The celebration was short but the sentiment was heartfelt and fun for the 17 family members and friends who gathered outside and below the second story window of Alice Zinkowski’s room at St. Andrews Village in Boothbay Harbor on Saturday morning, April 18 to wish her a happy 95th birthday. Due to the coronavirus social distancing order, the party had to be held this way.

Zinkowski, a resident of the Village’s Independent Living section for about 14 years, recently moved into the Assisted Living component, according to her daughter, Patty Zinkowski of Boothbay. Alice waved and smiled as the well-wishers waved back and sang “Happy Birthday” – not once, but twice.

Bob Drury, marketing and administrative director at the Village, and Barbara Marr, resident services supervisor, held handmade signs. There were balloons, a Happy Birthday streamer was held high and Patty carried a homemade cake (one of Alice’s favorites which the staff at the Village duplicated for Alice). Friend Jane McBride, snapping photos of the event, also brought a ribbon-wrapped book as a birthday gift for Alice.

A moment preserved for a woman who has seen a lot of moments in her 95 years of living. Many more, Alice!