BY MATT SCHOOLEY

When Gene  Slusser donated $1 million to build a senior center in Hopkinton, his guidelines were simple.

“Here’s the money. Start right away and do a good job,” he said.

Now, after nearly two years in the works, the Slusser Senior Center had its grand opening
ceremony on Saturday, Nov. 3.

The day included music, tours and a ribbon-cutting ceremony with a large crowd turning out to celebrate the first phase of the finished project.

While the bottom floor is still unfinished, the center will be completed in about a month, and an elevator will be installed within the next few months to officially end the construction process.

“We’re very excited. It’s great to see people in here and smiling, and signing up for November programs already,” said Recreation Director Justin La Vigne. “Many more people want to volunteer and donate, and when they came in here they looked around and saw things that they realized could look great in the building.”

The Hopkinton Woman’s Club was on hand to donate a check for $15,000 to the Slusser Center, as Roxanne Benzel and Jenifer Dexter made the presentation before the ribbon was cut.

Selectman Don Lane was thrilled with how well-received the opening was.

“We are very satisfied and delighted with the response we’ve had. It’s a major step for the town,” said Lane. “This is the vision. We want it to be a welcoming place where people can learn and contribute and be a part of the community.”

The day was also a satisfying one for Slusser, who attended with his wife, Anne.

“We’re very excited,” he said. “We had a few people who were against it, but the town for the most part really supported it. It’s great to see the building with people in it. It has been more than I hoped for.”

Ruth Sisson, who came out to see the building for the first time, was impressed with the finished project.

“It’s bright and well lit, and it has great floor space,” she said. “It’s so close to the library, so it’s an opportunity to use two town facilities with one parking space. I think it will become a focal point for all of the community.”

The building was furnished the day before the grand opening, so La Vigne said it was a strange feeling when he came in on Saturday, Nov. 3.

“It’s really different. Yesterday it was empty. Last night we brought in the furniture and now there are people,” he said. “To hear noise other than drills is just great.”