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Seniors get hefty donation for renovations

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ROYAL CANADIAN Legion Branch 13 members Les Sinnott

SENIORS AT the Happy Gang Centre are even closer to enjoying the finished renovations taking place there after another group in town donated a hefty amount of money to the project yesterday, Feb. 10.

The Royal Canadian Legion Branch 13 here presented a cheque for $10,000 to the seniors for their basement floor and elevator installation renovations after getting approval to use money from the poppy fund.

While poppy fund money, which is made from poppy sales each year, goes exclusively to veterans and their dependents, the legion got permission to hold $10,000 in a trust for the centre, since a number of veterans and their families use the Happy Gang Centre, said legion past president Les Sinnott.

Sinnott stressed that the money did not come from the legion's general revenue, which comes from members and the bar at the legion, and that the legion is still cash strapped.

Also on hand for the donation were legion members Peter Crompton and Charlie Meek.

Many seniors were present for the cheque presentation and to hear an update on the progress of the renovations from contractor Betty Barton, who took time out from painting the centre's basement floor to talk to them.

Barton said the basement floor will be flat tile – a raised portion of the floor used for carpet bowling and floor curling was considered a safety hazard, and has been removed as part of renovations – and will consist of red and white tile with lines and circles to indicate the carpet bowling and floor curling areas.

A removable border will be included to place on the floor to contain the curling rocks so they don't go scooting across the floor, she added.

The elevator is expected to be operating by the end of November, said Barton.

Its interior is 48 inches by 60 inches, big enough for tables and chairs and wheelchairs, and it can carry up to 1,000 pounds at one time, she said.

The elevator company, Garaventa in Vancouver, has indicated it will throw in several options for no extra charge, such as an emergency light and telephone for power outages, a door that opens automatically even in a power outage, and if the power goes out while the elevator is partway between floors, it will go down to the basement so everyone can get off safely, she said.

And one handrail inside the elevator is included but the company has indicated it will throw in three handrails at no extra cost, she added.

She and her workers will look at installing the elevator at times when the seniors don't have an event going on at the centre and will try to be quiet, said Barton.

Seniors kicked off the fundraising for the renovations last fall by putting in $45,000 from the BC Old Age Pensioners Organization Branch 73 fund.

The project was expected to cost about $80,000, which is about the amount seniors now have, but they want to raise $90,000 to cover any extra costs.