COLUMN: North Port Senior Center alive, well

Angie Cvengros and Eileen Tatom want to make one thing perfectly clear.

The North Port Senior Center is open, and they want some company.

The two North Port women said while they officially have about 200 members registered, they’re not seeing many of them on the four days a week the center, 4940 Pan American Blvd., is open.

There are two reasons for their lonely days at the center. First is the flight of snowbirds back north. Second, they say, is the fact the city took down their sign and people believe they’re closed.

“They put up a Community Education Center sign and won’t let us put our sign back up,” Cvengros said. “People think we’re gone.”

Well, they’re not gone and if Tatom, who just took over as president, has anything to say about it the crowds will be coming back soon. She says there is plenty to do and she wants to plan enough events that they might be able to open six days a week.

“We have basic exercise three times a week,” Tatom said. “We just had a yard sale, and we have an ice cream social scheduled May 11.

“There will be a chili cookoff the Fourth of July weekend and a Christmas in July sale.

“We want to bring some life back here,” Tatom said.

Cvengros, who is 89, said she enjoys the company and the programs at the center. She said even though there are 23 members over the age of 90, there are younger members (anyone 55 and older can join) and lots to do.

It’s not unusual, Cvengros said, to see people from Port Charlotte who used to frequent the now-closed Cultural Center travel to North Port to visit the center. It just costs $15 a year to be a member. Or, you can just show up and pay $1 a day to exercise, play cards or whatever.

Tatom said there are programs that help older people — like the medical equipment lending class.

“We have some equipment like wheelchairs and walkers and stuff we loan out,” she said. “It’s important, and I know. I broke my foot once and it cost me $30 a week to rent a scooter.”

Tatom wants more members to get involved so she can form some committees to plan events and help her with her duties.

“Right now I am doing most of the work myself,” she said. “I could use some help.”

Maybe if people read this today, help will be on its way.