SOUTH DEERFIELD — “This isn’t deflated, so, it’s hard to get a grip on it,” joked Dorie Lucas as she grasped a football during South County Senior Center’s pre-Super Bowl party on Friday.
Seated around Lucas in the North Main Street center’s activity hall, about 20 seniors played bingo. Lucas wore a blue Tom Brady Patriots’ jersey as a show of support for the home team. Outside in a dining area, others enjoyed friendship, homemade cookies, punch, chips and salsa, and wings donated by Chandlers Restaurant.
Friday’s party was hosted two days before Sunday’s Super Bowl LI football game between the New England Patriots and the Atlanta Falcons, which starts at 6:30 p.m. on FOX.
“27-24, Atlanta,” predicted local resident Jerry Paciorek, prompting Dutch Turner laughingly to reply, “you can leave Jerry, anytime.”
“It’s gonna be a low-scoring game, probably about 24- 21 Patriots,” added Turner, a South Deerfield resident, who has been going to the senior center for 26 years. Come Sunday, Turner said he’d like to watch the game at the Polish American Club in the center of town, which is hosting a Super Bowl party for members.
Maryann Sadowski predicted a final score of 27-6 in favor of the Patriots, joking that, “other people are just tired of having the Pats win.”
As the center’s director Marlene Johnson explained, Friday’s pre-Super Bowl party started as an idea by South County TRIAD President Sharyn Paciorek “and took off.” By noon, the center was packed with local seniors, most of whom were pulling for the Patriots.
“It’s good for camaraderie and it’s good for the town,” Johnson said, adding that she’s rooting for “any team that plays against the Patriots. The Falcons are gonna win.”
Others, like member Nancy Paciorek, said they don’t follow football closely, but enjoyed the party as a chance to see friends in community.
“The only thing I like about the Super Bowl is the commercials,” Paciorek said. At a table, Fran York said she roots for “the Patriots, of course. My kids would disown me.”
After lunch, the center held a raffle featuring a Patriots quilt, gift cards, and other prizes. Other local businesses and community members that donated include South County TRIAD, Tim and Tony Paciorek, and ASAP Services Inc.
You can reach Andy Castillo
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