Senior center boards talk renovations

CLOVIS — A pair of city boards focused on senior center wellness met Thursday, with approval on building renovations and discussion of area entities that support seniors.

The Senior Center Plan and Design Task Force took just 15 minutes to give the go-ahead on changes to the kitchen designs at the future Clovis Senior Center at Hillcrest Park, which would house Curry Resident Senior Meals Association services.

The renovations to the prior plan added a reception area in the front, plus an additional office for a to-be-determined agency that would serve seniors. Some of the room was created by moving laundry facilities in with the custodial supply area.

Virginia Shonkwiler, acting CRSMA director, was asked her thoughts on the plan updates and she said she and the cooking staff were on board.

“If you’re the one who works there,” Chair Donna Labatt said, “and you’re satisfied, we can move forward.”

The renovations passed on a voice vote.

Also at the meeting, Shonkwiler was appointed to serve as the representative for CRSMA on the committee. She was named acting director after the city parted ways with Cherisse Perez, who stands accused of embezzlement charges.

At the Senior Services Committee meeting that followed later that afternoon, Shonkwiler told committee members meal service was down from last February, but the total deliveries for the year are exceeding projections. She noted some of the customers were upset to hear about possible embezzlement, but said weather could have been a factor in lower turnout as well.

Other reports during the meeting included:

• Senior Olympics: Melinda Coslett said registration will begin Friday for the local games, with anybody 50 or up eligible. The largest age groups she sees competing are in the 60-64 and 65-69 groups, with some members in their 90s.

The opening ceremonies will begin March 30 and run through early May, with schedules and registration available at Roy Walker Recreation Center. Coslett said the extended period is due to Albuquerque hosting nationals and no state competition this year.

• Ruthann Kelly, administrative assistant for the city’s senior services. She said the city has largely been successful in signing seniors up for the MySeniorCenter software program, and that a new paging system installed at Friendship was working well.

• Baxter-Curren Senior Center: Officials reported the center had 1,402 visitors in February, with many events drawing more than 100 people.

• La Casa Senior Center: Darlene Gonzales of La Casa said numbers were up with a few great events over the last few weeks, including a Mardi Gras party that seniors co-opted into a surprise birthday party for her and a March Madness promotion adding a monthly prize for the bingo games. Members have also had social events outside of the center, including some Clovis Community College Performing Arts Series shows.

Gonzales said she’s made visits to Santa Fe, and thinks there’s a good chance more state dollars could be coming to senior centers.

“Our members are going up rapidly, and our money is going down rapidly,” Gonzales said. “The funding needs to catch up.”

• Retired Senior Volunteer Program: Suzanne Zamora of RSVP said there are 11 volunteer sites and about 105 senior volunteers. Collectively, those volunteers have done about 36,600 hours of community services.

A volunteer recognition event is being planned for April 2.

• The next meeting of the Senior Services Committee is scheduled for 3 p.m. May 9.