Willowick Senior Center is turning 50
Mar. 26—In the spring of 1974, 11 seniors formed the Willowick Senior Center, now that center is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.
According to center Coordinator Doreen Nevulis, the seniors who started the center only met twice a week. In 1981, they expanded their membership after they moved into the Roosevelt Elementary School.
In 2001, ground was broken at 321 E. 314th St. and since 2002 area seniors have taken part in the center's offerings.
"Willowick is a small community, but we're mighty," Nevulis said. "It's nice for them to come and get out of their house. They don't want to sit in their house. I have one lady comes every morning, sits and talks with people and has her coffee because she doesn't want to be in the house by herself."
Nevulis has been a Willowick resident since 1987 and has been involved in the city's Youth Sport Leagues since 1995 while her children played for the city. Additionally, she has been a Recreation Board member for many years.
Prior to coming on board as the center coordinator three years ago, the center was closed down for 14 months due to the pandemic.
"When it was closed, they brought in Meals on Wheels, so that brought another aspect to Willowick," Nevulis said. "They deliver about 150 meals out of here a day and they have a lunch every day, and feed maybe 15 or so depending on the day and what they're having. It is great they are housed here."
In regard to the center being in existence for the last 50 years, Nevulis credits the seniors.
"It is the seniors who come here and want to do things," she said. "The people here are so great, homey and friendly. New people come here and they're showing them around the whole center before they even get to my office.
"Between our mayor and my boss, Recreation Director Julie Kless, they are so supportive of anything we do here and the council," she added. "We have a birthday lunch once a month and it's like a social event for them. We have a group who sings and we get 50 to 70 people. The city official presence is just tremendous."
On Mondays and Fridays, the yoga classes held at the center draw roughly 40 people. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, the exercise class draws 30.
"On Wednesday, I have a meditation yoga," Nevulis said. "We do a lot of our trips on Wednesdays. That is one thing about this center. We are active."
Among the center's offerings include yoga, taichi, line dancing, exercise classes, Pinochle, Bridge, ceramics, crafters and paint pourings.
"Unfortunately, they have gotten older and they can't go too many places, so this is close to home and they enjoy that it is close to home for them," Nevulis said. "You have to listen to what they want. Believe me, they tell me."
In addition to class offerings, the center has a lawyer come in for seniors' needs monthly. Blood pressure checks, Lake County Council on Aging visits and hearing services are also offered.
"We try and keep the seniors informed of what they may need for the future," Nevulis said. "We've had the police come in to talk to them about scams and I have a doctor coming in to talk to them about exercises."
Assisting seniors with Medicare and water bill discounts also take place within the center.
On April 17, in light of the anniversary, a luncheon will be hosted at Regovich Catering, 33150 Lakeland Blvd., from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. There will be a $20 admission for anyone interested in attending, Nevulis said.
"We have a time capsule from 20 years that we are going to open at the luncheon," she said.
On June 26, the center will be hosting an open house from 2 to 5 p.m. to showcase the center.
"It would be great to have more members to do things," Nevulis said. "It's fun to have them do stuff. The best part of my job is when I send them on a trip. They come back and they're like, 'It was so much fun. We had a great time.' That is the most satisfying thing or we did something here and I see how happy they were."