By Craig Marx, Editor

Tuesday marked an event that has been seven months in the making. The official opening of the new Senior Center at 1225 Langlade Road in Antigo, also home to the Langlade County Health Service Center, demonstrated how excited the center’s board members were to cut the ribbon for the facility in front of a full house of supporters.

While attempts had been made in the past to offer an activity and social center for seniors in Antigo, it was not until October of 2015 when a meeting at the Antigo Public Library brought about ideas from community representatives on what a future center should provide.

After a task force was formed and facilities from adjacent counties were used as examples, an eventual AdHoc Coalition of members from the Antigo City Council, Langlade County Board, and the Antigo School Board were brought to together to make the dream of the Senior Center come to fruition.

The County Board eventually found unused space for the facility’s new location, then part of the Health Services Center. As a Board of Directors emerged to take on the responsibilities of utilizing the space provided by the county, the Senior Center needs only to carry on with the support for its intended purpose – an activity and social center where seniors can get out of their comfort zones, mingle, and partake in a variety of activities. For example, a group of canasta players were the first ones to use the new center, but future activities including everything from sheepshead to pilates.

For more information, contact Doug Curler (Senior Center Chair of Public Relations) at dougcurler@gmail.com.