Community Corner
VIDEO: Senior Center Hosts Tea and Impersonator
Friends of the Westborough Senior Center sponsored a tea party with Revolutionary War heroine Deborah Sampson, played by Janet Parnes of Royal Tea Parties by Lady J.
In addition to video excerpts from the presention, Jane Keller Gordon captured the event in a series of photos posted here in the image gallery.
Almost 40 guests gathered at the on Thursday, May 12, to sip tea, eat pastries, and be entertained by Janet Parnes of Royal Tea Parties by Lady J. Parnes impersonated Revolutionary War heroine Deborah Sampson, who disguised herself and fought in the war as the soldier Richard Shurtliff.
"None of us are wearing our bonnets. We're new age," said Mary Cuff, one of the attendees. A plethora of bright tea pots set the background for pastries and plates with lemon slices.
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This was the fourth annual spring tea party sponsored by the Friends of the Westborough Senior Center. Open to the public, the fee was $5 per person. Priscilla Felderici, president of the group said, "This is a fun time to welcome in spring. It's a nice get together." She continued, "This year we had six or seven men sign-up. It's nice to have them."
Friend's member Nancy Gage organized the tea party event. According to Nancy, "We've done this for the past three years."
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Janet Parnes commented, "Last year I was Dolley Madison. That's Dolley with an e. The year before I was the Etiquette Expert of 1890. Before then, I was the Proper Patient of 1900."
As Deborah Samson, aka Robert Shurtliff, Janet Parnes shared this historical figure's life story. In character, she described how Samson became a male soldier, and how she managed to stay that way until the end of the war. Samson eventually settled on a farm in Sharon. According to Parnes, Governor Dukakis named Samson as the Official Heroine of the State of Massachusetts.
The Friends of the Westborough Senior Center is a nonprofit group that supports the Senior Center and members of the community. The membership fee is $5 per year. According to Judy Wilchynski, chair of publicity for the Friends, "We have 200 members and 14 on our board."
Future events planned by the Friends of the Westborough Senior Center include a "50/50" auction in the fall, a fall fair, breakfast with Santa, and breakfast with the Easter Bunny. For more information, contact Priscilla at 508-366-4538.
