WORK TO START SOON ON CAPE SENIOR CENTER; BANK LOAN OF $400,000 MEANS RAISING OF MONEY AT FULL STEAM

The Cape Girardeau Senior Center hopes to host a big New Year's Eve bash at their new building.

Preliminary work has begun at the new site and construction should begin immediately, officials with the senior center said Thursday.

If all goes well, the building will be finished in about four months.

Earlier this week, officials secured a bank loan for $400,000. Center officials had approved a negotiated bid of $399,000 with E.R. Thompson Construction Inc. to build the facility at 921 N. Clark Street.

Russel Faust, president of the senior center board, said: "I am real excited, but there is still a lot of work ahead. We'll be doing a lot of internal fund raising, but we still need a lot of contributions from the community."

The seniors have raised about $100,000. With that money they have paid for the land and for some preliminary work at the site. The Clark street site cost about $47,500.

Much more money is needed.

"We now have a loan payment to meet each month," said JoNelle Lingo of the center. But senior citizens have a new sense of hope about completion of the project, she said.

"This is a dream we've had for a long time. Sometimes I felt it was an unattainable dream, but the seniors would say don't be so negative; of course it will happen."

"Now I feel the same way. We'll make it, no doubt. We'll come through with the loan payments one way or another," said Lingo.

"It's our first real home," she said. "The new building should be better for everything. We can provide more services and we will have more room to serve."

The cornerstone of the seniors' program has always been the noon meal. An average of 160 people eat lunch at the center each day. When roast beef or fried chicken is served, the number is much higher.

The new facility has been designed to specifically meet the needs of seniors with 8,040 square feet of floor space; 105 parking spaces are also planned.

The new facility will seat 50-75 percent more people for meals, and also includes two areas where meetings and classes can be held.

"We hope to open up a crafts room where people can come and work on a project and leave it to work on later," she said.

The nutrition center opened 18 years ago at the former Sunny Hill and operated there for a short time before moving to 23 N. Middle. In 1978 the center moved to the Cape County Park, and to its present site, 232 Broadway, in 1987.

The facility is too small and has inadequate parking. The nutrition center rents the facility and shares it with the Cape Civic Center for teens. The seniors must pack up their projects each day to make room for the youths each afternoon and evening. "It's just not ours," Lingo said.

Once construction begins officials at the senior center hope donations will increase. "We have had some people saying they didn't want to give until they were sure it was going to happen," Lingo said.

The new building is being constructed without federal assistance or tax money. The entire outlay of capital comes from donations and fund-raisers.

For example, an auction is planned Sept. 20 on the grounds of the Cape LaCroix Nursing Home. Items may be donated to the auction.

In addition to seeking financial support, the seniors have made up a "wish list" of a few items needed to equip the new center: a freezer 10 by 14 by 8 feet; executive-style desk, large mixer on stand; portable soup and salad bar; large round table; bread warmer and server; carpeting for four small rooms; good used piano; and VCR.

Many other items are also needed. For information call Faust at 335-3674 or Lingo at 335-1352.