Seniors group turns 40
CRANBERRY TWP —The 40th anniversary of the Cranberry Township Senior Citizens Club was feted with cake and ice cream on Tuesday.
According to club president Alice Hodnicki, the club boasts 82 members 55 or older. She said the group meets once per month, and each meeting includes a speaker who shares information pertinent to seniors.
The club enjoys two picnics in the summer, a spring luncheon in April and a Thanksgiving/Christmas party at the end of each year. Hodnicki added a charity element to the club's activities by organizing the first Christmas food drive in October.
The drive, which placed collection barrels at a handful of locations, provided food for Gleaners Food Bank in Cranberry Township.
“It lets us be able to be helpful,” Hodnicki said of the food drive.
The group on Tuesday celebrated the club's anniversary in the Cranberry Township Senior Center inside the municipal building. About 40 members braved the icy wind to attend the meeting and partake of a slice of a huge red-and-white cake and a cup of ice cream.
Hodnicki said the club serves an important purpose in the township.
“It keeps us active and social,” she said.
Lifelong Cranberry Township resident and 15-year seniors club member Helen DeWald enjoyed a tall slice of cake and a warm beverage. DeWald said she belongs to the seniors club for the friendships she has made and the informative speakers at each meeting.
“And it's good for the fellowship between people of this age group,” DeWald said.
Delores Beck, a 40-year Cranberry Township resident and five-year club member, said she recalls the late Hazel Gant, a charter member for whom the Hazelwood housing development was named. She said the spry Gant was a teacher in a one-room schoolhouse at the intersection of Franklin and Peters roads.
Beck and her husband joined the seniors club for the socializing aspect.
“You see old friends you don't usually see in the winter,” said Beck.
Beck said she would like to see more members on the younger end of the club's spectrum so it can continue in coming years.
Bob Haefner has been a club member for 15 years. Haefner proudly declares that he “bugged” the board of supervisors for five years to get the senior center included in the municipal building, which was done 17 years ago.
“I'm known as the pot stirrer,” said Haefner.
He joined the senior citizens club to continue an active lifestyle.
“It gets you out of the house,” said Haefner. “It gives you something to do.”
The next Cranberry Township Senior Citizens Club meeting will be held at 1 p.m. on March 8 in council chambers at the municipal building. All those aged 55 or older are invited to attend.
