Last Tuesday “a very successful event” took place at the Cornwall Yacht Club, when that facility hosted the annual Cornwall Senior Advisory Committee barbeque.

Cornwall Councilwoman Virginia Scott was not only in attendance, but helped plan the event.

“A partnership was formed when I reached out to the Cornwall Yacht Club after a senior suggested I ask if the Committee could use the facility to hold this event,” Scott said on Wednesday. “The Cornwall Yacht Club Board not only allowed it, but voted to waive the rental fee, and they donated a cake for the seniors to enjoy for dessert and offered to donate funds to supplement half of the cost of the luncheon for each of the 50 participants.”

As each senior checked in to the barbeque, they were given an envelope returning their $7 registration fee, and informed that the Yacht Club wanted to make this contribution to the local seniors as a way of giving back to the community.

“The Committee, senior attendees, and I are extremely grateful for the generosity and hospitality that we were given by this organization,” Scott said. She also thanked T&M To Go, which catered the event and “surprised the seniors with a complimentary addition of fried chicken to the menu! I cannot tell you how grateful I am to be part of such a genuinely kind spirit that was displayed throughout the planning and execution of this event.”

Before lunch was served, Scott, who is the Town Board’s liaison to the Senior Advisory Committee, opened the program. She explained the act of generosity that was given by the Cornwall Yacht Club – “the seniors gave the members of the Club a resounding applause!”.

The Committee members -- Chairwoman Alice Hall, Mary Missere, Colette Fulton, Elizabeth “Betty” Jurgens, Elizabeth “Betty” Longinott, Ann Fowler, Nellie DiSario, Carmen Aponte and Joan Kukkonen – were introduced, and they explained that one of the goals is to provide socialization opportunities for seniors in the community.

“Addressing mental health is central to wellness,” they said. “Today is not just about having lunch, it’s a call to seniors to join and play a more active role to improve the quality of life in the community. There are so many talented seniors and we welcome and need you.”

To prove their point, the Committee members were wearing shirts which read: ‘You’re never too old for anything!!’

Also speaking were two of the Town Recreation Department’s instructors -- Betty Longinott and Paula Castro, who spoke about the days and times of their classes and importance of exercise in addition to proper nutrition and overall wellness.

Then, after lunch, seniors had time to enjoy the view of the Hudson River from the indoors or venture outdoors where some of the seniors were provided a tour of one of the members’ sailboat.

Scott said she hopes the success of the event translates “ a very positive partnership for future events” and noted that the remainder of the cost of the BBQ was to be supplemented by either an Orange County Legislative Grant that is available for events such as this or the Town Senior Advisory Committee budget line.

The Senior Advisory Committee meets the last Monday of every month at Munger Cottage at 1 p.m. The meeting is no more than one hour where the group works on upcoming programs and discusses issues and concerns that are relevant to local seniors. “For example,” Scott said, “there is discussion about the recent relocation of the Social Security Administration Office from Newburgh to Wallkill and how this change creates transportation challenges.

The next event for the Committee is a senior drop-in social/paint event at Munger Cottage on Wednesday, August 2 at 1 p.m. It’s an introductory discussion on this new program.