Pine Acres Retirement Center, 1212 S. Second St. is celebrating the return of NIU students during its Back-to-School Month featuring a homecoming dance to be held tonight.

Marketing Coordinator Ellen Rogers said the dance, which starts at 7 p.m. at the home, is intended for the home’s age group, but the doors are open to the public.

ogers said the dance will feature a trio of musicians who will play big band style songs to which the residents can dance.

The women residents of the retirement home will receive corsages and the men will don boutonnieres.

The home will be decorated with a champagne fountain and a display of old dance clothes and accessories borrowed from Cracker Jax, 118 N. Third St., an antique shop located downtown.

Lona Rokser, a clerk at Cracker Jax, said the items she loaned Pine Acres for their display all date back to the 1920s and 30s.

Some of the items to be displayed are a pink-beaded formal dress, a pink-sequined top, a few hats and fancy gloves. There also will be silver shoes, rhinestone necklaces and earrings and an old-fashioned lamp to be used as a prop.

ogers said other activities commemorating Back-To-School Month at Pine Acres include a teacher-appreciation tea for the 16 retired teachers who live at the home, and a back-to-school lunch of a traditional lunch box meal for all the residents.