The cafeteria in the Mexico Activity and Nutrition Center was transformed on Friday for a special Valentine's Day event.

At 11 a.m. the “That’s Amore” party began with the iconic song and an introduction about the meaning of the word Valentine from the event coordinator, Emily Lain.

She also introduced the afternoon’s waiter, Kenny Smith, who had volunteered his time to go table to table refreshing drinks, clearing plates and all-in-all, adding to the experience.

The party was an Italian ristorante themed party featuring a proper feast of baked spaghetti, bread sticks, garden salad, and tropical fruit for lunch with strawberry Jello cake for dessert.

Repurposed wine bottles decorated with hearts, ribbon and doilies, which now served as flower vases, adorned each table.

“Gail May, she’s my big helper, I'll tell you,” says Lain. “We did all the wine bottles and Donna Peak came and helped me so we all three put this together.”

The places had been set with red napkins, on each one sat a special valentine filled with sweets.

“Enjoy yourself, enjoy the meal; we have a candy envelope and if you find a crystal heart in there, you can come up and pick a gift off the table,” says Lain.

Senior Sweetie has been a Mexico Activity and Nutrition Center Valentine’s Day tradition for over 24 years.

“As I sit here and I see the joy that Emily is giving us, that is what it’s all about,” says Julie Pickton, Lain’s sister in-law. “Valentine’s isn’t just for couples, it is for everyone to be loved and show kindness and that’s what the world needs.”

In true “Emily Lain” fashion, no event is complete without live music.

Lain played a medley of love ballads on her saxophone, her husband John ran the sound and her fellow musician, David Bonsall, played guitar serenading seniors with the musings of Elvis Presley.

Despite the cold weather, the Mexico Activity and Nutrition Center was packed.

“Fridays and Saturdays are our slowest days here,” says Lain. “It’s nice when we can draw a crowd.”

Last year’s sweetie was Leona (Tody) Oliver who is at the Mexico Activity and Nutrition Center just about every day. She enjoys playing Pinochle with friends, volunteering to do the center’s laundry and participating in many of the activities at the center.

Oliver crowned 2025 Senior Sweetie, Patricia McDonald, as the event was winding down, after the musical performances.

“We had no idea that she was going to be such an amazing volunteer,” says Ione Bickel, Mexico Activity and Nutrition Center director. “She serves with Sandy almost every day and we couldn’t ask for more deserving people.”