MARTINS FERRY — It seems you are never too old to get into the spooky spirit.

Patrons of the Martins Ferry Senior Center played putt-putt golf, dressed up in costumes and ate banana splits at their Halloween party Thursday.

The senior center invited guests from Bethesda and Colerain senior centers to take part. Attendees played games, ate banana splits, played putt-putt golf, ate lunch and socialized.

In the past, Martins Ferry Senior Center has visited other locations for the Halloween Party, but this was its first time hosting it at its location.

Mayor John Davies, Belmont County Commissioner Jerry Echemann and others attended the party to socialize with 49 senior citizens and eight senior services staff members.

Martins Ferry Senior Center Coordinator Melissa Finney dressed up as a hippie, while others dressed up as a handicapped bumblebee, a priest, a nun and a ladybug.

Finney said the party went very well with barely a hitch and a nice turnout. She said she had a lot of support from her co-workers and those from Stonerise Home Health and Hospice and the seniors themselves.

Finney expressed her gratitude for Stonerise Hospice, which she said does a lot for the center. Stonerise Hospice helped put together the party. According to its website, Stonerise Hospice cares for patients needing clinical care, including skilled nursing, therapy or end-of-life care in their homes.

“I think they all had fun,” she said. “I think they really enjoyed it. They all went out of their way on their costumes. I think they looked beautiful and had fun.”

Jarvis Law donated the first place prize for the day, which Don Gerdau won by drawing his raffle ticket.

Finney’s goal for the party was for the seniors to have a good time and enjoy themselves. She hopes the seniors know how important it is to get out and socialize and remain active in the community.

Finney noted the center provides transportation and grocery shopping services to seniors 60 and older who don’t drive anymore. She said she feels those services are very important, and she wants the public to know they are available.

Mary Hanlin, 90, who dressed as a handicapped bumblebee, had just undergone surgery Wednesday to remove skin cancer from her leg, but she attended the Halloween party the next day because she was excited for it. She was loving the party, she said, with everyone’s costumes and all of the food. She has been visiting the center for the past 25 years and said it is great to be there.

Hanlin wanted to go to the party so badly that she made sure her doctors knew she had to be there even though she had surgery.

“Find a senior center close to you and enjoy it,” she advised other older people.

Seniors can feel forgotten sometimes, Finney said, and that they are not an asset to society. Having events like the party helps to alleviate that.

“I think it’s good for them to know they’re cared about and a valuable asset to society,” she said. “They are still an asset to society … and sitting at home watching TV is not enough. Life still has meaning and purpose, and I want them to feel valued.”