Shippensburg seniors finally have a place to call home thanks to a collaborative effort between several private and public entities across county lines.
Branch Creek Place, a Senior Center & More, held a ribbon-cutting ceremony last Thursday to officially open at the former Shippensburg Community Center at 115 N. Fayette St. More than 130 seniors celebrated the milestone with a group of dignitaries, senior center staff, and representatives from the center’s sponsor, Messiah Lifeways — a Mechanicsburg nonprofit that offers a network of senior citizen programs and sponsors other senior centers.
“It’s been a long journey. We finally got here,” Charles “Chick” Stanat, president of the senior center’s advisory board, said to loud applause.
The quest for a home for Shippensburg area seniors has been a slow and sometimes winding process. For many years, the senior center was located at the former Shippensburg Community Center, but relocated temporarily to the Shippensburg Health Care Center in 2005 when Shippensburg Borough dropped its sponsorship. Southampton (Cumberland) Township Supervisors offered the former Cleversburg Community Center as a new home in November 2006. However, supervisors said years of growing operations costs were draining township funds and they voted to drop their sponsorship of Southampton Place, effective June 30, 2013. Subsequent negotiations then extended that effective date by 90 days.
Messiah Lifeways entered the picture shortly thereafter and offered to sponsor the group but pointed out it had no facility for the purpose. After an intense scramble that lasted months, Christ United Methodist Church offered a temporary home beginning Nov. 1, 2013, while a permanent solution was sought. The center later landed a $112,000 state grant and it was announced the former Shippensburg Community Center would be renovated to become the seniors’ new home. The center also received additional county funding and donations to complete the renovation.
Stanat thanked local legislators, officials, donors, Messiah Lifeways, and businesses for their collaboration in helping the senior center settle into a new home.
Carl Bert, a Messiah Lifeways board member and owner of Carl Bert & Associates, said Thursday the new senior center is what happens when good leadership comes together to make things happen. He said the building looks great and then offered a prayer.
Andrea Lage, president of Shippensburg Borough Council, spoke on behalf of the council and Shippensburg Mayor Bruce Hockersmith. She said Hockersmith could not attend the ceremony because he went to his granddaughter’s graduation from pharmacy school. She noted Sen. Richard Alloway II’s help in obtaining a major state grant for the senior center and Hockersmith’s role in Christ United Methodist Church becoming the senior center’s temporary home.
“The church was the bridge that got us here today,” she said.
Terry Barley, director of Cumberland County Aging & Community Services, then introduced the Acting Pennsylvania Secretary of Aging, Teresa Osborne. A native of Scranton, Osborne most recently served as executive director of the Luzerne/Wyoming Counties Area Agency on Aging.
“A project such as this one, that affords us the opportunity to gather and to recognize the hard work and dedicated efforts of so many, is worthy of our celebration,” she said. She continued the celebration was fitting because May is Older Americans Month. The new senior center represents nutritious meals, health services, exercise classes, educational classes and much more for area seniors, she said.
Vice chairman of the Cumberland County Commissioners Jim Hertzler said the project showed what can happen when different entities work together.
“It really was worth the wait,” he said.
David Keller, chairman of the Franklin County Commissioners, said, “Today’s event doesn’t happen without vision.”
He explained several Shippensburg residents had the vision to buy a grocery store and dedicate it to the borough. That building eventually became the community center and now the senior center.
Keller said the center was a shining example of when municipalities and private enterprise come together to make something happen. He urged the seniors to never quit and to stay active.
“I hope this is a real benefit to future generations,” Keller said.
“It is exciting to see what’s happening here,” State Rep. Rob Kauffman (R-89) said. “It almost seems like a dream.”
He echoed Keller’s comments in saying that many entities pitched in to bring the senior center to downtown Shippensburg — a centrally located center for both Franklin and Cumberland County residents.
Stacy Gregson, field representative in Alloway’s office, said Alloway was very sad he couldn’t attend the ceremony because he was at an event with the Chesapeake Bay Commission. She said the project was very close to his heart and it was a collaborative effort.
Stanat was given the honor of cutting the purple ribbon in front of the senior center. He was surrounded by Barley, Osborne, Messiah Lifeways Connections Director Geli Losch, and Branch Creek Place Manager Anne Hinkle. He cut the ribbon with large scissors to loud applause and cheers.
