By Samantha Joseph

Staff writer

MARTIN COUNTY - Six months after its former operators announced they were struggling to meet operating costs, the Log Cabin Senior Center is under new management.

The Martin County Parks and Recreation Department owns the Jensen Beach building that the center occupies at 2369 N.E. Dixie Highway. The Parks Department had been leasing the building to the Council on Aging, which operated the senior center. It took over administration of the Langford Park site on Oct. 1.

The Log Cabin is a popular spot for seniors, reporting 3,800 visitors last year. It also offers the council's Meals on Wheels program, serving about 125 low-cost lunches each week. Diners are billed on a sliding scale, based on their income, and typically pay $1 to $3 per meal.

Even though it no longer runs the center, the Council on Aging will continue to offer the feeding program, as many of the patrons are low-income and depend on the meals, staff said.

"This is truly a relief," said Zee Carter, the center's onsite manager, a former Council on Aging employee, who now works for the Parks Department.

"Our patrons were so happy to hear that the Parks Department's intention is to keep the cabin open as a senior center with ongoing programs and services. This is their home away from home."

Among the Log Cabin's free and low-cost services are art instruction, exercise classes, book and game clubs, a wood carver course, Spanish class and legal aid.

Last April, when the former administrators reported a $30,000 operating shortfall, several area seniors voiced fears about losing the center's services.

A dip in charitable donations and cuts in the county's budget meant that administrators of the non-profit were struggling to cover costs, such as annual utilities and repairs bills of about $8,000.

"There was an outcry from a lot of the local seniors in Jensen Beach and surrounding areas," said Angela Gomez, Martin County Parks Department's community relations director. "Many have limited mobility, and worried that the local center would move to another location, further away. We're happy to say that it will remain open and continue to offer activities."

The Parks Department will cover all administrative and operational cost, and hopes to supplement the center's budget by renting the building for evening and weekend social events, such as weddings and business meetings. Staffers have also issued a call for donated games, furniture, sewing machines and a copier, plus a textile instructor to teach a course on sewing, knitting, crocheting and quilting.

For more information, call (772) 334-2926.