Senior center open for in-house dining

RITZVILLE - The Gritman Senior Center resumed serving meals in the dining room Wednesday, June 10.

Cook Sandi Miller served heaping plates of spaghetti and garlic bread with Ceaser salad, topped off with fruit and homemade banana nut bread, for the first dine-in meal since March.

"It's nice to eat with you guys instead of my cat," said Judy Renner, to table mates Herb Janzen and Diane Eastman. The center's dining room had been closed due to Governor Inslee's "Stay Home, Stay Safe" orders. With Adams County moving into Phase 2 of the governor's 4-phase "Safe Start" program, restaurants are again allowed to serve meals in-house.

Asked about their favorite meals at the center, Janzen joked, "Steak and lobster."

"The fried chicken," Eastman was quick to add.

"The fries are always good," Janzen agreed.

Miller stayed busy during the partial closure, with the center continuing to deliver the noon meal to residents at their homes.

"Yesterday I delivered 17 meals," Miller said. It was the highest number of meals the center served in a day, outside of the center's Thanksgiving dinner, which fed 35 people last year.

People wanting to come in for a meal or have one delivered are asked to call in by 9 a.m. to reserve their meal. The Gritman Senior Center can be reached at 509 659 1921. There is also a sign-up sheet in the dining room.