Everyone then got out of the sun into the air-conditioned center for cake, punch, and refreshments. Every table in the large dining room was occupied with seniors, dignitaries and staff members engaged in lively conversations.
Phil and Ruby Dorosh, of the Shippensburg area, have been members of the senior center for more than five years. They were checking out the before and after photos set up inside the center.
“This is fantastic,” Ruby said. “This has been a long time coming.”
She said things looked a little iffy when the seniors had to leave Southampton Place, but it all worked out in the end.
Phil said he remembered ballroom dancing with his wife at the building when it was a community center and it was great to see it transformed into a senior center.
The bright orange painted walls and wooden paneling are gone, said Rick Yohe, co-owner of R A Yohe Restoration & Construction LLC. His company has been renovating the 8,400-square-foot senior center since October.
He said exterior work included building a new handicapped-accessible ramp and painting the sides of the building. Interior work included installing a new HVAC system, installing new drywall, putting in a new drop ceiling, laying down carpets, constructing new bathrooms that are handicapped-accessible, and adding cabinets. They also installed a wooden floor near the corner of the dining room for exercise classes and dancing.
“This is a huge improvement for the community of Shippensburg,” Yohe said. “We’re happy to be able to support the community.”
Karin Bisbee, Messiah Lifeways director of gift development and communications, said the kitchen features new appliances as well as countertops, and Messiah Lifeways furnished the large dining room with many tables and chairs. She said the senior center also includes an activities room, a quiet lounge area, a computer lab that will eventually have a few computers, a quilting room, and offices for the center’s managers.
“It’s rewarding to see it all come together,” Bisbee said. “It epitomizes community collaboration.”
“It’s been an amazing journey,” Hinkle said. She thanked everyone for the collaborative effort to give the senior center a home.
“We have a sponsor that has a heart for the seniors. It’s a blessing,” Hinkle added. She continued the new building allows the senior center to host a myriad of activities and gives them an opportunity to explore new activities. The senior center currently has 167 members and they hope the new building can help them return to more than 200 members, Hinkle said. The center is open to seniors who are at least 50 years old.
The senior center’s assistant manager, Liz Robinson, said they were grateful for Messiah Lifeways’ sponsorship as well as friendship. She said they had no hesitation in donating all the furniture for the dining room.
“I’ve had so many people tell me it looks so homey here,” Robinson said. She added the facility could also be rented for weddings, receptions, parties and more.
Audrey Keyes, of Shippensburg, is a senior center member who often comes to Bible study and exercises. She said the center offers a variety of activities and lunches for area seniors. She thanked Hinkle for all her hard work throughout the uncertain journey.
Vietnam War veteran Dennis Hockenberry can no longer speak, but he wrote his thoughts of the new senior center in a statement to The News-Chronicle.
Hockenberry said the building was more than just a senior center: it was a place for veterans and many others to meet new friends and get the occasional thank you for military service (he noted that gratitude makes veterans feel a whole lot better).
“Thank God for places like this,” he stated. “It really does help cope with and enjoy life.”
Rachel McKinney, a senior center member, said Branch Creek Place is centrally located in Shippensburg compared to the one in Cleversburg. In addition, she said Messiah Lifeways is an organization that is very dedicated to seniors.
“This is a model for what every senior center should have,” she said. “It’s beautiful.”
Branch Creek Place is located at 115 N. Fayette St. in Shippensburg. For more information, call (717) 300-3563 or visit: www.messiahlifeways.org/live-well/senior-centers/branch-creek-place.
Senior centers typically offer a wide variety of programs and services such as, but certainly not limited to, the following:
These senior centers are friendly community gathering places where you can connect, volunteer, enjoy cultural experiences, take educational classes and a lot more. Activities like line dancing, low impact exercise, health screenings and flu shots help members stay well and active. Members also experience culture with bus trips and outings to local restaurants, theaters and historical sites. They also have many opportunities to connect with others at meal time, game time or while playing pool or singing in the chorus. Participants also have many ways to grow and learn by taking computer classes, health and safety classes or simply by meeting new people. And like most senior centers, volunteering is a big part of the experience. Whether it’s helping out at the center by answering phones, serving lunch or helping out with community service projects, members can share their time and talents.
