The ribbon has been cut on the newly renovated senior center in Carmel. Putnam County Executive MaryEllen Odell officially opened the Office for Senior Resources Carmel Friendship Center at the Donald B. Smith Government Campus yesterday morning. She says a vision, collaboration and a lot of hard work have afforded Putnam County the opportunity to provide a more than $1-million renovation project to area seniors. Former State Senator Terrence Murphy and current State Senator Pete Harckham, procured grant monies through the State and Municipal Facilities Program, administered through the Dormitory Authority of New York. Odell says additional funding from Putnam County, along with the workmanship of the Department of Highways and Facilities personnel made the project possible.
The facility was once a school and now it’s a senior center. Odell said the challenges of the structure took a little longer than anticipated. As a school, the building had narrow hallways and small classrooms.
The 6,000 square foot Friendship Center now includes a restaurant-sized dining room where more than 100 seniors can be comfortably served, an exercise room, a game room with a billiard table, and a sitting area where seniors can relax around a gas fireplace. A nutrition office, Medicare counselor and case worker will also be on site.
