The Down East Seniors Club held its Aug. 8 meeting at the Blind Center of North Carolina in Washington. President Gary Brinn led the meeting. The singing of “God Bless America” was followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. Charles Smith gave the invocation, and Ed Hamrick read factoids for the date in history.

Smith introduced Chrislyn Wedderien, owner of Carryout by Chrislyn, as the speaker. Wedderien said she grew up working with her father who was a chef in New York, and this gave her a love for food preparation. Her focus has always been on using fresh food and making nutritious dishes. She moved to North Carolina in 2006 and taught culinary arts at J. H. Rose High School in Greenville. Later she became a child nutrition director in Tarboro. During this time people asked her to cater on occasion, which she did as a side job. As her catering business grew, she decided to move in that direction full-time. A historic home on Second Street in Washington became available, so she opened her catering and carryout business there in November 2016. It has expanded and she now employs 18 people at the business. She distributed samples of some of her popular menu items.

Mike Gwynn won the 50/50 drawing.