Fern Schultz, 91, celebrated a dream come true Oct. 18. After 31 years of waiting, Schultz cut the ribbon on a new senior center in Clintonwood Park.
‘This is wonderful. They have done such wonderful, wonderful work in record time, of course it took us 31 years to get it, but once it got started they did well. They’ve done a beautiful job,? said Schultz. ‘That old place had a lot of memories. I hated to see it go down, even if it was a fire hazard.?
Members of the community, Independence Township Board, Senior Center faculty and staff, and Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson came to support the center.
‘I think this is how this community establishes itself, in how it treats its senior citizens,” Patterson said. “They have worked hard and they’ve built this community. Now they get to sit back and enjoy the fruits of their labor.”
According to Senior Center Coordinator Margaret Bartos, Schultz came to the center with her husband before she was 60 years old. She has been involved in many of the senior center programs.
‘We just are very, very delighted to have this new building and very appreciative of Dave Belcher and facility maintenance crew, Sam Moraco, Dan Kelly, and Chuck Dunn for getting this going and listening to us. We think that a lot of the seniors will be very happy with it,? said Bartos.
Supervisor Dave Wagner said Kelly worked hard for the new building.
‘He is one of the main reasons why this thing got rekindled again. It had been dead in the water for quite a period of time. With Mr. Kelly’s assistance, we were able to fulfill the seniors’ dreams,? said Wagner.
The new building ‘was a long time coming,? he said.
‘It’s nice, all the participation from different segments of the community that made this all possible with all the hard work they put in. I really appreciate it,? he said.
‘I think Dave Belcher and all contractors did a great job and they did it within budget, ahead of time,” Kelly said. “That’s about the only way the township could have afforded to do it.?
Belcher and Moraco said the 2,100 square-foot building was completed in 12 weeks.
‘It’s a success story today, it really is,” said Treasurer Jim Wenger. “Dave Belcher, Sam Moraco, and all the venders that supplied their time and discounts, it’s good to see. Hopefully it will be a building that will be long used. It’s a thumbs up day.”
Clerk Shelagh Vanderveen said she was happy to see the project come to fruition.
‘It’s a beautiful facility and I think it’s going to be a great addition to the community,? she said.
Cheryl Karrick, planning commission chairwoman, said it was something seniors needed and it was well overdue.
‘It’s a great addition to our community, I welcome the day that we got to cut the ribbon,? she said.