By Shavonne Potts
spotts@salisburypost.com
Fred Spangler believes it’s better to give than receive, especially during the holidays. It’s an adage he practices.
Spangler, who lives at the Meadows of Rockwell, was among about 143 adult and senior residents who attended an annual Christmas party held Wednesday at the Salisbury Civic Center.
“I think it’s nice. I think it’s the way the whole world should be,” he said.
Spangler won a box of candy canes playing bingo and decided instantly he would save it for his sister, Sue Spangler.
“She’ll like it,” he said.
Spangler, who turns 66 soon, hopes to see his siblings during the holiday season. His sister lives in Rockwell, one brother lives in Iredell County, and he’d especially like to share the holidays with his brother who lives in Texas.
“It would mean so much to me,” he said.
Wednesday’s party also meant a lot to Spangler and the other people in the room.
“The facilities make it happen for their people,” said Rick Eldridge, executive director of Rufty-Holmes Senior Center.
In previous years, the party was held at Rufty-Holmes, but the crowd has grown. So this year, the party was held at the Civic Center.
Eldridge attributes the larger numbers to more assisted living and senior facilities.
The party has gone on for more than 20 years, and many more facilities have opened in Rowan County over that time, he said.
Fourteen facilities participated in the party, with 143 residents and 47 staff members present.
Wilma Penley is thankful to be surrounded by her family during Christmas. As she turns 85, the Woodleaf native will spend the holidays with her family. Her daughter, Shirley McIver, bought Penley an early birthday present.
“She bought me a red suit,” Penley said.
When Penley saw the gift and her daughter told her there would be more gifts later, she told her, “bring ’em on.”
She makes homemade coconut cake for the family, but not this year, she said.
“They won’t have cake this year. They’ll have to buy it,” she said laughing.
Penley is a resident of Salisbury Gardens.
Marie Stracuzzi, a native of Brooklyn, N.Y., has lived in Salisbury for the past 19 years. She now lives at Carillon.
For the holidays she’ll go to the home of her son, Michael.
“It’s a time to be happy,” she said.
Stracuzzi loves attending the party each year.
“I think it’s wonderful when you are not at your home anymore. These are the good things that they do for us,” she said.
Stracuzzi thanks God for her many blessings.
“When we come here we enjoy ourselves,” she said.
Joel Dunn attended the party for the first time. The best thing of all was the food and music, he said.
Dunn loves country music. He is a native of Salisbury and now lives at The Laurels. He thinks his cousin might pick him up to spend the holidays together.
The other things Dunn loves are singing Christmas carols and looking at decorations, especially the lights.
“I sure do enjoy getting out,” he said of attending the party. “I liked coming here.”
Paulette “Polly” Groomes also attended the annual party for the first time this year.
“I think it’s wonderful. We all enjoy it,” she said.
She’ll enjoy dinner with her family this holiday season. Groomes was born and raised in Waynesville. She moved here in 1965 where she worked as a stay-at-home mother.
She and the other residents at Autumn Care enjoy their outings.
Autumn Care Activities Director Kimberly Crowley said the staff continues to take the residents out since they like it so much.
“They feel like a part of the community. We are grateful that they put this on for us,” she said.
Ruth Moore, another Autumn Care resident, also likes to get out and about.
“I think it’s wonderful,” she said of the party.
Not only do they get out during the holidays, they also go to the movies, have toured the Rowan County Courthouse, ride around to look at the Christmas lights.
Moore is retired from Cannon Mills. She’ll spend the holidays with her children, Phoebe Castor and Tony Moore, and her six grandchildren.
Mary Fleming McGuire has attended the annual Christmas party for years.
She enjoys getting out and seeing people she hasn’t seen in a while.
McGuire is the third of 10 children. She is a Salisbury native. She worked for many years as a nurse. McGuire recalls when her father, Robert Fleming, worked at Star Laundry.
McGuire, a resident of Salisbury Gardens, said she just thinks the party is nice.
“I would like to see other people open up their doors for other activities,” she said.