MIDDLETOWN — Shovels hit the dirt on Wednesday morning for the long-awaited groundbreaking of the Middletown Senior Center and Library Complex.
Community members and county officials celebrated and expressed gratitude to those who made the project possible. The 12,377-square-foot facility is slated to open in 300 days.
Deputy Redevelopment Director Eric Seely, on loan for the project, opened the ceremony and introduced guest speakers, including Lake County Administrative Officer Kelly Cox, who said he may be retired by the time the building is open. About a dozen voices from a crowd of about 75 people protested, saying, “No, no, don”t retire.” Cox said the project would create a sense of place for Middletown. He added, “We didn”t have to settle for anything less than the ideal site.” He provided the audience with the history of the process of the project. It took more than a decade before finally arriving at the day of the groundbreaking.
Former Lake County Supervisor Voris Brumfield provided a well-received blessing. She said, “This will stand as a blessing to the whole of South Lake County.”
Middletown Senior Center Director Jacque Spiker delivered a grateful and tearful address as she talked about four people who assisted in the efforts for the senior center, but died before the new center broke ground.
Spiker also said she was glad to be getting a bigger kitchen in the new center for her cook, Linda Gillian, and kitchen staff, who prepare and serve as many as 16,000 meals for seniors per year. The Middletown Senior Center raised $24,000 toward the project.
Susan Clayton, Lake County Librarian, quoted Lady Bird Johnson in her address saying, “Perhaps no place in any community is so totally democratic as the town library. The only entrance requirement is interest.”
Supervisor Jim Comstock said to the audience that a wise old man, 98, told him “Two things are always evident: Things take longer and cost more than you ever thought.” He said that was true of this project.
He credited Cox for his “unending support.” He said Cox is “a great man who does great service to the community.”
Middletown Library coordinator Gehlen Palmer told the audience about a woman named Dolores Lundberg, a community member who loved the library. When she died she left nearly $11,000 for the library.
Lake County Sheriff Frank Rivero attended the ceremony and introduced the new Lake County Undersheriff Patrick Turturici.
