By JESSA PEASE / Staff Writer

PELHAM— As a tradition, the Pelham Senior Center hosts annual Thanksgiving and Christmas luncheons. This year’s Christmas luncheon will be Dec. 10 at 10:30 a.m. in the new multipurpose room.

Barbara Roberts, director of the Senior Center and the public library, said the center will be decorated in theme with the holidays and they will also have a Christmas tree.

“We have two big events every year. We have a Christmas luncheon and we have a Thanksgiving luncheon,” said Barbara Roberts, director of the Pelham Senior Center and the public library. “Some of our people are separated from their families who are in different states or they are alone. We want to have a very nice event, especially for those people.”

She said about 75 people usually attend the luncheon for the traditional Christmas meal. This year’s lunch will be catered by Bellini’s, according to Roberts. Bellini’s also catered the Thanksgiving luncheon, and she said everyone enjoyed the meal.

This will be the 20th Christmas luncheon hosted for the seniors. The Pelham Senior Center houses weekly meals, activities and social gatherings for nearly 300 senior residents in the area.

As an additional treat, Mary Shaw will be performing Christmas music on the piano during the luncheon. Shaw is a former music teacher and is married to the former pastor of Pelham’s First Baptist Church.

Roberts said Shaw had always been too busy to perform while she and her husband were involved in the church, but now that they are retired, Shaw agreed.

Pelham Mayor Gary Waters and the members of the City Council always attend the luncheons and address the attendees. City Council President Rick Hayes typically gives the seniors an update on projects within the city.

Roberts said the luncheon gives the city officials the opportunity to thank the seniors and gives the seniors the opportunity to thank the city leaders.

“They look forward to it,” Roberts said. “These luncheons are their holiday celebration.”