By LINDA KELLETT

C-S-E News Staff

CANAJOHARIE — Looking snappy in their crisp white shirts, black pants and festive red ties, members of the Second Time Around big band swung into the new year with a special holiday program for Arkell Hall residents, tenants of Arkell Center apartments, the Canajoharie Senior Citizens club and the general public on Jan. 10.

Belting out standards like “New York, New York,” “Sweet Georgia Brown,” “Fly Me to the Moon,” the “Jersey Bounce,” “Pennsylvania 6500,” and “It Don’t Mean a Thing if It Ain’t Got that Swing,” they had the joint really hopping with performers and audience clearly enjoying the mid-afternoon Christmas and New Year’s presentation.

“Oh, wonderful,” exclaimed one exuberant Arkell Hall resident who sat with a particularly responsive group of listeners.

Trombonist Joe DeLorenzo, of Little Falls, who spun a fanciful tale that tied many of the tunes together, explained that the group has practiced at the center for four years.

He said, “Arkell has been just wonderful to this big band, and it was [former program director] Andrea [Montanye] who was open to the idea that we would come here. We have people from Schenectady to Little Falls. This is the middle point for this band.”

To the delight of the audience, he bantered good-naturedly with his fellow musicians: “We did not sound this way when we started. We did not. We did NOT!”

He added, “We are the house band of Arkell.”

Montanye, who was among those in the audience, corrected him with a smile: “The house ‘big’ band!”

Joan Cimino, the current program director at Arkell Center, said, “They practice here every week. I can sit here and listen to them all day.”

Band spokesperson Joanna VanGorder, a clarinetist and alto sax player from St. Johnsville, said the group rehearses at the center every Thursday from 2 to 4 p.m. “People are welcome to come and listen” for free, she said.

For information or to book the band, which is on Facebook at Second Time Around Big Band, call (518) 568-2794.

The next joint program at Arkell Center will be a Valentine’s luncheon on Feb. 14, said Cimino.

She is hoping to have entertainment for the event, which will start at noon with lunch provided by Meals of Montgomery and the chef from Arkell Hall. Anyone wishing to eat must call the meals program at (518) 673-2000 or (518) 673-4408 by Monday, Feb. 10, she said. Typically, there’s a $3 donation.

“We’ll have refreshments,” she added.

The luncheon program is open to the public.