Colebrook gets into the Irish spirit

COLEBROOK — A St. Patrick’s Day-themed dinner was held at the Colebrook Senior Center on Saturday, March 15.The tables were decorated with ivory colored tablecloths and dark green place mats. Vases holding yellow daffodils adorned each table, and a Happy St. Patrick’s Day banner hung from the back wall.Residents packed the Senior Center for an Irish dinner which included corned beef, cabbage, carrots, potatos, pistachio cake, Irish soda bread and rye bread. “The food was excellent. They cook good meals here at the senior center.” First Selectman Thomas McKeon said. “I love Colebrook because it’s a small town, away from the real world. It’s isolated and that’s the good part about it. I’ve lived here for 22 years.” McKeon said volunteers cook three meals a year at the center: St. Patrick’s Day, a barbecue chicken dinner in the spring and a turkey dinner in the fall. He added that he likes attending these events for the food and to show support for the community. “I love this town. What’s not to love?” resident and volunteer Kelly Campbell said.Campbell said she has lived in Colebrook for 18 years.“When I first moved here I couldn’t believe how bright the stars were,” Campbell said. “I’ve lived in all the big cities and this is my favorite place so far.” Campbell added that she did the baking and breads for the event while the kitchen crew provided the corned beef and sides.State Rep. Jay Case (R-63) attended the dinner with his wife, Carrie, and three teenage sons, TJ, Mitchell and Cody.“If we could move here we would,” Case said. “We love the serenity and quiet in Colebrook. They’re all around great people here and this town has a lot to offer.”Case added that he and his wife grew up in Colebrook so they have a lot of roots there.“It was the boys idea to come out here tonight.” Case said. “We were looking for a restaurant to eat at and they got on Google and came up with this dinner.”Case said he loved the corned beef the most, although he’s not generally a corned beef person.“I’ve lived here for 30 years,” Colebrook Advisory Board Chairman Susan Cantwell said. “I love that it’s a small, close-knit community. There’s a lot of tradition here. People take care of each other and that’s never really changed.”