BRIEFLY FOR BOOMERS

Seniors make care packages for soldiersA small group of seniors gathered Friday at Bethel Towers in Costa Mesa to put together care packages for four soldiers stationed in Iraq.

Once a year around the holidays, Mary Ann Baine gets a group together to make packages for young men and women serving overseas.

This year, the team made packages for Airman 1st Class Eric G. Gonzalez of Costa Mesa; 1st Lt. Seth Layton of San Diego; Capt. Jamie Uptgraft of Orange County; and Spc. Timothy Robbins of Alaska.

In the 50-pound boxes, the group put items including magazines, comics pages — Baine saved the Sunday funnies for a month — beef jerky and hot chocolate.

The volunteers wrapped the boxes in Christmas paper so the soldiers would feel the spirit being sent to them.

Holiday shopping at the senior center gift shopLooking for a Christmas gift? The Friends of Oasis calls their gift shop “the best kept secret in town,” with items including potpourri and holiday decorations. The shop, at 800 Marguerite Ave. in Newport Beach, is open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday.

The Friends of Oasis is an organization focused on raising money for the Oasis Senior Center.

Rent a room to party at Oasis Senior CenterThe Newport Beach Oasis Senior Center offers reservations for two multipurpose rooms at a discounted rate for residents year-round.

The room includes an industrial kitchen, a gazebo and patio area. The large multipurpose room can hold up to 200 people and costs $98 per hour for Newport Beach residents and $195 for nonresidents. Its smaller room holds 70 people and costs $52 per hour for residents and $104 for nonresidents. For nonprofit groups, the center deepens the discount and charges a little more than half the regular rates.

Rental hours are from 10 a.m. to midnight and can be made up to six months in advance. For more information, call (949) 644-3244.

The Costa Mesa Senior Center also offers rentals. For more information about the 5,900-square-foot facility, call (949) 645-2356, ext. 11. Prices vary by day and time.

Veteran celebrates 90th birthday in 1940s styleA World War II veteran is celebrating his 90th birthday today by going back in time to the days of his youth.

Ed Williams was a machinist mate who put his engineering skills to the test in the war.

Williams invited other veteran buddies to join the celebration. The group planned on dressing up in 1940s duds to celebrate.