Dear readers,
As I’m finding all the time, the Valley is a wonderful place for young families. From the Holyoke Children’s Museum, to Look Park, to Mill 180, to the Northampton Parents Center, and the many, many venues for story times, our area is literally bursting with kids’ activities. While my kid is still young for this, the KidsBestFest at the Academy of Music that took place this past week for school vacation is yet another example of family-friendly events to look forward to.
At the same time, it’s nice to think of the region as having something to offer to senior citizens, as well. I’ve worked at enough newspapers to know that upgrading and even building senior centers can become contentious and be years-long endeavors for communities. At times, divisions are sewn between those that the centers would benefit, and other sectors of the community that resent paying for them.
That’s why it was so refreshing to learn through Chris Goudreau’s reporting what a gem Holyoke’s senior center is. Its new building at 291 Pine Street opened to the public in 2013, and the $8 million price tag seems to be well worth it. Each week, 600 people use the space for varied activities including chair volleyball (a seated version of Holyoke’s signature sport), painting classes, and a model train club. Those Goudreau spoke with said they got a sense of camaraderie spending time with others using the center, and got ideas for new hobbies to enjoy. For 80-year-old Denis Dion, coming to the center felt less like a place where “you have to be old to go,” and more a place to have fun.
Other communities would do well to check out the Holyoke Senior Center and how they run their programming. The leadership gets its ideas for activities directly from those who use the center, and many are in attendance.
— Dave Eisenstadter