By Craig Marx, Editor

A meeting in October 2015 at the Antigo Public Library was one of the first of many procedures to provide community input and planning for a prospective center for senior centers. In May of 2016, the months of preparation had paid off and after receiving space from the Health Service Center in Antigo, the Senior Center of Langlade County was created.

Twelve months later, the Senior Center is celebrating one year’s worth of providing its senior citizen members with activities, exercise and interaction. After observing other area senior centers, including neighboring Merrill, Shawano, and Waupaca, the Center’s Board of Directors have experimented with different programs and opportunities to try and fit the dynamic of the Langlade County Center.

The Center has tried numerous different activities over the course of the year, with recurring activities such as card playing, coffee klatches, and exercise classes being quite popular. Members have also gone on a number of trips as well, ranging in scale from the local produce haven of Canopy Gardens to the frozen tundra of Lambeau Field. The Center has also provided educational speakers providing insight on a number of topics, including local speakers such as Dan Bauknecht from the Langlade County Sheriff’s Office and Sarah Strong of Aspirus Langlade Hospital.

Stone Soup Bros. Band has been a popular Friday addition to the Center, playing a variety of music for members to dance and boogie to. Stone Soup will be back on May 19 for the Senior Center’s one-year anniversary bash where refreshments will be served and a number of keynote speakers will help the community celebrate the success of the Center’s vision.

Members number roughly 140 senior citizens, and even though the Center is making good use of its available area at the 1225 Langlade Road location, the board says it could always use more space to facilitate the multiple activities that fit into the Center’s relatively limited schedule. While being closed on weekends and holidays, the Senior Center is open 8 AM to 4:30 PM Monday through Friday.

The board is also looking for help in its fundraising activities. Upcoming opportunities to support the Center include a brat fry at Lakeside Market on July 28th and hot dogs at Music in the Park on August 3rd when the Center’s favorite entertainers, Stone Soup Bros. Band, just happen to be playing.

The Senior Center’s programs are administered and ran entirely on a volunteer basis and help and donations are gladly accepted. Also, the Board of Directors itself will be seeking two new members to help with the Center’s short term and long term planning. Interested applicants can apply by mail c/o Lois Jones at PO Box 104, Antigo, WI 54409. For more information about the Center, please call (715) 627-6632.