BY LOREEN BERLIN: Garden Grove seniors experienced a romantic evening last Friday at the first-ever "Senior Prom" dance, sponsored by Monarch HealthCare, at the newly-renovated H. Louis Lake Senior Center.
Dance music was provided by the senior's favorite 5 Star Band and dinner and beverages were served.
BY LOREEN BERLIN: Garden Grove seniors experienced a romantic evening last Friday at the first-ever "Senior Prom" dance, sponsored by Monarch HealthCare, at the newly-renovated H. Louis Lake Senior Center.
Dance music was provided by the senior's favorite 5 Star Band and dinner and beverages were served.
During the upcoming Strawberry Ball — as part of the annual Strawberry Festival — a new senior king and queen will be installed, chosen for their volunteerism throughout the community. The current reigning 2015-2016 king and queen are Hazlette "Tsuki" Tsukiyama and Yolanda Montano.
This weekend, a new tradition was started: naming a prince and princess, which was done by the seniors at the center.
Happy to accept the honor and beaming as they were crowned are Prince Al Shrader and Princess Hope Galvez.
"I'm really glad that our friends decided we were the ones to select as prince and princess," said Galvez. "This is most exciting.”
"This is a lot of fun — and it's over my head,' Shrader smiled, motioning to his large red crown.
"The idea of a prince and princess was just for fun," said Senior Center Director Juan Medina.
Medina said the evening quickly sold out and so they will increase the number next year to 100 attendees, keeping it intimate in size and yet fun for everyone attending. "This is our first 'night' dance and we intend for it to become an annual event," said Medina. "With it selling out, we figured it would be very successful."
The evening's ball was the last event the current king and queen will preside over before the next royalty are named.
"Being king for the year has been really good," said Tsukiyama. "I've met a lot of nice people and this year has gone by quickly," adding that as the king and queen, they help on Wednesdays in the dining room and work with the 50/50 raffle and other events during the year.
Cal State Fullerton students volunteered during the evening, assisting wherever they were needed.
"Seeing everyone happy tonight made me happy," said volunteer Peterson Pham.
"I love being here tonight; it was so fun with the live band and the dancing and photo booth and voting for the prince and princess," said volunteer Kristine Diaz. "And the photo booth was so priceless and so neat.”
"It was such a fun time and one of the older dancers taught me how to dance; it was so much fun getting to dance with him and others and with the single ladies too," said volunteer Frankie Pacheco.