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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PR- 274-05
July 15, 2005

MAYOR BLOOMBERG AND SENATOR GOLDEN ANNOUNCES OPENING OF MOOSE LODGE SENIOR CENTER IN BENSONHURST, BROOKLYN

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg today announced the allocation of $133,000 from the Mayor's executive budget for the operational expenses of a new satellite senior center in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn. This new facility will be housed at the Loyal Order of the Moose Lodge, at 7707-18th Avenue, and will serve approximately 100 of the areas seniors daily. The center and its programs will be administered by Builders for the Family and Youth Diocese of Brooklyn, Inc. (BFFY) and is slated to open this fall. Some of the centers programs will include congregated lunch and a range of recreational activities.

"Moose Lodge Senior Center is another wonderful addition to our 329 centers across the five boroughs," said Mayor Bloomberg. "Our centers are vibrant places for seniors to socialize, stay informed about their community and receive nutritious meals. Bensonhurst seniors will now have one more place to go and meet friends."

In addition to the funds from the Mayor's executive budget for programs at the center, State and local lawmakers have also made financial investments for the physical renovation of the center including, $175,000 from State Senator Marty Golden, $125,000 from State Assemblyman Peter Abbate, and $35,000 from Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz. Renovations at the lodge began shortly after March 2003. The construction created a larger, more modern, and accommodating senior center. It will be open for four hours daily.

State Senator Marty Golden, Chairman of the Senate Aging Committee stated, "Today, the senior citizens of Bensonhurst have been granted a gift and I am very grateful to Mayor Bloomberg for working with our community to make this dream of a new senior center a reality. For many of our beloved seniors, this new center will serve as a focal point in their lives, a home away from home. The establishment of this new center was a priority, for we could not allow our seniors to age in an outdated and unsuitable environment. The seniors of Bensonhurst are the well deserved winners today."

"There is no better place than Brooklyn to spend your sunset years," said Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz. "With our access to public transportation, cultural institutions, restaurants, higher education, our diversity and vibrant senior centers - Booklyn is the best place to retire. This new satellite senior center in Bensonhurst will improve the quality of life of Brooklyn's wisest and help ensure that their golden years are their best years."

"The opening of this senior center is another sign of the Mayor's commitment to the seniors in this city. Senior centers provide a friendly and supportive environment to promote socialization, good health and nutrition for seniors. Once there they participate in numerous activities, see friends, and engage their minds," said Department for the Aging Commissioner Edwin Méndez-Santiago.

The Department for the Aging is the largest area agency on Aging in the United States. The Department is federally mandated to plan, coordinate and fund services for the 1.3 million elderly New Yorkers in the city's five boroughs. It administers New York City's nearly 329 senior centers and an array of other senior programs and entitlements.







MEDIA CONTACT:


Edward Skyler/Silvia Alvarez   (212) 788-2958

Christopher Miller   (Department for the Aging)
(212) 442-1111

John Quaglione (Senator Golden)   (718) 238-6044




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