 By Gretchen Klein December 07, 2006
During a recent lunch hosted by the Ketchikan Chamber of Commerce at the S.E. Senior Center the hot topic was lack of space and the need for fun activities. "Audience members voiced the need for a new facility. A place to come for fun: live music, dancing, exercise, and better transportation schedules." The multi-functioning facility has many limitations including tight seating, steep stairs up to the art room, and the lack of parking. The center's bus drivers do the best they can to reach home bound seniors with hot meals, and take many to appointments, shopping, and to the grocery market. This need is much greater than many of us realize, and coordinating pick-ups and deliveries is mind-boggling. What a daunting job it is to coordinate everything in a facility like this one. Those front-line workers don't get thanked enough, and could use a pat on the back and a cheerful smile. They are the quiet heroes who enable many of our parents and grandparents to get out of their houses for socialization, hot meals, and many appointments. Our leaders will be pondering future projects for the community. Senior facilities don't seem like a luxury - they are necessary especially when we think how many of us will be using them not too many years from now. It is a wonderful time of year to start thinking of a senior center as a priority for the whole community. Gretchen Klein and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Sitnews.
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