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06/10/2015 08:45 AMOn May 20, nearly 90 seniors enjoyed a night of dinner and dancing at a prom held at the Community Center. For the past several years, the Guilford Senior Citizens Program (GSCP) has hosted a Senior Prom, and this year’s event was a big success.
“Every year it’s grown, and this was the largest yet,” said Terry Buckley, coordinator of the GSCP.
The event was born several years ago after Ellen Clow, recreation supervisor of Guilford Parks & Recreation, saw another town host a similar event and suggested it to Buckley.
“We wanted to give them a full prom experience, from the theme to the pictures to the meal to the dancing,” said Buckley. “It was a great reason to get dressed up for a night out.”
The prom was complete with a theme—Caribbean Cruise—and decorations to match. The tickets included appetizers and a meal choice of prime rib, chicken, or salmon, and dessert. The tables were decorated with a nautical theme, while the dance floor had Caribbean-themed decorations, thanks to a group from Guilford High School called CARE (Care and Respecting the Elderly).
In addition to decorating the dance floor, CARE also set up and ran a photo booth for prom pictures and helped serve the meal—and danced. A local band called Take Two and Call Me in the Morning (several members are doctors to inspire the band name) performed music from the 1950s, ’60s, and ’70s.
“CARE got involved and were there to help that night,” said Buckley. “If they noticed someone bopping to the music in their seat, they’d go over and get them out on the dance floor. The high school students were great.”
In addition to the help from CARE, North Guilford Nurseries donated a dozen potted flowers as centerpieces. The GSCP is now in the process of distributing prom photos.
“Some of them dressed up really nice, and some dressed more casually with Caribbean-themed attire,” said Buckley, who was happy with the turnout. “A lot of our events are during the day, so it was especially nice having a night out. They had a nice dinner, saw their friends, and had a chance to meet new people.”