The annual Salute to Seniors Fair was held Friday, attracting many residents age 55 and older eager to learn about various services available to them in Los Baños.</p><p>The event took place at the Los Baños Fairgrounds O’Banion Building and featured 48 booths with representatives from transportation, health care and insurance organizations to name a few.</p><p>Several school board, mayoral and city council candidates also had booths at the fair so they could hand out campaign literature and buttons.</p><p>“Curiosty,” fairgoer Antoinette Garbini responded when asked if it was the candidates, information, giveaways or donuts that brought her out early Friday morning.</p><p>Vanessa Rangel de Ramos, a representative from the California Telephone Access Program, had a booth offering information on the different telecommunications equipment and services available to individuals certified as having difficulty using a telephone.</p><p>In the first half hour, Rangel de Ramos said that at least 10 people suffering from hearing and sight loss or arthritis had already come to see her about how to obtain a telephone.</p><p>State organizations were not the only vendors piquing seniors’ interest. </p><p>Beverly Brown, president of the Los Baños Golden Agers Club, said they had signed up six people within the first hour of the fair’s opening. She said the club is 600 strong and hopes to see some more new faces at the its monthly meeting in October.</p><p>Now in its 26th year, the Salute to Seniors Fair has been a place where the city’s mature residents can receive some valuable information on topics of interest. It is also a place to catch up with each other’s lives over a cup of coffee and a game of bingo.</p><p>“It’s a great way to meet up with friends you haven’t seen in a long time,” fairgoer Sally Paternain said.</p><p>The fair also recognized its outstanding senior volunteers: Wallean Biederman who donates her time at the Los Baños Recreation Department; Tom Hammond of the Los Baños Golden Agers Club; Johnny and Erma Bowen from the Dos Palos Senior Club; Georgianna Carter from the Circle of Love and Fran and Geri Stamback of the Friends at the the Evangelical Free Church.</p><p>Mayor Tommy Jones took a moment to thank the volunteers, veterans and all seniors for their past and continued work with the community.</p><p>“We know that everything we do is because all of the seniors and the foundation you built,” he said. “We appreciate you and we will appreciate the day the senior center is built in your lifetime.”</p><p>Enterprise reporter Minerva Perez can be reached by phone at (209)388-6565 or by e-mail at mperez@losbanosenterprise.com