The Town of Vernon broke ground Wednesday for a 6,600 square foot building adjacent to the Vernon Senior Center that will enable the senior center to accommodate its rapidly growing membership, expand activities and enhance programs now limited by the center’s low ceiling.
Vernon Mayor Dan Champagne, Senior Center Director Maureen Gabriele, Public Works Director Dwight Ryniewicz and Senior Citizens Advisory Committee Chair Bob Audet tossed shovelfuls of soil to formally kick off the project Wednesday morning.
Vernon Mayor Dan Champagne, right, breaks ground for an expansion to the Vernon Senior Center. He is joined by, left to right, Senior Citizens Advisory Committee Chair Bob Audet, Public Works Director Dwight Ryniewicz and Senior Center Director Maureen Gabriele.
The Town Council in December voted 7-4 to spend $1.869 million in American Rescue Plan Act to purchase property next door at 147 Bolton Road and to construct a 78-foot by 85-foot multipurpose building. The town took possession of the property July 1 and site work on the property is already underway.
The house on the property will be demolished. In the meantime, the Town of Vernon Fire Department has used it for training.
Mayor Champagne has focused on expanding services for Vernon’s seniors and made their health and wellbeing a priority. In 2017, he worked with the town council to develop plans for the current senior center, which voters approved at referendum. That enabled the senior center to move from Park Place to a modern facility at 135 Bolton Road.
The previous senior center on Park Place was too small, had inadequate parking and no place for outdoor activities. The current senior center is a former office building that has much more parking, space for outdoor programs and is on one floor.
Vernon Mayor Dan Champagne, right, is joined by, left to right, Senior Center Director Maureen Gabriele, Public Works Director Dwight Ryniewicz and Senior Citizens Advisory Committee Chair Bob Audet at Wednesday's ground breaking for an expansion to the Vernon Senior Center.
Vernon Public Works employees worked about a year renovating the building and the new center opened in April 2018. The new senior center had the space to greatly expand program offerings and participation. As a result, senior center membership exploded.
“When we opened the new senior center on Bolton Road, we had 835 members,” Mayor Champagne said. “Today we have about 4,000 members who enjoy a variety of programs, trips and wellness activities coordinated by our senior center staff. Today we need more space. This addition will only make our center better and provide our seniors with new opportunities to keep active and healthy.”
Studies show that seniors who participate in senior center programs experience better physical and psychological well-being. Senior center members have increased social interaction, and increased opportunities for program such as fitness classes, educational workshops and social activities that help improve mobility, cognitive function and social connections. The result is higher life satisfaction.
“We have to keep our minds active, keep ourselves active,” Mayor Champagne said. “Being around people is critically important.”
Mayor Champagne said a senior center member once told him that the hours spent at the center and participating in activities was life-changing.
“’If it were not for this senior center, I wouldn’t be alive today,’ that person told me,” Mayor Champagne said. “That’s why we’re doing this. Senior programming is critically important to the well-being of older adults and I am committed to making sure we provide opportunities for every senior who wants to participate at our senior center.”
Senior centers also connect older adults to community services that can help them stay healthy and independent, provide health screenings, health and wellness programs, provide an array of safe and healthy activities, offer healthy meals several days a week, social and recreation opportunities, educational and arts programs, travel opportunities, public benefit assistance, and transportation services.
The Vernon Senior Center also offers outdoor recreation opportunities, including a pickleball court, shuffle board, a horseshoe pit and a pavilion for activities. Recently, the senior center added a walking trail so that people can keep active, and a vegetable garden that enables members to not only work in the garden, but take home fresh, healthy vegetables.
Mayor Champagne said Vernon’s senior center provides essential services to a segment of the population that has worked hard and contributed much to the community. The center’s services account for a small portion of the town’s annual budget and provide a great value.
Vernon Senior Center membership is open to anyone 55 or older.
“I urge seniors to stop by the senior center, take a tour and learning about its offerings,” Mayor Champagne said. “This is a diverse community of people with a range of experiences who come together and create fun and rewarding experiences for everyone.”