Tuscarawas County Senior Center to open satellite location in Strasburg

STRASBURG ‒ The Tuscarawas County Senior Center will be opening a new satellite center in Strasburg at 8 a.m. Sept. 5.

The center will be located at the United Methodist Church, 206 Second St. NW.

This decision was made by the senior center board of directors at its regular monthly meeting in June, where the board voted unanimously to accept the business plan for the senior center and create a new satellite in the county.

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“We are very excited for this new center to open and the impact it will have on those 50 and older living in and around the village of Strasburg. Our main Dover site will provide supportive services as well as linkages to all programs and services offered including transportation, minor home repair, in-home services and fitness,” said Jamie L. Smith, senior center executive director.

Currently there are six senior center locations across the county: Dover, Uhrichsville (Claymont), Sugarcreek (Garaway), Mineral City, Newcomerstown and Westchester. Each satellite falls under the operations of the Dover site. However, several satellites − Garaway, Newcomerstown, Strasburg and Westchester − have boards that manage the overall operations of the site,

Group worked to make Strasburg Senior Center a reality

The establishment of a Strasburg Senior Center came about with an advocate group led by Lynda Greco, who created a work group of individuals living within the village of Strasburg. Greco was a huge proponent of having a center and was able to lead people to the table to begin having conversations on how to build a center from scratch.

“I’m excited to see a senior center here in Strasburg for our seniors to be able to enjoy and have a place to gather and socialize,” said Greco. Her team developed into a functioning board of directors that then created a business plan for approval by the Tuscarawas County Senior Center.

“This working group created a worthy plan worth investing in as the lead center in the county. The Strasburg center will have access to levy funds to assist with operations as well as a part-time manager supervised by the executive director at the Dover site,” said Matt Kinsey, president of the senior center board of directors.

Center will be open Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays

The days of operation will initially be Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. and closed for observed holidays and when Strasburg-Franklin Local Schools are closed due to inclement weather. Programs and services offered will be bingo, card games, crafts, educational speakers, fitness classes, Bible study and more.

Lunch will be offered for $4. All lunches will be ordered through the Strasburg Senior Center and delivered by the Tuscarawas County Senior Center. The Strasburg Senior Center can be reached at 330-878-4048.

A monthly newsletter will be created to include a schedule of events as well as lunch menu. All lunches can be ordered the day before by calling the Strasburg Senior Center. Anyone willing to volunteer their time, should contact Heather Blacka, Strasburg satellite manager at the center. The center will also accept monetary donations as well as donations of office supplies, craft supplies, dorm-size refrigerator, cleaning supplies and coffee.

This article originally appeared on The Times-Reporter: Strasburg satellite senior center to open