TODAY Staff Writer
That's when seniors who live in New Jersey are eligible to join the group, which meets four days a week on the Schuyler-Colfax school campus on Hamburg Turnpike.
Anton Oswald, 74, is president, CEO and chairman of the board of the Wayne Adult Community Center, Inc. An engineer at Lockheed Electronics in Watchung, Oswald retired in 1988, but wanted to stay active in the community.
"After a couple of years I got bored staying home," he said.
So he set out, along with fellow Wayne resident Ed Shiko, 70, to found the community center.
All this month, which is dedicated Older-Americans Month, seniors are being honored for the contribution they make to society. Oswald and Shiko have made it their mission to give something back to their hometown and to fellow senior citizens.
"If you keep the mind young, you will hopefully be in better health," Oswald said. "If you keep seniors active, you will keep them healthy longer."
But to put together the group was a daunting task.
"We wanted to appeal to people who still live in their homes, and recreate the atmosphere we found at the Senior Campus Living (retirement community) in Baltimore," Oswald said.
The group also has the distinction of being the first of its kind.
"We're the only community center in the country that's all volunteer," Oswald said.
The group started with 10 members who met once a month at the [Fallon} School in September of 1996. In the past two-and-a-half years, 420 seniors have registered to participate.
With new members that signed up at the May 19 Open House event attended by 150 people at the center's meeting room, the total number of registered members was expected to reach 440. The event included a buffet, door prizes and drawing for gift certificates.
Group members range in age from 60, to the oldest member, Wayne resident Bob Cromly, who is 92.
They also come from far and wide.
Residents from Monmouth, Union, Bergen, Passaic and Sussex counties belong to the lively group, which is open to all state residents.
There are no other residency requirements. Since the lease on the building is paid with a $90,000 state grant, the group must be open to all state residents.
There are 15 activities offered at the center, but bridge players make up the base, Shiko said.
The group meets at the center Monday through [Wednesday] from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. and line dancing events are held at the Civic Center on Hamburg Turnpike on Fridays from [10:30 to Noon].
"You don't need partners," Shiko said. "And there's no experience needed." "The line dancing ... includes western music, as well as cha-chas and modern music.
... The [third] Tuesday of the month a dance is held at the Elks Lodge on Hinchman Avenue, sponsored by Coldwell Banker. The [other] Tuesdays, the band plays at the Civic Center [beginning at] 12:30 p.m. ...
|
| TODAY photo by Demitrius Balevski |
| FOOD AND FRIENDS - Members of the Wayne Adult Community Center enjoy the buffet offered during its Open House last week. |
And local officials also contributed their time and money to the project.
The Wayne Board of Education, which owns the building the group is leasing, has also been supportive.
The computer room at the [Fallon} School is in the process of being renovated, and the senior group will be getting those computers to increase the accessibility to the Internet.
"Our association with the board (of education) has been great," Oswald said.
Oswald and Shiko have shown that two people can make a difference to so many others.
"I don't think anyone believed we could do it -- except two people -- Ed Shiko, and me," Oswald said. "I have a great deal of faith that what we're doing is the right thing.
"Look what we've been able to accomplish, just two men."