Long Beach Senior Arts Colony Decorates a Holiday Tree

A special holiday report from EngAGE C.O.O. Maureen Kellen-Taylor:

Santa, passing Long Beach on a test run for the important journey to come, dropped in to practice his “Ho-Ho-Hos,” and added candy canes, hugs, and more good cheer to the excitement at LBSAC.

That air of excitement was palpable, as Linda, Western Senior Housing Manager, conferred with Helene, EngAGE Arts Program Manger, about the details. This was the first tree-trimming in the beautiful piano lobby of the newest Senior Arts Colony in Long Beach.

Residents came in, wearing capes and fur hats in deference to the evening chill, and proudly brought ornaments made in artist Toni Ivashkov’s art class to add to the pile of shining glass balls. Elsie, a resident, pointed to several ornaments and asked us to guess what they were made from. We were stumped.

“Look! They are the little wires used for hangtags on clothing!” she said.

Different residents showed their artistic confections and confided what discards were used to create them. What a clever bunch of crafters!

The tree was surrounded by a crowd of people eagerly joining in the decorating. A beaming gentleman announced that he was a new man after losing 60 pounds through exercise and eating right. He was delighted to be able to climb the step ladder to place the highest decorations – with much advice from below.

The EngAGE art and gardening teachers were deep in conversation planning a joint project for the New Year.

The residents happily helped themselves from plates of cookies, and urns of coffee and hot cider lovingly put out by the staff. Then everyone settled in to listen to the music from the group, My New Best Friend, who ably added to the festivities.

All is bright at the Long Beach Senior Arts Colony! Take a look at these pictures to see for yourself. (You can click to enlarge them.)

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