Woodbridge Hosts 8th Annual Township-Wide Senior Summit

The 2014 “Mayor’s Senior Summit” engaged senior residents in an exchange of ideas in an open discussion on topics ranging from expanding and improving services and programs at the Woodbridge Community Center (WCC), the Evergreen Senior Center in Colonia, and other Township senior facilities… to improving communications with senior residents on emergency preparedness, weather-related alerts and consumer safety… to suggestions on improving public safety such as cracking down on speeding in residential areas…to “Quality of Life” issues to include home maintenance and repair and expanded physical fitness and wellness programs for senior residents.

“The senior residents attending the ‘Senior Summit’ were aware of the available Township-sponsored services and programs and, more importantly, expressed opinions about what they feel the Township should provide in the way of services and programs.  The Mayor’s Office and staff were impressed with the opinions, suggestions and ideas offered on how to address Township-wide issues, along with an understanding of what needs to be done to improve the ‘Quality of Life’ for everyone,” Mayor McCormac said. 

In addressing the senior residents, the Mayor’s Office and Administration staff, reviewed suggestions made at last year’s “Senior Summit,” noting that many recommendations had been implemented, including the consolidation of the Division on Aging & Senior Services and the Multi-Service Program on Aging in the Department of Health & Human Services; the implementation of a revised menu of programs and services at the Evergreen Senior Center in Colonia; the availability of the year-round “Tommy Tool Box” home repair program for senior homeowners; the addition of computer training classes for seniors at Township senior residences and facilities; the availability of specialized educational and informational programs and seminars geared to senior residents; and expanded physical fitness and wellness programs at the WCC – including the addition of a new Silver Sneakers circuit, new episodes of the TV-35 Seniorsize exercise program, and Skyline Mini-Golf.

“The ‘2014 Mayor’s Senior Summit’ was extremely helpful and will allow the WCC, the Departments of Health & Human Services, Recreation, Public Works, the Woodbridge Police Department, and Town Hall to provide not just better services, but the types of programs, services, and information that Senior residents want and need.  Simply put, addressing Senior concerns does not have to be complicated.  Some of the suggestions we will implement include expanded health and wellness services, a crackdown on speeding near Senior centers and facilities, and the expansion of vendors at the Farmers’ Market,” the Mayor said.

Representatives from the Woodbridge Township Department of Health & Human Services, the Division on Aging & Multi-Service Program on Aging, the Department of Recreation & Resident Services, the Woodbridge Police Department, Department of Public Works, the Evergreen Senior Center, the Woodbridge Community Center, the Woodbridge Township Public Library, and many Woodbridge businesses and medical care facilities that offer services to Senior residents participated in the 2014 “Mayor’s Senior Summit” and were on-hand to provide information to Senior attendees.  

Additionally, each of the Township senior clubs and residences, the various AARP chapters, along with active senior adults and residents, invited to and/or attending the 2014 “Mayor’s Senior Summit” included:

·         Avenel Senior Club

·         Colonia Senior Club

·         Fords/Keasbey Senior Club

·         Port Reading/Sewaren Senior Club

·         Woodbridge Senior Club

·         St. John Vianney Senior Club

·         AARP Woodbridge Chapter

·         Residents from Maple Tree Manor (Avenel), Greiner Towers (Colonia), Olsen Towers (Fords), Cooper Towers (Iselin), Finn Towers (Woodbridge), Stern Towers (Woodbridge), Adams Towers (Woodbridge) and the Evergreen Senior Center.