POULSBO — After allegedly being kicked out of the North Kitsap Senior Center on Valentine’s Day, Poulsbo resident Louise Rikley has found the doors open to her once again.
Even though Rikley’s allegations were denied by then-North Kitsap Senior Center board president Joan Dooley, center trustee Dolores Davis announced this week Dooley and the rest of the board had resigned.
In a statement released to the North Kitsap Herald, Davis wrote, “After all of the bad publicity about the North Kitsap Senior Center, we would now like to pass along some refreshing news.”
New officers and trustees were appointed to serve the remainder of the 2007 terms of office, she wrote.
“Committees have been formed to set priorities for future plans and revive activities at the senior center,” Davis wrote.
The new leadership is also working to return the Chuckwagon program to the center, after the meals program ended its service Jan. 1, she wrote.
“The new board welcomes all seniors to the center to enjoy refreshments served by the volunteers every weekday,” Davis wrote. “Bridge, pinochle, crafts and bingo will be included.”
That change was greeted enthusiastically by Rikley, who said she has resumed her involvement in the center.
“We’re working very hard to get members to return,” she said. “I hope there won’t be any hard feelings again.”
As news of the change spreads throughout the community, Rikley said she expects things to return to normal and she hopes Chuckwagon will return as well.
While the leadership change may have sent shock waves through parts of the center, it hasn’t affected the group that meets at the center every Thursday, center member Lee Anderson said.
“We have our thing on Thursdays. We’re only here one day week,” Anderson said.
Since her group of friends only uses the center on Thursdays, Anderson said it appears things have returned to normal, and the change in leadership hasn’t directly affected them.
Another issue facing the center’s future is that the building itself is need of repairs, Davis wrote.
“Repairs are badly needed on the roof and wall,” she wrote. “The board of directors is appealing to the community for donations to help fund the building project.”
Anyone interested in lending a helping hand is encouraged to either visit the center at 18972 Front St. or call (360) 779-5702 between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. during weekdays.
