Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
DECEMBER 2, 2021<br />
WEEKLYNEWS.NET - 978-532-5880 3<br />
PHOTO | JAKOB MENENDEZ<br />
Kay Morrocco, left, a 101-year-old resident at Kaplan Estates sips on sparkling wine with Rose Regis, 107, at the Century Club celebration.<br />
Kaplan Estates honors five centenarians<br />
Santa Claus is back at<br />
the Northshore Mall<br />
ESTATES<br />
From page 1<br />
“The most amazing thing for our<br />
residents that turned 100 is that<br />
they are incredible, they participated<br />
in everything, they are inspirational<br />
to everyone.”<br />
According to the Population<br />
-<br />
<br />
number of centenarians, or people<br />
aged 100 years or older, have<br />
increased from around 32,000<br />
in 1980 to more than 53,000 by<br />
2010. In 2020, it was projected<br />
that the older adult population<br />
could include 92,000 centenarians,<br />
and the number could<br />
increase to nearly 600,000 by<br />
2060.<br />
According to the United<br />
States Census Bureau, the 2010<br />
census counted 53,364 people<br />
aged 100 and older in the United<br />
States, and they were overwhelmingly<br />
female. For every<br />
100 centenarian women, there<br />
were only 20.7 centenarian men.<br />
Regis, of Canton, is the oldest<br />
of the bunch. She moved to the<br />
city, where she lived until she<br />
moved into the Kaplan Estates,<br />
and has a large family with three<br />
great-great-grandchildren whom<br />
she loves dearly.<br />
“My secret is simple, to just<br />
keep breathing and keep busy,”<br />
Regis said.<br />
“Rose turned 107 this weekend,”<br />
Gordon said. “What I have<br />
learned from her is that you have<br />
to do what’s right for you and<br />
not to worry about anything else.<br />
Do what’s right for you. ”<br />
Morocco, of Salem, is Regis’s<br />
best friend. They both were<br />
neighbors in Peabody and decided<br />
to move to the Kaplan Estates.<br />
Morocco is a very active<br />
resident and is far from slowing<br />
down.<br />
“My mother lived to be 94<br />
and her mother lived to be 94, so<br />
I expected to live until then, but<br />
I went way over the age and I am<br />
now 101,” said Morocco. “You<br />
see, that’s amazing, so I count<br />
my blessings and try to do whatever<br />
I can whenever I can.”<br />
“Life is good if you are feeling<br />
good,” she added.<br />
“Thelma participates in almost<br />
everything,” Gordon said<br />
of Taylore. “It’s unbelievable<br />
and inspirational.”<br />
Taylore, of Manchester, New<br />
Hampshire, is the newest member<br />
of the Kaplan’s Century<br />
Club. She said her favorite thing<br />
is to just be with people. During<br />
the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic,<br />
it was difficult to stay social,<br />
she said, but Taylore stays<br />
committed to visiting friends as<br />
much as possible.<br />
“Between 1921 and 2021,<br />
there is not much difference,”<br />
Taylore said with a laugh. “I am<br />
surprised to see so many of us<br />
have reached 100.”<br />
<br />
until a few years ago, just before<br />
the pandemic, she moved<br />
here and was volunteering at the<br />
Senior Center where she volunteered<br />
for decades,” said Gordon.<br />
“In fact, their van has her<br />
picture. She is really beloved by<br />
this city.”<br />
Lawson, of Springfield,<br />
Mass., enjoys a series of activities,<br />
but currently, his favorite is<br />
sleeping.<br />
“My favorite thing right now<br />
is to sleep,” Lawson joked, “But<br />
beyond that, I love to read and<br />
do puzzles.”<br />
Lawson used to run a photography-supply<br />
business for stores<br />
in New England, which has been<br />
passed down from generation to<br />
generation. This was a very fun<br />
and interesting point in Lawson’s<br />
life.<br />
“He volunteered in a preschool<br />
as a teacher’s assistant,”<br />
said Gordon “The kids loved<br />
him; on a day he wasn’t there,<br />
the kids were like ‘where’s Marty?’<br />
They loved him. For a senior<br />
to do that it’s incredible.”<br />
The class clown of the bunch<br />
is Ditchek. Ditchek moved from<br />
New Jersey to Peabody when he<br />
was 95 years old. Ditchek and<br />
Lawson were actually on the<br />
same island when they fought in<br />
the war.<br />
Ditchek loves to watch<br />
Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy!,<br />
even though he claims<br />
he is not that great at the latter.<br />
He loves to spend time with his<br />
many grandchildren and his four<br />
great-grandchildren.<br />
“A few years ago, a doctor<br />
asked me ‘what’s your secret?’”<br />
he said. “I said there is no secret<br />
<br />
DNA.”<br />
PEABODY — Santa Claus is<br />
coming to town, as in Peabody’s<br />
Northshore Mall.<br />
The jolly, old big man is a<br />
part of the Simon Santa Photo<br />
Experience which runs through<br />
Dec. 24.<br />
This year, families will have<br />
the choice of whether to sit with<br />
Santa or to visit him at a social<br />
distance. Santa’s helpers will be<br />
masked throughout the duration<br />
of the event.<br />
Reservations are strongly<br />
encouraged and can be made<br />
at https://santaholidayphoto.<br />
splashthat.com/.<br />
Santa’s hours will vary from<br />
week to week. To view a list<br />
of Santa’s hours, go to: https://<br />
www.simon.com/mall/northshore-mall/stores/santa-photo-experience.<br />
There will be two special<br />
events during the course of Santa’s<br />
stay. Caring Santa — for<br />
children with autism or other<br />
sensory sensitivity — will be<br />
held Dec. 5 from 8:30 to 10 a.m.<br />
Pet photos will be available Dec.<br />
5 from 6 to 8 p.m.<br />
SU CHANG’S<br />
Authentic Chinese Cuisine<br />
Now is the time to plan your<br />
Christmas & New Year’s party!<br />
Gift certificates... A perfect and delicious gift for the holidays.<br />
373 Lowell St., Peabody • Tel. 531-3366 • Fax 531-3060<br />
LUNCH M-F 11:30-3PM • Take Out Always Available by Phone, Fax or our Website<br />
SUN-THURS 11:30-10 PM • FRI-SAT 11:30-11PM<br />
www.SuChangsPeabody.com
Change language