Oct. 2, 2013:  If you ever organize an event on a Saturday morning starting at 9:00 am, you may also want to order a sunny, crisp, picture-perfect fall morning and have Mayor Mary Marvin as the master of ceremonies.

There were over 100 attendees at village hall. Some arrived in style via the Tuckahoe Trolley, thanks to the generosity of the Village of Tuckahoe.

The mayor set the tone by saluting our community's senior citizens for not only the important role they play, but also the significant contributions they make to Bronxville. 

Each of the speakers who followed also paid tribute to our seniors. Remarks were shared by Irma Damhuis, co-chair of the Senior Citizens Council; Nancy Hand, co-chair of Gramatan Village; Jeff Rohr, president of The Community Fund of Bronxville, Eastchester and Tuckahoe; Tracy Conte, vice president of marketing and development at Lawrence Hospital Center; and Bronxville Police Chief Christopher Satriale. 

NYS Assemblywoman Amy Paulin presented a proclamation. Other VIPs in attendance were Rev. Dr. John Hartwell of Village Lutheran Church, Gabriella Radujko, director of the Bronxville Public Library, and New York State Senator George Latimer.

Tuckahoe Mayor Steve Ecklond, Eastchester councilmen Glenn Bellitto, Joe Dooley, Luigi Marcoccia, and Fred Salanitro, and Gilda Press, director of senior programs and services for Eastchester, also attended.

The village provided cider and doughnuts from the Bronxville Farmers’ Market immediately following the opening ceremony.

Evey Riccobono, the energizer bunny and also the exercise instructor for the Bronxville Senior Citizens, then led the group to Bronxville High School’s front lawn, where there was a tai chi demo. From there, the crowd meandered into the business district, where there were several information tables with senior-related information and chair massages. 

Throughout the village, businesses made the day all about seniors by offering "silver specials." 

By 1:30 pm, after enjoying a leisurely lunch (some having power-shopped in town and now ready to get off their feet), the crowd headed to the Bronxville Public Library, which hosted the movie Quartet, a free raffle, and yet another light refreshments break. 

Immediately following, the crowd of 75 enjoyed a Frank Sinatra impersonator. Some brave souls headed back to town to take advantage of the early bird specials.  

Sponsorship by Lawrence Hospital Center and the Rotary Club Foundation made the entire day a reality. We are grateful to our local businesses and organizations for embracing Salute to Seniors day.

The Salute to Seniors committee was a joint effort of members of the Senior Citizens Council, Bronxville Senior Citizens, and Gramatan Village.

Pictured here: Senior citizens gather in front of Bronxville Village Hall while listening to Chief of Police Christopher Satriale speak.

Photo by Mary Liz Mulligan, Member, Board of Directors of Senior Citizens Council and Gramatan Village