Shack Seniors Get Some Love

As the city prepared for a snowstorm, Ruthie Ricks and her cousin Etta Burke settled at a table inside the cafe at the Shack in West Hills, smiling and moving in their seats to the spirited rhythms of the gospel standard ​“Oh Happy Day,” seemingly unbothered by the day’s forecast.

“This is our kind of music,” said Ricks, among the 40 seniors, clad in red, enjoying the second Annual Valentine Luncheon on Saturday afternoon. Located at 333 Valley St. and resurrected by visionary West Hills Alder Honda Smith and her team of neighbors in 2021, the Shack, an intergenerational community center, offers, as the sign outside reads, ​“a nurturing and creative space for people of all ages.”

“We have to recognize the most important people in our community — our seniors — and we have to give them their flowers,” said Smith, as she stood on the red carpet leading to the festivities.

They did just that, literally and figuratively, with roses at each table and at each setting, a lavish meal prepared by Smith and her team that featured smothered chicken, pepper steak, and Bang Bang salmon, as well as music from legendary DJ David Chambers. 

“Everyone pitched in,” Smith said, while two women posed for pictures in front of a balloon-festooned backdrop amid the lively chatter. ​“We had the children setting the tables and putting on the red chair covers. We had staff do the decorations and clear space for a dance floor. We had cooks in here, chefs in here. Just shows you can transform anything into something beautiful.” 

Dr. Carolyn Kinder, coordinator of the Shack’s senior group, planned the program, which included the singing of the Black National Anthem, Valentine’s trivia, and a reading of quotes about friendship by each of the nine tables. ​“A good friend is like a four-leaf clover, hard to find and lucky to have,” one read. 

“This is about us showing how much we care about each other,” said Kinder, a retired New Haven Public Schools educator who served for 35 years. ​“If we feel lonely, when we get together, we all feel fellowship and we kind of cure that problem. Plus we interact a lot with the young people.”

She said the funds raised from the luncheon — guests paid $25 a head — went toward supporting the senior group’s activities like arts and crafts, discussion groups, Bingo, and movie days. 

Jeanette Boyd-Phillips was honored with a trailblazer award for her years as a human services administrator in alcohol and drug counseling, as well as her volunteer work leading another of the group’s activities: chair exercises. ​“The Shack Seniors salute Jeanette for the kindness, giving spirit and the love she has shown us in the last two years,” Kinder said. 

“I enjoyed the meal, the fellowship, everything,” said Shack Senior Tanya Dazaz. ​“No one can say anything wasn’t great. We feel loved.” 

Chambers, spinning his tunes nearby, nodded. ​“It’s an honor to perform for those who have laid the path for us, fought battles for us, and prayed for us,” he said. 

“We just had fun,” Kinder said, with guests wishing each well as they made their exit before the snow. ​“They didn’t want to do much dancing, just listen to the music. And that’s okay. It’s just about us all being together.”