Nine people in Glenville celebrate 100 years of life

GLENVILLE – A group of people at Glendale Home in Glenville is celebrating a milestone that less than 1% of Americans will reach. They’ve lived past 100.

The state Assembly and state Senate honored their contributions to the Schenectady County community, presenting them with special certificates and awards on Wednesday.

Linda Senn, who is 100, has lived in the area her whole life. She was a nurse and has always loved working with the younger generation.

"I used to read stories to the kids, and go to the libraries, and schools and I just like reading to the kids," Senn said.

She says getting older makes some of that difficult.

"I loved to read, but that’s a difficult thing too as you grow older. But who’s growing older, anyway," she said with a laugh.

John Marciniak was the only gentleman in attendance Wednesday. He thinks that’s because he’d sneak in as much activity as work would allow him.

"During my working years, I used to sneak lunch at my desk and eat it gradually before noontime, so I could spend an hour walking as much as I could," he said.

Republican State Senator Jim Tedisco of Glenville says younger people could take a page out of their advice book when it comes to solving today’s problems.

"I think you’re destined to make the same mistakes in the future if you don’t listen to people who understand the mistakes of the past," he said, noting that many have lived in the area and contributed to the local economy for more than a century.