NEONOW FILE PHOTO
When the Umatilla Senior Center closed its doors recently, local officials began searching for a solution.
For almost two decades, Virgie Jarrell served as the head cook for the senior center, and for seven years, Carolyn Hojaboom volunteered as her assistant cook. The two have provided a Senior Meal Program every Friday for years, but they have also been vocal about the financial constraints the center operated under.
“Virgie and Carolyn just got to the point where they couldn’t do the meals on their own anymore, so they passed the keys back to the city,” City Manager Bob Ward said. “We have been looking for a nonprofit to take that over, hoping for it to be more of a community center, and the school district has indicated they would be interested in that.”
Thursday night, the Umatilla School Board authorized district staff to continue discussions with the city about taking over some operations. Discussions have including bringing back the Friday senior meals while also offering the space for functions, such as holiday and birthday parties, and as a potential pre-school site.
Umatilla School District Superintendent Heidi Sipe agreed to have district staff look into the condition of the building and report back to the school board before any final decisions are made.
