A different group of seniors were the “cat’s meow” at the 34th annual Seniors’ Senior Prom titled, “Cotton Club,” on Friday, June 14, at the Oak Park Arms Retirement Community, 408 S. Oak Park Ave. Hundreds of guests – women with their flapper dresses and men in their zoot suits - danced the night away.
The Dick Elliot Band provided the music, standards from the Big Band era - music that touched lives, refreshed spirits and most certainly rekindled memories. In addition, dancers Mark and Susan O’Brien performed the lively Charleston, the Breakaway and provided the crowd with Swing demonstrations.
The Oak Park Arms scholarship was presented to Angelica Haennicke. She is a graduate of Oak Park River Forest High School and has been volunteering at the Oak Park Arms for the past three years. Haennicke plans to attend the University of Illinois in the fall.
“It’s always a thrill to present the scholarship,” said Jill Wagner, director of marketing for Oak Park Arms. “Haennicke is simply terrific and she has a bright future. We were very happy to be in a position to help.”
A highlight of the prom was the crowning of the 2013 king and queen. Oak Park Arms residents Nancy Elsmo and Howard McClain were elected Queen and King, respectively, by their fellow residents. A special dance took place featuring all the kings and queens, past and present.
“Prom was quite an event,” Wagner said, “The room was decorated with a roaring twenties theme, and the residents and families had such a wonderful time.”
The Oak Park Arms is a rental retirement community which provides independent and assisted living apartments and a full schedule of activities and services. Furnished apartments are also available for a short-term stay - a weekend, a week, a month or longer.
For more information call Jill Wagner at 708-386-4040 or visit http://www.oakparkarms.com.
