CLEARLAKE OAKS — The new Live Oak Senior Center will have a groundbreaking ceremony Friday.
“It”s finally happening,” Executive Director Pat Grabham said.
Grading began last Tuesday for the new 4,000-square-foot senior center, Lake County Public Information Officer Jill Ruzicka stated. Level floors, improved access for people with disabilities, a bigger kitchen and 1,600 square-feet of extra space are some of the highlights staff and seniors look forward to.
The current building at 12502 Foothill Blvd. in Clearlake Oaks is more than 70 years old and served as the Moose Lodge and a social club before becoming the Live Oak Senior Center in 1984.
In 2008, the county recognized the need to improve the existing center and directed staff to start developing the project, Ruzicka stated. When it became apparent with the building limitations that repairs were not economically feasible, Thomson & Hendricks, an architect firm out of Chico, was hired to design a new facility.
The new building site is a vacant lot next door to the current senior center. The project is scheduled for completion next June.
Special Projects Deputy County Administrative Officer Eric Seely, who has been with project since its inception, thanked the Lake County Board of Supervisors for the support in the project.
“They should be credited for their long-term vision of setting aside funds for the last several years so that we can finally break ground,” Seely said.
The senior center serves about 80 lunches a day on site and staff prepares another 30 meals to be delivered; however, “the social aspect of the center is far more important than the food,” Grabham said.
After lunch, seniors have the opportunity to play cards and dominoes, and often times it can become so noisy that hearing is hard for even the best ears, Ruzicka stated.
The groundbreaking ceremony will take place at the gazebo in the plaza across the street from the current senior center Friday at 10 a.m.
Refreshments will be served in the existing center after a brief presentation by District 1 Supervisor Denise Rushing, retired County Administrative Officer Kelly Cox, Seely and Grabham.
The public is welcome to join the celebration.
For information, contact Ruzicka at 263-2580 or by email at Jill.ruzicka@lakecountyca.gov.
Groundbreaking Ceremony for Live Oak Senior Center, Clearlake Oaks
Page 2
