Senior citizens celebrate addition to Edgewood center
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Phaedra Haywood/The New Mexican
Photo: Ken Scott and Elaine Gonzalez take a turn on the dance floor during a party celebrating the completion of a new addition at the Edgewood Senior Center.
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11/9/2008 - 11/8/08
Elaina Gonzalez, 70, used to be a Lucky Strike Girl who sang and danced on The Milton Berle Show.Chester Hill, 85, used to farm 500 acres of pinto beans on land his parents homesteaded in 1907.
Howard Calkins, 84, was the second mayor of Edgewood, N.M.
These senior citizens and about 50 others gathered Friday at the Edgewood Senior Center to dance, eat and celebrate the center's new 1,740-square-foot addition.
"Just because there is snow on the roof doesn't mean the fire is out in the house," said Calkins, as the seniors paired to polka to music provided by Phil Trujillo.
Joe and Celia Pino sat at a table in the middle of it all noshing on roast beef, mashed potatoes and gravy. Celia Pino got up to dance with one of her lady friends. But her husband stayed put.
"I'm gonna wait another nine years, then I'm gonna dance," said Joe Pino, who turned 90 in March.
The center serves about 300 people, though program coordinator Christine Sanchez-Warren said only about 65 regularly show up for the center's daily meal, which is served from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
"I eat here every day," said Calkins who was born up the road in Venus, before Edgewood existed. "My wife died about five years ago. So I take advantage of this place."
The center offers more than a hot meal to seniors in this far-flung southern edge of Santa Fe County. There are classes at the center nearly every day, ranging from ceramics to leatherwork to creative writing. "They love that," said Sanchez-Warren.
The new addition, which cost about $290,000, includes a new dining room, offices, bathrooms and a handicap ramp to the existing center, which was built in the 1980s.
About $50,000 of that money came from Santa Fe County; the rest was secured by state legislators, including Rep. Rhonda S. King, D-Stanley, who got about $128,000 appropriated for the project.
Santa Fe County Commissioner Mike Anaya, who also is from Stanley, played master of ceremonies at Friday's re-opening.
"It's beautiful," said Ivena Rutledge who teaches painting at the center. "It's a blessing to walk in to. It's so light and airy."
Seniors can also be seen by a nurse at the center, who is there on Thursdays. Santa Fe County's health van visits once a month.
The Edgewood Senior Center is one of 10 around Santa Fe County that are funded by the city of Santa Fe Senior Services Division. Five are in Santa Fe; others are in Chimayó, El Rancho, Eldorado and Santa Cruz.
Contact Phaedra Haywood at 986-3068 or phaywood@sfnewmexican.com.
