Skip to content

Calendar captures seniors and classics

Hollywood-themed effort to raise funds for Beaver Valley seniors.
18274traildailytimescalendargroupshot10-8-14
Seniors from Fruitvale dressed in costumes and recreated movies scenes from classic films for a fundraising calendar. The models gathered at the Fruitvale Community Hall on Tuesday morning for the big reveal and refreshments. Each volunteer received a framed print of their final shots for the calendar.


Over 20 models filed into the Fruitvale Community Hall for a big reveal.

They weren’t the kind of models you see on a fashion runway, but local seniors who had their moment in the spotlight for the very first Hollywood Classics calendar.

The 12-month calendar features volunteers captured in scenes from classic movies such as “The Sound of Music,” “Rio Bravo,” “Bonnie and Clyde,” “Grease” and many more.

Fruitvale’s mayor, Patricia Cecchini has been working on the calendar fundraising idea for months and she says she is pleased to see it finally come to fruition.

“This project took us 10 months,” she said. “We started in January with our ideas and putting our thoughts together and we are really excited to finally be getting this out to the public.”

The calendar will be on sale in Fruitvale and Montrose for $20 each to raise funds for Beaver Valley Seniors programming.

“This is going to be a tremendous fundraiser with all the funds going to senior’s programming,” said Cecchini. “We’re hoping to do more things like rent a bus and go on different tours and field trips and this will allow us to do that.”

Carol and Koert Dieterman had the chance to portray Sandy and Danny from the classic musical “Grease” and they say they had a ball snapping photos and dressing up in costumes.

“It was a riot, an absolute riot,” said Koert, adding that he was excited to see so much local participation in the calendar. “It was neat to have to the involvement in the community. Usually, in other communities, seniors get lost in the shuffle, and here, they don’t.”

Carol agreed with her husband, and says she will be getting a calendar for each of their children.

“We have got calendars on order already to give to our kids,” she said, adding that there isn’t anywhere else she would rather live than Fruitvale.

“I love to brag to our friends and family, because there is no place else that treats their seniors like Fruitvale does.”

Maureen Booth took on the role of Maria in “The Sound of Music,” twirling through the fields of Austria, or in this case, a local farm. She says she feels lucky to live in a community that is so supportive of seniors and getting them out and about.

“Our village is just so lucky to have this age-friendly group,” she said.

“It brings seniors together. It’s social and we have a lot of interesting topics (at the monthly luncheons) and now that we are doing this fundraiser, we can do more.”

Recreating “The Sound of Music” for the calendar was a good fit for Booth.

“I love (the movie),” she said. “It is one of my absolute favourites. The funny part was that I had no idea how to hold the guitar.”

Fruitvale councillor, Bert Kniss, was also featured in the calendar as Fred Astaire in the 1952 movie “Singin’ in the Rain,” a perfect choice for Kniss, a seasoned dancer.

“It was very fun,” he said, “I was supposed to be Fred Astaire, and I used to be a tap dancer. I have a history with dancing.”

Kniss says fundraising through calendar sales is important for improving quality of life for Fruitvale seniors.

“By being involved, and when we involve the seniors more, then I think that extends lifespan,” he said. “It is just fun and I think you can spend your last years smiling and laughing.”

The calendar is selling for $20 and Mayor Cecchini says there are going to be 300 printed and bound by Oct. 15, with 70 calendars already reserved for purchase by community members. To reserve a calendar, call the Village of Fruitvale office at 250-367-7551.