Webster Senior Citizens Seeking To Organize
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
NORTH WEBSTER - Senior citizens expressed interest in forming an organization. They met Wednesday in the old elementary school's cafeteria.
About 30 people attended the informal meeting conducted by Bob Murphy of R.P. Murphy and Associates.
Murphy said the goal is to use the old North Webster Elementary school to the fullest extent possible.
The Wawasee School Corp. plans to begin the second semester in the new elementary school on CR 750E near CR 600N.
For the last two years plans have been formulated to use the old school on Ind. 13 as a community center.
The North Webster-Tippecanoe Township Library, the Kosciusko Comunity YMCA, Lakeland Youth Center and the town have expressed interest in using the building.
An organized senior citizens club will facilitate grant applications, Murphy said.
Preliminary plans are to tear down the "old" part of the school, which was built in 1917, and build a 4,000-square-foot addition to house a commons area and town offices.
The YMCA has expressed interest in offering adult programs, including those geared for seniors.
"The question is, are you interested?" Murphy asked. "The school board is pushing us to make a decision. They don't want to heat two buildings."
Lakeland Youth Center uses the school's gymnasium during the evening and on Saturdays with activities for 340 boys and 300 girls.
Weekly dances with a live band, dance lessons, card tournaments, a wood shop, crafts, sewing, travelogues, bingo and educational programs were mentioned as possible activities.
Murphy said the nutrition site is prepared to move to the cafeteria space.
He asked that five people volunteer as a senior citizens executive board, but no one committed to that.
Five people representing the five churches in town were prepared to take sheets for signatures to their various places of worship, however, as evidence of interest in the building.
It was noted that many seniors attend Wednesday evening church meetings.
"We have the space for senior activities. If an organization doesn't form, the Y will take it over," Murphy said.
The community center study committees are about six months behind, Murphy said, because construction of the new school has moved so quickly.
The committee planned to present their final plans this spring.
"The problem is grant money won't be available until this summer," Murphy said.
The International Palace of Sports has pledged $750,000 toward renovation and operation of the elementary school as a community center, to be paid in increments of $250,000 initially and an additional $50,000 per year for 10 years for operating costs.
Several other organizations also have been approached for support. [[In-content Ad]]
Latest News
E-Editions
NORTH WEBSTER - Senior citizens expressed interest in forming an organization. They met Wednesday in the old elementary school's cafeteria.
About 30 people attended the informal meeting conducted by Bob Murphy of R.P. Murphy and Associates.
Murphy said the goal is to use the old North Webster Elementary school to the fullest extent possible.
The Wawasee School Corp. plans to begin the second semester in the new elementary school on CR 750E near CR 600N.
For the last two years plans have been formulated to use the old school on Ind. 13 as a community center.
The North Webster-Tippecanoe Township Library, the Kosciusko Comunity YMCA, Lakeland Youth Center and the town have expressed interest in using the building.
An organized senior citizens club will facilitate grant applications, Murphy said.
Preliminary plans are to tear down the "old" part of the school, which was built in 1917, and build a 4,000-square-foot addition to house a commons area and town offices.
The YMCA has expressed interest in offering adult programs, including those geared for seniors.
"The question is, are you interested?" Murphy asked. "The school board is pushing us to make a decision. They don't want to heat two buildings."
Lakeland Youth Center uses the school's gymnasium during the evening and on Saturdays with activities for 340 boys and 300 girls.
Weekly dances with a live band, dance lessons, card tournaments, a wood shop, crafts, sewing, travelogues, bingo and educational programs were mentioned as possible activities.
Murphy said the nutrition site is prepared to move to the cafeteria space.
He asked that five people volunteer as a senior citizens executive board, but no one committed to that.
Five people representing the five churches in town were prepared to take sheets for signatures to their various places of worship, however, as evidence of interest in the building.
It was noted that many seniors attend Wednesday evening church meetings.
"We have the space for senior activities. If an organization doesn't form, the Y will take it over," Murphy said.
The community center study committees are about six months behind, Murphy said, because construction of the new school has moved so quickly.
The committee planned to present their final plans this spring.
"The problem is grant money won't be available until this summer," Murphy said.
The International Palace of Sports has pledged $750,000 toward renovation and operation of the elementary school as a community center, to be paid in increments of $250,000 initially and an additional $50,000 per year for 10 years for operating costs.
Several other organizations also have been approached for support. [[In-content Ad]]