Agenda - 05-15-2007-12 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Memorandum To: Laura Blackmon, County Manager From: Jerry Passmore, Department on Aging Director Date: May 10, 2007 Re: Transition of Seniors from Northside to the New Seymour Center This memo is in response to questions regarding the Northside Center that were raised at the May 3, 2007 BOCC Regular Meeting. Years in the Planning Plans and preparations to bring together the two senior centers -the Chapel Hill Senior Center on Elliott Road and Northside Center on Caldwell St. -were fundamental to the planning process for the new Seymour Center. The Seymour Center was designed to serve all older persons in southern Orange, including Chapel Hill and Carrboro and located in close distance ( approx. 3.5 miles or less) from the existing centers. Two representatives from Northside seniors and the Director of the Chapel Hill Hargraves Center were included on the Design Committee appointed by the BOCC to work with staff and the architectural team. Additionally, a representative of Northside sat on the Friends of the Chapel Hill Senior Center board and was involved in public input sessions and informational forums to promote the coming together of seniors across southern Orange. Notably, hula Alston, President of the Golden Age Happy Circle Club, was involved in the planning process and spoke at the ground breaking ceremony for the Seymour Center in September, 2005. For over a year the Department on Aging staff has been consulting with the Northside seniors about the physical and emotional transition to the new Seymour Center, in recognition that change is not easy. This planning process has also occurred with seniors at the Chapel Hill Senior Center. Aging staff has scheduled the types of programs and activities at the new Seymour Center that Northside seniors said fihey either wanted to see continued or created. The basketball court, an arts/crafts room, and outside courtyard at the new Center were expressly included because of their.importance to the Northside community. Transition in Progress Hands-on & Personalized ...Transportation During May transportation arrangements have been negotiated by AI Terry, OPT Manager, to provide every Northside senior, who is an Orange County resident, with ready access to the Seymour Center via Chapel Hill Transit, Easy-Rider, or Orange Public Transportation. Drive-bys have been conducted to familiarize seniors with the location, parking, and surroundings. At the annual May Day Event (May 4t") co-sponsored with Recreation and Parks at Hargraves Center, Jerry Passmore informed everyone, including Northside participants, of the upcoming move to the New Seymour Center this month. As with the ground breaking ceremony for the Seymour