By Rod Hansen
Staff Writer

Senior Ashley Jennings entertained the crowd with classical violin music throughout the afternoon at the annual Senior Citizens Luncheon at Goffstown High School. (The Goffstown News/Rod Hansen)

As guests turned out in unprecedented numbers for the annual Senior Citizens Luncheon at Goffstown High School on Saturday, Oct. 21, event organizers had to think quickly to accommodate the crowd.

About 100 seniors were expected to attend the event, so the turnout of 163 made for a pleasant surprise and a challenge.

“We had to hustle to get seating for everybody,” said event chairman Brittany Caron, a senior at Goffstown High School and secretary of the New Hampshire Association of Student Councils.

Caron was one of 50 student council volunteers who arranged 18 tables of eight in the cafeteria for the event. As those seats began to fill up, Caron and other student councilors imported tables from classrooms and sent students out to get more drinks to meet the needs of the cheerful crowd.

It’s all part of handling an event that had become increasingly popular among the town’s senior citizens, Caron said.

“This is a bigger turnout than I’ve ever seen here,” said Caron, now in her fourth year organizing the event.

“It’s so wonderful, to see people’s faces light up when they walk into the room and to hear what they have to say. I had one lady tell me this is the ‘cream of the crop.’ You can talk to people who have been coming for years or people who are here for the first time, and they all think it’s great.”

The luncheon has been going on for about 15 years, said Sandee Nichols, who teaches art and leadership at the high school and serves as the student council’s advisor.

This year’s menu consisted of a cracker and cheese appetizer, vegetarian and cream of broccoli soup, biscuits and beef stew, as well as sodas and coffee, Nichols said.

For dessert, guests enjoyed baked goods prepared by all the members of the student council.

All the courses were served by costumed student council members, dressed as a variety of characters ranging from angels to flight attendants.

“The students go out of their way to make this a good event,” Nichols said, noting that many had other commitments that day but still took time to help out at the luncheon.

This year’s luncheon had to be pushed back because of PSAT testing taking place at the high school in the morning, Nichols said.

Invitations are sent out each year in early October, Nichols said. Names come from a self-generated mailing list of local senior citizens, with each invitation containing two tickets.

Nichols said a stack of returned invitations made her fear this year’s luncheon might see light attendance.

“We got these invitations back and wondered if we might not get a good turnout. But this is an amazing turnout,” Nichols said.

The senior citizens who attended said they enjoyed the occasion. Chatting pleasantly as senior Ashley Jennings filled the room with classical violin music, guests said the luncheon gave them a chance to visit with each other and the students.

“These kids really put a lot of effort into making this special for us. It’s great, the work they do,” said resident Charles Brison.

Resident Estelle Tardiff showed her appreciation by making jack-o-lantern lapel pins for students and faculty to wear.

“I just wanted to do something nice for the kids who put this on,” said Tardiff. “They do this for us, so I wanted to do something for them.”