Maureen Spillane (Left)
April 23, 2026 Submitted By Maureen Spillane
I have watched as many people have spoken for the seniors and what they want and need, in the same sentence where they say they don’t use the Center for Active Living. How then do they know what those who do utilize it or want to utilize it want and more need?
I volunteer at the Center, I am an Ambassador for the Center and I am a participant. I spend a lot of time with those who attend the Center and who are not able to for many reasons which have been overly discussed but not heard. Many talk about affordability and aging in place but how do you expect people to do that without the services or a place to go. Without the building and community there is isolation and heartache. Unless you live in it you cannot truly understand. Hopefully you will accept my word for it. The Center provides services (and will provide many more) is a place to be, belong, engage, learn and continue to grow without cost. That is affordability. If people are really concerned with the seniors and ensuring their health, longevity and ability to age in place they would also appreciate that the cost will pay dividends many times over for our senior community that need it.
I have been supporting and advocating for a new Center for Active Living for years as all the other buildings went up and we were asked to wait a little while longer while the current crisis or need was addressed. While schools, the overrides, water company purchase, the safety building, a pool and pickle ball courts (both of these which will have limited access and usage) got approved. Our Net Zero initiatives have had more support than the seniors. The discussion over a new Center for Active Living has been going on for over a decade and we are now again being pushed to the side and deemed non-essential spending. I am not non-essential. The thousands of seniors that do need this are not non-essential. We matter and we have been very clear for years. Yes we want affordability and to age in place and we know to do that the services and space to do that is ESSENTIAL.