Kroc Center hosts weekly gathering for seniors

SUISUN CITY — Dollie Tearney was new to the area. She wanted to make friends and decided to check out the Kroc Center’s Prime Time group that meets Tuesday mornings.

“I have enough enemies,” she said, with a laugh.

Her sense of humor fit in with the rest of the group that found plenty to laugh at and talk about during a recent gathering.

“They are very much becoming a family here,” said Capt. Jonathan Harvey, who oversees the Kroc Center. “There’s a need for fellowship, for those seeking the opportunity to be around others who are understanding.”

The group began late last year and has already spawned a separate group of crocheters who meet weekly.

Jessika Pearce, the youth and family enrichment coordinator at the Kroc, works with the group. The format, she said, is pretty much up to the members.

“They share stories and get to know each other,” she said.

She finds herself laughing during each meeting because the seniors can be pretty honest. Topics at a recent meeting included senior living facilities, Planned Parenthood protesters and knee replacements.

Twin sisters Viviane Pouteau and Beatrice Murray were treated to a homemade cake, cupcakes, flowers and tulip plants. Their birthday was the next day.

“This group gets serious about their celebrations,” Tearney said, in jest.

Members of the group sang “Happy Birthday” to the sisters. The sisters sang to each other.

During the gathering, a Kroc staff member peeked in the door, looking for Harvey. He was invited in but declined, saying he wasn’t old enough.

“You can have a few of my years,” Tearney said.

Group members offered a bevy of praise for the Kroc Center for having such a group.

“The best thing to happen to us was finding the Kroc Center,” Murray said.

Pouteau added, “When you retire, you don’t connect with the people you used to work with.”

Both admitted retirement was an adjustment, one they were certainly happy to make.

“This is a great place to bring your ideas. It’s a springboard for senior problems,” Tearney said.

Prime Time meets from 10 a.m. to noon every Tuesday.

For more information, call 439-7880 or visit www.gokroc.org.

Reach Amy Maginnis-Honey at 427-6957 or amaginnis@dailyrepublic.net. Follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/amaginnisdr.

Amy Maginnis-Honey

Amy Maginnis-Honey joined the staff of the Daily Republic in 1980. She’ll tell you she was only 3 at the time. Over the past three decades she’s done a variety of jobs in the newsroom. Today, she covers arts and entertainment and writes for the Living and news pages.

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