Staff Report

Were it not for the Los Olivos Rotary, the Buellton Senior Center would not have held its monthly dinner in September.

As Buellton Senior Center Executive Director Pam Gnekow explained to the attendees at the senior dinner on Sept. 25, when the originally scheduled sponsor for the dinner broke her leg, one call to the Los Olivos Rotary saved the monthly event that so many seniors look forward to each month.

The Rotarians cheerfully prepared a meal of spinach salad; pork tenderloin with a side dish of quinoa, kale and artichoke; rolls and butter; and ice cream on a fruit cobbler for dessert.

After about 55 seniors enjoyed the meal, the always popular raffle was held, and then Gnekow presented flowers to longtime resident and senior center member Karen Smith, who is leaving the area to live closer to family members.

Then another longtime resident, Frances Carricaburu, shared her history with another attendee, Rose Roberts, whom she has known since their days in high school. Roberts’ birthday was in September, so she was included in the group’s rousing rendition of “Happy Birthday” to all the attendees with September birthdays.