Lawrence Senior Center celebrates its expansion

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From the Times – Space matters – Lawrence Senior Center celebrates its expansion

LAWRENCE – Mae Hirschfield is no stranger to ribbon-cuttings, particularly those at the Lawrence Senior Center. She was there in 1991 when the first ribbon was cut to open the center, and she was there last night to celebrate the long-awaited ceremony marking the completion of its expansion.

The renovation added 900 square feet to the building, space that will accommodate the fast-growing senior-citizen population that uses it.

Township Mayor Michael S. Powers noted that since the center was built, approximately eight new developments have been built in the area, resulting in what he called “a tremendous need for expansion.”

The expansion includes a new game room and computer lab.

The Rev. Frederick Mechowski, pastor of Our Savior Parish in Lawrence and chaplain for the center, dedicated the building at its first ribbon-cutting.

“I just love the place,” he said last night. “My recycled teenagers, I call them.”

Anna Tomko, 92, comes to the center every Thursday and Friday for lunch and bingo. She, too, attended that 1991 ribbon-cutting.

“It’s good to be here with everybody,” she said. “They’re like family.”

The expansion will allow more space for the many activities at the center, said Kuulei Lyden, leader of the center’s Hawaiian dance group.

Another activity group, the Lawrence Community Concert Band, rehearses in the center. Ron Taglairino, director of the band since 2000, said the center is like a home to the band.

Veronica Pickering, chairwoman of the Lawrence Township Senior Executive Committee, noted the center’s busy schedule, saying “the line-dancing class is so full now you can’t even get a place to stand.”

The same was true when the crowd gathered in the hallway last night and cameras flashed as Powers, surrounded by township, county, and state officials, cut the ribbon tied across the renovation, officially opening it to the Lawrence community.

The addition was launched when Lawrence awarded a $731,900 contract to McCauley Construction Co. Inc. Completion of the project was made possible by a matching grant from Mercer County.

“Without the effort of the county, this project probably would not have been able to take place,” Mayor Powers said.

As the concert band began to play, and community members made their way toward the refreshments, Kay Palazey, vice president of the center’s Club 2, commented on the beauty of the addition.

“We’re always looking for new senior members, and they should really come and see the beautiful new center,” she said.

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Honoring Lech Wałęsa

Events /

Luncheon Celebrated 25th Anniversary of the Solidarity Trade Union

Rep. Chris Smith (R-Hamilton) and a delegation from Mercer County’s Polish-American community joined former Polish President Lech Walesa, former Secretary of State Alexander Haig, and former National Security Adviser Zbigniew Brzezinski to commemorate the 25th Anniversary of the founding of the Solidarity Trade Union on Monday, September 26, 2005. Smith, who serves as Co-Chairman of the U.S. Helsinki Commission, was the main host of the event which was sponsored by the Polish Embassy.

“President Walesa is a patriot of the truest sense,” said Smith, who gave opening remarks in tribute to the former President of Poland. “Twenty Five years ago, a lone electrician named Lech Walesa roused the Polish nation to reclaim its freedom from the clutches of Communism.”

Smith was be joined by Mrs. Joan Duffy, Mr. & Mrs. Walter and Barbara Kramarz and their son John, and the Rev. and Mrs. Frederic Mechowski, all from Mercer County. Rev. Mechowski from the Church of Our Savior in Lawrenceville, New Jersey, provided an invocation – partly in Polish – prior to the luncheon.

“I am thrilled New Jerseyans from the Polish-American community were able to meet a national hero,” Smith said. “This was a unique opportunity to hear from someone who made history by bringing freedom, respect for rights and enduring democracy to Poland and Eastern Europe.”

In his remarks, President Walesa recalled working to “awaken the Polish Nation to reflect in their faith” and leverage that into a unified strength. He spoke of Poland being the first nation to “knock the teeth out of the Soviet Bear,” creating a path on which other nations would follow – eventually leading to the fall of the Berlin Wall and the collapse of Communism.

In addition to Rep. Smith and President Walesa, former Secretary of State Alexander Haig and former National Security Adviser Zbigniew Brzezinski made remarks. President Walesa presented each with a medal created by the city of Gdansk to commemorate the 25th Anniversary of the founding of Solidarity for their work in bringing freedom to Poland.

The Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, also known as the Helsinki Commission, is a U.S. Government agency that monitors progress in the implementation of the provisions of the 1975 Helsinki Accords. The Commission consists of nine members from the United States Senate, nine from the House of Representatives, and one member each from the Departments of State, Defense and Commerce.

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