A Senior Center fix (Tidings – LTE)
I am a very concerned Ashland senior. I am disappointed with what has been happening during the past few months at our Senior Center. I am sure that there is an easy solution.
In the Local section of Thursdays (Oct. 26, 2017) Tidings, the Ashland Parks & Recreation Commission (APRC) finally let us know what is going on, even though it is a little confusing.One of the statements to calm all us was “by keeping senior services at the current location at 1699 Homes Ave.” I checked with my monthly copy of “Senior News October 2017″ and noted that, “Beginning /Int Tai Chi” Class and FREE Fall Prevention Class 1-3″ are being held at The Grove. That’s a long way from 1699 Homes Ave.
The senior luncheon is served from 11:30 to 12:30, Monday through Friday and is very good considering the nominal price we pay. To eat there and attend classes at another location is a problem. Especially for those of us who have to rely on others for transportation.
Back to the APRC news, in the latter paragraphs it was mentioned, “There have been calls for the city to take over senior services from APRC. This would make sense in many ways and in fact, the city did, until 2007, administer the senior program.” It was also stated, “The essential senior programs are social services, logically a responsibility of the city, and not specifically part of APRC’s mission.”
It sounds to me as if the APRC wants to get out of the Senior Center business. As one of the many concerned senior residents and voters, I say, “Let’s go for it and put everything back as it was a year ago.” The Ashland City Council should re-take this project.
Earl Haveman
Ashland
