Winsted residents celebrated the coming New Year Wednesday afternoon, coming together for festivities at the Blanche McCarthy Senior Center that included a performance from "Elvis."
Winsted residents celebrated the coming New Year Wednesday afternoon, coming together for festivities at the Blanche McCarthy Senior Center that included a performance from "Elvis."
Photo: Ben Lambert / Hearst Connecticut Media
Winsted residents celebrated the coming New Year Wednesday afternoon, coming together for festivities at the Blanche McCarthy Senior Center that included a performance from "Elvis."
Winsted residents celebrated the coming New Year Wednesday afternoon, coming together for festivities at the Blanche McCarthy Senior Center that included a performance from "Elvis."
Photo: Ben Lambert / Hearst Connecticut Media
Winsted residents celebrated the coming New Year Wednesday afternoon, coming together for festivities at the Blanche McCarthy Senior Center that included a performance from "Elvis."
Winsted residents celebrated the coming New Year Wednesday afternoon, coming together for festivities at the Blanche McCarthy Senior Center that included a performance from "Elvis."
Photo: Ben Lambert / Hearst Connecticut Media
Winsted residents celebrated the coming New Year Wednesday afternoon, coming together for festivities at the Blanche McCarthy Senior Center that included a performance from "Elvis."
Winsted residents celebrated the coming New Year Wednesday afternoon, coming together for festivities at the Blanche McCarthy Senior Center that included a performance from "Elvis."
Photo: Ben Lambert / Hearst Connecticut Media
Winsted residents celebrated the coming New Year Wednesday afternoon, coming together for festivities at the Blanche McCarthy Senior Center that included a performance from "Elvis."
Winsted residents celebrated the coming New Year Wednesday afternoon, coming together for festivities at the Blanche McCarthy Senior Center that included a performance from "Elvis."
Photo: Ben Lambert / Hearst Connecticut Media
Winsted residents celebrated the coming New Year Wednesday afternoon, coming together for festivities at the Blanche McCarthy Senior Center that included a performance from "Elvis."
Winsted residents celebrated the coming New Year Wednesday afternoon, coming together for festivities at the Blanche McCarthy Senior Center that included a performance from "Elvis."
Photo: Ben Lambert / Hearst Connecticut Media
Winsted residents celebrated the coming New Year Wednesday afternoon, coming together for festivities at the Blanche McCarthy Senior Center that included a performance from "Elvis."
Winsted residents celebrated the coming New Year Wednesday afternoon, coming together for festivities at the Blanche McCarthy Senior Center that included a performance from "Elvis."
Photo: Ben Lambert / Hearst Connecticut Media
Winsted residents celebrated the coming New Year Wednesday afternoon, coming together for festivities at the Blanche McCarthy Senior Center that included a performance from "Elvis."
Winsted residents celebrated the coming New Year Wednesday afternoon, coming together for festivities at the Blanche McCarthy Senior Center that included a performance from "Elvis."
Photo: Ben Lambert / Hearst Connecticut Media
Winsted residents celebrated the coming New Year Wednesday afternoon, coming together for festivities at the Blanche McCarthy Senior Center that included a performance from "Elvis."
Winsted residents celebrated the coming New Year Wednesday afternoon, coming together for festivities at the Blanche McCarthy Senior Center that included a performance from "Elvis."
Photo: Ben Lambert / Hearst Connecticut Media
Winsted residents celebrated the coming New Year Wednesday afternoon, coming together for festivities at the Blanche McCarthy Senior Center that included a performance from "Elvis."
Winsted residents celebrated the coming New Year Wednesday afternoon, coming together for festivities at the Blanche McCarthy Senior Center that included a performance from "Elvis."
Photo: Ben Lambert / Hearst Connecticut Media
Winsted residents celebrated the coming New Year Wednesday afternoon, coming together for festivities at the Blanche McCarthy Senior Center that included a performance from "Elvis."
Winsted residents celebrated the coming New Year Wednesday afternoon, coming together for festivities at the Blanche McCarthy Senior Center that included a performance from "Elvis."
Photo: Ben Lambert / Hearst Connecticut Media
Winsted residents celebrated the coming New Year Wednesday afternoon, coming together for festivities at the Blanche McCarthy Senior Center that included a performance from "Elvis."
