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Rush City dining site celebrates 13 yearsBy Danielle Strenke More than a dozen years ago, a group of enthusiastic Rush City senior citizens decided it was time to have a place where they could gather for a good meal and good conversation. In 1989, the first noon meals were served at the Rush City senior dining site. Last week, the dining site celebrated 13 years of offering a low-cost, nutritious meal and a place where friends can gather for a couple of hours each weekday. More than 50 seniors and friends gathered last Wednesday for lunch at the dining site, which was brightly decorated with balloons celebrating the siteís 13th birthday. Before lunch, the diners are frequently treated to music or other entertainment. On the dining siteís birthday, diners enjoyed the sounds of the fiddle and piano, played by cousins Lyle Lofgren on fiddle and Rush City resident Arvid Lofgren on piano. Lyle was born and raised on a farm between Rush City and Harris, and enjoyed coming back to play his music, which he said is now referred to as ìrootsî music. Now living in Minneapolis, Lyle has been playing music all his life, and is currently part of the band called, ëThe Brandy Snifters.í During a musical break, the diners were asked to remember the hard work of those who helped establish the dining site 13 years ago, and reminded that the site offers so much more than a meal ñ it offers friendship and family. Some of the diners shared their thoughts on the dining site. ìMy kids brought me to live at Rush Oaks and I started coming here to the Rush City senior dining,î Gladys Johnson said. ìI just love it.î ìWhen you come here all the time, itís like your family here,î Margaret McDonald said. While mechanical difficulties stopped the root beer keg from being tapped, the group of diners last Wednesday was treated to cake and ice cream in honor of the occasion. The dining site, or senior center as it is also referred to, is located in the Rush City Public Library building in downtown Rush City. Seniors ages 60 and over receive a reduced-cost meal, and guests of all ages are welcome. Call 320-358-3611 for more information. ©ECM Post Review |