‘Stewart’ lights up center

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About 170 people turned out Saturday evening to help the Highland County Senior Citizens Center raise a little more than $2,700 during a dinner show by Patrick Julian, who bills himself as the Rod Stewart Illusion.

“I thought it went very well. Everyone said they had a good time, the decorations were beautiful, and Patrick did a good job,” said Mechell Frost, executive director of the center. “I think it was kind of like a real concert and people had a good time.”

Following a dinner, catered and partly donated by Longhorn Steakhouse in Chillicothe of chicken tenders, macaroni and cheese, salad, bread and lots of chocolate treats, Julian played two sets of about 45 minutes each. The first set featured earlier Rod Stewart songs and Julian dressed in the attire of a younger Stewart, and the second set featured more recent songs and Julian dressed as a more mature Stewart.

Since several local businesses sponsored the event and center members and volunteers staffed it, the proceeds were clear profit for the senior center. The main sponsor was Merchants National Bank. Other sponsors include Hillsboro VFW Post 9094, Lesia Langston-McKenna, Amatha Farrens – State Farm Insurance, East Ambulance, Donald E. Fender Inc. and Adena Health System. Ron Smith of Rockin’ Ron’s DJ Service donated much of the lighting effects.

The next big event at the senior center is Cookies With Characters, which will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 8 at the center on Muntz Street in Hillsboro. The event is geared toward youngsters with a lunch and activities featuring superheroes, princesses and numerous Disney-like characters. This will be the event’s second year and Frost said it was a big hit a year ago.

“It went better than I expected,” Frost said. “I was very pleased. It was fun and the kids had a blast.”

Before Cookies With Characters though, the senior center will have a booth in the Merchants Building during the 2016 Highland County Fair that runs from Sept. 3-10. Frost said the booth will have information about the Meals on Wheels program, daily activities at the center and its special events, plus will have tickets available for Cookies With Characters.

The center will be running a special at the fair where anyone wanting to purchase a 2017 membership can do that, plus get the remainder of 2016 as a bonus. A basic membership for someone 50 years or over is $20. There are memberships for younger individuals, too.

Other remaining events at the center this year include the annual Halloween Party and Haunted House on Saturday, Oct. 29; a veterans program on Nov. 4 with all proceeds benefitting the VFW Veterans Relief Fund; Turkey Bingo on Nov. 12; and Breakfast With the Santa, the Grinch and Frozen-like Friends on Dec. 3.

“I want to thank everyone for coming out Saturday and supporting the center,” Frost said. “We try to find different ways to have fun while having fundraisers, and we wanted to bring an opportunity to Hillsboro that it normally wouldn’t have.”

Reach Jeff Gilliland at 937-402-2522 or on Twitter @13gillilandj.

Patrick Julian, aka the Rod Stewart Illusion, dances with some of the people who attended his show Saturday at the Highland County Senior Citizens Center in Hillsboro.
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/33/2016/08/web1_Stewart-pic-1-1.jpgPatrick Julian, aka the Rod Stewart Illusion, dances with some of the people who attended his show Saturday at the Highland County Senior Citizens Center in Hillsboro.

Rod Stewart tribute artist Patrick Julian sings Saturday evening at the Highland County Senior Citizens Center in Hillsboro.
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/33/2016/08/web1_Stewart-pic-3-1.jpgRod Stewart tribute artist Patrick Julian sings Saturday evening at the Highland County Senior Citizens Center in Hillsboro.
Event raised $2,700 for senior citizens center

By Jeff Gilliland

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