Guadalupe's Senior Center may still have life.

Although the nonprofit organization that operated the center folded two weeks ago, and began selling off furniture and other items, there are people and groups willing to keep its doors open.

Guadalupe City Councilman Ariston Julian, the council's liaison to the senior center, said there is a feeling to “start again from scratch.”

“Nobody ever expected it to dissolve,” said Julian, who had been part of a group working with the senior center to make improvements.

Guadalupe Area Senior Citizens Inc. is expected to give the building at 4545 10th St. back to the city on Oct. 15, Julian said. The group had a lease with the city - for $1 a year - through 2012, he said.

City Administrator Carolyn Galloway-Cooper said the city was notified of the termination of the lease by the group's attorney, and the council may form a committee to decide on the future of the building at Tuesday's City Council meeting after an update on the senior center.

The meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. at City Hall, 918 Obispo St.

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Over the past six to seven years, the center had received $5,000 in funding from the city three times, Galloway-Cooper said.

Julian said there have been “hurt feelings” over the sale of donated items but the senior center has the “right to do with it what they want” under their articles of incorporation.

Dolores Tijerina, a Guadalupe senior, said the center was a place for seniors to pick up bread on Tuesdays and other commodities twice a month. However, she said there were no other activities after lunch was served at noon.

The senior center also provided trips to the center and food delivery.

Pat McCullough, director of the senior center, could not be reached for comment.

Julian J. Ramos can be reached at 739-2219 or at jramos@santamariatimes.com.

August 25, 2008