Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Robert Maes of Clovis watches his shot Friday afternoon at the Friendship Senior Center. Maes and fellow pool players said they played pool daily at the center until the pandemic shut down the center last March, and were happy to get back into the game.
CLOVIS - After more than a year of closed doors, Clovis' Friendship Senior Center welcomed visitors on Friday.
The Clovis city commission approved the reopening during its Thursday night meeting, following a discussion of whether Senior Services Director Barbara Riggan was being too cautious with capacity.
Mayor Mike Morris said after a year of state-level decisions on various restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic, the state left the decision on opening senior centers to their respective municipalities.
"I don't see why we wouldn't," Morris said.
Riggan told commissioners the center would be open 8 a.m.-10 a.m. and 1 p.m.-4 p.m. weekdays, with the midday closure to concentrate on Curry Resident Senior Meal Association services. Indoor capacity would be limited to 30 people, with tables 10 feet apart and residents 6 feet apart. Additionally, Riggan said, the outdoor area could seat either overflow crowds or people who just wanted to socialize outside.
Commissioner Leo Lovett asked, "Are we being too conservative?" Riggan said the center's capacity was 120, but came to the number of 30 based on social distancing guidelines.
Commissioner Juan Garza said the move to reopen the center was overdue after a closure of more than a year, and felt the center should have as much capacity as possible to give seniors the opportunity at socializing they've been missing for so long.
In support of Riggan, Commissioner Helen Casaus said "taking baby steps" was the best approach and noted many seniors likely still have trepidation about being in large groups. Riggan said of the seniors who come to pick up to-go meals from CRSMA each weekday, it's 50-50 on people who want to eat in the center. She said CRSMA is still working on its guidelines for in-person dining.
Lovett said even though he felt like the center could safely accommodate a higher number, he proposed keeping the limit at 30 so the commission can take the heat for the time being. If Riggan discovers through initial operation a higher capacity is safe and desired, Lovett said, she can revisit the commission for changes.
