Crowd Fights Cuts to Mahwah Senior Center Classes

Town council members said they are willing to ‘compromise’ on a $6,000 reduction to the township’s senior center budget for running exercise and other classes

A group of over 100 township senior citizens say a $6,000 cut to the Mahwah Senior Center’s proposed 2013 budget is unfair, and asked town council members to reconsider the cut. The crowd gathered at town hall Wednesday morning for a Senior Center Advisory Committee meeting at which they explained to council members why the cut would compromise one of the services they love most about Mahwah. “It is very important for our health and happiness to be able to come here and participate in line dancing or Zumba,” resident Carol Mayberry said. “We moved to Mahwah for the senior center,” resident Felicia Fox added. According to a statement from Senior Center Director Suzanne Small, the $6,000 reduction to the professional services portion of the …

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Budget Cuts Will Likely Cost Senior Center Classes

The township council voted to cut the Mahwah Senior Center budget for 2013 by $6,000, which the organization's director said will likely lead to fewer classes for seniors

Mahwah senior citizens will likely have fewer classes to choose from at the township’s senior center this year, thanks to a $6,000 reduction in funding that will likely be part of Mahwah’s final municipal budget this year. At a hearing on the proposed 2013 budget last week, Councilman John Roth suggested reducing the Senior Center’s budget for professional services from the requested $36,000 to $30,000 for the year. The money is used to pay class instructors. The cut “is not a reflection on the senior center…but we need to start making reductions [to the budget] without doing severe damage,” to services offered by the township, Roth said. According to Roth, the Senior Center hasn’t actually spent $36,000 on teachers for senior center …

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Mahwah Seniors Learn There's "No Place Like Home"

Seminar gives tips on how senior citizens can remain in Mahwah as long as possible

Mahwah senior citizens who feel there’s no place like their homes within the township learned some practical ways to stay there at a Senior Center event earlier this month. “There’s No Place Like Home” hosted representatives from the Jewish Home Family to share with seniors effective ways to remain in their homes. The Jewish Home is a non-denominational, not-for-profit organization that runs ‘Jewish Home at Home,’ aimed at helping seniors stay in their homes, as opposed to moving into assisted living facilities. “We find that most people want to stay home,” Susan Lilly, the Homes’s Director of Geriatric Care Management Services, said. “So, our goal is to help them embrace and adapt to the changes that occur as they age, which will help …

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Whiz Kid

How One Mahwah Eagle Scout Made A Difference

Scout builds horseshoe court at senior center

Name: Brian Roth Age: 18 School: Marist College, Poughkeepsie, NY. Accomplishment: Became Eagle Scout and created a horseshoe court for the Mahwah Senior Citizen Center. Brian Roth has been in the Boy Scouts of America since second grade. Recently he became an Eagle Scout and created a project to benefit the Mahwah Community. When asked what is the appeal of scouting, Roth replied, “the preparation for real life situations and being able to help people in need whether it be community service or emergency preparedness.”   How will being part of this organization help you in the future? BR: “I have learned a lot from the Boy Scouts of America. I am confident in emergency situations, [like being] lost in the woods with few resources, or […

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Mahwah Senior Center To Offer AARP Tax Help

Assistance is free

The Tax-Aide program, sponsored by AARP, will again be available for all senior citizens and others with low to moderate income, in 2012. This community service offers free tax preparation, including Federal and State of New Jersey returns. This is an all-volunteer program in which volunteers have been trained and certified to prepare tax returns. Tax preparation will begin at the Mahwah Senior Citizen Center on Friday, February 10, 2012 and will be open until April 13. The free tax help will be offered every Monday and Friday during that time period. Interested seniors should see the Center's receptionist, Rosalie, or director Susanne Small to schedule an appointment. Get more information by calling 201-529-5757 Ext. 277 or Ext. 213.  

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Blading, Comedy And Zumba Highlights Of Senior Show

Senior Center hosts second annual talent show

Acts wowed the crowd Thursday at the second annual talent show at the Mahwah Senior Center. Featured acts included Edward Deeb, whose harmonica renditions of American favorites got the crowd singing along. Comedian Sid Goodman entertained the crowd with bawdy jokes and songs which got laughs every time. Joan Krilla, a rollerblading/skating/dance instructor who also happens to be a senior citizen, showed her  rollerblading chops by bobbing and weaving through the crowd to the tune of "This Magic Moment" by Jay and the Americans. A group of seniors who regularly take Zumba dance classes with teacher Mary Lee Costello at the center performed a medley of dance routines on stage. Costello's enthusiasm was palpable, and her students had all the …

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