On a rainy summer afternoon in June, several residents of The Highlands at Wyomissing were gathered around game tables, playing a spirited game of bunco.
They were also reminiscing about their senior proms and sock hops.
But they were not chatting about dances held in the 1950s — the events they talked about occurred in 2017 and 2018, in their own community at The Highlands.
So as young local high school students got ready for proms and dances that have changed in format but still remain a time-honored rite of passage, the “young at heart” Highlands residents planned their own flings.
The dances at The Highlands, held in the spacious Cultural Center on campus, are organized by dance committees, boast live musical entertainment, and have themes that bring back old memories while creating new ones.
“Our programming is resident-driven,” explains Shirley A. Riegel-Ferreri, Manager of Residential Programming for The Highlands.
Name that Tune
Riegel-Ferreri notes that in resident surveys, the most requested activities from residents always include music. “We focus on six areas of well-being: physical, spiritual, social, intellectual, nutritional and emotional. Music can be incorporated within all of these areas.”
In 2017, the idea of holding a senior prom was presented by the residents, and Riegel-Ferreri could not have been more pleased. “The residents formed a prom committee; decided on a black, red and white theme; and decided on everything from the decorations to the choices in food.”
But it is the music that sets the mood, and at The Highlands, the local band By Request, with Bog Kreitz on piano and vocals, is “the cat’s meow.”
Covering Basie to Sinatra to Elvis, By Request is true to its billing. The band frequently entertains The Highlands’ crowd and never disappoints.
“I went to that prom [last year] and the music was great!” recalls bunco player and prom attendee Betty Rutter. “He [Bob Kreitz] even played jitterbugs…anything we wanted!”
“Hey,” interjects Marge Nester, another prom-goer. “They just play all the music we know. I love that band.”
Riegel-Ferreri notes that her staff works very closely with the resident advisory committee to ensure that events, such as these dances, meet with everyone’s expectations.
“While the prom was successful,” she says, “We do have more women than men here, so there were a lot of ‘single’ women that wanted something less formal for 2018.”
So this year the committee and staff threw a good old sock hop. The formal prom dinner morphed to a more casual finger food menu, and “all the single ladies” wore bobby socks and poodle skirts.
As the bunco game winds down and the talk of dances becomes more animated, Riegel-Ferreri offers that next year will be The Highlands’ 30th anniversary.
“What shall we do?” she asks.
“That will be big stuff!” exclaims Marge Nester. “Gold and silver and all kinds of goodies!” She looks at Dale Rutter, Betty’s husband, and asks, “What do you think?”
“Don’t ask me,” he laughs and winks at Betty. “I can hardly remember last year’s dance. I just do what she tells me to do. I show up and I’m sure it will be a great time!”
