Seniors will take a musical trip down memory lane at a fundraiser for Housing Opportunities of Warsaw and Kosciusko Community Senior Services.
Dressed up as their favorite performers, such as Minnie Pearl, Loretta Lynn and others, the seniors will perform those artists’ songs at the “Cruising Memory Lane” luncheon show at noon Nov. 29 at the Senior Activity Center, 800 N. Park Ave., Warsaw.
Tickets are $10 each or $3 for folks 60 and over, and can be purchased at the Senior Center or at the HOW office, 109 W. Catherine St., Milford.
“We organized to have a fundraiser, but also for fun for the seniors. So the seniors picked a recording artist and then we had volunteers, that are their agents, who have gotten their costumes together and their record. And then on Nov. 29, we’re going to have a luncheon,” said Pam Kennedy, who is executive director of the Warsaw Housing Authority that oversees HOW.
Miller’s Merry Manor will provide lunch.
In the Senior Center gym, the seniors will get up on the stage “as their people and we’re going to play music off the records,” she said.
On Tuesday, there was a photo shoot with the 12 participating seniors for a calendar that will be sold at the luncheon. Shooting the photos was Sherry VanWey, and Bob Barth, Automotive Unlimited, Warsaw, provided a 1955 Studebaker President Coupe for a background for the photos.
Kennedy said participants preparing for the photo shoot at D.C. Haircrafters “had a hoot and a holler,” Kennedy said.
She said the seniors are having fun with it, but are giving back for the experiences and help they’ve had through the housing office and Senior Center.
“So they’re their own fundraiser for the two organizations,” Kennedy said.
Local attorney Carissa Nolin worked with Judy Hartup on her costume and performance as Minnie Pearl.
“Judy wanted to be Minnie Pearl, so Carrie had to research Minnie Pearl because we didn’t know if Minnie Pearl sings or does what,” Kennedy said. “And Judy has Parkinson’s, and so Housing Opportunities is now putting in a shower and getting rid of her bathtub in her bathroom, so that’s her participation. But it’s really great because (the seniors) are going to have a ball doing this.”
Pearl, who passed away March 4, 1996, at the age of 83, was an American country comedian who appeared at the Grand Ole Opry for five decades and on the television show “Hee Haw” for about 22 years.
Hanging from Hartup’s hat for her costume as Pearl is a price tag that says $1.89.
“So there was always a $1.89 because the first time (Pearl performed), she accidentally left the price tag (on) for the artificial flowers,” Nolin said.
“It’s been so fun working with Judy and obviously drawing attention to the Senior Center,” she said.
Hartup found the costume herself, but Nolin made the hat.
“We scrounged around, we used the album cover as inspiration. It’s pretty close. I’ve felt like I made a new friend. Judy is amazing. I’m very lucky to have met Judy and very excited to bring her vision to life,” Nolin said.
At the luncheon, Hartup will perform to Pearl’s song “How to Catch a Man” with a rolling pin.
Nolin, whose law firm of Havrilla & Nolin LLC, has donated its resources to the Senior Center to assist it, said it’s important for people to support senior in the community.
KCSS Executive Director David Neff said, “What’s very exciting for the seniors is that a lot of these folks haven’t been fussed over and they’re getting a lot of attention, they’re enjoying it. They’re having hair and makeup done. This is just a special day for them. You get to a point there’s a lot of people who haven’t had attention in years. Everyone’s smiling and having a good time.”
He said Kennedy gets “all the credit in the world” for the event, and it’s really nice for all the seniors to feel wanted.
“You look around at all the smiles on everyone’s face, it’s just a great day,” Neff said.
