Santa makes a stop at senior center

Jeanne Butherus excitedly waited her turn to sit on Santa’s lap Friday, counting down the days until Christmas. But she didn’t come to ask for a new toy or inquire about Rudolph. The 82-year-old was simply looking for a fun time during the holiday season — and a warm cup of eggnog.

Butherus was one of 170 guests at the Costa Mesa Senior Center on Friday morning celebrating its annual Breakfast with Santa.

Organizers and volunteers served French toast, sausage and fresh fruit to the attendees, all of whom left with a holiday gift and a photo with Santa.

“Santa made me feel comfortable in spite of my handicap,” said Butherus, who ditched her walker to take a seat on his knee.

Senior center executive director Aviva Goelman conceived of the event five years ago, hoping to offer local seniors a place to gather and celebrate the holidays — a time of year many would otherwise spend alone — in addition to providing food and holiday cheer.

“When you see the outcome, a room of dressed-up, smiling seniors, you realize that’s what Christmas is all about,” she said.

Besides the food, most seniors came looking for a place to socialize and meet new people.

Hal Schwennesen and Genevera Gustafson were two of the most popular seniors in attendance.

Schwennesen, who has been coming to the center for two years, was easily recognized by fellow partygoers because he brings pastries to the center’s sunroom daily and is active in exercise classes, the play-reading class and the life-story writing class there.

And 100-year-old Gustafson, the oldest attendee, plays piano at the center three times a week and said she’d been coming for as long as she could remember.

Once a week, Lori Martin, 70, comes to the center to take a Spanish class, but on Friday she was busy eating and dancing to the musical stylings of Tony Montero, who plays keyboard, clarinet and saxophone.

“It’s really a delight to see all these seniors out,” Martin said. “The food is good, the company is good and the music is great.”

Playing the event for the third time, Montero concentrated on Christmas tunes and classics from the 1920s and 1930s, songs he said event guests can really relate to.

“I like to give them something positive to reflect on,” he said. “It puts a good feeling in them that they will then pass on” to others.

The event was made possible with donations from various local organizations, including Orange Coast College, the Costa Mesa Fire Department and the Costa Mesa Chamber of Commerce.

“This is our way to give back to the community,” said fire protection specialist Brenda Emrick, who was busy passing out photos to seniors.

“And it’s always fun, too.”