Members of the Ecorse Senior Birthday Club held its first birthday celebration in almost 17 months on Friday, July 30 at the Ecorse boat ramp picnic shelter on Jefferson Avenue. A picnic lunch for all was provided courtesy of Ecorse Mayor Lamar Tidwell, who credited members of Ecorse City Council for helping to pull the event together. The Senior Birthday Club normally meets monthly at the Ethel V. Stevenson Senior Center to celebrate the birthdays of each month, but the COVID-19 pandemic halted such gatherings. Tidwell said it was time to allow the club to have their celebration and socialize with friends and neighbors. "The seniors, they've been in the house and haven't been able to see their friends; this is to let them get together and see each other," he said. Birthday cake was part of the celebration as well.

Ms. Emma Guiden received flowers as the oldest person at the picnic

Birthday Club President Mary Ann King agreed with the mayor. "I think they feel so wonderful, like they've been let loose out of a cage," King said of the birthday party attendees. "This is so nice, this just means a lot to people that couldn't get out, and they're so happy to have this going on." King added that she hopes that as the pandemic appears to be waning, more people will take advantage of programs offered at the Ethel V. Stevenson Senior Center, including the Birthday Club.

Music, a raffle, and prizes for unique distinctions such as longest married couple were part of the day's festivities. Ecorse Public Safety Director Narda Bruno attended the event to celebrate with the friends and mothers she has known in the community most of her life. "It does my heart real good because since I'm not on patrol as much, I haven't seen a lot of them in a long time, it does my heart good to see them, that they're still here with us," she said. Bruno added that it is events such as this one that brings communities together.

The Ethel V. Stevenson Senior Center is located at 4072 W. Jefferson Avenue. For more information go to http://www.ecorsemi.gov and click the Departments tab or call 313-382-3305.