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Successful Aging - Archived Article
Office for Aging Senior Picnic
People from the Broome County area will be soon on their way to the picnic of the year! For twenty-eight years, senior citizens have gathered for the annual Broome County Office for Aging Senior Picnic. Originally held at Chenango Valley State Park, for the past several years the picnic has been held at a county facility, Grippen Park in Endicott. This year there will be an "old-fashioned" theme. The date is Thursday, June 28.
Around 1300 people usually attend this annual event. The day starts at 10:00 a.m. and ends by 3:00 p.m. There is always a wide variety of games and other activities to choose from throughout the day. Of course, you can't have a picnic without lots of food and beverages, and OFA's Senior Picnic is no exception. There is plenty of on site parking, and for those that do not drive, bus transportation is provided from designated senior centers.
A popular feature of the picnic is the Information Tent, with over forty vendors that are ready to explain their services designed for senior citizens. You can find out about caregiver services, home health care and equipment, banks, hospitals, nursing homes, lawn services, insurance and much more.
It's been twenty-eight years, and each year the activities have changed a little. But this year is our first "theme" year. It's "An Old-fashioned Picnic", and there will be several activities in keeping with this theme.
For starters, how about a pie-baking contest? All pie bakers are invited to bring their baked pie to the picnic for the Pie Baking Contest. Prizes will be awarded for Best Tasting and Best Appearance.
After your stroll through the information tent, check out the old-fashioned prices for a snow cone or popcorn--just $.10 a piece. While munching on your treats, enjoy the swing dancing demonstration. Then you can look over the old-fashioned car display, or cool off by taking an air-conditioned BC transit trolley car ride.
What's the best part of a picnic? The food! Lunch is served around 12:00 noon. This year you can enjoy either a chicken or pork dinner with all the fixings. Lunch reservations are needed. There is a suggested donation of $2.00 for people 60 years and older; all others are charged $4.00. The deadline for getting your ticket is Monday, June 25, 2001. Stop by the Office for Aging or a senior center to get yours.
After lunch, you can dance to the Dixieland band, relax under the tent with a game of bingo, or chat with friends and family.
The Senior Picnic is supported for by private sponsors and donations. For more information, please call the Broome County Office for Aging at 607.778.2411.