GORHAM – After almost a year working behind the scenes, Windham resident Glenn Lynds’ goal of opening a senior center to link the region’s older population is becoming reality.
Last December, just after the North Windham Tim Horton’s closed, Lynds’ first thought was of the many senior citizens who congregated there each morning to sip coffee, converse and find out the latest news.
With the eatery closing and the realization that there were few similar hangouts available, Lynds got to work forming a committee probing the likely potential of a regional senior center.
His enthusiasm quickly hit reality though. After realizing there was little chance in the down economy to build a senior center, Lynds’ initial concept of providing a senior hangout quickly morphed into a scaled down version he referred to as a “senior center without walls.” Under that idea, there would be no physical location and the committee would act more as a clearinghouse for local seniors, informing them through a newsletter of senior-focused opportunities.
Several months later, however, Lynds is happy to report that his humble plan has since given way to something much closer to his original idea, and its name is the Lakes Region Senior Center.
The center, which officially opens Sept. 22, will meet in a large classroom at the former Little Falls Elementary School just over the Windham line in Gorham. The school is being used by the Gorham Parks and Recreation Department for some before- and after-school child care programming, but, according to the newly inked arrangement, the Lakes Region Senior Center will have full-time access to one of the building’s seven classrooms, as well as a separate office and kitchen area. And as Gorham’s recreation programming permits, the seniors will also have access to a gym, ball field and cafeteria.
While it’s not their own building and the deal is only set for the next 12 months, Lynds and his four-member Senior Center committee couldn’t be happier with their new home, especially since the center is piggybacking on Gorham Parks and Recreation Department’s use of the building, meaning there are no rental fees involved. Lynds is expecting Sept. 22’s opening day to underscore the need for such a center devoted solely to the area’s older residents.
“I’m so excited,” Lynds said. “We know the demand is there, but the biggest thing will be turnout. There are a thousand things we can do, but if we can get the turnout to start, that’d be great.”
The center will be managed by a committee comprising Lynds, who will be the committee’s chairman, and fellow Windham residents Avis Fleck (vice-chairman) and the Rev. Dan Lakeman, who will be the group’s treasurer. Clarence Wisecup, also of Windham, will be in charge of membership and the newsletter. Gorham resident Blanche Alexander will serve as secretary.
The center will be manned by volunteers Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., with other events held as scheduled. Seniors will pay a $10 annual membership fee. Members can come from any town around Sebago Lake, none of which have a center devoted to seniors. The fee also helps pay for a mailed monthly newsletter announcing upcoming events geared toward seniors.
“There are a lot of activities for seniors and we want to be a clearinghouse for events in the Lakes Region,” said Wisecup, who used to write the newsletter for the Maine Antique Tractor Club.
In addition to committee members’ persistence, the senior center is the product of good timing as well. According to Gorham Parks and Recreation Director Cindy Hazelton, the Little Falls School was the past home of the Sebago Educational Alliance, a consortium of five area school districts that band together to provide special education. The Alliance vacated the building in June and relocated to the former Frank Jewitt Elementary School in Buxton. While most of the Little Falls School has since been occupied by Gorham Recreation programming, the Lakes Region Senior Center is being allowed a 30-by-30-foot classroom at no cost.
And while the arrangement is contingent on any future needs of the town of Gorham, Lynds said the committee is happy with what they’ve been given.
“We don’t know what the future holds, but they’re going to help us get on our feet, and that’s great and we appreciate it,” Lynds said.
Long-sought ‘hangout’
While there will be a mix of social events and trips, the main motivation of the committee was to provide a “hangout” for seniors wanting to drink coffee, play board games or converse.
“We hope it will be a kind of home away from home,” said Lakeman, 64. “When you’re tired of doing the dishes or mowing the lawn, you can come down here and sit and hang out.”
Hazelton and Brian Ross, who run the recreation programs in Gorham and Windham, respectively, agree that there is a need for such a center, where seniors can congregate with no special purpose other than to mingle.
“We certainly have senior programming in Gorham, but we were definitely lacking that we-can-hang-our-hat-here place for seniors,” Hazelton said, adding that she can envision a time when perhaps the senior and daycare programs overlap, with seniors reading to kids or vice versa.
“I can definitely see some intergenerational match-ups taking place. Reading buddies perhaps?,” Hazelton said. “If anyone chooses that sort of thing, there could definitely be some opportunities in that regard.”
Ross said the lack of a senior center has been a “big void not only in Windham, but the area.” He said the location of the center just over the South Windham border is a good spot for seniors coming from not only Windham, Gorham and Standish but even Sebago, Raymond, Gray and Casco.
“Windham currently does senior shopping trips and excursions but most of the programs are youth-oriented, so it’ll be great to get this started and see where it leads them,” Ross said.
If the reaction of Alexander, of Gorham, the group’s secretary, is any indication, it could take off.
“It’s a dream come true for me,” Alexander said. “I’ve wanted a senior center but didn’t know how to go about it. But when I saw this in the paper, I jumped on board and I’m glad I did. We’ve got a great group going and we want to get the word out for people to come Sept. 22. I’m thrilled to pieces and I think other seniors will be, too.”
Windham resident Glenn Lynds, center, saw a need in the
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