MANY FIRSTS FOR SENIOR OF THE YEAR.

Byline: BETTIE RENCORET Senior columnist

LANCASTER - Antelope Valley Senior of the Year Sylvia Jones is a trendsetter and an icebreaker, according to Lancaster Vice Mayor Henry Hearns.

Jones was the first African-American cadet nurse to work in military hospitals in Modesto and Menlo Park, then became the first African-American registered nurse on the staff of a private Minnesota hospital.

Now, at age 80, she's active as a chairwoman with the American Association of Retired Persons, Chapter 2195, and volunteers with a senior exercise group, with the American Red Cross and at nursing and convalescent homes and her church. She also walks for exercise with other seniors at the Antelope Valley Mall.

The Palmdale resident was chosen Senior of the Year 2002 from a field of four finalists at the Senior Expo 2002 held Thursday in Challenger Memorial Hall.

The others were Marvin McCoin and Dr. Warren Doerfler, both of Lancaster, and Patricia Akkad of Acton.

Jones also won a three-day, two-night trip to Laughlin, Nev., and recognition from state Sen. W.J. ``Pete'' Knight, Assemblyman George Runner, Palmdale Mayor Jim Ledford and Hearns.

Sponsored by the High Desert Medical Group and Heritage Health Care, this was the 12th annual Senior Expo. It is a way of giving back to the community and paying tribute to the senior populace, said Dr. Don Parazo.

Hearns presented Parazo and HDMG a proclamation denoting Thursday as Senior Citizens Day in Lancaster and expressed the City Council's appreciation for the efforts to honor seniors.

The audience was moved when last year's Senior of the Year, Henry Ivan Dorsett, 91, spoke about the greatness of the United States and then began to sing ``God Bless America.'' Everyone joined in.

Keynote speaker was Margaret O'Brien, a child actress in the 1940s who won an honorary Academy Award for her role in ``Meet Me in St. Louis'' with Judy Garland.

O'Brien said she believes movies used to be better.

``I think they should make more movies for people over 40,'' she said to a round of applause and cheers. ``It wasn't like this back in the days of Louis B. Mayer and Darryl Zanuck. They made movies for all ages then.''

She added, ``We are all getting older and we're living a lot longer. I think we have to start reviving everything and we have to do a lot more for seniors today.''

Transportation, she said, is one of the areas that must be improved.

``Everybody wants to go out to restaurants, entertainment, to shops, to get your hair done and do anything we want to do,'' she said. ``I think we have to get behind our congressmen and our senators and let them know what we want. Some of us are getting very, very old but we have a great life ahead. All of you really have to have a voice and really start pushing for everything you want. That's how I feel about it.''

In answer to a question about her name, she said her real surname is O'Brien but that her given name at birth was Angela. She had it legally changed to Margaret when she became fascinated with that name during her role in a movie called ``Journey for Margaret.''

O'Brien said she loved working with Charles Laughton in ``The Canterville Ghost'' and that he was wonderful to work with. She also commented that Lionel Barrymore was ``like a grandfather to me.''

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 suggested donation of $2.

Monday: Closed for Columbus Day.

Tuesday: Polish sausage, parsleyed potatoes, cooked cabbage, garden salad, tapioca pudding.

Wednesday: Beef tips and noodles, broccoli, lettuce and tomato salad, juice, peaches.

Thursday: Turkey and gravy, bread dressing, Normandy vegetables, tossed salad, pineapple juice, gelatin w/fruit.

Friday: Creole chicken or fish fillet, rice pilaf, beets, creamy coleslaw, orange.

CAPTION(S):

3 photos

Photo:

(1 -- 2) Senior of the Year candidates at the Antelope Valley Senior Expo 2002, from left, Dr. Warren Doerfler, Sylvia Jones, Patricia Akkad and Marvin McCoin, take their place on stage. Jones, 80, was named Antelope Valley Senior of the Year at the Senior Expo 2002 on Thursday.

(3) 1940s child actress and keynote speaker Margaret O'Brien signs a photo at the Antelope Valley Senior Expo 2002.

Bettie Rencoret/Special to the Daily News