Pine Island seniors long for a home of their own

Pine Island — Twenty years ago, 17 men and women founded the Pine Island Seniors. The first formal meeting was on May 17, 1984. From the start, the intent was to provide a place where seniors could meet and share friendship. The founding president, Kate Mrocka, was concerned with providing companionship, recreation, and helpful information for seniors. These traditions were continued by President John Yanosh, and then Stanley Gurda, the current president. In time, even children of the founding members joined. Since these parents had worked to establish a consolidated high school, their friends from Warwick High School joined them, as did other people from Warwick who liked the comraderie of the group. The club worked to preserve old friendships and family ties, by accepting people forced to move from Pine Island by high taxes and lack of senior housing. At the same time, it has welcomed anyone from the Town of Warwick. There are now 103 members and they’ve outgrown the fire house. The PLAV has stepped in and provided housing, plus the town has assisted with funds toward the rent. However, the Pine Island Seniors believe it’s time for them to have their own center. They have taken all members in, on a first come, first served basis, limiting them only by the lack of room. While they still have a considerable waiting list, they reopened for one day on March 3. All applications were then added to the end of the waiting list -- with a difference: the group will now take the oldest applicants with their spouses first. They hope that this will allow more seniors to join. Provisions for more opportunities for seniors are needed, but Pine Island Seniors cannot provide it alone, nor should they. Their job is to provide themselves with the opportunities to enjoy their lives and they do this well. They travel, thanks to Estella Youngman, Terry Sinsabaugh, Helen Coates, Doris Gurda, Ginny Rudy, Joan Poloniak, and many others. They party thanks to Ginny Kurdyla, Dolores McGloin, Dolores Romanko, Charlie and Michelle Carter, Alex Sherman, Estelle and Kenny Youngman, Anne Broxdowski, and many others. They have very open, issue-oriented meetings and are in good financial hands, and hope to celebrate many more years together. (Contributed by Marty Norman.)