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PAGE 16, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 21, 1976, WHITBY FREE PRESS Open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Seniors 'centre offers information service By BRIAN WINTER Staff Writer Whiitby's senior citizens' activity centre bais been open only twvo and a hal f nontlis, but already it is beginning to fulfil a need in the cu-- nîunity witlï activities and informiation for the ti\vi's older residents. From March I1 toJune I11 the centre bas a senior co-ordinator, Mary Elleni Miller, who has been hîred by the recreationi departinent through a Local Initfatives Program Grant. Her job, she says, is 10 act as a liaison between tlhe recreation departnment' and the senior citizens' centre's board of directors, and to set up an information and referral service at the centre which will assist senior citizens with any problems thiey may have. Miss Miller is on duty at no dip tanks or caustics the centre fromn 9 a.rn. 10 5 p.m., althouigh the buildinig iîself is openl 9 a.11. tb 9 P.11. Nonday to Friday nd on evenings and weeke nds atccorid- inig 10 schecule. Aiready the centre is pub- lishing a rnonthly bulletin outlining ils activities on a daily basis. This bulletini is inailed to the -cenitre's 200 menibers. Memibership is nc reasing by about 1 5 peuple a week, and passed the 200 mark two weeks ago, says Miss Miller. The miemlbership fee of unie dollar a year enltîtles the holder tu use of the buildinig at any lime. The fee goes lu the town and is budgeted for by the town 10 operate the cenitre. Il does not go to the board of directors, says Miss Miller. Charges can be made for special events but not for general admission 10 the ai flow-over process MocNeilI s Furniture and Upholstery "UIt pays to reuphoister fine furniture" 1413 Dundas St. E., Whitby, Ontario Bus. 668-5481 Res. 668-6526 building, she says. The rnoney collected for special events is used for prizes, coffee, tea and cookies. A nuiber of' coniuinity organizations have coiC u the assistanîce of the seniors' centre lu tielp suppiy i t wi tI what il needs. The Whitby Lions Club lias dunated a piano and a first aid kit \vas supplicd by the local St. John's. Ambulance branch. Tlie United Auito Workers Union also assisted by providing sonie 1urnitu re. Conimunity organizations are also supplying the senior citizen sce n re wi lb progranms. Plans are uinder way for a first aid course lu bc sel UP by the Red Cross. Miss Miler's major project since she started wvorking at the-centre bias been 10 set up a senior citizens' informiation and referral service. Already she lias collected and complied a large selectioni ,of pamiphlets on governrnient prograins, wbichi are set uip in a display rack inside the main e nt rance. The pamphlets cover such topics as pensions, ga ranteed annual incomie, Onîtario li-ousîng, hieal 1h and wel fare, biomemiakers' services, nursing inforniation on. otiier service clubs and details "bout what the service clubs of the t own have tu offer. Miss Miller is workîng withi the Witby Public Library lu set up a inii-library of' books aI the centre, where senior citizens can sigio out reading miaterial. A nunîber of books have already been donated TLJESDAY' ThrftSp ecial Thrift BOX (9 pieces Kentucky Fried Chicken) ... 4.25. French Fries,(serves 3persofs) ......... 1.05 Creany Ciole Slaw (8 fl. oz.) ................ .40 Regular Pnice Colonel Sanders and his boys make it "flingeir 1icki n' good" 15,*7O TUESDAY O NLY $4025 Over 100 locations in Ontario. See your phone book for the one nearest.,you. A senior citizeils' information and referral service is t* latest addition to Whitby's senior citizci*s' activity centre. Looking over the pamphlets in the display rack are (left to right) the first member of the centre, Mrs. Mary Knight; Senior Co-ordinator Mary Ellen Miller; and members of the board of directors, Flora and Harry Lott. Free Press Photo by interested citîzens. Fu rthler pla ns i nc lu d the setting up of a miedical and dental ïeferral service al. the centIre, and aI ready an icorne tax service bias been establishied with a cliartered accountlant doing incrnie tax formis for seniors free of charge. Aiiyone wishing furtlier information niay caîl the centre at 668-1424. A guud relationslhip lias been set up with the Red Cross regarding ils home- mnakers' service, says Miss Miller, "and other services will be deteriîied by the kind of requests we gel". Mrs. Flora LotI, a nieniber of the board of directors, is pleased witlî the progress the centre bas made in the short lime since ils opening. "People are begiîining to féee frce l coîîîe in anîd eacli lime there are more hiere'",slie says. About 50 people a day are cuîng iiito the centre, especîally if there is a prograni on, says Miss M iller. Witlîi lie way Ilinigs are goiiig, says I larry Lott, Mrs. Lut t's hiosbanud aîîd another nîeîiber of the board, the tise of' the centre could double withini a year. A successfuî hobby fair was held April 10 under the direction of the board's prograin director, Mrs.Hannah MacMillan, and the County Town Singers recently pre- sented a concert at the centre. Miss Mill er points out that the centre still needs people who are interested in giving tîîeir tinie 10 help the senior citizens with their activities. Anyone who could spare a few lîours even to play the piano or entertain would be appreciated, she says. Boîli Miss Miller and Mrs. MacMillan are expecting Ihat the programns at the centre wilI increase considerably du ring the next fail and winter. In the sumimer, the major p rogramn connected with the centre will be the lawn bowling Ci'b, whose greens are located beside the new building. The future, however, is of some concern 10 Mrs. Lott, especially after Miss Miller's grant runs out and she is no longer avail'able to work for the centre. "There should be someone in the offiïce on a permanent basis 10 refer to with probleins etc. and to help us operate the centre", shesays. It will be faîl before we feel we are really going". Anniversary concert at St. Mark's April1 26 A special 1 SOîli anniversary conîcert will be hield at St'. Mark's United Cliorcli April 26, fecaturing thie Whitby Brass B3and and the Whitby Rotary Chorus. ThIe concert will be bield ai the church at 8 p.m. The band will be coîîducted on Ibis occasioni by Stam Red- féarn and the 'Rotary Chorus by Dr. R. C. Davis. Transportation will be provided for senior citizens by thie United Church Women. Anyomîe requiring transporta- tion can' cali Ellie Weir at 668-6790. Highway rebuilding begins in May Reconstructron of Highway 401 fromi the Brock Road at Pickering 10 Highway 12 in Wbiitby will begin in May aîîd be conîpleted in nîid-fall 1977, says the Ministry of Transportation and Commun- ications. The contract has been awarded tu Amibro Materials and Construction Ltd. of Branmpton at a cost of $7,470,3 34. The contract is for grading, drainage, granular base, paving and three structure widenings, for a distance of 6.9 miles. The reconstruction will provide '-the hlighway withi six lanes instead of the present four traffic lanes. WHITBY MALL 576-4431 V7E-lVET T0UCI FURNITURE STRIPPING unqu McMANUS STRONACH