All of the senior centers in Westmoreland County operated by the Westmoreland County Area Agency on Aging have a new name and a new vision.

Pam Soforic, director of the Westmoreland Multi-Service Center and the Scottdale Satellite Centers, told members of Mt. Pleasant Borough Council recently that the Mt. Pleasant Senior Center has been renamed the Mt. Pleasant Center for Active Adults.

Along with the name change comes an expanded age-range for membership and participation — now any individual age 50 or older can take advantage of what is offered at the facility located at 424 Washington St. in the borough.

Soforic said that during the years activities at the senior centers operated by the county agency have traditionally centered around the noon lunches, billiards and cards, but with the name change comes new programming, as well.

“We will continue to have the traditional programming, but we have also added such things as bowling, Zumba, yoga, bike riding on the area trails, and even canoeing and kayaking in the spring,” she said.

Soforic said she has 15 to 30 individuals join her on a regular basis for the bike rides of up to 16 miles round trip.

“It's so rewarding and wonderful to get out and enjoy the outdoors,” she said.

The center has reinvented itself and is going in another direction, according to borough manger Jeff Landy.

“I think it's a great idea and positive for our borough,” Landy said. “It gives older residents who don't necessarily fit in the senior citizen category a chance to have options and get involved.”

Soforic said they facility is looking for the baby boomers to become more involved with activities and programs offered there.

“The ones participating now pick and choose what they want to participate in because they're still busy with jobs or babysitting their grandchildren or a number of other things,” she said.

Years ago, the center was a place for senior citizens to come and socialize because they were mostly retired and had the free time.

“These days they're too busy, and we have to go outside the box and change with the times,” Soforic said.

Borough Mayor Gerald Lucia said the center has become reenergized with the new name and format.

“I think it's a great thing if you can get people who are 50 and older to begin participating in things before they retire,” he said. “Also, when the younger people are participating, I think it helps to bring in those over 65 who now want to be more involved because there's others participating.”

Soforic said the best way for anyone to get involved with their new programming is to stop in and pick up a newsletter that lists the times and dates of all the new activities.

She added that she regularly uses email to let individuals know when and where the next biking event will be.

Soforic encourages those interested to call the center at 724-547-4593 and ask to be put on the email list.

Rachel Basinger is a contributing writer for Trib Total Media.

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