At the informal Common Council meeting on Monday, First Ward supervisor Sarah Sterling took issue with the notion that programming for seniors consisted of nothing but Bingo. So did a Gossips reader, who called to correct that false impression. According to these sources, Bingo represents only one hour in four hours of activities now offered for seniors every Tuesday and Thursday.
The day begins at 9 o'clock with a continental breakfast--coffee and bagels. Breakfast is followed by an hour of Bingo, after which seniors play cards or socialize for the remainder of the morning. Happening simultaneously with these more sedentary activities is an aerobics class at 9:30 and the staunchly defended yoga class at 10:45. A fee of $2 is charged for each of these classes to help pay the instructors. At noon, lunch is provided to the seniors by the Salvation Army Friendly Kitchen, located just down the street. Sterling noted that people usually leave after lunch and just about everyone is gone by 1:00 p.m. She also reported that a representative from Cornell Cooperative Extension has been coming to the Youth Center when the seniors are there to talk about nutrition and exercise.
I don't know about BINGO (though I like the song), but I do know that I applaud Eileen Halloran's extremely sensible idea of not building a second story on the new senior center at this time. It is simply not a good use of taxpayer money in these recessionary times. --peter m.
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