City of Carlsbad releases plans for movement of senior citizen services
Some of City of Carlsbad senior citizens functions will see temporary locations as preparations start for a permanent move to a new site.
Beginning Thursday, the Nutritional Meals program will move out of the San Jose Senior Center to the Head Start Building at 915 San Jose Boulevard, read a City of Carlsbad news release.
The current San Jose Senior Center serves as a meal site for the southeast New Mexico Community Action Corporation (SENMCAC) and the City will move the kitchen and handle food inspections.
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Other senior center services, such as the fitness and recreation programs, will continue to operate out of the old facility during this transition period. During the week of June 27, services will be moved to the new location on Kircher Street. Meal services will be offered at the Kircher location when the transition is complete, the news release stated.
“What this means is that there’s a two-week period where we’ll be serving meals at the Head Start building, but offering all other services at the old location,” Carlsbad Mayor Dale Janway said. “This isn’t a perfect scenario, but we expect it to be a short-term inconvenience with a long-term gain.”
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The Alejandro Ruiz Senior Center is the former Pate Elementary School in south Carlsbad. Carlsbad Municipal Schools (CMS) donated the school to the City of Carlsbad for a new senior center.
The New Mexico Department of Finance and Administration (DFA) approved the donation and transfer in 2018. The City took possession of the property once the State of New Mexico gave the OK.
Phase One renovations of the facility were ongoing as funding assistance was provided by the DFA and the New Mexico Aging and Long-Term Services Department (ALTSD). Construction was delayed due to COVID-19 and some constructed related delays.
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“While we’re very excited about this move, we know this adjustment will be a challenge over the next few weeks,” Janway said. “We ask for our residents to be patient with us as we make this transition. Thank you to our staff for working so hard on this move.”
ALTSD’s Capital Outlay program funded phase two work, which is in progress and phase three renovation and equipment funding was approved for additional capital outlay, per the release.
“Carlsbad is very proud of its status as an Age Friendly Community,” Janway said. “This newly-remodeled facility will allow us to continue to expand services for our seniors and improve on our partnership with SNMCAC.”
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Plans are in place by the City for a ribbon cutting ceremony christening the newly remodeled facility and honoring the family of Ruiz.
He was a Loving native and World War II veteran. He received the Congressional Medal of Honor, the Bronze Star and Purple Heart for his military service.
He died in 2009 and was enshrined into the Carlsbad Hall of Fame in 2017.
The City has not determined future use of the soon to be vacant San Jose Senior Center.
Mike Smith can be reached at 575-628-5546 or by email at MSmith@currentargus.com or @ArgusMichae on Twitter.
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This article originally appeared on Carlsbad Current-Argus: City of Carlsbad prepares move for senior citizen programs
