Senior center project makes great progress over the last year
DOVER-FOXCROFT — The Maine Highlands Senior Center (MHSC) held its annual meeting on June 18 at the Stitham Camp on Sebec Lake. The board welcomed friends and supporters and enjoyed lunch and social time after the business meeting and a slide show highlighting the progress of renovations at Central Hall.
President Dr. Lesley Fernow discussed the many events of the past year including enormous progress on construction and renovation of Central Hall including completion of the foam insulation, construction of the back of the stage on the second floor of the hall, completion of rough electric and plumbing and completion of the outside of the building with just the front portico, doors, ramp and landscaping to be completed. The inside work is ongoing.
She also expressed sincere gratitude to the men from Charleston Correctional Facility who have worked for many weeks to complete the installation and finishing of over 1,100 sheets of .75-inch drywall including on the ceiling of the hall and around the supporting beams, the painting of the ceiling and walls and now the replacement of the second floor flooring. The project would not be where it is without their excellent and careful work. A landmark day was celebrated in April when the staging that has been filling the hall was able to be removed after four years.
The board welcomed three new members, Gail D’Agostino, Patrick Myers and Rod Willey, and said farewell to Noelle Merrill whose contributions to the board have been pivotal in moving the board forward — she will be missed. Officers for the coming year are Dr. Fernow, president; Chris Maas, treasurer; and Cherie Stitham White and Julie Mallett as co-secretaries.
Fernow also introduced the MHSC’s first employee, Cheryl Garland Crabtree, who has been hired as the program development coordinator. Crabtree a member also of the Thriving in Place Coalition, is also pursuing her master’s degree in human relations and clinical mental health counseling from Husson University. She has not only excellent skills in making connections with people and in organizational development, but she has a passion for rural older adults.
Crabtree expects to be meeting many people in the community over the next few months to share her excitement about the senior center.
Maas reported on the finances of the capital campaign and gave an overview of spending on construction and presented the budget for 2016-17. The budget to complete the project is $1.86 million and the total raised so far is $1.35 million leaving just over $500,000 to raise. All present were pleased and impressed that even in the construction phase, the project is “giving back to the community” by providing jobs for over two dozen local people and by paying 75 percent of the total spent to date to local businesses and contractors.
“This is a great way to build community,” Maas said.
He then showed a slide show documenting the progress in photos from the past year. The changes in just the last few months are eye-popping and made everyone excited for the completion of the project and for the New Year’s Eve Ball planned for this year.
“We are planning to hold this event if we can get into the building and have water, lights and heat, even if we haven’t completely finished the project,” Dr. Fernow said.
Finally, the board formally voted to rename the Central Hall event center which will now be formally known as The Commons at Central Hall and the senior center will be known as The Senior Commons. Several people present felt this appropriately reflected the historic and dignified nature of the building and its mission to bring people together.
This community project which has been so many years in development, and which has at times seemed excruciatingly slow, appears to be rolling along to completion in the next two years. The energy and enthusiasm at the meeting was excellent with all present determined to share their excitement far and wide.