Rose Hassing, 27, currently the director of volunteer services for the Pasadena American Red Cross, will become the new senior citizens supervisor for the City of Arcadia as of February 7. She is replacing Betty Harris, who retired in December after 20 years with the city's senior citizens services.
Plans to build a new Arcadia Senior Center are moving forward, with studies of the center's possible role, funding for the center and scouting for a site under way.
The new Senior Citizen Center, now in the architectural drawing stage of development will replace the Rose Garden at the corner of Huntington and Campus Drives. The center will house the administration offices of the Arcadia Parks and Recreation Department and the Historical Museum.
Mortgage rates for senior housing rise. City has been notified by Department of Housing and Urban Development that the mortgage rates for such projects have been raised from 9 1/4 to 11 5/8 %.
Arcadia's new senior center will be built at the Rose Garden at the corners of Huntington and Campus Drives. The city will start taking bids for the proposed $2.5 million, 18,000-square foot building in April. (At least 21% of the city population is over age 60.)
Senior citizens center still faces many, many obstacles. Since the formation of the Arcadia Senior Citizens' Commission in 1978 one of its goals has been to acquire or construct a senior citizens/community center.
Rosalie Dunham, who moved to Arcadia 10 year ago, is the Senior Citizen of the Year. After the death of her husband 8 years ago, she and her friend Marilyn Morrison began Starting Over, a group for people who have suffered a loss. She also started a follow-up group called Branching Out.
The Board of Directors for the Arcadia Chamber of Commerce approved a plan proposed by the Senior Citizens Commission to establish a fund for the eventual construction of a senior citizens center.
The city has decided against trying to lease a vacated elementary school for a senior citizen center. Seniors are interested in having a drop-in center but the additional cost of leasing a school would not be justified.
An ad hoc committee of seniors plans to collect 5,000 signatures by the end of February asking the Arcadia City Council to commit itself to acquiring a senior center.
A lottery was held to determine who would receive priority in the opening of the Naomi Gardens housing project for senior citizens and the handicapped.