The Cape May County Board of Chosen Freeholders and other officials cut the ribbon today officially opening the county’s newest senior center in Ocean City, New Jersey. The new $3.5 million senior center is located in the renovated and expanded Ocean City Community Complex at 1735 Simpson Avenue. The complex also includes the Ocean City Historical Museum, Cultural Arts Center, Aquatic and Fitness Center, Library, new lecture hall, meeting rooms, computer rooms and classrooms.
The new Howard S. Stainton Senior Center was funded by the County of Cape May, designed by Garrison Architects and constructed by Arthur Ogren Construction. Construction on the senior center began in September 2008 and was completed in the summer of 2010. The senior center consists of a 5,100 square foot addition and 800 square feet of renovated space. The center contains a multi-purpose room, a lounge, office space, commercial grade kitchen and pantry, storage space and restrooms.
The new center is accessible through the south west entry of the community complex, just steps from the new café, with plenty of off-street parking. Freeholder Gerald Thornton said, “The senior center is now truly a part of the community. Seniors can spend the day participating in a variety of activities at the center as well as take advantage of other diverse opportunities offered in the community complex.”
In 1976, Ocean City resident and businessman Howard S. Stainton donated the ground for the original senior center at 33rd Street and Bay Avenue. The center opened in 1978 and was dedicated to Howard S. Stainton, who started a retail business in Ocean City in 1913 and is often referred to as Ocean City’s John Wanamaker. Thornton added, “It was important to both the city and the county that the new center retain the Stainton name. Howard S. Stainton was an important part of the Ocean City community and he was instrumental in bringing the original senior center to Ocean City.”
The senior center will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for all Cape May County seniors age 60 years and over. In addition to lunch being served daily, a variety of programs will be offered. Programs include: Healthy Bones and Sit and Be Fit, line dancing, bingo, mahjong, card playing, jewelry making and crafts.
For more information about programs offered at the Howard S. Stainton Senior Center or any of the county’s senior centers, please call the Cape May County Department of Aging at 886-2784 or visit capemaycountygov.net.
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