Students play a huge role in new senior center

Students play a huge role in new senior center

Eryn Dion
News Staff Writer

TEMPLETON — Juniors and seniors from Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical High School have been hard at work, installing windows and plumbing in an effort to get Templeton’s new senior center up and running for a projected summer opening.

“The help from Monty Tech has been a blessing,” said Council on Aging Director Bethany Loveless.

The council has been working on a stringent budget of only $680,000, explained Ms. Loveless, where other surrounding communities have been given millions for their new senior centers. Using Monty Tech students has allowed them to get high-quality work done for a fraction of the cost.


With linoleum designed to look like hardwood flooring and decorating with dark blues and yellows, it’s clear Ms. Loveless has put a considerable amount of thought into her vision for the new hub of senior activities.

“We’re going for homey,” she said. “Not institutional.”

The new center has been in the pipeline since 2006, when the council began looking at buildings. Ms. Loveless commended Selectmen Doug Morrison’s work on the project, saying he was an integral part of securing the building.

“The most fantastic part for me was when the walls were up, when it wasn’t just a floor plan,” said Ms. Loveless. “When I could stand in my office and pretend I’m waving to seniors.”

Around 15 Monty Tech students have been working on the facility every day for the past month — leaving school at 8:15 a.m. and returning late in the afternoon.

“It’s like a field trip every day,” said plumbing instructor David Frawley.

Mr. Frawley’s students are working on the first floor plumbing system, which includes three bathrooms, two sinks, a commercial kitchen, as well as the building’s drainage.

The senior center project is his class’s first on-site outing, and Mr. Frawley explained that experience gained out in the field is invaluable — allowing students to put their skills to the test outside of a controlled environment.

“The students say things are really starting to click,” he said. “Now there are real surfaces to work from and real obstacles to work around.”

Carpentry instructor Peter Maxfield agreed with Mr. Frawley, saying the students enjoy their time in the field and that the school’s ability to create classrooms on job sites has really contributed to the success of their co-op program.

“They’re going to go to that co-op with an understanding of a job site,” said Mr. Maxfield.

The department has been given a blank check to provide whatever resources are needed at the center, Mr. Maxfield explained, and involve as many classes as needed.

“We’re trying to do as much as we can with the time available,” he said.  “We’re accomplishing something every day.”

The carpentry juniors have already conducted extensive work in the region — completing projects at the Barre Police Station, Quabbin Regional High School and Phillipston Elementary School. After work at the senior center finishes, the students will head back to Quabbin for a new project.

For Ms. Loveless, the new building will allow the council to provide a wider variety of services all in one building, while giving her better management over her staff who are currently spread between two buildings — miles apart.

“I don’t think people understand how much we do,” she said. “Our department is a lot larger than people think.”

Templeton’s council also operates the town’s Food Pantry, serving the economically vulnerable both in town and in Phillipston, as well as conducting outreach with seniors and residents who may be struggling financially.

The town’s current senior center at Scout Hall does not have any private space for consultations.

According to Ms. Loveless, the council is hoping for a July 1 opening, with the Food Pantry relocating to lower level later in the fall.

“January was clearly a pipe dream,” she commented. “But if we hadn’t pushed so hard for January, we wouldn’t be where we are ... The seniors deserve it open now.”