Hunterdon County board director calls for plan to reopen county senior center
Plan Must Ensure Health Protections For Participants and Staff
HUNTERDON COUNTY, NJ – Hunterdon County Board of Commissioners Director Susan J. Soloway, at the May 4 Board meeting, called for the county’s senior center to be re-opened in order to return ‘normalcy’ for seniors and directed that a report be prepared on the health protections necessary for reopening the center that has been closed due to the pandemic since March 2020.
Soloway said, “We have reached a point where any of our older residents who wish to be vaccinated have had that chance and many have taken advantage of the opportunity. So, with the support of my Board colleagues, I have directed the County Administrator to convene a task force of the appropriate staff to examine the issue of re-opening the senior center in a manner that meets both the requirements of executive orders and health protection guidelines.”
“I believe it is time to determine if the senior center can again open for our seniors, safely, even if it is in a limited manner. The key, of course, is to ensure the protection of everyone’s health, both the participants and the staff,” Soloway said.
“Throughout the pandemic the senior center staff has performed admirably in devising and presenting many virtual programs for seniors. I am advised these programs have not only been well received, but also many programs have had significant virtual attendance. Having this programming has been a vital link for our senior community, particularly as so many have been cut off from loved ones and friends. But let’s see if we can now move back to some kind of normalcy for our seniors,” Soloway said.
Soloway had good news for senior bocci players, saying, “As the weather is improving, perhaps some outdoor programs can be initiated. I know our bocci players are raring to go, so let’s open up the bocci court.”
Soloway has directed that the Senior Center Reopening Task Force report as soon as possible.
The Hunterdon County Senior Center is located at 4 Gauntt Place, Building #1, in Raritan Township.