Winsted residents celebrated the coming New Year Wednesday afternoon, coming together for festivities at the Blanche McCarthy Senior Center that included a performance from "Elvis."
Photo: Ben Lambert / Hearst Connecticut Media
Winsted residents celebrated the coming New Year Wednesday afternoon, coming together for festivities at the Blanche McCarthy Senior Center that included a performance from "Elvis."
Winsted residents celebrated the coming New Year Wednesday afternoon, coming together for festivities at the Blanche McCarthy Senior Center that included a performance from "Elvis."
Photo: Ben Lambert / Hearst Connecticut Media
Winsted residents celebrated the coming New Year Wednesday afternoon, coming together for festivities at the Blanche McCarthy Senior Center that included a performance from "Elvis."
Winsted residents celebrated the coming New Year Wednesday afternoon, coming together for festivities at the Blanche McCarthy Senior Center that included a performance from "Elvis."
Photo: Ben Lambert / Hearst Connecticut Media
Winsted residents celebrated the coming New Year Wednesday afternoon, coming together for festivities at the Blanche McCarthy Senior Center that included a performance from "Elvis."
Winsted residents celebrated the coming New Year Wednesday afternoon, coming together for festivities at the Blanche McCarthy Senior Center that included a performance from "Elvis."
Photo: Ben Lambert / Hearst Connecticut Media
Winsted residents celebrated the coming New Year Wednesday afternoon, coming together for festivities at the Blanche McCarthy Senior Center that included a performance from "Elvis."
Winsted residents celebrated the coming New Year Wednesday afternoon, coming together for festivities at the Blanche McCarthy Senior Center that included a performance from "Elvis."
Photo: Ben Lambert / Hearst Connecticut Media
Winsted residents celebrated the coming New Year Wednesday afternoon, coming together for festivities at the Blanche McCarthy Senior Center that included a performance from "Elvis."
Winsted residents celebrated the coming New Year Wednesday afternoon, coming together for festivities at the Blanche McCarthy Senior Center that included a performance from "Elvis."
Photo: Ben Lambert / Hearst Connecticut Media
Winsted residents celebrated the coming New Year Wednesday afternoon, coming together for festivities at the Blanche McCarthy Senior Center that included a performance from "Elvis."
Winsted residents celebrated the coming New Year Wednesday afternoon, coming together for festivities at the Blanche McCarthy Senior Center that included a performance from "Elvis."
Photo: Ben Lambert / Hearst Connecticut Media
Winsted residents celebrated the coming New Year Wednesday afternoon, coming together for festivities at the Blanche McCarthy Senior Center that included a performance from "Elvis."
Winsted residents celebrated the coming New Year Wednesday afternoon, coming together for festivities at the Blanche McCarthy Senior Center that included a performance from "Elvis."
Photo: Ben Lambert / Hearst Connecticut Media
Winsted residents celebrated the coming New Year Wednesday afternoon, coming together for festivities at the Blanche McCarthy Senior Center that included a performance from "Elvis."
Winsted residents celebrated the coming New Year Wednesday afternoon, coming together for festivities at the Blanche McCarthy Senior Center that included a performance from "Elvis."
Photo: Ben Lambert / Hearst Connecticut Media
Winsted residents celebrated the coming New Year Wednesday afternoon, coming together for festivities at the Blanche McCarthy Senior Center that included a performance from "Elvis."
Winsted residents celebrated the coming New Year Wednesday afternoon, coming together for festivities at the Blanche McCarthy Senior Center that included a performance from "Elvis."
Photo: Ben Lambert / Hearst Connecticut Media
Winsted residents celebrated the coming New Year Wednesday afternoon, coming together for festivities at the Blanche McCarthy Senior Center that included a performance from "Elvis."
Winsted residents celebrated the coming New Year Wednesday afternoon, coming together for festivities at the Blanche McCarthy Senior Center that included a performance from "Elvis."
Photo: Ben Lambert / Hearst Connecticut Media
Winsted residents celebrated the coming New Year Wednesday afternoon, coming together for festivities at the Blanche McCarthy Senior Center that included a performance from "Elvis."
