Thursday, July 8, several people gathered on the front porch of THE PLAYERS Community Senior Center for a flag-raising ceremony marking the center’s re-opening after its long closure during the COVID-19 outbreak.
Deputies Mikayla Preston and Kyle Hayward of the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office lowered the tattered U.S. flag on the pole in front of the center and raised the new one.
Alison Vitti, Senior Center program director, explained the significance of the ceremony.
“With COVID, and us being away from our friends for over a year, I just thought it was a nice symbolic thing to do,” she said. “This is a new beginning for the Senior Center, and this is a great place for them to come and just enjoy each other’s company. We’ve missed that for over a year.”
For now, the center is open on Thursdays only, though there is a plan to increase program offerings over time. The reopening is part of a careful, phased approach implemented at the Council on Aging’s six senior centers in St. Johns County.
A grand re-opening open house was held June 24, and about 100 people visited throughout the day.
“It was a great turnout,” said Vitti. “They’re happy to be back.”
The center offers area seniors a place to socialize and take part in various programs. Currently, it offers tai chi, arts and crafts, brown-bag bingo, Wii bowling, a book club, chair yoga and more.
For further information, go to www.coasjc.org or call 904-209-3700. COA’s weekly e-newsletter is available to anyone signing up at www.coasjc.org/sign-up.
The center is located at 175 Landrum Lane in Ponte Vedra.
