N E W S TOWNSHIP OF WOODBRIDGE

MAYOR JOHN E. McCORMAC ¨ 1 Main Street, Woodbridge, NJ 07095

Phone: (732) 634-4500 ¨ Fax: (732) 602-6016 ¨ Web: http://www.twp.woodbridge.nj.us

__________________________________________________________________________ FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:

Jan. 8, 2007 John R. Hagerty

Mayor’s Office of Communications

732-602-6039

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WOODBRIDGE MAYOR JOHN E. McCORMAC HOLDS FIRST

TOWNSHIP-WIDE SENIOR SUMMIT…

Senior Residents Focus Discussion on Community Center & Public Services… McCormac Names Senior Activity Director to Target & Coordinate Senior Programs, Events, Services & Information

WOODBRIDGE – More than 150 senior residents from throughout Woodbridge Township today attended the first “Senior Summit” hosted by Woodbridge Mayor John E. McCormac. The Woodbridge Community Center “Senior Summit” allowed senior residents to express opinions on diverse topics of interest and to offer ideas and suggestions on how to improve senior-related programs and services offered through the Community Center.

Mayor McCormac engaged senior residents in a lively exchange of ideas in an open discussion on topics ranging from expanding and improving services, programs, and facilities at the Community Center, to improving communications with senior residents on emergency preparedness and weather-related alerts, to suggestions on improving public safety such as limiting heavy truck traffic through residential areas, street and road repairs, to “Quality of Life” issues such as home maintenance and repair, to praising the Mayor’s continuing crackdown on illegal housing.

“The senior residents attending the Community Center ‘Summit’ were well aware of how to improve the Community Center and offered opinions on how to address a number of the Township-wide issues along with an understanding of what needs to be done to improve the ‘Quality of Life’ for everyone,” Mayor McCormac said.

“The ‘Senior Summit’ was extremely helpful and will allow the Community Center staff, the Recreation Director, and Town Hall to provide not just better services, but the types of programs, services and information that senior residents want and need. Simply put… addressing senior concerns does not have to be complicated. Some of the suggestions we’ll be considering include installing speed bumps at the entrance to the Community Center, more convenient handicapped parking, and easier access to the Community Center,” the Mayor said.

In addressing the senior residents, Mayor McCormac announced the appointment of Woodbridge resident Lois Griffin as Director of Senior Events and Community Services. Ms. Griffin, currently the Volunteer & Enrichment Coordinator for the YMCA, will coordinate senior programs offered through the YMCA with facilities, programs, and events available through the Community Center. As a local businesswoman and community volunteer, Ms. Griffin has gained experience interacting with senior citizens and coordinating arts, crafts and cultural programs and events.

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“As Mayor, I am committed to providing the best services and programs, with the most efficiency, for our senior residents,” Mayor McCormac said. “With the appointment of a Director of Senior Events & Services, I look forward to providing even more diverse and innovative programs, events, and services to the Township’s senior residents.”

Mayor McCormac noted that the Community Center sponsors many free programs, events, and educational and informational sessions and opportunities, including the QualCare senior program series, the Silver Sneakers fitness program, line dancing classes, senior billiards and gaming activities, a computer learning lab, senior splash water aerobics program, along with many other programs and services. Additionally, the Community Center offers unlimited access to all facilities, classes, and programs as part of an $11.00 per month membership fee (which can be waived for low income senior residents). A Community Center membership includes unlimited access to all physical fitness facilities, computer lab and other services.

Mayor McCormac noted that representatives from the Community Center, Evergreen Community Center, the senior clubs and residences throughout Woodbridge Township, the various AARP chapters, along with active senior residents invited to and/or attending the Summit included:

· Avenel Senior Club @ St. Andrews

· Colonia Senior Club @ Colonia Fire House

· Fords/Keasbey Senior Club @ Our lady of Peace

· Iselin Senior Club @ St. Cecelia’s Knights of Columbus Club #3639

· Port Reading/Sewaren Senior Club @ St. Anthony’s Hall

· Woodbridge Senior Club @ St. James McCarristan Hall

· The Asia-Indian Senior Club

· The St. John Vianney Senior Club

· AARP Chapters representing Colonia, Iselin and Woodbridge, and

· Representatives from Maple Tree Manor (Avenel), Greiner Towers (Colonia), Olsen Towers (Fords), Cooper Towers (Iselin), Finn Towers (Woodbridge), Stern Towers (Woodbridge), Adams Towers (Woodbridge and the Evergreen Senior Center.

Mayor McCormac announced that additional “Senior Summit,” as well as “Town Meetings,” will be held throughout Woodbridge Township in coming months and that topics of discussion will include “Quality of Life” issues, recreation opportunities, public safety, municipal services, and senior concerns.

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