Senior center receives makeover in Marlboro

MARLBORO - The previously dormant Morganville Senior Center, Texas Road, is alive again to give Marlboro's older residents a place to call their own. The building, which has not been in used in the past three years, was officially reopened and dedicated on June 2.

Jay Solomon, the chairman of the Senior Advisory Committee, was appointed to that panel when a new administration took office in January. He said that when committee members learned about the Morganville Senior Center they took a look to see what the facility had to offer. Although the center was dirty after years of being closed, Solomon and Councilwoman Randi Marder, the Township Council's liaison to the committee, saw potential.

Having a building strictly for the seniors' use is wonderful, as space has become limited at the Marlboro Recreation Community Center, said Denise Barry, Marlboro's senior citizen program director.

The Morganville Senior Center received some fresh paint and new furniture donated by Applewood Estates of Freehold Township, a division of CentraState Healthcare System. As the building's mini makeover was wrapping up, ideas for programming were being discussed when Marlboro resident Marion Riback came forward with an option.

Riback, an intern with the Jewish Community Center (JCC) of Greater Monmouth County, Deal Park, was given the task of finding a community in the western part of Monmouth County where the JCC could set up a weekly hot kosher lunch.

The pilot program at the reopened senior center welcomes all Marlboro senior citizens to sample hot kosher meals prepared and delivered by the JCC. The lunches will be held every Monday except on holidays.

Jess Levy, the CEO of the JCC, said the center has been providing hot kosher meals throughout Monmouth County for 15 years. The JCC receives funding for its meals on wheels program from the Monmouth County Division of Aging and support from the Jewish Federation and the United Way of Monmouth County.

Levy explained that the JCC was providing meals at the Marlboro Jewish Center and decided to service the community at the reopened Morganville Senior Center.

"The goal is to make hot nutritious meals more available to seniors," Levy said, expressing his belief that the program will grow at the Morganville facility.

Mayor Jonathan Hornik opened the June 2 luncheon by addressing those who came out to sample the cuisine. The rededication of the Morganville Senior Center was a goal Hornik set upon taking office in January.

The senior center was originally dedicated by the mayor's late father, Saul, when he was Marlboro's mayor in 1980.

"We are committed as an administration to improving the quality of life for the senior community in town because we appreciate you choosing Marlboro to live in and to stay," Hornik said.

The mayor spoke about senior programs that are being introduced in Marlboro, including, with the assistance of the Teen Advisory Committee, lessons on how to use a computer and program a cell phone. Hornik also said a new driver has been hired to drive the senior van, which can transport residents from the Marlboro Recreation Community Center on Wyncrest Road to the Morganville Senior Center. CentraState Healthcare System will have its wellness van present at the Texas Road site to offer various medical screenings to residents.

Business Administrator Alayne Shepler has applied for a Community Development Block Grant, a federal grant that is supplied through Monmouth County. If the township receives the grant, Hornik said he would like to see renovations made to the Morganville Senior Center's kitchen so that nutritional cooking classes may be offered in the future. Other improvements could include expanded parking and a new floor.

As more resources become available, Solomon said it is hoped that the number of services offered at the Morganville location can be increased.

After one of her exercise classes at the Marlboro Recreation Community Center, Fanny Santos learned about the hot meal program being offered at the newly reopened Morganville Senior Center. She said she decided to come to the rededication ceremony to see what the mayor and the senior center are offering to Marlboro's older residents.

"When we are older we need more help and this is very good for us," Santos said after sampling the fare.

Residents Shirley Litwak and Libby Chirlin also came out to enjoy the new program. Litwak said she thought the hot lunch program was wonderful and hoped that more residents would take advantage of the offering in the future.

The offering of computer classes was appealing to Litwak and Chirlin.

The mayor explained to the women that the Teen Advisory Committee members would come to their home and teach them computer skills for free. For more information about these classes call the mayor's office at 732-536-0200.

For more information about the hot meal program and for details about the van to the Morganville Senior Center, call 732-617-0100.