Mardi Gras!

Fat Tuesday. Shrove Tuesday. Pancake Tuesday. Call it what you will but the folks at Westview Health Care Center  in Dayville called Tuesday, Feb. 28 a blast. In the spirit of year’s past, the facility’s Formal Dining Room played center stage for the vibrantly colorful and festive Mardi Gras celebration. Tom Callinan, a multi-faceted performing artist and Connecticut’s first “Official State Troubadour”, performed for the capacity crowd using an assortment of instrumental accompaniment including a banjo, guitar and a drum. Playing such songs as “Little Brown Jug”, “Jambalaya”, “Golden Slippers” and “Blueberry Hill”, Callinan kept the celebration upbeat and high-energy through his hour-long set. Residents and patients enjoyed food and drink including the customary “King Cake.”The two residents whose piece of cake revealed a plastic baby were later crowned as 2017’s king and queen of Westview. “We’re extremely grateful to Mr. Callinan for sharing his musical talents with us,” said David T. Panteleakos, administrator. “We gauge the success of our Recreation Department’s efforts by the excitement in the room and this celebration has definitely set the bar quite high for next year’s Mardi Gras event.” Courtesy photo.