New Saratoga Senior Center opens

A ribbon-cutting was held on Tuesday for the new Saratoga Senior Center.

The chairman of Stewart’s Shops, Bill Dake, put $3 million into the new 14,000-square-foot facility off West Avenue.

It is more than twice the size of old space on William Street.

“The whole process for people wanting to be active longer is critical for this situation,” he said.

The facility includes a game room, a place to play cards, an art room, a kitchen and a cafeteria.

“It’s a family home for older adults in this community,” said Lois Celeste, director of the center. “Some people come in and volunteer. Some people have nowhere else to go. We were out of space.”

Celese is excited about the new facility.

“We are ready. We want this place full. We want it bustling,” he said.

The center is also connected to the YMCA, which has more than 5,000 members 65 and older. Many of those are signing up for memberships – 150 were added just last month.

“Some people don’t see themselves as a senior yet. Everybody has different ideas,” said Saratoga Regional YMCA CEO Scott Clark. “But to be able to go over and participate in arts and craft programs, travel, food and support that they didn’t know, it’s going to be a great synergy.”   

The opening of the new center coincides with a major expansion of the Y.