Serving a ghostly spread of homemade entrées, Pinon Hills Senior Center scared up a crowd for the Tenth Annual Halloween Potluck Thursday, October 27th, 2022. No stranger to afternoon food fests, this time, the seniors were clad in Halloween costumes and displayed spooky decorations to transform the Pinon Hills Senior Center into a devilish room of delicious dining. Every Thursday, the Pinon Hills Senior Center hosts a terrific potluck, but there was something strangely different this day at this familiar hall. Amid the hoard of costumed individuals sitting at the decorated dining tables was a scary-looking clown whose birthday happens to land on October 31st. No clowning around, Vice President of Phelan Senior Center John Stanonis was having a tough time carving up a beautiful cake for his birthday. Assisted by Barbara Crawford, the spooky-looking dessert was carved up carefully and shared by everyone, in costume or not. Outfitted in a handmade costume with M & M’s all over, Mayme Sercu happily welcomed the hungry senior Halloweeners, coming in through the ghoulish tinsel hanging over the hall entrance. The presentation of the Halloween feast was seamless, as the buffet table was filled with food from what seemed like, out of nowhere. Deviled eggs, meatloaf, pozole, spaghetti with meat sauce, and plenty of tasty desserts were out for all to enjoy. It was rumored that the broccoli-cheese soup was hauntingly good.
After the invocation and the Pledge of Allegiance, the Arts and Crafts demon came out to play. The spirits were there that afternoon, with the telling of tall tales and the remembrance of loved ones. When asked if they do this every year, De De Gabb, originally from Diamond Bar, CA, replied, “This is the first year for all this silliness, decorations, costumes, and such,” as she tugged on her black-cat blouse. Just then, member Ronda Force walked by, proudly wearing a blinking orange tiara. De De also mentioned the Pinon Hills Senior Center has a potluck every Thursday of the month, and the membership for all this fun was only fifteen dollars per year. Between the two Senior Centers in Phelan and Pinon Hills, the activities range from a multitude of games to various arts and crafts. They share many events and seem to partner up on several occasions from time to time. Jack Crawford, President of the Pinon Hills Senior Center, was busy ensuring everything and everybody was well taken care of. “Every first Thursday of the month is a themed potluck. One month might be Asian food, and the next could be Italian,” Jack said. The banquet table had been cleared as mysteriously as the food had appeared, a testament to the delicious food and well-organized kitchen. Everyone anxiously awaited the 50/50 raffle. Member Mary Tyson had the “luck” in the potluck, winning the contest in her patriotic hippy costume. Maybe the spirits will be with us next year for another scary but tasty potluck at the Pinon Hills Senior Center. For membership information, call (818) 640-2545.
