It’s Not The Time For A

Stand-Alone Senior Center

To the Editor:

In response to last week’s letter from Lois Pratt [“Showing Disrespect” February 15], it seems about every year or two a reminder is warranted to correct a misconception by a very few uninformed citizens concerning the towns multipurpose building housing the Children’s Adventure Center and the Senior Center. Thirty-eight-plus years ago the town allotted space on Sandy Hook School property for the erection of a new building for the Children’s Adventure Center. The building would be funded by private donations and lobbied grants from state agencies. Thus, very little, if any, impact on Newtown taxpayers. Along the planning stages, it was proposed to add to the project space for a senior center. This was approved and the addition was completed using Newtown taxpayer funds.

The town is nearing completion of an approximately $400,000 addition to the senior center to be used by seniors only. I do not blame the seniors for wanting more space, as I personally feel they need and deserve it, but given the town financial burdens (Fairfield Hills, high school expansion to name only two) it is not the time for a stand-alone building for any special interest group, let alone one that is nearing completion of a large expansion to the building they presently occupy.

For the most part, the relationship between seniors and the Adventure Center has been a good one over the years. It has only been in recent years that a very small group of seniors has put forth resentment toward the preschool children and the staff of CAC. There was not need for Ms Pratt to use her differences with others as an excuse to once again grandstand against a delegate agency of the town of Newtown. The CAC provides a vital service to the town and has done so for over 38 years. I hope this will clear up a few facts to those who may have been misled in the past.

Thomas Catalina

Board of Directors

Children’s Adventure Center

59 Butterfield Road, Newtown                               February 19, 2008