My husband and I moved to Newburyport nine years ago, having lived and raised our three children on Beacon Hill and in Winchester.
We came to Newburyport for Sunday brunch and, while driving through the South End, we saw an “Open House” sign, complete with balloons. By chance we stopped, toured the house, liked it, made an offer. The rest, as they say, is history. I do love history and before long I was in the basement of City Hall (affectionately referred to by a few of us as the “catacombs”) reviewing and organizing Newburyport’s records from 1774 thru recent times.
I was honored with the other two “Catacomb Crawlers” by the Newburyport Preservation Trust in 2011 for our work on our City archives. I also volunteer at the Custom House Maritime Museum, serving on the Board of Directors and as the chair of the Collection and Exhibit committee.
I met several members of the Council on Aging while at the Museum and City Hall and was appointed to the Council on Aging in 2010. I quickly learned that Newburyport seniors have been discussing and hoping for their own Senior Center for many years. Currently, programs and activities for seniors are offered at several sites around the city because the seniors have had no “home” of their own. The Council’s office is housed at the Salvation Army building on Water Street, and programs are offered there, at the Elks Club, Anna Jaques Hospital and other sites around the city.
The Council’s dedicated Director, Roseann Robillard, shares office space with donated medical supplies and pet food. Visitors might find a seat in a wheelchair or on a donated commode.
Finally, after years of discussion, numerous false starts, and frustration for the senior community the reality of a Senior Center is almost here!! Ground will be broken for the Newburyport Senior/Community Center on the Bresnahan School Campus on September 15, 2014 and the construction is scheduled to be completed on August, 15, 2015.
The Council’s Board members and Roseann have attended numerous meetings with Sterling Associates, Inc., the architects for the project, and with interior designers and city planners to discuss the programs we would like to conduct at the Center and now finally we can see the floor plans for our new Center.
The paint and woodworking details are finally becoming reality. There will be a living room complete with a fireplace!! Also included are exercise rooms, a computer/classroom, a drop-in/library area, a dining room which can accommodate large or small dining groups, a domestic kitchen next to the larger kitchen, a billiard/pool room, an arts & crafts area and ample storage space.
At long last there will be office space for the Council’s Director as well as an Activities Coordinator and the Newburyport Veterans Office.
The Council currently sponsors programs which include exercise and yoga classes, a weekly discussion group, blood pressure and hearing checks, podiatrist visits, dental examinations, legal clinics, tax preparation assistance, a retired readers group, painting class, information and referral services and Meals on Wheels.
With our larger and better space in the new Center, we are discussing a number of additional programs including inter-generational meals and events.
There will be space for all these activities under one roof! A large kitchen will be available for community meals and special events. And a small domestic kitchen with home-like appliances will be used for cooking classes for widowers, diabetics, and nutritionist advice. Landscape plans include an outside place to for seniors to meet and enjoy good company when weather permits.
The new Center will be a multi-purpose facility. In the evening and on weekends when seniors are not extensively using the facility, the Newburyport community will be able to use the Center for meetings and community events.
The Council arranges transportation services, including NEET, Northern Essex Elder Transport, and the Council’s own bus service, so that seniors will be able to get to and from the Center daily. A parking lot will also be conveniently available at the Center for seniors who drive or wish to be dropped off and picked up by friends and family.
The new Senior Center is truly an exciting prospect for Newburyport’s seniors and the entire community, and we encourage the Town’s interest and participation as long laid plans start to become a reality.