It was a special celebration – more than a century in the making – at the Escalon Senior Fun Bunch as part of their regular monthly meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 17.

Staged at the Escalon Community Center, the gathering included time to mark the 102nd birthday of longtime Escalon resident Mary Lou York.

Fun Bunch member Peggy Rocha said they were able to wish her well.

“I’m sure she is our oldest Escalonian,” Rocha noted. “Her two daughters, Nancy and Suzie, were able to come and share in the celebration.”

The monthly Fun Bunch session typically draws dozens of local senior citizens, so York was feted by plenty of friends and neighbors for her special day.

“We had a Back-to-School theme,” Rocha said of the Sept. 17 festivities, “which was fitting since Mary Lou was a teacher for many years in Escalon.”

Fun Bunch organizers also prepared a special keepsake; creating a label with York’s photo on it which was placed on a Smucker’s peach jam jar, in line with the city’s motto, Land of Peaches and Cream.