wellness Center; Melissa Steele, program assistant at the Center; and Joie "Penny" Leonard, a resident in the Senior Center housing, paused to show off their poodle skirts at the sock hop last Friday at the Center. Leonard was chosen winner among the women in the costume contest.
Photo by Susan Holland Mary Kay Kelley, director of the Billy V. Hall Senior Activity and Wellness Center; Melissa Steele, program assistant at the Center; and Joie "Penny" Leonard, a resident in the Senior Center housing, paused to show off their poodle skirts at the sock hop last Friday at the Center. Leonard was chosen winner among the women in the costume contest.

— Several seniors came out to "rock around the clock" at a sock hop last Friday evening at the Billy V. Hall Senior Activity and Wellness Center. Those who attended enjoyed an evening of music and dancing, games and food. They were welcomed by Mary Kay Kelley, director of the Center.

Guests served themselves from a table featuring hot dogs, potato salad, potato chips and cherry fried pies. There were root beer floats for everyone.

Juanita Whiteside and Lois Phippen were winners of the "Guess that Baby?" contest. Eighteen baby pictures were on display and Whiteside and Phippen correctly identified the most persons from their photographs. Both were given keychains as prizes. A costume contest was also held. Joie "Penny" Leonard and Jack Kinney were winners with the best costume for the sock hop theme and won hot-pink travel cups.

Melissa Steele, program assistant at the Center, gave the guests some pointers on their dance moves, giving them some instruction on the hand jive, the stroll and the electric slide. Dancers listened to tunes from the "Malt Shop Favorites" and "Rock & Roll '50s" albums. Steele also took photographs of many of the seniors with the jukebox and "hot rod" props decorating the room.

Ed Anderson and his wife, Ilona Anderson, were chosen as Valentine King and Valentine Queen. Votes were cast over several days at the Center, a penny a vote, and the Andersons collected the most pennies. Ed received 481 votes and Ilona 2,575 votes. $60.06 was raised for the Center's Meals on Wheels program.

The Andersons celebrated with a kiss and were asked to repeat the kiss several times as snapshots were taken of the occasion. Both received certificates and prizes of heart-shaped pillows and fuzzy throws and said they would be handy until warm weather comes to stay.

Community on 02/22/2017