The Age of Elegance

"Curtain up! Light the lights! They've got nothing to hit but the heights!" The paraphrased words of this popular song from the musical "Gypsy" describe the atmosphere at Harrah's in Atlantic City these days. The air is filled with excitement in anticipation of the MS NEW JERSEY SENIOR AMERICA PAGEANT 2009. On Thursday, June 4th, thirteen beautiful ladies who have reached the " age of elegance" , or 60 years and over, will grace the stage of the Concert Venue Theater, to compete for the coveted title of MS NEW JERSEY SENIOR AMERICA 2009. This year's class started out with 15 women, but 2 dropped out for personal reasons. The thirteen gracious ladies who remain, have been busy sharpening their skills to impress the judges. They will be judged in 4 catagories: Evening Gown, Philosophy of Life, Personal Interview, and Talent. The time has come to reveal the list of the Class of 2009 to all our members, sponsors, patrons and faithful readers to our...

" age of elegance" TO: OUR MEMBERS, SPONSORS, PATRONS, AND FAITHFUL READERS OF OUR BLOG FROM: Josephine Araniti/ Publicity, NEW JERSEY SENIOR AMERICA 6 Piedmont Court Brick, NJ 08724 (732) 202-1494; e-mail: tomori8@aol.com FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE! MS NEW JERSEY SENIOR AMERICA PAGEANT 2009 Lights! Music! Action! Fifteen elegant ladies, 60 years and older, who come from different parts of the Garden State, will grace the stage at Harrah’s to compete for the coveted title of MS NEW JERSEY SENIOR AMERICA 2009. Harrah’s Resort Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City will again host the MS NEW JERSEY SENIOR AMERICA PAGEANT 2009. The event will be held on Thursday, June 4th in the Concert Venue Theater at 1:00 pm. Contestants are judged in four categories: Interview, Philosophy of Life, Evening Gown, and Talent. Upon winning the State title, the Queen becomes the delegate from New Jersey and will compete in the national pageant ...

Little did the 3 Queens from the New Jersey Cameo Club realize how happy they made the members of the Ocean Township Rotary Club, on Wednesday, April 15th. Current NJSA Queen Jo Ann Gordon coordinated the appearance for the Rotary Club's weekly luncheon which was held at The Renaissance Hotel in Ocean Township. She asked Josephine Araniti, MS NJSA 2007, and Delores Puzio, MS DELAWARE SA 2008 to appear with her. The ladies were invited to a sumptuous lunch beforehand. They thought that the members who sat at their table were so interesting to talk to and were very gracious dinner companions. Of special interest which occurred during lunch was a fun activity called "happy dollars" . Any member could stand up and tell about what made them happy, or sometimes sad, and then offer as many "dollars" that they wished to. The dollars then go into the Club's treasury. That afternoon, one member after another welcomed the 3 Queens, putting in 3 dollars each time. Lat...

Elva Lawrence is a very special lady. At 92 years young, she is still a performing member of the New Jersey Cameo Club. An accomplished pianist, she delights audiences young and old with her surprise "twists" on the piano classics. At first, you think that you were in for 10 minutes of "long haired" music. Then, after a serious introduction, and a flurry of fanfares, she does a quick reversal, and plays one popular song after another, meshing each tune with the skill of a true artist. Eventually, her performance becomes a sing-a-long, and everyone has a great time singing together. The following interview, which is done in Q & A format, reveals Elva's unique and interesting story: Q: How did you hear about the MS NEW JERSEY SENIOR AMERICA PAGEANT? A: Through Jan Dickenson, who was the New Jersey State Queen in 1986, and also MS SENIOR AMERICA 1986. We both lived in Leisuretown in Southampton. She became my coach, and helped me through man...

The title for today's article may sound like a product for removing stubborn stains and spots. But the play on words, describes exactly how we all felt on March 9th. Leisure Park in Lakewood, is a favorite place for the ladies of NJ Cameo Club to perform. The residents and staff are so kind, and look forward each year to our showcases. Upon arrival that day, however, we noticed something was different ..... the building was on lockdown and we had to ring the doorbell. At first, we thought that it was a new security measure, but as we gazed through the glass doors waiting to be let in, we saw the staff walking around wearing masks, and rubber gloves. Also, there weren't any patients sitting around enjoying the sunshine and each other's company. Eventually, a worker came to the door, and told us about an outbreak of stomach flu throughout the facility and suggested that we not come inside, and to cancel the show. We couldn't make that decision, since many ladies were tra...

Our "Ambassadors of Love" were out in full regalia on March 5th to celebrate the first anniversary of the opening of the Regency at Dover. Last year, the ladies of the New Jersey Cameo Club entertained, for the grand opening of the senior clubhouse which is located on Route 37 in the Orchard Square Shopping Center, in Toms River. They also participated in the ribbon cutting ceremony. The theme of this year's party, was "Hollywood", and the staff and patrons were dressed up in gowns and tuxedos. Tasty h'ordoeuvres were passed around, followed by a sumptuous luncheon meal. Everyone enjoyed the Cameo Showcase performance that followed. The audience were encouraged to sing along with the performers. Some did, while others kept time by clapping. A reporter and photographer from the Asbury Park Press were on hand to cover the event. After the show, Betty, the Director of Activities, showed a slideshow, which included the activities and events from the first year....

The lovely ladies of the NEW JERSEY CAMEO CLUB were out spreading their special brand of good cheer last month. On February 20th, defying the harshness of "mother nature", colds and sniffles, our "Ambassadors of Love" entertained the good folks at the Rennaissance Gardens at Seabrook, an assisted care facility located in Tinton Falls. There was a lot of participation in this show, as the residents joined in clapping, and humming along with the singers. One gentlemen was especially memorable. When Delores Puzio looked for a dance partner, he came forward, and they did a lively jitterbug together. The next NJCC Showcase was for the annual St. Patrick's Day Dinner at the Moose Lodge, in Beach Haven, on February 28th. The evening was a double bill, in which Sherri McGhie and her Mom, Norma shared the stage with the ladies of the NJCC. Sherri sang a variety of songs which included popular, broadway, R&B, and country. Her rich and mellow voice was enjoyed by all...