Pop champagne: Officials praise progress of S.B. Senior Center

SOUTH BRUNSWICK — Senior does not mean old.

That is the message staff members emphasized at the South Brunswick Senior Center’s 20th anniversary celebration on July 14.

In fact, while talking with Christine Wildemuth, director of the Office on Aging, words like “active,” “hip” and “trendy” were heard repeatedly.

The center has changed in many ways during its two decades in existence, and the staff makes it a priority to keep up with the times, whether by providing new workout classes like Zumba or teaching seniors how to navigate Facebook and Twitter. —

Fitness is of particular importance at the center. Seniors participate in everything from biking and golf on the weekends to aerobics and tai chi classes during the week. Wildemuth aims to dispel the stereotypes about senior centers and catering to the 55- to 65-year-old members.

Approximately 800 to 900 seniors use the center every week, checking in with their new electronic scanning cards. Mayor Frank Gambatese spoke at the anniversary celebration and applauded those in attendance for making the center as lively as it is.

“This facility is the most active center in Middlesex County,” he said. “And I don’t know, but I believe it is probably the best senior center in the state of New Jersey.”

Wildemuth’s plans for the center include expanding the building to include a Health and Fitness wing, equipped with treadmills, bikes, three pingpong tables and other senior friendly exercise machines. An architect spent a year devising a prospective layout for the expansion, and the town council has requested funding from the county. Gambatese said he believes their request will be fulfilled.

Program coordinator Susan Trilli has been with the senior center at various positions since its inception. She has seen members come and go, witnessed the demographics change, and has overseen the addition of Caryl Greenburg as a staff social worker. Trilli said people come to the center on a day-to-day basis for a variety of reasons, whether to see friends or attend an art class, but they stay for two main purposes. “No matter what age, they want to be fit and they want to learn,” she said.

This is true of Pat Kay, 77, who has frequented the senior center for 12 years. Kay started coming after she was told she could no longer drive because she was legally blind. The free transportation provided her a way to get her shopping done.

Now, however, Kay attends Spanish, tai chi and meditation classes and runs Joseph Camarota a support group for people losing their vision. She has also led drum circles and flute demonstrations as well as offered her artwork for exhibition.

Members like Kay, who teach and learn at the center, were among those celebrated at the anniversary party. Trilli even honored members in attendance who served as hosts and hostesses at the center’s grand opening on July 4, 1991, including Lillian Bifulco, Thakor Patel, Betty Putnoky and William Winick.

Ed Goldberg provided live music at the ceremony, and raffle prizes were given out. Staff and volunteers served barbecue-style food. The burgers were cooked on gas grills purchased by the Friends of the South Brunswick Senior Center.

Councilman Joe Camarota said he was amazed at the center’s continued growth, and knows it will have more to celebrate in another 20 years.

“It’s like a fine wine,” he said. “It gets better and better every year. Now we’re going to go from a fine wine to a good champagne.”

Contact Deanna McLafferty at

DMcLafferty@gmnews.com.