HUBBARD Seniors angry over possibility of losing center

The center is an ideal spot for the meals program, the nutrition director says.
By TIM YOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
HUBBARD -- Senior citizens say they'll move out of their center if need be but they won't be happy about it.
Politics will play a vital part in any decision to move their gathering place from the city administration building, according to Richard Keenan, D-4th, chairman of council's safety committee.
"Those councilmen better think ahead, because the seniors vote," Aurelia Bozdog cautioned Thursday.
Bozdog is a member of a group of seniors who play cards Thursday morning. Other groups play Tuesdays and Saturdays.
"Why push the seniors out? They're going to lose a lot of votes," Bozdog said. "They're not thinking ahead," she warned members of the administration and council.
The issue of possibly moving the police department into the senior center surfaced when tests showed eight varieties of mold growing inside the police station.
If air samples determine there are high levels of mold in the aged structure, the Trumbull County Health Department could condemn it.
"Fix the building, or find them a place to go," Bozdog said.
The senior center is equipped with sofas, leisure couches, book shelves, a television, organs and card tables.
Hubbard Nutrition Site
The Trumbull County Office of Elderly Affairs operates the Hubbard Nutrition Site out of the center.
Karen Saker, nutrition project director, said an average of 35 to 40 seniors daily eat dinner at the center, which also serves as a point from which 40 other meals are delivered to homes.
"I look forward to coming here every Thursday," said 85-year-old card player Carmel LaCivita. "I really hope we don't have to move."
"I suppose we could play somewhere else. Activities mean so much to everybody," added Viola Telega, who would like to see more activities at the center rather than having to move.
"Where would we go?" asked Alice Casey. "I like the center here."
"They want to push us around on our last days," Casey said. "It could get political, but what isn't?"
Lucille LaCivita, Carmel LaCivita's sister-in-law and head of the card-playing group, said the seniors won't have anything to say about moving.
"It's up to the mayor. We're here by the grace of the city," she added." I don't know what they're doing."
Saker said the site is ideal for the meals program. It's rent-free and handicapped accessible.
Possibly moving the seniors into a church community room was mentioned at Tuesday's council meeting.
Saker said none of the 10 nutrition sites in the county is in churches because churches can't assure the agency of available space five days a week because they have their own functions. Lack of storage space is another problem.
"It's not that they're not willing to do it," Saker said.
yovich@vindy.com