DECEMBER 17, 2007, FARMINGVILLE, NEW YORK – Brookhaven Town Supervisor Brian X. Foley, Councilman Kevin McCarrick, County Legislator Joseph Caracappa, State Assemblyman Steven Engelbright and a host of other public officials cut the ribbon at the opening of the Rose Caracappa Senior Citizens Cultural and Wellness Center on Monday, December 17. The new state-of-the-art senior center, which will serve as a template for future senior centers in Brookhaven Town, was completed on time and on budget.
Brookhaven Town Supervisor Brian X. Foley, at podium, and a host of elected officials cut the ribbon on the new Rose Caracappa Senior Citizens Cultural and Wellness Center in Mt. Sinai on Monday, December 17. Left to right are Brookhaven Councilmen Tim Mazzei and Kevin McCarrick, County Legislator Joe Caracappa, Supervisor Foley, Nicholas Caracappa, Councilwoman Connie Kepert, County Legislator Dan Losquadro and Town Clerk Pam Betheil.
“This is a great day for our senior citizens,” said Supervisor Foley. “Today, we dedicate a wonderful new facility for their health, enjoyment, and well-being. This is an historic day for the Town of Brookhaven, where, for the first time, we dedicate a purposefully designed and specially built senior center.
“It is a true honor to name this center in memory of Rose Caracappa, who did so much for senior citizens, and all residents, in her long career in public service.
“And today we demonstrate something else that is critically important to the taxpayers of the Town of Brookhaven—that with proper planning, professional management and skilled workmanship, the Town can undertake a project and deliver not just on time, but on budget as well.”
“I have been honored to be the liaison to the Senor Citizen Division since 2004,” said Councilman McCarrick “Working together with fellow elected officials has been a rewarding experience. I would like to give special recognition to the Senior Citizen Advisory Committee who worked in close partnership with me to make this marvelous facility possible.”
“I, along with the entire Caracappa family, am honored and very thankful to the Town of Brookhaven for their dedication and commitment of bringing to fruition the new Rose Caracappa Wellness Center,” said County Legislator Caracappa. “This state-of-the-art facility is appropriately named after former Legislator Rose Caracappa. The senior population in Suffolk County was one of her most important constituencies and she aggressively fought for their rights on a daily basis.”
“I am pleased to have played a role in helping build a senior center that Brookhaven's seniors deserve,” said Congressman Tim Bishop, who secured $198,000 in federal funds for the new Center. “The Rose M. Caracappa Senior Center will help meet the needs of Brookhaven's expanding senior population.”
The 12,243 square foot center, the first building designed by the town specifically as a senior citizens center, took 18 months to construct and cost $4,470,000. It was completed on schedule and came in at the budgeted figure. Funding was provided as follows: Town capital budget, $3,500,000; Community Development Funds provided by the federal government and administered by the county, $575,000; grant of $198,000 garnered by Congressman Bishop; and Town road widening and improvements, $210,000.
Among the many amenities in the building are:
- A large room dedicated to an adult daycare program.
- A large meeting room that will house a nutrition program and senior citizen club meetings.
- Another large meeting room will house special senior groups and meetings such as the teachers retirement group, Suffolk Senior Council, yoga classes and evening homemaker groups, as well as AARP chapter meetings.
- A beautiful library with fireplace, which will have a large screen television, card tables, and a book club.
- A conference room where smaller senior groups like the senior advisory commission and Rose Caracappa Site Council can meet. Laptop computer classes will also be held in this room.
- A state-of-the-art kitchen that will be used by adult daycare and nutrition to offer home delivered meals to seniors in this area.
Besides all those amenities, the building is fully accessible to the handicapped, has enlarged and improved parking facilities, gas heating, air conditioning throughout the entire structure and a Building Energy Management System. Transportation will be available for seniors who cannot drive to the center.
Office of the Supervisor
One Independence Hill • Farmingville • NY 11738 • Phone (631) 451-6955 • Fax (631) 451-6677