BROOKLYN – There’s plenty happening in Brooklyn – and the Seaside Recreation and Community Centre has a lot to do with it.
The facility recently got a $3,000 grant from the Queens Community Health Board.
Sandy Cross is a member of the board of directors. Her role includes looking after rentals, fundraisers, and coordinating the lobster takeouts and craft shows. She says she received notification about the funding Feb. 11.
“We basically wanted to do something for people in this area,” explained Cross. “We wanted to bring programs here on a monthly basis to do with a lot of different things.”
Sessions are set to be held on the second Wednesday of each month from 7-9 p.m. The first one is scheduled to take place March 7 and will cover the topics of wills and living wills, among other things. The meetings will take place over a full year period, although Cross says she hasn’t yet decided whether they’ll be offered in July or August.
“We’re also going to put Internet in here, and that was part of the grant, too,” she said.
The April 11 session is slated to cover financial information, such as tax-free savings accounts, registered retirement saving plans and financial planning.
“Also, during these sessions, if anyone is in need of a drive to and from the sessions, that is going to be provided free of charge. All they have to do is call my cell phone,” said Cross.
Sessions are free, there will be light refreshments, and monthly notifications will go out by phone and mail.
“We’re hoping to get as many people out as possible,” said Cross. “It doesn’t matter whether you’re young or old.”
Cross says anyone with ideas for sessions can contact her, and the board can look at the idea.
Seaside Centre
The Seaside Centre opened as a school in 1962, said Cross. In 1992, the school closed, and the building was vacant until 1994.
At that point, a group went to the municipality to inquire about renting or buying the space.
“In 1995, we purchased it for $1,” said Cross. “And since that time, we have made several improvements.”
Some of those improvements have included painting the outside and inside of the building, putting on a new roof, installing a stair lift and building a ramp.
In addition to Cross, five other people are on the board. Lyn Oakley and Louis Tousignant are directors at large; Lisa Bowers takes care of maintenance; Peter Leslie is the treasurer; and Peter Curtis is the secretary.
“We have lots of volunteers that come and help with every event that we have, and if it wasn’t for the volunteers, I don’t know where we would be,” said Cross.
For information about the sessions beginning March 7, call Sandy Cross at 902-354-8149.
For information about what’s happening at the Seaside Centre, visit https://www.facebook.com/groups/seasidecentre/about/.
Did you know?
Some of the upcoming events at the Seaside Centre include:
March 17: Pancake and sausage supper from 4-6 p.m., $10 per person
April 21: Ladies’ spa day from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. (vendors to be announced), $35 per person – advanced tickets only
May 11: Lobster takeout at noon. Orders must be in by May 8 at 6 p.m. The cost is $14 for pickups and $15 for delivery
June 9: Spring craft show from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. (luncheon special will be served)
