Every Wednesday, the recreation center on McLaughlin Run Road is bustling with excitement. Walk in, and you will hear laughter, music and even some applause. The people making all the noise, are not children, they are senior citizens who live in Upper St. Clair.

About 50 group members began to gather at 10 a.m. At 12:30 p.m., the president of the club began a short business meeting, updating the members on club happenings and members' health issues. Louise Mallinger Cohen, president of the United Senior Citizens of Upper St. Clair, welcomed a member who took a fall on the ice and was part of a newspaper article.

"Don't fall down getting your newspaper or you'll end up in the newspaper," Cohen joked with the crowd.

Following the meeting, a hot lunch is served. On Wednesday, strong aromas of pasta and marinara filled the air.

"We always have extras," Amy Kerman, older adult coordinator, said."So we have enough if a lot of people show up. And we pack up the extras, for example today, we'll bring some to a woman who is home with a broken leg."

After lunch, the senior citizens participated in a planned program. Members were very anxious for Wednesday's speaker, a representative from Road Scholars spoke about the fun places and things to do as a traveling senior citizen.

Member Barry Ross, 65, is still a professor of a graduate class at the University of Pittsburgh and does not have time to attend every meeting, but he made sure to take part in Wednesday's festivities.

"This is a chance for me to take a break," Ross said. "Plus I wanted to hear about the traveling for my wife, and our good friend is a teacher and retiring in June and I wanted to pass on this information to her."

"It's good to see all the people," member Pat Hare, 80, said. "It's a nice group."

"It's the nicest group I know," Cohen said. "You get to meet a lot of nice people."

"It's also about reconnecting with old friends," Kerman said. "People plan walks together, go bowling, go to the movies. It's important to keep exercising the mind (at this age)."

In honor of Saturday, Jan. 29 being National Puzzle Day, next Wednesday the group is planning a day full of puzzles and games.

"We have a lot of fun," Kerman said. "I have the world's best job."

The United Senior Citizens is a program for retired Upper St. Clair residents who are 55 years of age and older. Their oldest member is 94 years of age. The Department of Recreation and Leisure Services sponsors the program. There is also an annual voluntary fee of $12 for members. For more information, click here.