By James B. Bartle
The Sullivan Senior Center was turned into a tropical paradise Friday morning and afternoon with a full crowd capacity to celebrate their 33rd anniversary with a Luau celebration.
The event included door prizes, lunch, and a crowd-pleasing performance by the Belly Dance Mirage Tropical Fire Hula of St. Louis.
“We had some 95 guests register to be here today for our celebration of 33 years,” said center director Rita Boyle. “It’s been a great turnout and very enjoyable for our guests.”
Boyle stated that the center has been averaging 80 meals a day for local area residents who come to the daily lunch, Monday through Friday, and in the Meals on Wheels program. Patrons are suggested to pay $3 a day for their meal and those age 60 and under pay $6.25.
“Our numbers have been down a little bit this year. We always encourage people to come to the center or join the Meals on Wheels program,” said Boyle. “We always have activities here and something for people to do, and get out of their homes.”
In a look at the Senior Center history, you have to go back to the mid-1970s when then mayor Charles Strauser had heard about Senior Centers being opened in Franklin County and pursued the idea of Sullivan having a center. Strauser and council members Elmer Cowan, Ted Siebenman, Walter Witt and Homer Lewis set out to bring this to Sullivan.
The group worked with the Mid-East Area Agency on Aging and brought a Senior Center to Sullivan at the local VFW Hall in 1976.
Using grant funding, the city worked with Associated Crafts, Sullivan, to construct the present Senior Center, which was built in September 1976.
In 1976, director Hilda Schmidt managed the center for 24 years before retiring; at which time, Penny Seaton managed the center for five years and then retired.
Rita Boyle, who had served as head cook at the center, was promoted to Administrator of the center in 2005. Boyle has been with MEAA for 15 years.