SMITHFIELD - Brightway Center was decorated in its holiday finest and dining tables were set in the dining room, meeting room, in the tiny room with the French doors and in the upstairs conference room for the Brightway Christmas with Friends holiday dinner and the ability to show off with pride all that has been done in the past years.
Twenty-six seniors from the community were invited to attend the sit-down dinner served by a new Smithfield catering group called Delites by Dana. Servers were the Jefferson County Christian School young women who also serenaded with Christmas carols, under the direction of Sue Bullard, school director, and Abigail Bullard and Lauren Costello, accompanists, and some of the young men from the school.
Daryle Griffin, CEO; member of the board, and George Spack, treasurer, presided over one table; and Sherry Matthews, Liz Matthews, Ethel Kerwood, Betty Ruttencutter and Virginia Young, service board member were at other tables.
"This dinner was done on a small scale. Next year, when we have the activity center done, we can hold 110 people. At that time, we can have three dinners: one for seniors, one for young adults and one for children," Griffin, said.
"We hope to have the activity center done soon, hopefully by June. In July, we hope to have the pavilion that will hold 350 people done, so it can be used for weddings, banquets and all types of gatherings," Griffin said.
The project will be $5 million for phase 1 and $47 million for the entire complex, that is much farther down the road," he said.
The fireplaces, located in most of the rooms were decorated with pine, red ribbons, holly and candles and the winding staircase was twined with pine, red bows and poinsettias.
All guest received a heritage Santa ornament upon departure, after knowing more about the complex that will be a center of sports and social activity in the near future.
(McCoy can be contacted at emccoy@heraldstaronline.com.)
