Tri-County Citizen

Seniors request intervention over shared building takeover




CHESANING – A group of about a dozen senior citizens attended the Tuesday, Dec. 4 meeting of the Chesaning Village Council to request help with regard to a perceived hostile takeover of the building shared by the Chesaning Senior Center and the Chesaning Area Emergency Relief (CAER) Center. While the council doesn’t have authority over the Senior Center/CAER Center, council members and others offered possible solutions.

Joyce Ostrander explained that for 35 years, area senior citizens have had a nice place to meet, where they can play games, have exercise classes, activities, parties and play pool. But there’s been a change and now the CAER Center wants to use part of the seniors’ activity space for creating a shopping-style food pantry.

Village President Joseph Sedlar, Jr. explained that he got involved in the discussion after talking with Saginaw County Commission on Aging Director Jessica Sargent. He explained that storage for the food pantry is offsite, inside a classroom at the old St. Peter Parish school.

During the meeting it was revealed that St. Peter Church recently sent the CAER Center a letter requesting that all of the food be removed from the school before Jan. 1. It was said during the meeting that it’s an insurance issue for the church.

In response, CAER Center co-manager Marcia Westrick began working on the possibility of converting about 400 square feet of the senior center to a shopping style food pantry for the needy.

George Detwiler said, “The CAER Center distributes 1,700 boxes of food per year. St. Peter’s has asked them to be out by Jan. 1.”

During the village council meeting, there was speculation that the Rehman Health Center building might be available as an alternative site. However, those at the Dec. 4 council meeting were unaware that the Rehmann Health Center Board is currently in negotiations with the Saginaw County Health Department to continue health services at the Rehmann Health Center.

The Citizen contacted Cathy Gross about the health center and she said, “We’re not quitting yet.”

On Thursday, Dec. 6, CAER Center co-directors Janene Rider and Marcia Westrick met with the Saginaw County Commission on Aging Director Jessica Sargent. Afterwards Rider released the following statement, “Representatives from the CAER board, seniors and the Saginaw County Commission on Aging met to dispel rumors and present facts. Fact (one): As of Jan. 1, CAER will no longer be able to utilize the Catholic school for food storage. We are very grateful for the use of the building. Fact (two): Permanent food storage venues are exhausted. Fact (three): Purposed changes in the senior center will work. Fact (four): CAER will give out food two days a week to help eliminate parking congestion. Fact (five): Both groups will work toward better communications.”

On Friday, Dec. 7, Sargent said, “The Commission on Aging has had a partnership with the CAER Center for decades and it is ultimately up to the CAER board to make the decision to convert the space in the senior center; the space has been evaluated so programs and activities currently enjoyed by the seniors will not be affected. Our agency will continue to make it a priority to ensure there is better communication between both parties and that the center is still a place of enjoyment for the seniors.”

As far as the proposed renovation of the senior center area, Detwiler said, “There’s a lot of opportunity to make room there.”

Rosemary Newcomb, who serves on the CAER Center board and is a senior, said, “I’ve been wracking my brain. We’ve just outgrown the space. The basement is fine for the clothing, but to add the food (in the basement, won’t work).”

Village president Joseph Sedlar, Jr. asked, “Why do we have two food pantries in the village?” Newcomb replied, “We have three. Trinity, the CAER Center and the New Wine Community Church. I think a lot of people shop the food pantries.”

Sedlar suggested the food pantries combine.

Mary VanLoon, who is also on the Rehamann Health Center board, said she is aware of the issue between the seniors and the CAER Center. She said, “Everyone’s intentions are good.”

Village Administrator Troy Feltman observed that the CAER Center and Chesaning Senior Center are having some organization transitional issues. He offered to work with the groups to mediate and help to establish a plan of succession for the organization. This would be outside his role as village administrator.