The Big Reveal Of The Long Branch Senior Center

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Published by The Link News on August 8, 2024

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The Coca Cola room opens up to this serene outside sitting area.

The Coca Cola room opens up to this serene outside sitting area.

The City of Long Branch opened the long-awaited Senior Center with hundreds of attendees last Friday, August 2nd for a celebration of a lifetime. The party included hundreds of Long Branch seniors in attendance, food, live music, and tours of the new building.

The Long Branch Senior Center has undergone a major renovation and expansion beginning about a year and a half ago. This renovation includes doubling the space, a total facelift of the building’s, exterior, a new grand lobby area with a fireplace, a health screening room, a fitness/community room, bigger classrooms, a brand-new state of the art bingo machine, more space for storage and other renovations that will allow the center to provide more programming. Overall, the center will be much more functional with ADA compliance, additional restrooms, and new interior designed spaces.

The renovations were long overdue for the center that had an outdated building dating back to the 1950s, clashing with a growing robust program that serves over 900 members.

The City is also happy to display the historic 1907 Coca Cola sign that was saved from demolition in the early part of 2023. The vintage sign was uncovered last year during demolition of an adjoining building’s exterior on Third Avenue in downtown Long Branch. The city certified with a Coca-Cola archivist in Atlanta, that the sign most likely dates to around 1907. The slogans, “Delicious & Refreshing” and “Relieves Fatigue” along with the color scheme, were the main identifiers that helped pinpoint the date. According to the

Long Branch Business Administrator Charlie Chirley, Senior Center Architect Antonio Scalice of Parallel Architectural Group in Long Branch, Center Director Pat Krosnicki and Mayor John Pallone welcome everyone to the grand opening.

experts, there just aren’t that many signs around that are this old. Out of over 100 Coca-Cola ad campaigns that once dotted the Jersey Shore, only the one in Long Branch remains. The Coca-Cola sign is in good condition, having been protected by the adjoining building for a century. Fortunately, it was painted on original wooden planks and was able to be moved by the developer who meticulously numbered and removed the planks.

“We are very excited to unveil the new senior center to our community here in Long Branch. With an even larger space and the goal to serve even more members of our community, we are ready to hit the ground running with even more new and expanded programming,” Mayor John Pallone said.

“The space is beautiful,” Community Outreach Manager Michal Dimiceli said. “You have to see it in person, especially the salvaged Coca Cola sign and grand lobby entrance with a floor to ceiling library.”

The public is encouraged to call the Senior Center for more information 732-571-6542 and to join today.

Upon arrival all senior women received a long stem rose donated by Flowers by VanBrunt in West End.

The Coca Cola room is pretty magnificent. There’s plenty of room for live music and dancing.

The Coca Cola room is pretty magnificent.

PG Georgioupolis, and Eileen Booth were very impressed with the new senior building.

The outside sitting area has so many possibilities.

Congressman Frank Pallone, Community Outreach Manager Michal Dimiceli and Dana Kawut, Program/Special Events Coordinator applaud as all city workers are recognized for their efforts on the project.

An “after the final design” addition was the Coca Cola sign taken from another Long Branch building. Architect Antonio Scelise said he was happy making the changes for the sign. “As it turns out it’s one of my favorite rooms,” he said.

Proud project architect Antonio Scalise

Alice Kessler and friend Grace find a quite spot outside.

The Big Reveal Of The Long Branch Senior Center

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