Winsted residents celebrated the coming New Year Wednesday afternoon, coming together for festivities at the Blanche McCarthy Senior Center that included a performance from "Elvis."
Photo: Ben Lambert / Hearst Connecticut Media
Winsted residents celebrated the coming New Year Wednesday afternoon, coming together for festivities at the Blanche McCarthy Senior Center that included a performance from "Elvis."
Winsted residents celebrated the coming New Year Wednesday afternoon, coming together for festivities at the Blanche McCarthy Senior Center that included a performance from "Elvis."
Photo: Ben Lambert / Hearst Connecticut Media
Winsted residents celebrated the coming New Year Wednesday afternoon, coming together for festivities at the Blanche McCarthy Senior Center that included a performance from "Elvis."
Winsted residents celebrated the coming New Year Wednesday afternoon, coming together for festivities at the Blanche McCarthy Senior Center that included a performance from "Elvis."
Photo: Ben Lambert / Hearst Connecticut Media
Winsted residents celebrated the coming New Year Wednesday afternoon, coming together for festivities at the Blanche McCarthy Senior Center that included a performance from "Elvis."
Winsted residents celebrated the coming New Year Wednesday afternoon, coming together for festivities at the Blanche McCarthy Senior Center that included a performance from "Elvis."
Photo: Ben Lambert / Hearst Connecticut Media
Winsted residents celebrated the coming New Year Wednesday afternoon, coming together for festivities at the Blanche McCarthy Senior Center that included a performance from "Elvis."
Winsted residents celebrated the coming New Year Wednesday afternoon, coming together for festivities at the Blanche McCarthy Senior Center that included a performance from "Elvis."
Photo: Ben Lambert / Hearst Connecticut Media
Winsted residents celebrated the coming New Year Wednesday afternoon, coming together for festivities at the Blanche McCarthy Senior Center that included a performance from "Elvis."
Winsted residents celebrated the coming New Year Wednesday afternoon, coming together for festivities at the Blanche McCarthy Senior Center that included a performance from "Elvis."
Photo: Ben Lambert / Hearst Connecticut Media
Winsted residents celebrated the coming New Year Wednesday afternoon, coming together for festivities at the Blanche McCarthy Senior Center that included a performance from "Elvis."
Winsted residents celebrated the coming New Year Wednesday afternoon, coming together for festivities at the Blanche McCarthy Senior Center that included a performance from "Elvis."
Photo: Ben Lambert / Hearst Connecticut Media
Winsted residents celebrated the coming New Year Wednesday afternoon, coming together for festivities at the Blanche McCarthy Senior Center that included a performance from "Elvis."
Winsted residents celebrated the coming New Year Wednesday afternoon, coming together for festivities at the Blanche McCarthy Senior Center that included a performance from "Elvis."
Photo: Ben Lambert / Hearst Connecticut Media
Winsted residents celebrated the coming New Year Wednesday afternoon, coming together for festivities at the Blanche McCarthy Senior Center that included a performance from "Elvis."
Winsted residents celebrated the coming New Year Wednesday afternoon, coming together for festivities at the Blanche McCarthy Senior Center that included a performance from "Elvis."
Photo: Ben Lambert / Hearst Connecticut Media
Winsted residents celebrated the coming New Year Wednesday afternoon, coming together for festivities at the Blanche McCarthy Senior Center that included a performance from "Elvis."
Winsted residents celebrated the coming New Year Wednesday afternoon, coming together for festivities at the Blanche McCarthy Senior Center that included a performance from "Elvis."
Photo: Ben Lambert / Hearst Connecticut Media
Winsted residents celebrated the coming New Year Wednesday afternoon, coming together for festivities at the Blanche McCarthy Senior Center that included a performance from "Elvis."
Winsted residents celebrated the coming New Year Wednesday afternoon, coming together for festivities at the Blanche McCarthy Senior Center that included a performance from "Elvis."
Photo: Ben Lambert / Hearst Connecticut Media
Winsted residents celebrated the coming New Year Wednesday afternoon, coming together for festivities at the Blanche McCarthy Senior Center that included a performance from "Elvis."
