Mary Frixel was the new president of the Upper Greenwood Lake Golden Jet Senior Citizen Club in 1992. From left: Betty Keepers, secretary; Frixel; Jim Rutherford, vice president; Elsie Steinman, secretary; and Volga Szabo, trustee. (File photo by Ann Genader)
In the 1980s, residents of West Milford enjoyed getting together so much that they had clubs in Newfoundland, West Milford and Upper Greenwood Lake. They gathered for business meetings and social times.
As time went by, the number of people who attended meetings and events dwindled, and the clubs disbanded.
One of the most active groups was the Golden Jet Set of Upper Greenwood Lake. Although that group officially disbanded a couple of years ago, some former members still get together regularly for lunch and socialization. They recently met at the new Sunrise Family Restaurant in Greenwood Lake, N.Y.
In the 1980s, an important committee handled club publicity. Mildred Clark took her appointment as publicity chairwoman for the Golden Jet Set with great enthusiasm. Local newspapers were usually filled with her reports.
In one of her press releases in 1983, she said the meeting at the Upper Greenwood Lake Ambulance Corps building was opened with recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag by chaplain Ernest Haines.
Dorothy McClellan, manager of the Alexander Hamilton Savings and Loan Association (located on Union Valley Road at the site that Dunkin Donuts now occupies), was the guest speaker. “Her topic was the 10 percent federal withholding tax on all interest earned starting July 1,” Mildred reported.
She explained that people not filing income tax forms because of low income would have to sign an exemption form at the banks they use. Clark noted that Orlando Cardici, tax consultant, offered to assist any senior with a tax question.
Club president James Rutherford introduced new member Charles Ahmrein. Mildred reported that state Sen. James Vreeland, Assemblywoman Leanna Brown and Assemblyman Dean Gallo were invited as guests to a future meeting to answer questions about what the state Legislature was doing for senior citizens.
Rutherford read the new schedule for West Milford Coach Line traveling for Upper Greenwood Lake residents on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
Clark wrote that many members followed the St. Patrick’s Day theme of the meeting by the “wearing of the green, etc.”
Bill Brown was surprised with a birthday cake, sporting a leprechaun. Al Meier, unofficial master of ceremonies, with Elsie Powers at the portable organ, led the singing of “Happy Birthday” in honor of Bill and Lee Petrie. Both were born on St. Patrick’s Day.
Kitty Young shared several loaves of Irish soda bread with butter and margarine for spreading. Cakes were donated by Flora Desel, Ann Hastins, Gertrude DeGroat, Eva Fenton, Milly Clark, Rita Murphy and Jean Graceffo. Bernice Tesch donated coffee, and Mary Thompson donated coffee and teaballs. Theresa Castagna gave money for the kitchen fund.
Al Meier and Pearl Twonchek donated prizes. Winners were Katie Graswald, Helma Weber, Eva Fenton, Al Meier, Theresa Castagna, Laura Muginis, Joan Graceffo and Grace Lindstrom. Flora Desel won the special prize.
It was announced that on May 11, 1983, the West Milford Recreation Department was sponsoring a bus trip to Wallington Exchange with a 10-course meal all you can eat, 2½ hours of entertainment and a glass of wine for $15 per person. The bus left from the Hillcrest building.
Dorothy Haines, program director, announced the bus for Neil’s New Yorker would be picking people up at the Ambulance Corps building by 9:30 a.m. March 24. She said she contacted Rock Oak Lodge about a luncheon to be held in late May or June at the cost of $9 per person without tax or gratuities. Included besides the luncheon would be an hour of entertainment, she said, and if music for dancing is requested, the group would be charged $50. Those attending a show and luncheon to be held at Summit Suburban in April would need to pay for their ticket at the next club meeting, she noted
Continuing her report, Clark wrote that Chanola Alston, a representative on local and county senior advisory boards, reported there would be a federal cheese and powdered milk give-away at the end of April and she urged the seniors to register with Karen Lillienkamp at the Hillcrest building as soon as possible to receive these items.
With May declared as Senior Citizen Month, the West Milford Recreation Department would offer live music from noon to 3 p.m. at the Hillcrest building. A meal was to be served in the nutrition center in the building.
That was what the local news was in 1983, with seniors participating in a very active club and Clark writing in her popular column about what was happening.