A N E W S P A P E R S E R V I N G M A T U R E R E A D E R S AUGUST 2019

David Wirt (right), district director for Ohio’s 5th District U.S. Congressman Bob Latta, presents a proclamation to Maumee Senior Center executive director Malinda Ruble (left) and board member Joe LaChapelle. MIRROR PHOTOS BY NANCY GAGNET

Senior Center Celebrates 25 Years Of Service In MaumeeBY NANCY GAGNET

MIRROR REPORTER The Maumee Senior

Center recently marked a 25-year milestone in Maumee.

To celebrate the occa-sion, the center hosted an anniversary gala on July 17 with a special dinner and live entertainment provided by the Maumee Senior Center Singers. Local offi-cials, including members of Maumee City Council and the mayor, were on hand along with David Wirt, the district director from OH-5 U.S. Rep. Bob Latta’s office.

The gala was the first of many events taking place throughout the year in honor of the center’s silver jubilee.

“We are using the whole year to celebrate,” said Ardis Dardenne, a vice president of the Maumee Senior

Center’s board of trustees and one of the center’s founders. “We’re going to have all kinds of special events this year that are over and above the things that we normally do.”

Those events include a high tea and jazz night, among other things.

Dardenne previously worked at a facility that pro-vided services to seniors, which prompted her to begin the process of estab-lishing senior programming in Maumee.

“I kind of got attached to that,” she said.

First running as a candi-date for Maumee City Council on a platform of creating senior services, something that at the time, Maumee lacked, Dardenne says she was “lucky enough not to win.”

That experience did,

however, allow Dardenne to work with former Maumee Mayor Harry Barlos, who upon his election win prom-ised to establish a program for seniors in Maumee.

It took eight years, sever-al meetings, surveys and dis-cussions with city council members to finally get a program up and running.

Initially, the senior pro-gramming took place at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, but eventually the city pur-chased the building on South Detroit Avenue, investing more than $600,000 to purchase and remodel it into the current Maumee Senior Center. In July 1994, the center opened, and on August 7 that year, a ribbon-cutting and community open house took place.

“I’m very proud of it,” Dardenne said. “We have a good director, we have a very

friendly staff and the city is very supportive of what we need, and I think that every-thing is going nicely.”

Over the years, the center has expanded both in pro-gramming and in size. A large activity room was added, along with new land-scaping and upgrades to the outside garden and base-ment. In the fall, the center will be getting a new handi-capped-accessible vehicle.

Longtime member Charmaine McClellan and late husband James, who passed away nine years ago, used to volunteer serving lunch at the center. For 16 years, the couple worked for the center daily, preparing the meals, which were then delivered to the center.

“That was our communi-ty service work,” she said.

No longer volunteering

on a daily basis, McClellan takes several exercise classes each week and she serves on the advisory board. She also takes part in the many trips offered through the center.

“I love moving to music, so anything that involves that, I do,” she said. “I have to be out doing something. I don’t like sitting at home.”

There is a nominal annu-al fee to join the center; however, you do not have to be a member to take part in activities at the center. Through the years, member-ship has fluctuated with as many as 800 members. Today, the center maintains approximately 350 mem-bers; however, in May, more than 1,900 individuals took part in events at the center.

In addition to volunteers and a staff of six, a 10-mem-ber board oversees the cen-ter. While the center

receives funds from the city of Maumee, from the Area Office of Aging and through a 3/4-percent sen-ior levy state tax, a large portion comes from fundraising and donations.

“We still have to raise a lot of money to run these things,” said Dardenne. “Sometimes we have to charge a little fee.”

Malinda Ruble, who was named the center’s executive director in 2013, said that the center provides important opportunities and resources for everyone in the commu-nity and not just for seniors.

“We are trying to serve everybody’s needs,” Ruble said. “We are a great center and we have a lot of won-derful programs and servic-es for everyone, but we are just trying to raise that a little bit more – that all ties together.”

In May, approximately 75 Fort Miami Elementary students in grades K-3 worked at the Maumee Senior Center garden. They included third-graders from Kari Dommer’s class as well as students who work with reading specialists Angela Gugger and Kelly Reither. Following the planting, the students pose for a photo after presenting the senior center with a piece of garden art from Carruth Studio.

