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Wadsworth Soprema Senior Center hosts Christmas party
The Gazette
WADSWORTH — The Wadsworth Soprema Senior Center held its senior Christmas party on Wednesday.
The Christmas party allowed 250 seniors to get together and celebrate the holidays with a meal, musical entertainment and a special Christmas gift. Soprema Senior Center Director Lori Wilkinson said that the Wadsworth Student Council and the diversified medical technologies students helped pass out drinks and food.
Wadsworth Mayor Robin Laubaugh, and Wadsworth Assistant Service Director Mike Testa helped introduce the party and wished the seniors happy holidays. Wadsworth Community Radio 97.1’s Tom Stugmyer provided holiday music for the seniors. The event ended with a special performance by Wadsworth High School’s Rhythm in Red show choir. The party also included potentially the largest senior snowball fight in the county, Wilkinson said.
“We are so thankful to Wadsworth High School,” Wilkinson said. “Especially their administration and principals for hosting us today, and the students for bringing so much joy. For many seniors, this is the only party that they are invited to this season. They will also be treated to a special Christmas gift. Many of them will be putting the gift under their tree as their Christmas gift this year, so it is very meaningful.”
The gift included a decorated sled ornament donated by Pete Graham Dunn, a pair of gloves donated by the Wadsworth Older Adults Foundation, and a Christmas chocolate bar donated by the American Legion.
Contact reporter Patrick Rhonemus at (330) 721–4050 or prhonemus@medina-gazette.com.
The Gazette
WADSWORTH — On Friday the Soprema Senior Center & Café celebrated its 10th anniversary of the partnership between Soprema Inc. and the Wadsworth Older Adults Foundation. The center, which was moved from its old location on High Street in 2013, is now located on the Wadsworth High School and YMCA Campus at 617 School Drive.
The event allowed the public, including individuals that are not members, to experience what the Soprema Senior Center has to offer.
“We have an open house for all of our different programs,” said Lori Wilkinson, the Director of the Soprema Senior Center & Café. “We have over a dozen programs being featured in our activity room and our media room.”
The media room also featured what Wilkinson calls A Walk Down Memory Lane. “We have newsletters and photos that are dated back to 1976 and going all the way up until what we do now.”
In the ten years since the opening of the new center, the organization has amassed around 5,000 members aged 55 and up. The building has had a few upgrades since it was opened to the public.
“We got a facelift outside thanks to the Wadsworth Older Adults Foundation and a grant from the Hillier Family Foundation,” said Wilkinson, in regard to some of the upgrades.
These upgrades include a pavilion located outside the café that was constructed by the Wadsworth Older Adults Foundation, a new awning above the front entrance to the center, as well as new carpet and updating the paint inside the center.
“We’re showcasing the amazing things that have been done here,” said Wilkinson. “The intergenerational opportunities that it has allowed. We are here with the high school, the YMCA, summa health, the library has a little piece here. It’s just been a way that we have been able to expand everything that we do.”
Mayor Robin Laubaugh said, “This is an exciting day, it’s great that we are able to celebrate this wonderful facility.”
Laubaugh said that this facility is an excellent option for the older adult community both in the areas of community involvement and a better quality of life for those individuals involved.
“This is just an exciting day,” Laubaugh said.
The Soprema Café is open Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and offers a wide array of food and drink options.
The Soprema Senior Center is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Contact reporter Patrick Rhonemus at (330) 721–4050 or prhonemus@medina-gazette.com.
Senior group makes unique crafts for fun
and to help others
By Madisyn Woodring
The Gazette
October 1, 2022
WADSWORTH — Claire’s Crafty Friends is a group of seniors who make items by hand through crocheting, knitting, sewing, cross stitching and more for their own enjoyment or to donate to people in need.
Founder Claire Cowfer said the group was started over five years ago with members making mats out of plastic bags for the homeless.
Pamela Root is one member who creates the plastic mats, and she started doing so because of Cowfer. She said the mats are made by cutting plastic grocery bags into strips and crocheting them together until it is 3 1/2 feet wide and 6 1/2 feet long. She also makes ones that are sized for children.
Plastic bags are used because they repel mildew and black mold, can be washed off with a hose and produce heat when someone lays on at mat, Root said. The mats are taken to Northside Christian Church in Wadsworth, and the church distributes them to local homeless people.
The group has since grown to include all other types of crafts, and each member of the group has their own specialty for what they like to create.
“Everybody enjoys what they do,” Cowfer said. “We like looking at each other’s things, and everybody is pretty much willing to demonstrate what they do.”
Cowfer now makes afghan blankets at the club. She said she has made 225 and has given them all away except for five.
Other goods are created by participants like table runners, potholders, doilies, scarves and more. Some members participate in the Medina County Fair by showcasing their handmade items.
The group meets at the Wadsworth Senior Center on 617 School Drive on Fridays from noon to 2 p.m.
“We have a good time,” Cowfer said. “We enjoy doing what we do, and we enjoy learning other things too.”
Contact reporter Madisyn Woodring at (330) 721-4049 or mwoodring@medina-gazette.com.
Medina County groups help seniors beat isolation, technology divide
Jack Kopanski - The Gazette
May 5, 2021
Read the full article here: https://medina-gazette.com/news/260544/medina-county-groups-help-seniors-beat-isolation-technology-divide/
Feeding Medina County returns to Wadsworth senior center
Jonathan Delozier - The Gazette
April 29, 2021
Read the full article here: https://medina-gazette.com/news/260092/feeding-medina-county-returns-to-wadsworth-senior-center/
Engaging our Elders: Committee dedicated to keeping local seniors social online
Lorraine Sipos - Medina Weekly News
April 22, 2021
Read the full article here: https://online.fliphtml5.com/zjng/lewh/#p=4