LUCERNE — A Friday donation of $11,000 will help the financially destitute Lucerne Alpine Senior Center pay the center”s bills, according to Executive Director Lee Tyree.
Tyree said $9,400 of the donated sum came from the Lake County Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping other Lake County non-profits with grant writing and fundraising services. The remaining $1,600 was a personal donation from LCF board member Bob Gardner, a Lucerne physician.
“Even though things look scary in the media, especially with the economy, we still live in beautiful area where people help each other. We make sure everybody has food and shelter and a nice place,” Dr. Gardner said.
Tyree said the money will go to pay bills accumulated from 2003 and a worker”s compensation insurance bill due next week, a $27,000 expense that she wasn”t sure how she was going to cover.
“The senior center is so poor, and to have that all of a sudden just happen ? wow. Last week we spent $1,600 on a weekly food bill we have to pay c.o.d. (cash on delivery) because we have bad credit from before. We need so much money to keep our operations, so the $11,000 donation was a complete blessing. I”m still smiling from ear to ear,” Tyree said.
The center”s previous director, Rowland Mosser, was arrested in April on charges of embezzling money from the center.
The Lake County Redevelopment Agency completed repairs to the building”s roof earlier this year. Extensive renovation is planned for the approximately 70-year-old building that houses the senior center. The building”s electrical system was flagged as a top priority because of modifications made over the years that do not comply with current code. The redevelopment agency”s director, Kelly Cox, estimated the cost to replace the electrical system at $80,000. Another $80,000 in repairs is needed for the building”s kitchen, which includes replacing an exhaust hood over the stove that is out of compliance with fire safety regulations.
The building needs new heating and cooling systems, new plaster because of roof leaks, stucco repair, gutter reconstruction, hardwood floor repair and refinishing, plumbing work and kitchen remodeling. In addition, 190 windows need to be replaced and the building needs to be painted outside and inside. Cox estimated the repairs would cost $452,000.
“It”s really the civic center for the Northshore. A lot of agencies and groups hold meetings here, it”s a place where seniors can get a warm lunch and activities. I was over there earlier and a group of kindergarteners came in and sang Halloween songs and told jokes. It”s the town center ? it ties a lot of this area over here together,” Dr. Gardner said.
Contact Tiffany Revelle at trevelle@record-bee.com, or call her directly at 263-5636 ext. 37.