During a community service project at the Maumee Senior Center, Fort Miami third-grad-er Zailey Blaze poses with Michael Schaefer, a senior citizen at the center.

In July 1994, the Maumee Senior Center opened to the public. This year marks the 25th anniversary of providing senior programming to the Maumee community.

To commemorate its 70th anniversary and to celebrate summer, the Elizabeth Scott Community is hosting the 10th annual Summer Fest on Saturday, August 17 from noon to 5:00 p.m. at 2720 Albon Rd.

The free, family-friendly, outdoor event is expected to draw 2,000 visitors, family and friends to the Elizabeth Scott Community, which offers independent and assisted living as well as skilled nursing and rehabili-tation.

“Each year we change a few things in our Summer Fest lineup to make it inter-esting and appealing to visi-tors,” said Matt Bucher, director of marketing for the Elizabeth Scott Community. “This year, entertainment will be provided by a new act that we have not had before. Aaron Hertzfeld, a popular local musician from Waterville, will perform sev-eral sets for us. We’re also bringing back the giant inflatables and games for kids, along with face paint-

ing, laser tag, a trampoline and our food vendors.

“We are also going to introduce a new, 70th-anniversary video we’ve put together about the history, philosophy and legacy of Elizabeth Scott, the person, and the Elizabeth Scott Community,” said Bucher. “The video will be played on a continuous loop inside.”

Another new item this year will be an indoor art show sponsored by Owens Community College’s Fine and Performing Arts Department. The show will feature works created by Owens students under the guidance of instructor Nichole Newman.

Nichole has designed a wide variety of costumes for the Owens stage, including 17th-century French fashion, Dungeons and Dragons-style creatures and formal red-car-pet Oscars wear, as well as headless horseman, dogs and birds.

“Nichole is a major con-tributor and collaborator to

the Owens Fine and Performing Arts Depart-ment,” said Jeremy Meier, Owens Community College’s chair of Fine and Performing Arts. “Her distinct aesthetic and creative eye has enhanced the work on stage for over 20 main stage pro-ductions at the college.”

The goal of Summer Fest

is for the Elizabeth Scott Community to show it is a good neighbor by opening its campus to area residents for food, fun and entertainment, Bucher said.

Those who attend can pur-chase food and non-alcoholic beverages from food vendors. Admission and parking are free, and there is plenty of parking in the Elizabeth Scott Community’s neighboring farm field.

“We’re quite grateful for our sponsors who help make this event a possibility,” Bucher said.

Presenting sponsors are Kaminsky and Associates, The Mirror Newspaper and Healthy Living News. Main stage sponsors are RCO Law and HW & Company.

The free Summer Fest event will be held on the Elizabeth Scott Community’s campus, 2720 Albon Rd. in Springfield Township, west of I-475 between Salisbury Road and Airport Highway. For more information, contact the Elizabeth Scott Community at (419) 865-3002 or visit www.elizabeth-

scott.org.

Page 10-A THE MIRROR August 1, 2019

The Springfield Township Fire Department will bring a fire truck so children of all ages can check it out. PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE ELIZABETH SCOTT COMMUNITY

Aaron Hertzfeld, a Waterville musician, will perform sev-eral sets during the festival. Nichole Newman, an instructor in the Owens Community College’s Fine and Performing Arts Department, is bringing a variety of costumes created by students for an indoor art show during the Summer Fest.

The Elizabeth Scott Community Hosts Free August 17 Festival

• Entertainment by Waterville musician Aaron Hertzfeld. • Springfield Township Department of Fire and EMS fire truck tours. • Indoor art show featuring works from Owens Comm-unity College Fine and Performing Arts students.

• 70th-anniversary video of the Elizabeth Scott Comm-unity. • Giant inflatables. • Kids’ games. • Face painting. • Laser tag. • Trampoline. • Food vendors.

The Elizabeth Scott Community’s 10th Annual Summer Fest: A Fun, Free Family Event

This is the 10th year for the Elizabeth Scott Community Summer Fest and the 70th anniversary of the community.

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