Special Needs Residents showed, they too, can turn the party up

(original post: Union City Patch.com)

Dancing to the music of Usher, Lady Gaga and Rihanna, Tri-City residents with special needs showed they, too, can turn the party up.

They brought their good spirits and best costumes to the 5th Annual Halloween Social at the Ralph and Mary Ruggieri Senior Center on Oct. 22.

Along with dancing, guests also enjoyed food, refreshments and prizes. The highlight of the night was the costume competition, which consisted of three categories: scariest, funniest and best overall costume.

Green Oak Development Center, a day program for those with special needs, organized the social with the assistance of Union City Leisure Services and The ARC of Alameda.

Gina Rivera, executive director of Green Oak, said guests come from separate caring homes and seldom have an opportunity to interact with their peers. The Halloween social is a nice way to get them together to mingle and have a good time, she said.

Reporter Richgail Enriquez was at the Halloween social to learn more about the celebration.

Green Oak Development Center can be reached at 510-441-8300. It has two locations: The Main Campus at 2949 Whipple Road, Union City, CA, and the Cypress Campus at 2827 Whipple Road, Union City, CA. A third location is opening soon in San Jose.