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It was September when the Senior Center officially opened its doors to the elderly of Norwalk. Today the house behind the St. Paul’s Episcopal Church is buzzing with activity as senior citizens hold an open house to display their accomplishments during the past nine months. Director the Rev. Howard Thomas sees many hurdles have been crossed and is hoping for an expanded pro gram in the months to come. Means to achieve a supplementary income for senior citizens and a ‘‘Meals On Wheels’’ program are among the new programs still in the planning stages. “To feel our program has been a success but there’s certainly a lot to be done,” Rev. Thomas said. ‘Presently the Center is primarily a leisure time area but we hope to develop programs involving more concern for the sick and shut-ins.”” Today and Saturday the Senior Center, 85 W. Main St., will be open for public inspection in connection with Senior Citizens Month as proclaimed by Governor James Rhodes. Today the Center was open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and tonight will be open from 6 to 9. Saturday hours will be from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Handicraft articles, plants and baked goods will be on display and up for sale. Refreshments will be served. Tuesday 41 persons will travel to the Governor’s Conference for Senior Citizens, Columbus, in a char tered bus arranged for by the Center. Weekly the Center sponsors craft, ceramic, chair caning and sewing classes. A group gathers every Thurs day to work on a community project. Some of these have included the making of Christmas cookies for local nurs ing homes and making of dirty bags for the Red Cross. Visitation is conducted every Monday where a group of elderly from the Center spend the afternoon visiting the local rest homes. As with most other age groups, social activities have proven most popular with the older set. Monthly potluck luncheons and birthday parties draw the biggest crowds. In addition to these weekly and monthly pro grams, special activities such as a medicare clinic, an Easter egg coloring demonstration and educational talk by Dr. James McBride have been held. Daily the Center provides a spot for the elderly to gather, visit, read and play games or cards. Coun seling, informational and referral services are available at the Center. Transportation is available in emergency cases or when persons wish to visit the Center. News letters are sent to 426 persons each month. Part of the job in opening the Center has been the carpentry work involved in remodeling the former St. Paul’s Parish House. Two offices — one for the director and another for the program director and sec retary — were built near the entrance. The ceiling in the main auditorium — being used as a display and work room — was lowered and the entire room re painted. The lounge has also been remodeled. The latest project is the pouring of a basement floor which may lead to one of the biggest things ever to happen to the Center. Eventually Rev. Thomas hopes to convert part of the basement into a woodworking shop and establish an outlet shop in another section. Wood work items, handicrafts, hobby articles and perhaps used goods will be sold in the outlet. Funds earned will be returned to the senior citizens to supplement their incomes. Rev. Thomas hopes this program can get off the ground in the fall. In July he hopes to begin a state-funded ‘‘Meals On Wheels’’ program where hot meals will be sent to shut-ins once a day at their request. . A telephone assurance program where Center mem bers agree to be responsible for calling a shut-in each day is another program being considered. ONE OF ELDEST SENIOR CITIZENS Mrs. Mary Eslinger, Milan, 80 WOMEN WORK IN KITCHEN Esther, Frey, Mrs. Elsie Revels, Mrs. Eva Fritz NEW DIRECTOR'S OFFICE Rev. Thomas In Study LOUNGE WAS REMODELED A Place For Leisure Time SENIOR CITIZENS PREPARE FOR OPEN HOUSE IN AUDITORIUM Mrs. Eslinger, Mrs. Clarence Wise, Mrs. Charles Bray, Two Visitors and Mrs. Burtis Atkinson
Newspaper Details
Norwalk Reflector
Norwalk, Ohio, US
Fri, May 24, 1968
Page 5
Full Page
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USA 14 Jul 2026
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