by Shera Everette
Carrboro Commons Writer

Heart-covered vases and rose petals decorated the tables where 60 senior citizens enjoyed their Valentine’s Day Party on Friday, Feb. 8. There were refreshments, door prizes and most of all fun.

The Carrboro Red cHatters celebrate Valentine’s Day with a party hosted by the Carrboro Department of Recreation and Parks.
Photo by Shera Everette

“This is the social event of the season,” said party-goer Gail Moriarty of Carrboro. “It’s just so great to be able to get together with my friends on an occasion such as this.”

The Carrboro Recreation and Parks Department hosted its annual event at the Century Center. Mickey Mills and Steel, a Trinidad native and Carrboro resident, serenaded the crowd with reggae music and his rendition of Bobby McFerrin’s famous song, “Don’t Worry, Be Happy,” which brought some of the seniors to their feet.

“It’s a day to rejoice and to have a good time,” Mills said to the crowd. “It’s Valentine’s Day, a time to have love and be happy.”

Dana Hughes, the event coordinator and a recreation supervisor with the Carrboro Recreation and Parks Department, said the party is a great way to honor the older adults of Carrboro.

“It’s pretty neat,” Hughes said. “Most of the time they are very appreciative of the entertainment and afternoon snacks. They enjoy spending time with their friends, and it’s just a great outing.”

Moriarty was part of one group of six friends who assembled for the Valentine’s Day bash. She is a member of the Carrboro Red cHatters, a local chapter of the national Red Hat Society, and they were all donning their traditional red and purple attire and iconic red hats.

“There is a famous poem in which the author writes, ‘When I am an old woman, I shall wear purple with a red hat which doesn’t go,’” Moriarty said. “That was big because it was a no-no back then for a lady to wear purple. It just says to everyone that now we can do what we want to do and our age isn’t a boundary or a limit.”

The Gad About Hatters, a Red Hat Society chapter of Durham, also attended the event.

“We always get rousing support from many different organizations,” Hughes said. “We even have several assisted-living homes that bring people as part of their weekly outings.”

Clare Bridge of Chapel Hill, an assisted-living home that specializes in treating those with Alzheimer’s disease and other memory deficiencies, took 10 of its residents to the party. Laverne Durham, life enrichment coordinator of Clare Bridge, said her residents always enjoy the festivities, which became evident as a few of them began dancing during the party.

“It’s a great event,” said Anthony Sierra, Durham’s assistant. “They enjoy it. It gives them the opportunity to communicate with one another, start friendships and even to possibly start a special relationship. Even seniors need love.”