Super at 70 and beyond

A group of Ewing residents strolled down memory lane, Saturday, during the Sunset Banquet. The longtime Ewing tradition celebrates those who are young at heart, ages 70-plus. This year, the banquet donned a retro look, with music, games, foods and TV trivia from the decade that introduced Hamburger Helper and made David Cassidy a household name.

The annual get-together began in 1917, when the Methodist Episcopal Ladies Aid began honoring elder members of the community, and continued for 100 years.

Typically, the banquet was planned for the third Wednesday in September.

In 1945, the banquet was canceled after fire damaged the church in a December blaze. Construction of the new church wasn't completed by September 1946, so the event wasn't held.

In 2017, organizers decided to stop hosting the banquet since they met the age requirement for an invitation.

Since 2019, members of all four Ewing churches work together to organize the event, which rotates locations annually.

This year's event was held at the United Methodist-Presbyterian Church.

Originally, the banquet began with a meal at 6 p.m., followed by a short program. In 1975, dinner turned into lunch, with the banquet being served at noon.

Per tradition, organizers choose a theme for the lunch, with table decorations, music, costumes and entertainment promoting the idea. Some years feature elegant decorations. In 1992, the banquet celebrated its diamond jubilee and included heirlooms and antiques.

There have been Husker parties and haunted Halloweens and everything in between.

This year, attendees perused displays featuring 70s books and decor, records, foods that began production and games and toys developed during the decade.

For entertainment, guests listened to snippets of theme songs from popular 70s television shows, ranging from "The Partridge Family" to "Hawaii Five-O."

Loretta Napier was recognized as the "oldest and wisest" guest.

"I'm 90-plus," she told the group of 30 attendees.

Cool beans.