By Sarah Moskowitz
"There's nothing we can do," said Senior Center Director Elaine Scheinfeld. "I'm sorry it took so long."
The additional of a back room to the building to give the seniors more space for their activities has been under construction since last fall. Construction also included moving the main entrance from the front of the two-story building to the side that faces the Village Hall parking lot on Atlantic Avenue. The work done by Bellmore based G.B.C. Contracting, Inc., was expected to be completed by July 31.
"They underestimated their time on getting it done," said East Rockaway Building Department Superintendent Dennis McCabe. He said they will work quickly on the building over the next few weeks so it can reopen next month. This is the first addition to the original building, which was constructed in 1992.
Because the renovations fell behind schedule, the Center has no official reopening date, however Deputy Mayor Joseph Carrigan hopes for an opening in early September.
"We've waited a long time for the construction to end," he said. "It's beyond the time that we had anticipated."
Besides finishing work on the building itself, the Center still requires new landscaping to replace what was unearthed. It is uncertain if replanting would affect the grand opening. Carrigan said East Rockaway will "consider opening the center before landscaping is done, depending on the time frame." The local beautification committee will organize gardening plans.
The cost of the construction project is $265,500, not including any landscaping work yet to be done. The money for the project was secured in the village's capital project budget last year.
Scheinfeld, a member of the Center, is hopeful that when construction is completed the larger area will attract new members, particularly men. In previous years the 40 or 50 members have all been women.
Several men are known to play billiards in the basement of Village Hall. To bring more men into the center, the pool table might be moved into the senior center. The center's expanded room will also include card tables and possibly be the home to a new exercise class, said Scheinfeld.
East Rockaway resident Grace Litarzewski, who has been a member of the senior center for about eight years said many of the seniors are thrilled at the idea of an addition to the building, noting it was a little crowded before.
"It's a break for getting out of the house and meeting old friends," she said.
The senior center's activities include bimonthly Tai Chi and dance classes, as well as games such as canasta, mahjong and bingo. Scheinfeld also always provides a breakfast of bagels and coffee for the seniors.
The East Rockaway Senior Activities Center is located adjacent to the East Rockaway Village Hall, at 6 James St. off Atlantic Avenue. All residents 60-years-old and older are welcome. The Center is open Mondays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
