Once burnt to the ground by mschooley@yourneighborhoodnews.com an arsonist, the Slusser Senior Center has sparked the interest of the Hopkinton community, and is prepared to celebrate its one-year anniversary.

The seven-member Senior Recreation Committee – Gloria Symonds, Allita Paine, Joanne Woodward, Don Lane, Lillian Landry, Janet Krzyzaniak, Marilyn Ceriello Bresaw and Board of Selectmen representative George Langwasser – was created about three months ago to plan programs and decide in which the direction the center should go forward.

Krzyzaniak, chairman of the group, has lived in town since 1947 and said she wants to serve the community she grew up in.

“I lived in this community a long time, and have wanted to be involved and pay back the community,” she said. “It’s very rewarding to know we have almost passed the year anniversary after so much controversy was happening.”

On Saturday, Nov. 8, there will be a one-year anniversary party at the center with music and refreshments, from 1 to 4 p.m.

Don Lane, a member of the Senior Recreations Committee and a former selectman, said it’s impressive to see how far the building has come.

“There were a lot of problems when we first started, and there were certain factions that were so negative that it riled someone up so much they burnt it down,” Lane said. “That was an unfortunate beginning. In some respects, it caused us to be more determined to see this thing through.”

The committee had its first meeting in October after Recreation Director Justin La Vigne spent several months during the summer organizing it and trying to get community interest.

“I have a recreation committee, but we talked it over with them and decided it was best to have a separate committee dedicated to senior needs,” said La Vigne. “It was important to have this because there are more and more seniors these days.”

Lane said the center has done a good job of addressing the increasing number of senior citizens in Hopkinton.

“The key thing is that what the building has brought to the community is an appreciation and an effort on the part of the town to address the fastest growing segment of our population, people over 50,” he said. “Instead of people growing old and running out of things to do, running out of friends, the Slusser Center brings to the town a place to go.”

Found at the Slusser Senior Center are programs such as line dances, yoga and meals, as well as programs geared toward the safety of the town’s elder generation.

“You can meet new friends and find plenty of opportunities to find a place to keep your mind fresh as well as your body,” said Lane.

Krzyzaniak said in the upcoming years, she hopes the activities will continue to blossom, thanks to the help of the Senior Recreation Committee.

“The committee would like to expand the existing programs and offer as many social activities as possible,” said Krzyzaniak.

Slusser Senior Center hosts a variety of activities.
• Every Wednesday seniors can enjoy a home-cooked lunch at noon. Suggested donation per person is $4.
• Chair yoga, Mondays from 1 to 2 p.m. Beginners welcomed.
• Line dancing, Monday, Wednesday, Friday at 9:30 a.m.
• Needlework group, Thursday at 10 a.m.
• Play Bridge Tuesdays at 1:30 p.m., all levels welcome.
• Senior fitness class, Mondays and Wednesdays at 3:30 p.m., and strength exercises, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9 a.m.
• Bingo is on Friday, Nov. 7, at 1 p.m.; and Friday, Nov. 14, a tea social and birthday party at 2 p.m. The Slusser Senior Center will be closed Tuesday, Nov. 11, in observance of Veterans Day.