33^{rd Annual}
Senior Picnic
Wednesday,
August 6, 2008

11:00 am to 2:00 pm

For Reservations, please call
268-1590 by July 30, 2008

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'YOU CAN!" Steps to Healthier Aging

"YOU CAN!” Take Steps to Healthier Aging, (a program of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration on Aging). The Department of Elderly Affairs and local groups recognize the many ways older adults are choosing healthier lifestyles.  Making better food choices and being more physically active are well within reach and the benefits are great.  By taking part in “You Can!” Activities you can:

• Gain strength and vigor to help you do the things you want to do.
• Help manage your weight
• Improve your moods and relieve anxiety
• Reduce your risk of chronic disease and death
• Strengthen your bones and help prevent falls.
• Make new friends and have fun!

Check out our exercise programs in our monthly newsletter

Town of North Kingstown’s Senior and Human Services

The following questions have surfaced from the community regarding the proposed new senior center and town beach enhancements. I have attempted to answer these most frequently asked questions. However, if you have any other questions or concerns about this project, please contact me and I will be pleased to talk to you personally.  I can be reached at (401) 268-1593.  Thank you.

Kathleen

Kathleen M. Carland

Director of Senior and Human Services

Town of North Kingstown

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’S)

Proposed New Senior Center

and

Town Beach Enhancements

1.      Why build at the town beach?

The seniors have been at the town beach for the past thirty years and have developed an attachment to the site, ‘grandfathered in’ some might say.  It is also important that the senior center be located near the Beechwood House and the Community Center  to accommodate ‘overflow’  from the new senior center as the older adult community increases.

2.      Shouldn’t  the senior center be used as an emergency shelter?

It is not essential that the senior center be used as an emergency shelter.  The Red Cross and the Town have already designated certain schools as the appropriate shelters for the Town of North Kingstown….for all ages.  Even now, the possibility is being considered of making the new high school an authorized shelter.

3.  If the senior center is in the flood zone won’t it be affected by floods?

No. The new senior center is being ‘ramped up’ to fourteen feet (it is now approximately 11 feet above sea level) and will be built with materials designed to withstand the worst Mother Nature can provide. 

4. If the senior center is built on the grassy area where the band shell is won’t we lose a lot of ‘green space; that is used by children and others?

Even though the green space currently occupied by the band shell will be used for the senior center, the architect has redesigned the beach and playgroup area and created an equal amount of green space in this new location. 

5. What will happen to the band shell?

The Lafayette Band Committee approved the plan to relocate the rotting band shell over to the grassy area near the water.

6. Will the Art Association be torn down? 

No, it will remain where it is.

7. What will happen to Beechwood House?

Beechwood House will remain as a community asset and for the short term be used by the town for meetings as it now.  Older adult programming will still continue on some level; other future uses are still being considered.

8. Why can’t the seniors buy St. Bernard’s and move over there?

Because that section of Tower Hill Road is very busy and extremely unsafe for seniors driving in and out or crossing the street.  In addition, the town owns the land at the town beach and any other land would need to be purchased, adding to the cost.

9.      Why can’t the seniors move to Wickford Elementary School?

Wickford Elementary is still owned by the school department and its future use has not been determined.  It is also in the flood zone and would require one million dollars just to bring it up to fire code – renovations to make it usable for senior programming would be expensive and extensive.

10.   I have heard that there is not enough money in the building budget for the right type of septic system needed for this project?

The architectural engineers have studied the site and found it can accommodate the necessary septic system and meet state and federal regulatory guidelines.  There will be enough money in the building budget to provide the necessary septic system.

Aside from providing a state-of-the-art facility that will benefit the older adults in North Kingstown, the scope of work in local question #10 is designed to benefit the community in the following ways:

·        Replicate the current ball field elsewhere on the property, based on community concerns        

·        Renovate the Beechwood House, bathhouse and concession stand

·        Install new recreation equipment and picnic tables

·        Rebuild the rotting wooden band shell

·        Constuct a quarter-mile walking path around the beach campus

·        Enhance the town beach complex with new trees and flowering plants