Congressman Mike Ferguson said the House of Representatives approved his request for $50,000 toward a 3,000-square-foot senior activities center in Hillsborough.
By: Audrey Levine
As he stood in front of more than 100 Hillsborough senior citizens at a press conference Tuesday, Congressman Mike Ferguson, R-7th, announced that the House of Representatives approved his request for $50,000 to fund the creation of a 3,000-square-foot senior activities center in the Municipal Building on South Branch Road.
"I ask, what are things I can be doing in Washington to make life in Hillsborough even better?" he asked amid applause. "I am looking forward to coming back later this year and saying it is a done deal."
The funding for the new center was part of an annual bill that finances the Department of Housing and Urban Development. The version approved by the House of Representatives must now be matched with the Senate’s version before it can be fully submitted to the president for his signature.
"This announcement is important to Hillsborough and, most importantly, to its active senior citizens," said Mayor Anthony Ferrera at the press conference. "We want to create a place that seniors can call their own."
The center is being planned for an area in the Municipal Building that was once the library and is now being used for storage. Plans include creating three rooms a game room, computer area and space to watch television or other performances.
The space could be ready to open as soon as 2008.
"Right now, we are very limited as to the activities we can have," said Jim Weidenfeller, of Chetwood Court, at the conference. He said the size of the current multipurpose room does not allow the seniors to host as many activities as they would like.
Mr. Weidenfeller’s wife, Claire, said some people like to play cards and others like to learn about flowers, all of which could be offered in the new space.
"It will be a nice place for people who don’t normally socialize," she said.
According to Dick Meier, president of Chapter A of the senior citizens, he originally spoke to Parks and Recreation Director Rich Resavy about creating a larger area for the senior citizens to spend time together.
He said they initially discussed using the storage space as such a location, and then Virginia Hutson, president of Chapter B of the senior citizens, got involved in the planning as well.
"Right now, we have to make an appointment to use the multipurpose room," said Mr. Meyer, who explained that the space became too small for the 4,600 seniors in the township, causing them to split into two different groups. "Now we are going to be bringing the people back together."
Mr. Meyer said that although specifics of the area have not yet been finalized, the seniors will finally have a place they can call their own.
"The original multipurpose room was supposed to be seniors only, but we had to share," he said. "It is nice for everyone to know they will have something that’s their own."
Mr. Weidenfeller said the space would benefit from having computers installed for use, as well as an area for watching movies.
"We could have a luncheon and movie," he said. "That would go over really nicely."
Although Ms. Hutson said the ultimate goal would be for the senior citizens to have their own separate building, this new area designated specifically for them is a great start.
"The announcement that the town is moving forward with this is much appreciated," she told the crowd that also included assemblyman, and former Hillsborough mayor, Peter Biondi, R-Hillsborough. "After many years of fruitless talks and being turned down, thanks for moving forward with this."

