SHOW FOR THE AGES

By Denise Dick

Class shakes, shimmies for Blackburn residents

Kindergarten children from Dobbins have been visiting the home for 22 years.

POLAND — The young and the young at heart rocked out to the oldies during an afternoon picnic.

Kindergarten pupils from Dobbins Elementary spent part of their Thursday entertaining residents of the Blackburn Home for the Aged.

“They’re so cute,” said one of the home’s residents, Rose Mazerick.

The 47 children, led by teacher Elaine Fabrizi, clapped, swayed, waved their arms and wiggled their hips to “The Twist,” “All Shook Up,” “Take Me Out to the Ballgame,” “We Are Family,” “The Alphabet Song” and many others.

Mazerick and fellow home resident Helen Grady pointed out particular children to each other, enjoying their individual interpretations of the songs.

Tyler Berry and Abbie Shoemaker, both 6, picked “We Are Family,” the Sister Sledge 1970s anthem, as their favorite song.

It’s fun to do, Tyler explained.

“I like clapping,” Abbie added.

For Dante Parente, 6, it’s “The Alphabet Song” all the way.

“I like clapping and dancing,” he said.

While the young ones belted out their tunes, the elderly residents, seated on the porch of the home, clapped along.

Resident Anna Horvath performed the hand gestures and joined in the singing.

The visit to the Blackburn Home is Fabrizi’s favorite part of the annual community tour.

“We’ve been doing this for 22 years,” she said.

The children, dressed in their “Dobbins Kindergarten Rocks” T-shirts, began the day with a visit to the township police department. They then went to the main station of the Western Reserve Joint Fire District, where they learned about safety before going to the home for a picnic, their performance and chats with the residents.

Their day wrapped up with a trip to Handel’s Ice Cream.

Debbie Mirone, activity director at the Blackburn Home, said the facility’s 14 residents enjoy the visit, too.

“They love it,” she said.