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Jamestown Senior Center celebrates 5

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JAMESTOWN — The Jamestown Senior Center celebrated its fifth anniversary June 7 in its home at the back of the Jamestown Opera House.

Formerly a police station, one section of the opera house became a senior center through a collaboration of the Jamestown Historical Society, Greene County Council on Aging (GCCOA), Silvercreek Township Trustees and many individuals in June of 2012.

The first activity the center hosted was a euchre tournament, which 12 people attended. Today, nearly 40 seniors show up for activities like exercise classes, crafts, bingo games and carry-in lunches.

“They had no center to come to to call their own … it’s just grown and grown,” Tim Brickey, GCCOA Senior Center Liaison, said. “They have taken it amongst themselves to make it their own. It’s the seniors that operate it … We unlock the doors and they make it happen.”

According to Karen Puterbaugh, Executive Director of GCCOA, it has taken 11 years to build the senior center to what it is today.

“Nothing’s shocking to me about the growth of this place,” she said. “When you come to Jamestown, you feel like you’re a part of the community, whether you’ve lived here for a minute or all of your life.”

Puterbaugh mentioned that the only challenge now is not having enough space.

During the celebration, Mayor Jerrod Pickens gave a special proclamation for the center.

“This is a dream,” Ted Sesslar, Jamestown Historical Society, said to the crowd. “This program is all possible because of you people.”

Diane Hollenbeck, the senior center’s program director, too, credited the seniors for their hard work and energy.

“I bring the ideas and they jump right in and help make it happen,” she said.

Several seniors at the event praised the center and called it “home.”

Anna Bolton | Xenia Daily Gazette Jamestown Senior Center celebrated its 5 year anniversary June 7 in the center located in the Jamestown Opera House. Mayor Jerrod Pickens, pictured with Diane Hollenbeck, Senior Center Associate, presented a special proclamation to honor the center.
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/32/2017/06/web1_Mayor.jpgAnna Bolton | Xenia Daily Gazette Jamestown Senior Center celebrated its 5 year anniversary June 7 in the center located in the Jamestown Opera House. Mayor Jerrod Pickens, pictured with Diane Hollenbeck, Senior Center Associate, presented a special proclamation to honor the center.

Anna Bolton | Xenia Daily Gazette Jamestown Senior Center celebrated its 5 year anniversary June 7 in the center located in the Jamestown Opera House. Mayor Jerrod Pickens, pictured with Diane Hollenbeck, Senior Center Associate, presented a special proclamation to honor the center.
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/32/2017/06/web1_2women.jpgAnna Bolton | Xenia Daily Gazette Jamestown Senior Center celebrated its 5 year anniversary June 7 in the center located in the Jamestown Opera House. Mayor Jerrod Pickens, pictured with Diane Hollenbeck, Senior Center Associate, presented a special proclamation to honor the center.

Anna Bolton | Xenia Daily Gazette Jamestown Senior Center celebrated its 5 year anniversary June 7 in the center located in the Jamestown Opera House. Mayor Jerrod Pickens, pictured with Diane Hollenbeck, Senior Center Associate, presented a special proclamation to honor the center.
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/32/2017/06/web1_Group.jpgAnna Bolton | Xenia Daily Gazette Jamestown Senior Center celebrated its 5 year anniversary June 7 in the center located in the Jamestown Opera House. Mayor Jerrod Pickens, pictured with Diane Hollenbeck, Senior Center Associate, presented a special proclamation to honor the center.

By Anna Bolton

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Contact Anna Bolton at 937-502-4498.