Senior center's Marquee Café makes lunch a special date
By Nancy Needham

LUNCH BUNCH-The senior nutrition lunch program at Goebel Senior Adult Center has a new image-"Marquee Café-the Friendliest Lunch Hour in Town." It features a theater theme and brings old friends and new ones together at the table. Enjoying the inaugural lunch are Conejo Recreation & Park District board member Susan Holt, right, and T.O. residents Jim and Mary Lou Coniglio.

It's not the decorations or menu items that attract Fritz Tolbert, 91, of Thousand Oaks to the newly redecorated Marquee Café at Goebel Senior Center.

Tolbert and his friend Aleksander Panasiuk, 78, of Thousand Oaks have come to partake of the senior nutrition program every day for the past 10 years because they find eating lunch together something to look forward to.

"We'd go bonkers if we stayed home by ourselves every day," said Panasiuk, a retired experimental machinist.

So they go to the senior center, shoot a little pool--they are known as expert "hookers," meaning they don't leave an easy shot for the next player-and then it's their custom to join others at the center for lunch.

Though they would eat lunch there no matter what, they saidthey still appreciate the effort put in by volunteers and staff to spruce up the lunchroom with new chairs, a reception desk and posters on the wall.

"It looks like we're at the Civic Arts Plaza, by golly," said Tolbert, a retired electronic engineer.

The new theater theme at the Marquee Café was provided by Civic Arts Plaza volunteers who donated posters from the theater's shows, said Francine Sprigel, the city's associate analyst for youth and senior services.

What keeps the lunchroom open are federal grants, volunteers and donations, Sprigel said.

Those 60 and above are asked for a $2.25 donation for lunch, but no one watches what goes in the box, so those who cannot pay do not have to pay, and those who can afford to often make a bigger donation, Sprigel said.

Anyone over 18 and under 60 may have lunch at the cafe for a suggested $5 donation.

Thanks to 10 years of weekly floral donations from Thousand Oaks' florist Flowers For...&Gifts Too, those eating lunch at the senior center have enjoyed fresh flowers on their tables, said Sprigel. Adding to the atmosphere, a wall of glass opens out to a view of trees.

The Marquee Café lunch program is sponsored by the city of Thousand Oaks, Conejo Recreation and Park District, Senior Concerns and the Ventura County Area Agency on Aging.

In the kitchen, cook coordinator Priscilla Sacolles prepares meals planned by a Ventura County nutritionist. Entrees include beef and mushrooms with pearl onions, boneless chicken fricassee, stuffed cabbage roles, beef stew, stuffed green peppers and five-cheese lasagna along with a variety of vegetables.

Whole grain bread, butter, fruit, a mixed green salad and low fat milk are included with each meal.

Sacolles said about 50 people come for lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

The room holds 56 people and the café can serve up to 75 an hour, said Sprigel. If the improvements make the program more popular, she said, more people can be accommodated by expanding the hours and opening up another room for diners.

Such was the case during last Friday's kickoff--225 people made reservations during an event offered to promote the Senior Nutrition Lunch program's new image.

The special lunch offered three meal choices, giving those attending a chance to sample the variety provided on different days in the upcoming months.

Chicken, beef and vegetarian meals were among the entrees. Usually, only one choice is available on any given day, Sprigel said.

Youths from the Teen Center next door, organized by Sprigel, wrapped plastic utensils in blue napkins, tied them up with a white ribbon and created bouquets from the donated fresh flowers to make the day special for those attending. Panasiuk said he liked the decorations and improvements, but would also like those planning the menus to add some fish and chips.

Tolbert agreed and said the tuna salad offered now is a dish that he looks forward to eating. He complimented the generous portions and good, balanced meals the cafe provides.

Thousand Oaks resident Catherine Sestay, 82, voiced similar sentiments.

"I don't want to cook for myself and it breaks up my day to come here and have lunch," she said.

For those who would like to join Sestay, Tolbert, Panasiuk and the other cafe regulars, reservations are requested. They can be made by calling (805) 381

2746 between 10 a.m. and noon. Monthly menus are available at Goebel Senior Adult Center, or call (805) 449-2743 to have one mailed. For transportation, call Thousand Oaks Transit's Dial-ARide program at (805) 3755467.

Meetings of the Council on Aging take place on the first and third Wednesday of each month. Discussions center on the concerns of senior adults in the community.

Send an e-mail to councilonaging@toaks.org or call (805) 449-2743 for additional information.