Montclair opens its first Senior Center on Saturday
MONTCLAIR - Seniors will no longer have to host their lunch program in the community center or inside City Council chambers.
After years of waiting, the city's first Senior Center will finally open its doors on Saturday.
The $5 million, 11,000-square-foot facility is housed in the Civic Center between the Youth and Community Center and City Hall.
After years of waiting, the city's first Senior Center will finally open its doors on Saturday.
The $5 million, 11,000-square-foot facility is housed in the Civic Center between the Youth and Community Center and City Hall.
Jennifer Cappuccio Maher/Staff Photographer
"This place is going to bring in more people, and that's a good thing," said Montclair senior Christine Milton. "That means our seniors are getting out into the community and not being home bound."
The senior center will include a dining room, meeting/activity rooms, restrooms, staff offices, full-service kitchen, indoor and outdoor fireplaces as well as a display case to showcase work by the senior citizens.
"It's such a difference from the old building," said Martha Gamble, 80. "As you get older you tend to like fire places more, so I think I might just be sitting in front of a fireplace for a long time."
The main meeting room, which will seat about 300 people, is partitioned into three rooms. The rooms will have a projector and a screen to watch movies. In total, the center has six plasma televisions, two dropdown screens and one large move screen.
The senior center is in the complex that includes easy access to the Community Center, branch library, skate park and Alma Hofman Park.
"The front doors are easy to open and the halls are wide enough for people in wheel chairs or for those who use walkers, so you don't have to worry about knocking anyone over," Milton said.
The first lunch served in the center will be on Nov. 1. On the menu - bbq chicken sandwich, orange juice, potato salad, coleslaw, bun and fruit cocktail. Take a tour of the Senior Center at the grand opening from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday at 5111 Benito St.
Information: 909-625-9456.
The senior center will include a dining room, meeting/activity rooms, restrooms, staff offices, full-service kitchen, indoor and outdoor fireplaces as well as a display case to showcase work by the senior citizens.
"It's such a difference from the old building," said Martha Gamble, 80. "As you get older you tend to like fire places more, so I think I might just be sitting in front of a fireplace for a long time."
The main meeting room, which will seat about 300 people, is partitioned into three rooms. The rooms will have a projector and a screen to watch movies. In total, the center has six plasma televisions, two dropdown screens and one large move screen.
The senior center is in the complex that includes easy access to the Community Center, branch library, skate park and Alma Hofman Park.
"The front doors are easy to open and the halls are wide enough for people in wheel chairs or for those who use walkers, so you don't have to worry about knocking anyone over," Milton said.
The first lunch served in the center will be on Nov. 1. On the menu - bbq chicken sandwich, orange juice, potato salad, coleslaw, bun and fruit cocktail. Take a tour of the Senior Center at the grand opening from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday at 5111 Benito St.
Information: 909-625-9456.
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