GORHAM – Facing declining membership, the Lakes Region Senior Center is seeking help from the towns of Windham and Gorham in an effort to find a new meeting location.
The seniors group met for tea, lunches, presentations and cards at the Little Falls School in Gorham from September of 2011 until September of 2013, when the single-story facility was closed for repairs. Since then, the group has been meeting at Sunset Ridge Golf Links on Cumberland Street in Westbrook near the Windham town line.
At a Windham Town Council meeting on Jan. 21, two leaders of the center, Blanche Alexander of Gorham and Clarence Wisecup of Windham, told the council that the new location is less than ideal. Many members, finding the stairs and walkway difficult to traverse, have stopped showing up, Wisecup said.
“We have lost many members as a result,” Wisecup said.
Alexander requested that the town managers of Windham and Gorham help the center find a new location.
“What we would like to see happen is that the town of Windham along with the town of Gorham support our endeavors,” Alexander said. “A first step would be to see [Windham Town Manager Tony] Plante and [Gorham Town Manager David] Cole come together and come up with some sort of a plan suitable that would meet all of our needs, the towns’ and ours. Have we not earned the privilege of having a daily haven in the sunset of our lives?”
In November 2012, Gorham voters earmarked borrowing up to $500,000 to repair the Little Falls building that opened as an elementary school in the mid-1950s.
But, the referendum question on the ballot didn’t address a future use of the building. Last week, Gorham councilors approved spending $12,000 from the bond money to evaluate the needed repairs, and approved using the school as a community activity center after years of uncertainty.
About half of the group’s members live in Windham, while half live in Gorham, Wisecup said.
“When we say, ‘OK, we’re going to have a building in Windham, then the Gorham people say that’s a long way to drive,” Wisecup said.
The seniors group hopes to resume use of the Little Falls School – which is located along Route 202, about halfway between Gorham Center and Windham Center – as soon as possible, Alexander said.
“Little Falls was ideal, because it was kind of like halfway, and we didn’t hear any complaints,” Alexander said. “We’re still hoping to get back into Little Falls after the renovations are done, but it’s nothing definite.”
“What we are seeking is a dedicated space to call our own,” Alexander said. “We are not up to putting up and taking down tables and chairs for the five days a week that we meet. We need a place where we can leave our coffee pot on, and our supplies in a place where they will be secure. The space we need has to have easy access, adequate close parking, and be safe and secure. We have members who have lost their spouses, who are lonely, and we offer them a refuge where they may share their feelings with others in similar situations. Some come in and help and feel good for doing so.”
Tommy Gleason, the council’s chairman, assured Alexander and Wisecup that the town government would help.
“I think it’s important,” Gleason said. “It’s going to happen.”
“I’m 82 years old, so you better hurry,” Alexander said.
Staff writer Robert Lowell contributed to this report.
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