Members of the Suffern High School Select Choir

Sloatsburg — The room was bustling and full for the noon buffet of homemade foods and desserts. The Senior Center in Sloatsburg was in celebration mode Wednesday afternoon, with nearly 50 members taking part in the end-of-year party that also doubled as a passing of the presidential torch.

Longtime senior leader Rose Nattini was giving up her title to Veronica Schwartz. Nattini’s tenure saw the weekly member get togethers at the center’s Liberty Rock house continually grow in size. They now average nearly 50 members.

“That’s a big accomplishment,” said Nattini of the increase in senior membership. She also saw the publication of  Cooking with Style, the book of local, favorite recipes the group put together. So far, the group has sold nearly 300 copies. Nattini said she has one case left to sell. “I try to make it interesting,” she said.

Then suddenly the energy level of the spacious, decorated activities room jumped as members of the Suffern High School Select Choir entered through the side doors, filed to the front of the room and, in the blink of an eye, broke into song. The 1 o’clock performance had begun, right on time.

Nattini had coordinated the visit with Deborah Phelps, vocal music director of the group, who said that she likes to get the choir out into the community to give back. After their opening song, Phelps said that the Sloatsburg Senior Center performance was already the third of the day.

“We were at the middle school,” Phelps told the audience, “and sang around the school to recruit kids to sing chorus. And now we’re here.”

The Suffern Select Choir is busy at this time of year as they sing at events throughout the surrounding community. The group performed at the Suffern, Hillburn and Sloatsburg village tree lighting ceremonies this year, as well as at the Palisades Mall and a number of other smaller events.

The choir serenaded the seniors with a variety of Christmas melodies, and then quietly dispersed into the audience for a sing-a-long, which eventually got the whole room singing. Suffern Mayor Dagan Lacorte even made a surprise appearance, telling the gathering that Sloatsburg always has a special quality during the holiday season.

Four members of the choir stepped forward, forming a Barbershop Quartet, and sang a sweet version of My Wild Irish Rose, which was a nice sendoff for Rose Nattini, whose leadership has left the Senior Center with a full house.

After a rousing round of We Wish You A Merry Christmas, the choir descended on the buffet table ladened with cookies and brownies and other assorted sweets. Then, with wobbling paper plates stacked high, the students breezed back out the door they came in, making for the bus, leaving the hall rustling with glad tidings.

The Sloatsburg Senior Center is open most Wednesday afternoons at 1 p.m. at 8 Liberty Rock Road for residents throughout Sloatsburg 55 and over. Membership costs $10 per year. For information, call 753-6646.