SENIOR CITIZENS' DREAMS COME TRUE IN NEW CENTER

After years of dreaming and planning, Friday will be moving day for the Cape Girardeau Senior Center. Cape Girardeau's senior citizens deserve a round of applause for the hard work and dedication that made this long-time dream come true.

The new center will be located on North Clark Street, near the Cape Girardeau Public Library. The new kitchen should open for noon meals by June 29. And while the center will officially move this week, the work is far from done. Director Jo Nelle Lingo said the price tag was almost double the cost anticipated when they started dreaming years ago. Total expenses topped the $400,000 mark, with just over $100,000 paid for.

The new building is being constructed without federal assistance or tax money. That means fund-raisers will be the order of the day for the next few years, unless more generous benefactors come along. Seniors must make a loan payment each month.

Much of the painting of the center was done by the senior citizens as a way to cut costs. The driveway will remain unpaved for now. They're also hoping for a donation of carpeting.

Even though some of the finish work remains to be done, the senior citizens are determined to move in this week. The center must spend its moving budget this month or lose $3,000 in federal money, since the federal fiscal year ends June 30.

Lingo said this marks the first time the seniors have had a place all to themselves since the center's opening 18 years ago. In sites on Middle Street and Cape County Farm Park, they shared space with the Area Agency on Aging. In their current 232 Broadway location, the seniors share with the Cape Girardeau Civic Center.

And while sharing is fine, this new facility should allow plenty of space for expanded services and programs. Lingo feels confident activities will stretch into the afternoons, evenings and weekends at the new center. She also looks for the noon meal program to grow at this more centralized location. Daily meals served have numbered about 160 for some time now. The new building can seat 50-75 percent more people at mealtime.

Lingo said the seniors are pretty proud of their new building and well they should be. Deserving particular credit is Russel Faust, who was named to the Order of Distinguished Older Missourians this month for his effort to obtain the new building. Many other board and site council members are also to be congratulated for their hard work over the years as well as Lingo for her leadership. She has served as center director since July of 1981.

Although an open house is planned for the fall, Lingo invites any community resident to drop by for a visit.

It will be a proud day when the senior citizens move to the new center, says Lingo. That pride should be shared not only by the seniors, but by the community at large. Their vision and determination have built an impressive center that will serve Cape Girardeau's senior citizens for years to come.