“I’m proud to say I come from Guttenberg,” said Maryann Morro with a smile. “I was born here, I’m going to die here. My brothers were all born in Guttenberg. It’s a good little town. We’re very lucky because our mayor always gives us a nice Christmas.”
The occasion was the annual seniors luncheon held by the town on Friday, Dec. 11. This year, once again, the fiesta took place at La Grande Buffet & Grill in Fairview. Over 100 seniors enjoyed an expansive buffet including Chinese, Italian, and Latin foods, with a vast dessert bar.
“We’ve been doing this for a while,” said Mayor Gerald Drasheff. “Probably six or seven years. We’ve done it in several places but we’ve grown so much this is the only place that’s big enough to handle it. And everybody seems to like the buffet.”
Indeed they did, with residents making several trips to the buffet table to fill their plates with a wide variety of treats.
Attending the event with Morro were two friends, Miriam Torrales and Gina Manuli. Torrales first emigrated from Cuba to California, then moved east in 1971 when she discovered she didn’t like earthquakes.
Manuli moved to Guttenberg 64 years ago. “She didn’t move far, though,” explained Morro. “She came from West New York.”
“I’ve got no complaints,” said Manuli, who lives in senior housing on Boulevard East. “Look what we get. I’ve got a beautiful apartment and I face the river.”
“The Housing Authority keeps their buildings so nice,” added Morro.
The three friends have seen a lot of changes over the years. “A lot of progress,” as Morro put it.
And a number of ethnic shifts. “There were a lot of Polish people years and years and years ago,” said Manuli. “Germans and Polish. Then it was Italians. Now it’s Spanish. That’s the change.”
Over 100 seniors attended the annual event and feasted on a wide variety of international treats.
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“But it remains a great town,” said Morro. “And great leadership. It’s not just that they want to be in politics. They’re really for the people. And that’s nice. Especially in Hudson County. You tell people you come from Hudson County, right away they think it’s corrupt. A few people make it bad for everybody.”
‘It’s a blessing’
Marisol Acosta serves as assistant administrator to the Town of Guttenberg. Among other things she coordinates the senior events and activities for the town.
“I have over 300 seniors registered with me,” she said. And she takes her job seriously, constantly seeking out seniors to add to her roster. “When I’m walking down the street or they come in for parking permits, I automatically walk up and ask if they live in the town. I do it all the time. On weekends I’m always with a little pad and I’m asking, ‘Do you live in town? What’s your name and I’ll put you in.’
Acosta keeps the seniors notified of upcoming events and arranges for their transportation. This year was the biggest group she’s seen at the annual luncheon. She spent the afternoon making sure that “my seniors” enjoyed themselves, chatting and helping out wherever necessary. “I love it,” she said. “You learn a lot. It’s a blessing.”
Jimmy Smith and Tony Sosa are the two bus drivers who makes sure the seniors get wherever they need to go. “I got a minibus with a handicap ramp. He’s got the big bus,” said Smith. “I’m the medical man, he’s the shopping man. Medical entails people going to doctors and hospitals, anything like that. They call town hall and make the appointment. I get the list and carry on.”
Medical visits can be anywhere in New Jersey. Smith sometimes takes up to 50 trips in a week. “It’s hard,” said Smith, who’s been doing the job for 18 years. “Because what happens is you go to Jersey City, then you go to Paramus. It’s time consuming. You gotta try to keep them in one direction.”
For the luncheon the buses made several trips each to accommodate the large crowd. Other residents drove themselves.
So many activities
Isabel Ruiz attended with her sister Maria Julia Miranda and friends Ana Velazquez and Tina Formoso. The three friends dressed in holiday red with Santa hats. “We come every year at Christmas time,” said Ruiz.
Sitting in the middle of the room, they laughed together and brought a festive charm to the proceedings.
“Guttenberg has so many activities,” said Ruiz. “We go to the stores and concerts. We go to the boat tour on the Hudson River every year. When there is important information, the weather is bad, it’s too cold, all the people in the town are called by the police. And they announce the problem and where they can go if the need some help.”
To sign up for senior activities, contact Acosta at (201) 868-2315 ext. 152.
Art Schwartz may be reached at arts@hudsonreporter.com.