Lynn senior citizens rock out at GLSS holiday party

LYNN – Live music blasted Wednesday at 8 Silsbee St. where inside 160 revelers sang, danced, dined and socialized during the annual holiday bash sponsored by the Friends of the Lynn Council on Aging (LCOA).Entertainer Jim Moses of Peabody cradled his guitar and strummed favorites while walking among the festively decorated tables at the Lynn Senior Center.He sang popular tunes like “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree”, “Jingle Bell Rock”, “Feliz Navidad” especially for outreach coordinator Rosa Paulino, and more non-holiday smash hits like “I Can’t Help Falling in Love With You.”Stacey Minchello, director of the LCOA, said the party is limited to 160 guests, the maximum given the lobby and dining space at Greater Lynn Senior Services headquarters.”Every year, people line up on the day after Thanksgiving to get their tickets. We’re the only Council on Aging in the area that I know of serving a free dinner at the holiday party,” she said.She noted that donations from Greater Lynn businesses paid for the food, service, entertainment and decorations.Minchello said Lynn is home to approximately 14,000 senior citizens and that many more than 160 had hoped to attend the party. “Next year, we’re going to look for a different venue, a bigger place.Mayor Judith Flanagan Kennedy swung by the party, pausing at tables to wish the guests a happy holiday and listen to their concerns.”Our seniors listen to Springsteen. How cool is that? They even play Wii. The house bowling champ has challenged me to a game and I’m probably going to get my head handed to me,” the mayor said.Kennedy agreed the party should be larger.”We might be able to use the field house at Lynn Tech if it doesn’t interfere with school, or the gymnasium at Sacred Heart,” she said.Kristi Harris, the activities director, said tickets to the holiday party were gone by 11:30 a.m. on the morning they became available.”It’s amazing how many people come out for them,” she said. “It’s not just the food and music. There are raffles, Santa Claus and pictures. Lot’s of these people grew up in Lynn and haven’t seen each other for a long time, so in some ways, it’s like a school reunion. It’s just fantastic.”