Winsted residents celebrated the coming New Year Wednesday afternoon, coming together for festivities at the Blanche McCarthy Senior Center that included a performance from "Elvis."
Photo: Ben Lambert / Hearst Connecticut Media
Winsted residents celebrated the coming New Year Wednesday afternoon, coming together for festivities at the Blanche McCarthy Senior Center that included a performance from "Elvis."
Winsted residents celebrated the coming New Year Wednesday afternoon, coming together for festivities at the Blanche McCarthy Senior Center that included a performance from "Elvis."
Photo: Ben Lambert / Hearst Connecticut Media
Winsted residents celebrated the coming New Year Wednesday afternoon, coming together for festivities at the Blanche McCarthy Senior Center that included a performance from "Elvis."
Winsted residents celebrated the coming New Year Wednesday afternoon, coming together for festivities at the Blanche McCarthy Senior Center that included a performance from "Elvis."
Photo: Ben Lambert / Hearst Connecticut Media
Winsted residents celebrated the coming New Year Wednesday afternoon, coming together for festivities at the Blanche McCarthy Senior Center that included a performance from “Elvis,” aka Keith Lewis of Foxboro, Mass. less
Winsted residents celebrated the coming New Year Wednesday afternoon, coming together for festivities at the Blanche McCarthy Senior Center that included a performance from “Elvis,” aka Keith Lewis of ... more
Photo: Ben Lambert / Hearst Connecticut Media
Winsted residents celebrated the coming New Year Wednesday afternoon, coming together for festivities at the Blanche McCarthy Senior Center that included a performance from “Elvis,” aka Keith Lewis of Foxboro, Mass. less
Winsted residents celebrated the coming New Year Wednesday afternoon, coming together for festivities at the Blanche McCarthy Senior Center that included a performance from “Elvis,” aka Keith Lewis of ... more
Photo: Ben Lambert / Hearst Connecticut Media
WINSTED — Winsted residents celebrated the coming New Year Wednesday afternoon, coming together for festivities at the Blanche McCarthy Senior Center.
The occasion included a special lunch, complete with a chocolate eclair for dessert, raffle prizes and a performance from Elvis — or at least someone who looked and sounded very much like him.
The senior center has a celebration for each holiday with food and entertainment, Executive Director Jennifer Kelley said Wednesday.
The music is particularly important, Kelley said - it leads those in attendance to think back to days gone by. Wednesday’s gathering also gave the group the chance to celebrate the New Year, which they might not have done on their own, she noted.
“I think music is important because it brings back memories - and look at everyone that has a tiara on, you know?” Kelley said.
Keith Lewis of Foxboro, Mass., sang some of the late, great singer’s hits, including “Love Me Tender” and “Little Sister,” draping scarves around the necks of women in the audience during the ballads — and offering a quick smooch on the cheek — as well as giving a wiggle of his hips during the rocking numbers.
Lewis said he grew up an Elvis fan, and has performed in a number of ways over the years — musical theater, barbershop quartet, choirs. He said he has been performing as Elvis for nine to 10 years, with the hope that folks enjoy themselves.
“(It’s) just an opportunity to entertain people, leave them smiling and happy and stuff,” said Lewis.
While Lewis was setting up, Jay Budahazy told the group about the time he shook the real Elvis’ hand.
Budahazy said he went to the MGM Grand Casino as part of a helicopter crew, traveling from the New River Air Station in Jacksonville, N.C. He had just returned from Vietnam, where he served as a Marine, and was wearing medals as he played blackjack. An employee asked him if he wanted to see Elvis perform, and he jumped at the chance.
“I was always a big Elvis fan - my brother and I. We had all the albums, all the movies, everything he did,” said Budahazy, who continues to dress up as The King each year for an annual party.
During that performance, this Elvis took note of Budahazy, he said - reaching down from the stage to shake his hand and prompting a standing ovation.
“There’ll never be another Elvis, never,” said Budahazy. “That’s something that you’ll never forget — when a guy like Elvis shakes your hand.”
A bit of that magic came to Winsted Wednesday, as some in the audience danced and enjoyed themselves as the New Year drew near.
Reach Ben Lambert at william.lambert@hearstmediact.com.