Celebrating Westlake's most senior citizens

Mayor Clough congratulates Fred Smith, as well as Lois Durst to his right, at the Over 90s Birthday Celebration last year. Fred and Lois are siblings, both in their 90s and lifelong Westlake residents.

What do Columbo, Alfalfa and James Bond (portrayed by Roger Moore) have in common?

Besides being famously quirky characters, probably not a whole lot except that the actors who portrayed them were all born in 1927. This means that they would be turning 90 this year. Roger Moore is the only one of this trio who is still living (although "fake news" wrongly reported his death earlier this month). If he lived in Westlake, we would be happy to add him to our Over 90s Birthday Celebration guest list; a list that grows year after year.

This year, the Westlake Community Services Department mailed 109 invitations to the 90-plus-year-old Westlake residents we know who live independently. Three of the invitations included couples who are both over 90. Additionally, we sent invitations to the Westlake-based assisted living facilities, as each of them bring a healthy contingent of nonagenerians and centenarians to the table. Of course, we don't know everyone, so please contact us if your nonagenerian didn't receive an invite, and we will happily add them to our guest list.

The annual event is jointly hosted by the Westlake Women's Club and the Westlake Community Services Department. For capacity reasons, it is held in the large Community Room at the Westlake Recreation Center.

This year's celebration is scheduled to occur on Wednesday, April 26, at 11:30 a.m. There is entertainment, brunch and birthday cake (without the candles!). Cameras are encouraged as  Mayor Dennis Clough is on hand to individually deliver each guest-of-honor a Mayoral Proclamation. We later deliver proclamations to those who live in nursing facilities and are unable to be out and about with us that day.

All in all it is a remarkable celebration honoring our most senior residents who have some great stories to tell. There may even be a few quirky characters there (not portrayed by actors). It is a most enjoyable event that the Community Services staff looks forward to year after year.

To add a name to our guest list, please call the Westlake Center for Community Services at 440-899-3544.