Big Birthday Celebration Honors Those Over 90

Westlake’s oldest residents came out to a big birthday party in their honor Thursday afternoon. Over 60 nonagenarians and their family members, care givers and friends gathered at the Westlake Center for lunch and a proclamation from Mayor Dennis Clough.

“It’s basically a big birthday party for anyone in Westlake who’s 90 or older,” said Carolyn Bert, president of the Westlake Junior Women’s Club. The party is hosted each year by volunteer group and the Community Services Department. “It’s just a big celebration for them.”

The party even had a few attendees 100 years or older. Bert said the organization never has trouble finding the right people to invite.

“Because we have such an active senior center; they basically just have the guest list waiting for us,” Bert said.

The Junior Women’s Club provides the food and volunteer staff for the party each year. This year’s event organizer, Wendy Kolodkin, said it’s just a great way to volunteer.

“I just think this is something good and something visible we can do for the community,” she said. “And everyone is having a good time.”

Norma Duplaga, 91, and Gayle Hill came to their first party this year after Hill heard about it at work in the city service department.

“When I found out about this, I said ‘Of course!’” she said. “This is great."

The Westlake Junior Women's Club and the Community Services Depatment wished a happy birthday to the following residents:

Alice Barnhart, Andrew Bartko, Ernest Bell, Mario Biancotti, Fred Bina, Helen Carter, Ann Conley, Jack Cunningham, Veronica Dobro, Helen Downs, Margaret Duchez, Norma Duplaga, Margaret Haseley, Rita Hennie, Betty Hesse, Cliff Hesse, Bill Hill, Rose Hoffer, Agnes Holt, Anna Iski, Jack Keeler, Emilie Krause, Rita Kurt, James Lavelle, Rose Lowrey, Rosella Lutian, Helen Maleckar, Marge Mazzolini, Gale McCombs, Kathleen McCormack, William Mears, Olga Meixner, Dorothy Michaels, Kathleen Molner, Mary Jane Morey, Helen Murray, Irma Neubauer, Bud Nichols, Stella Pajor, Mary Peterson, Bob Ramsey, Rebecca Renz, Geneva Reynolds, Jean Roman, Merri Rucci, Elmer Schroth, Laura Schwartz, Carolyn Sealander, Anna Fern Seelbach, Marge Shaffstal, Bettie Shafransky, Margaret Sheppard, Laura Siegfried, Palma Solli, Helen Sorge, Bill Staron, Alice Throop, Jean Tracy, Margarete VonKunsay, Anne Weishar, Violet Wiersma, Art Witt, Eleanor Younglas and Ellie Younglas