A.V. senior serves her city.

Byline: BETTIE RENCORET Senior columnist

LANCASTER - Seniors who ride Antelope Valley Transit Authority buses have a ready ally in Mary Lowe.

She serves as the senior adviser for the city of Lancaster to the AVTA board of directors and can be contacted to assist with any problems. If seniors have any complaints, they can call her at [phone], and she says she'll do what she can to take care of them. They can also call with suggestions and she'll pass those on, too.

``The bus company has demonstrated in many ways that it wants to maintain good rapport with seniors and has bent over backwards to accommodate all of us,'' she said.

At the bidding of Palmdale senior Raedell Simon, AVTA instituted its policy of letting seniors ride for free on weekends and during the middle of the day on weekdays, which Lowe said has proved to be an overwhelming success.

The AVTA also sponsors, with the Antelope Valley Mall management, the annual Seniors Day at the mall.

``They are really good to us,'' Lowe said, ``and we want to keep it that way.''

Mayor Frank Roberts, as a member of the board, appointed Lowe to the senior adviser position in 1999 to fill the void left when senior Henry Ivan Dorsett was elevated to the position of roaming ambassador. Lowe now attends all the AVTA board meetings and submits any problems she hears about.

One problem she addressed was replacement of the covered shelter for the bus stop outside the Antelope Valley Senior Center, 777 W. Jackman St. The cover will be replaced within the next month, she said.

``I don't know exactly what the circumstances for its removal were,'' she said, ``but I do know seniors can't stand out in all kinds of weather while they're waiting for a bus.''

She feels that some seniors don't get out enough and thinks the AVTA free-ride policy for them is one solution to that problem.

``They can now ride the buses free from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. weekdays and all day Saturday and Sunday. That means they can go wherever they want to even if they can't drive anymore,'' she said. ``That contributes to healthy attitudes. They don't have to stay cooped up anymore and go stir crazy.''

While she is mainly involved with senior activities, Lowe is also a protagonist for the welfare of children. She also participates actively with the Healing the Children program through the local Masonic Lodge.

``We put on a good Halloween program,'' she said. ``I hope everything works well so we can do it again this year. The kids love it.''

Lowe, at 78, still works, although she retired from the grocery industry back in 1972 after 27 years, the last several as a delicatessen manager. She spent another four years working for a wholesale drug company where she did the ordering.

Now she demonstrates products for grocery chains all over the Valley.

``I've loved all my jobs,'' she said. ``It's been a full life, and I've had a lot of fun.''

A native of Chattanooga, Tenn., the former Mary Kinzalow met and married James Lowe, a U.S. Navy machinist's mate, in 1941.

That same year they moved to Ohio, then came to California in 1949 and settled in Los Angeles, where her husband continued to work as a machinist. They had two sons, William Carl and Daniel, who have given her four grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren whom she dotes on.

LANCASTER - The proposed Lancaster Veterans Home will be in the spotlight from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. May 5 when the annual deep-pit barbecue fund-raiser for it is hosted by American Legion Post 311, at 40th Street West and Avenue J.

The all-you-can-eat event will feature barbecued beef, beans, coleslaw and rolls for a $6.50 donation. Tap beer will also be available at $1.

The theme will be ``Music, Merriment and Memories,'' with music provided by Sonny King's Bombers.

``All proceeds will go toward the amenities fund for the local home,'' said fund-raising chairman Ken Creese.

Menus for the week at the senior life nutrition sites in Lancaster, Palmdale and South Valley have been announced. All meals include bread, margarine and coffee, tea or milk for a donation of $2.

Monday: Chili, corn bread, corn niblets, tossed salad, orange juice, vanilla ice cream.

Tuesday: Roast beef, mashed potatoes, green beans, coleslaw, chocolate pudding.

Wednesday: Sweet and sour chicken, rice pilaf, spinach, coleslaw, banana.

Thursday: Baked fish fillet, au gratin potatoes, peas, marinated beets, apple juice, fruit cocktail.

Friday: Chicken enchiladas, refried beans, corn, fiesta coleslaw, fruit cocktail.