How three senior services became one

Two years ago, as the city began crafting a theme that would

punctuate this year’s 50th anniversary celebration of Costa Mesa’s

incorporation, Councilwoman Libby Cowan coined the term CostAmazing,

and plans were set in motion for three major events to mark this

special time in the city’s history. There would be a kick-off party

at the newly renovated Pacific Amphitheater and then a fun-run in

Fairview Park.

The final event would be Dining through the Decades at the Mesa

Verde Country Club.

When I learned of these anniversary plans, I wanted the Costa Mesa

Senior Center to be a part of the festivities, because, for our

community’s seniors, the center has been an important part of the

city’s history. After careful thought, we decided that the Senior

Center’s contribution would be a special event, the CostAmazing

Senior Hoedown.

I’ll share more details of the event in a moment, but because

we’re celebrating the city’s history this year, it’s appropriate, I

think, to share the history of one of Costa Mesa’s most important

community assets.

Before the Costa Mesa Senior Center moved into its home at 695 W.

19th St., seniors throughout the community participated in activities

organized by various groups at three different facilities.

One group was called TLC and met at Rea Community Center. This

group provided an on-site nutrition program for seniors and delivered

meals to the homebound. The second group met at the Downtown

Neighborhood Community Center, where they played bridge and

participated in travel programs. The third group, the Golden Timers

-- supported by the National Charity League -- met in a building on

19th Street. They provided seniors a variety of activities and

minimal health services.

Separately, the three groups were unable to provide seniors with

extensive health services, social services, community classes or

large meeting spaces.

Over time, it became clear that the three venues where these

senior groups met were incapable of supporting any expansion of the

senior services provided. Because of this, activities and programs

were hampered by space and time limitations.

The seniors’ groups understood that they would need a new home if

they were to adequately serve their members, a growing demographic in

Costa Mesa. So they approached the City Council with the idea of

finding a large, centralized home.

In 1986, the city of Costa Mesa contracted a private consulting

firm to conduct a citywide Senior Citizens Needs Assessment, which

determined that there was a greater need for coordination of services

in Costa Mesa. It further indicated that some programs were too

limited in scope and needed expansion.

Understanding this need was one thing, but deciding on where and

how this challenge would be met was another matter, since the three

groups were so diverse and had different interests.

The property that is now the home of the Costa Mesa Senior Center

had once been owned by the city, having formerly served as its City

Hall. But when the city moved to Fair Drive, the older city hall

property was sold to Mardan School. Fortunately, Mardan School was

looking to sell the building at the very time that the city was

looking for a building for the Costa Mesa Senior Center. And, voila!

Here we are, blessed in this wonderful facility.

Members of the Costa Mesa senior citizen community were appointed

by the City Council to a senior citizens’ advisory committee. Former

Mayor Mary Hornbuckle was instrumental is facilitating the

committee’s formation and direction. Together, the committee and the

city Costa Mesa achieved a wonderful milestone in Costa Mesa’s

50-year history: The creation of the invaluable Costa Mesa Senior

Center.

As I have said before, the Costa Mesa Senior Center is really the

center of daily life for approximately 500 of our community’s

seniors, people 50 and older. Our senior membership family consists

of 2,200 wonderful people who come to this remarkable place to share

and enhance the wonderful golden years of their lives.

The senior center provides a wide range of social, recreational

and educational programs, physical exercises and computer classes to

help our members stay healthy and on the leading edge of change. Our

services also include hot lunches, home delivered meals,

transportation to and from the center, as well as rides to medical

appointments. The center also offers more than 30 social support

programs, including counseling, housing, tax, legal and insurance

assistance, health examinations and crisis intervention.

True to the founding vision of that first advisory committee and

the city, the Costa Mesa Senior Center is truly the “seniors’ home

away from home,” as we like to say.

The Costa Mesa Senior Center owes so much to the city of Costa

Mesa, and to show our appreciation and to help the city celebrates

its 50th anniversary, the Senior Center will be hosting the

CostAmazing Senior Hoedown from 4 to 7 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 12, at

the Costa Mesa Senior Center.

The entire community is invited to take part in what promises to

be a fun-filled, heel-stomping good time. Live western music

featuring the Travis Parker Band, dancing and a spectacular barbecue

will be the hallmarks of the evening.

Tickets are $5 per person for members, $11 per person for non-members, and $5 for children. Tickets are on sale at the Costa

Mesa Senior Center’s front desk and in the city’s Parks and

Recreation Department office, on the third floor of City Hall.

For more information, please contact us at (949) 645-2356.

* AVIVA GOELMAN is the executive director of the Costa Mesa Senior

Center and will write occasional columns about the center, its

members and senior issues.