By Sean Fogarty, Courier Staff Writer:
The crafts class at
the Joyce C. Budrow Senior Center
won’t be the only ones doing construction. Over the next few years, the center
will see an addition crafted with $750,000 from the Small Cities program funded
by a federal block grant.
Town Grant
Administrator Roxanne Bouchard said the grant began with a very modest
proposal.
“I overheard a
request to have some painting done and it would cost about $15,000 and I said
there has to be something to help,” she said.
Though most towns
had a year to prepare, Bouchard put together a grant application in just a few
months.
“It’s a very
competitive grant process. It’s all based on point systems so we have to go for
fair housing [and] Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance, with not
only the senior center, but the whole town,” said Bouchard.
According to Bouchard,
one of the most influential aspects of the grant application process was the
input from the seniors in the form of letters and attending hearings.
Center Manager
Judith Amarone commended the entire staff for the success of the grant
application.
“People who started
were dedicated from beginning to end,” she said. “I couldn’t have done it
without my staff because, as I wasn’t doing my regular daily tasks, they were
picking up my pieces. You can’t look for other tasks if you don’t have someone
to help with your tasks.”
Amarone credits North Haven seniors for their contribution to the
process.
“They played a role
in this–their letters of support and coming to the meetings and signing the
petition, it was all part of the grant, it wasn’t just me,” said Amarone.
At the center,
Amarone was delighted to share at the news with local seniors at the fall cider
party.
“This place needs
the space to accommodate the baby boomers,” said Elizabeth Fisser, who has been
coming to the center for years. “It’s very important and we have to have
different programs and we have space.”
Doryce Blake-Coon,
who sings in the chorus, says she’s excited more people will be able to attend
center dinners.
“We have all these
great dinners but only 80 people can come because of space. We have to stop
selling tickets,” said Blake-Coon, who added that she predicts 150 people will
come once the space is available.
Albinio Conti, who
has been coming to the center for nine years, celebrated the good news with his
many friends at the center.
“Believe it or not
this is the best thing for a senior citizen, a day to come over here and enjoy
the nice people, it’s beautiful,” he said.
Pictured: All in favor?
Seniors at the Joyce
C. Budrow
Senior Center
celebrate the announcement of a new addition to the overcrowded facility.
Photo by Sean
Fogarty