Hopes Remain High for the J.O.Y. Senior Center

A couple of weeks ago, I wrote about the Millcreek supervisors’ decision to close the J.O.Y. senior center, which has been open for less than a year. Since then, I have sincerely appreciated Supervisor John Groh’s response and willingness to dialogue with me about the matter. What I’ve learned from this is that the senior-center situation is very complicated, and both sides are passionate.

John Groh told me that the supervisors would be meeting with the center’s advisory board on the afternoon of August 19^th, but I haven’t heard much about the outcome of that meeting—only that it was positive and the supervisors will discuss the matter between themselves on Thursday (August 21).

Attending the August 19^th evening meeting at the senior center, I had expected to hear members of the advisory board talk about the details of the discussion with the supervisors earlier in the day. To me, that would seem to be the first order of business. Not much was said about the meeting, however, and I was not alone in my desire to hear more. In any case, I took some notes and will share them with you below:

About 60 people (80% women) attended the meeting at the J.O.Y. Center. The attendees listened to remarks from CCom (Concerned Citizens of Millcreek), directors from Meca, Inc., which is the non-profit whose contract is to be terminated, and a few other citizens.

The overall mood was hopeful that a favorable resolution would be reached by the time the supervisors meet on Tuesday, August 26, which is my late mother’s birthday. My mother helped raise funds for the senior center when the idea was in its infancy, and my parents have a “brick” on the wall at the center.

I don’t know any of the folks who spoke at the meeting, and there were no formal introductions, so I pieced together names and titles as best I could. Here we go:

• Tom Osiecki, President of CCom
  • This is not the time to be aggressive. It is better to be conciliatory.
  • The supervisors are out on a limb and need a way to come back off of it.

• Donna Reese– A member of the Millcreek School Board and small business owner for 25 years.
  • The supervisors said there is no business plan. Donna went over all the contracts and drew up a business plan. So now the supervisors cannot say there is no business plan.
  • It was forecasted that 100 seniors would join the center in the first year. More than 380 seniors have joined the center so far.
  • “Ask, believe, receive.” Donna says the seniors have asked, and they believe. Now they are ready to receive.

• Carl Anderson – Meca Board President
  • The seniors should speak to their neighbors, post on Facebook, and write letters to the editor to support the center.
  • It is important to focus on the issues, not the personalities of the supervisors.
  • When addressing the supervisors, seniors should speak passionately, but respectfully.

• Laurie Eaton, Executive Director of Meca, Inc.
  • The seniors are highly motivated, intelligent, and educated. They don’t just play cards.
  • The J.O.Y. Center will man a table at a senior expo at the Tom Ridge Center on Monday (Aug. 25) from 9 a.m. to noon.

• Pat – J.O.Y. Center Member
  • The J.O.Y. Center members are of a generation that was on the leading edge of some of the greatest movements in history, such as the civil-rights movement, the sexual revolution, the Vietnam war, and the computer age. When he asked the audience if they ever thought they would become involved in a political revolt, no one raised their hand.
  • Pat said the supervisors have been a catalyst to get the seniors involved in a cause. These seniors have shown the world that they can still function and they are ready to rock and roll.

• Marlo – This man in his 80s walks from the J.O.Y. Center to the Millcreek Township municipal building before every supervisors’ meeting (1.5 miles)

When the meeting adjourned, having never visited the J.O.Y. Center before, we decided to take a look around. We were impressed by the 20,000 square-foot size of the bright and cheerful facility. It certainly has enough room to accommodate programming expansion, if the center is allowed to continue. Also, plenty of space remains for potential tenants to share the space.

The J.O.Y. Center members are planning to attend the supervisors’ meeting on Tuesday, August 26, 2014 at 7:00 p.m. in the assembly room of the township building at 3608 West 26th Street
Erie, PA 16506. Let’s hope that they hear some good news.