Perhaps the light glowing inside white luminary bags that lined the entrance to The Bridge at Cherry Hill offered a glimpse of what awaited guests who attended last Thursday night’s annual Residents-Family Christmas Party in Johnston.
Almost as soon as people walked into the main lobby they were greeted by a huge Nutcracker ice sculpture that glowed from multi-colored lights of an extraordinarily decorated Christmas tree.
Even the base of the beautiful ice carving, done exclusively by Art N Ice of Warwick, had a base of featuring a generous serving of shrimp cocktail with a tasty sauce.
The entire assisted living-retirement facility, in fact, was aglow with special decorations that The Bridge’s staff placed strategically throughout the main lobby, reading room, parlor-salon and even the main dining room that were filled with food stops featuring spinach pies, mini-lobster rolls, sliders and a seemingly endless list of appetizers.
“The people always make it special here,” said Michael Mesolella, who came with his wife Debbie to join his mother Rose Mesolella who he announced “is ninety-seven-years young. These folks leave no stone unturned; what a special holiday party.”
To which Maryann Grace, The Bridge’s long-serving executive director, said, “This was a great way to start the Christmas season. Chef Martin Carter and his little elves did an outstanding job many thanks to the staff that made it happen.”
Carter, though, may have surpassed expectations, especially with the array of foods that ranged from a variety of calzones to stuffed mushrooms to seafood to cheese and cracker stations all topped by a carving station of delicious ham.
The Christmas party was more than special for Carter, The Bridge’s highly-acclaimed award-winning chef, whose daughter Isabella joined servers like Savannah Cardilli, Melanie Cross and Sadie Gagnon just to name a few who were dressed Santa hats, white blouses, black slacks and spent much of their time carrying trays of Carter’s caloric creations they served to guests.
In keeping with The Bridge’s family-like tradition caring for residents was upheld by staffers such as Dining Room Supervisor Ann-Marie Cardilli, Director of Maintenance Rick Bigelli, Transportation Director Tom Burns and Jen Burns, who serves as Sales Director/Community Relations Coordinator, made sure each and every resident – and their guests – enjoyed what the Mesolella’s called “an extraordinary evening.”
Perhaps it was fitting that Vini Ames, the singer-entertainer who has been an icon on Rhode Island’s music scene since he joined a band in 1970 and has been part of Spectrum Records, was on hand an added that extra touch of class that is and has been his trademark for upwards of four decades.
Ames wore a special Santa hat, red sweater and black pants and went from table-to-table singing a variety of traditional Christmas songs that put smiles on everyone’s faces and as Michael Mesolella offered “he really made tonight the complete party.”
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