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Back Mountain Chamber held first legislative breakfast

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In Focus: Homeless people are not homeless only when it’s convenient

<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; At the the Kingston Active Adult Center, Table Seven is the &#8220;cool&#8221; table.</p><p>With about eight program participants routinely taking a seat, sharing a meal, telling jokes and discussing political realities, the table seems to serve as the heartbeat of the attitudes and opinions of the center as a whole.</p><p>On Wednesday, those gathered at table seven were angry. They were angry about the gridlock in Harrisburg, delaying the state budget. They were angry the Luzerne County Council voted against $20 million loan that would ensure continued services.</p><p>But mostly, they were angry that the lifestyles and security of their friends might be at risk if the center closed its door as a result of a possible county government shutdown.</p><p>&#8220;Some of these people won&#8217;t have anywhere to go if this center is closed,&#8221; said Maxine Sheard, of Kingston. &#8220;And for many, this is their only meal of the day.&#8221;</p><p>At 91, Betty Coyle, of Wilkes-Barre, agrees. Although Coyle is quick to participate in shuffle board and other activities at the center, she said she no longer has the desire to cook for herself.</p><p>&#8220;Sometimes, at home, I get hungry and I just grab a piece of turkey,&#8221; she said. &#8220;I eat here (to be) with my friends.&#8221;</p><p>Although they acknowledge the failure for Luzerne County to approve a $20 million loan that would continue local services, most of those gathered at the table put the blame on the shoulders of Governor Tom Wolf and state legislators.</p><p>&#8220;Those in Harrisburg need to sit down like grown men,&#8221; Sheard said. &#8220;These are supposedly smart people.&#8221;</p><p>Joe Prywara, of Kingston, a U.S. Navy veteran, said both state and county government have a duty to put those they serve before any political agenda.</p><p>&#8220;Senior citizens have so little to do, they can&#8217;t take away the little that we do have,&#8221; Prywara said.</p><p>He stressed the center did much more then simply provide a meal. It also provides an opportunity for recreation, socialization and even political debate, he said.</p><p>Although those gathered around that table were all upwards of 70 years old and many of their conversations Wednesday centered on their families, they didn&#8217;t shrink from harder topics such as the Syrian refugee controversy, foreign policy in the Middle East or the current presidential campaigns.</p><p>Sheard, for example, is very aware the state budget impasse has affected state residents at both ends of the spectrum.</p><p>&#8220;I&#8217;m worrying about the possible closing of the senior center, but I&#8217;m also worried about how my daughter, a student at Penn State, will be affected,&#8221; she said. &#8220;Those in government need to take responsibility.&#8221;</p><p>Many of the over-50 people who participate in senior center activities regularly say they are grateful for all the benefits of the center: Computer use, shuffleboard, games, yoga, aerobics and belly dancing. They say, however, the biggest benefit of the center is each other.</p><p>&#8220;If it wasn&#8217;t for this center I would have never gotten to know these people,&#8221; said Prywara as he looked around the table. &#8220;I wouldn&#8217;t want to lose that, even for a day.&#8221;</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Betty Lee Frusciante of Swoyersville, Betty Coyle of Wilkes-Barre and Mary Ann Prince of Luzerne and other seniors line up for a salad bar Wednesday afternoon at the Active Adult Center in Kingston. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_TTL111915Shutdownsidebar1.jpg</photo0><caption0>Betty Lee Frusciante of Swoyersville, Betty Coyle of Wilkes-Barre and Mary Ann Prince of Luzerne and other seniors line up for a salad bar Wednesday afternoon at the Active Adult Center in Kingston. </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Geri Gibbons</p><p>ggibbons@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Geri Gibbons at 570-991-6117 or on Twitter @TLGGibbons</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Looming shutdown: Seniors blame Harrisburg for county’s financial pickle