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By Laura Drinan
Hometown Weekly Reporter
On January 7, the Center at Medfield’s director, Roberta Lynch, stood before a crowd of seniors, staff, and community members. Despite working tirelessly day and night in preparation for the day at the Center, she appeared overjoyed to see the community celebrating with her.
“It’s exactly ten years ago today that this building opened and began providing programs and services to the community,” she said.
Since the Council on Aging building’s opening in 2008, they have seen a 38 percent increase in Medfield’s senior population, and have recorded a whopping 180 percent increase in senior participation. With nearly one thousand seniors regularly participating at the Center, Roberta recognized each one of her staff members and volunteers who make it possible to provide activities for so many seniors.
Council of Aging Board Chairman Robert Heald also joined the 10-year celebration. “We’re all set for 2018,” he said, noting that the Center’s floors were just refinished over the holiday break. “We want everyone to come down and enjoy everything that’s going on here. You’ve heard a little bit about what goes on, but it’s much more than that.”
He also unveiled that the Center would be adding some Saturday hours this year, thanks to a grant for which Roberta had applied.
The Sunday celebration also encouraged members of the community to begin a New Year’s resolution at the Center by providing information about how to become involved in weekly classes, activities, and volunteer opportunities.
The afternoon hosted demonstrations for the community to see chair yoga, cribbage, and line dancing in action, as well as see weekly activities like mahjong. The day also involved a class that aided in understanding Medicare.
Senator Paul Feeney presented a citation in recognition of the Center’s “passion, commitment, and advocacy on behalf of the elders of the community,” with well wishes for future success upon them.
“The work that the staff, the board, and the volunteers do here is really the oxygen that a community like Medfield needs to thrive and to survive,” said Senator Feeney. “I think it’s great – all the programs you do here, the building is beautiful, in a great spot, and I want to make sure that we can continue to do those things. We can grow and we can truly invest in the community here in Medfield that does so much for so many people.”
Tony Centore presented a generous donation to the Center from the Lion’s Club and spoke about what the Council on Aging has meant to him in the past decade. With others attesting to the Center’s importance in the community, the seniors felt proud and thankful for having such a supportive and active senior center.
“I’m very proud of Roberta and her staff, who make this facility such a welcoming, warm place, filled with respect, filled with love,” said Rich Ryder, a member of the COA’s Board. “This doesn’t get to be this way by accident. It’s a lot of hard work by a lot of people.”
