Board prez defends center against criticisms

As the president of the Long Branch Senior Center Advisory Board, and a 14-year member of this center and one of the 1,200 registered members, I would like to respond to the comments made by a candidate at the debate held April 24.

On any day of the week, you can find 75 to 150 seniors utilizing the center in various programs. The list is long and varied: osteoporosis and arthritis exercise and educational programs, pain management and healing, computer classes, watercolor and ceramics classes, Spanish language, tai chi, choral group, movie matinees, triad-senior security programs, bingo, cards, line dancing and AARP chapter meetings, to name a few.

In addition to these daily events, we also schedule throughout the year special holiday celebrations: Older Americans Month activities, volunteer recognition celebrations and cultural affairs, open houses, birthday celebrations, picnics, brunches and trips.

No senior is forgotten by the senior center staff, volunteers and participants - we provide meals on wheels and telephone reassuring programs, and baskets for our homebound seniors on a regular basis.

We now offer on Tuesdays and Thursdays new "in good taste" luncheons - which are cooked and prepared by our volunteers - to our seniors in the center and the community.

All of these programs are advertised in our monthly newsletter/calendar which is available at the center at all times and is sent to city hall, libraries, senior housings, housing authority, churches, synagogues, Monmouth Medical Center, Long Branch Board of Education, medical personnel, and health and social services agencies in the area.

Under the caring and knowledgeable direction and leadership of our center director and staff, and our dedicated volunteers, the Department of Seniors Affairs and Center have come a long and successful way, and have made a positive impact on the city and in Monmouth County.

I am very proud to be part of this center and felt it was important to provide an insight to the public as to what our center is really about. We welcome everyone to visit and learn more about what we have to offer.

Betty D'Alessio

Long Branch Senior Center

advisory board president