The Catskill Chronicle

Story and photos by Carol Montana

MONTICELLO, NY — Since 2008, the Monticello community, under the guidance of Kathy Kreiter, community activist and Director of the Dispute Resolution Center, has honored its senior citizens with an inter-generational “Senior” prom.

This year, Kathy wasn’t sure she could pull it off.

Back in March, her mom Alice passed away. Alice had been an active part of the Senior Prom Committee, and Kathy didn’t know if she had the time or the heart to plan it this year. There was also no time to solicit the community donations that usually funded the prom.

But Kathy’s decision was, in essence, taken out of her hands. “A couple of weeks before she died, my mom asked me to please try to do the prom,” said Kathy. “I told her she might have to let me off the hook this year.” But a dear friend who had been out of the country when Alice passed away sent Kathy an Easter card. The card said, “Have the prom, name it after your mom and don’t worry about the funding.” In the card was a check for $2000.

So thanks to Yvonne Grimes of Connecticut, and thanks to a committee made up of various Monticello residents and young folks from the Boys and Girls Club, Monticello was not only able to hold their Senior Prom, but also christened it with a new name: The Alice Kreiter Senior Citizen Prom.

Held at the Monticello Firehouse, this year’s theme — which had been previously chose by Alice and Kathy — was “Rock ‘n Roll, and it came complete with a Drive-In menu. Elvis’ Lost Brother, Eric Bressi and Times Herald-Record editor and columnist Barry Lewis as MC.

Bressi had so many people up and dancing, that hardly anyone was left seated. He got the “Monticello Rockettes” on the floor, held a dessert eating contest (no hands) that had four of the kids wearing vanilla pudding, and even organized a conga line that stretched around the fire house.

The event was catered by Craig Duffy of Geri’s Catskill Cafe. The menu included: hamburgers, hot dogs, cole slaw, potato salad, pickles and chicken fingers all packaged up in little baskets, and served by the younger folks to the older folks.

Once the young men and women were finished with the serving and the clearing, they joined in the fun of the dancing. “The kids that came this year were just tremendous,” said Kathy. “These are my two favorites groups of people, seniors and kids – just bouncing ideas off each other and working and planning, and applauding each other.”

Committee member Roz Sharoff echoed the sentiment, “The kids were amazing. They fulfilled everything they had to do and more.”

And Sharoff had high praise for the woman behind it all. “Kathy Kreiter is one of the most remarkable women I’ve ever met. She’s so capable and so caring. … it’s Kathy who’s the heart and soul of all this. She’s an amazing woman. … She talks to the seniors and youngsters with the same heart. …”

County Court Judge candidate, Marty Miller has been a friend of the Kreiter family for years. “We’ve known each other since we were kids, and for many years our families were neighbors — going back to the 1920s and 1930s. … It’s great to get everyone together. And it’s great that it’s in Alice’s honor.”

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