Colonie Seniors Salute Center

New garden marks Beltrone Living Center's 10th anniversary
by Christen Gowan Staff writer
Published 09:06 p.m., Sunday, August 8, 2010

COLONIE -- A local center that houses hundreds of seniors and plays host to thousands more celebrated its 10th
anniversary Sunday.

The Beltrone Living Center has served the Colonie senior community over the past decade and is the largest
independently operated senior home in the Capital Region.

"This is a great triumph and a great celebration," said Edward Neary , executive director of the Colonie Senior Services Center , the group that built Beltrone. To celebrate the 10-year milestone, Colonie officials dedicated a garden Sunday behind the senior home. The garden was designed and built by Jack Faddegon of Faddegon's Nursery. "It's a testament to the commitment of the local people to the support of older people," said Mike Burgess , director for the state Office for the Aging Burgess said the Colonie Center is a model for others across the state since it contains both a senior center and senior housing under one roof.

"This is a non-profit organization," Burgess said. "The point is that government can only do so much."

The Beltrone Living Center houses 300 seniors; the Colonie Senior Services Center serves from 5,000 to 6,000 town
residents. Neary said the non-profit organization prides itself on reaching out to many in the town's elderly population
with a diverse group of programs, incl udi ng health and wellness, adult day care, dance, and arts and crafts.

At the ceremony, past directors and board members reflected on the building of the center, which took about
two years.

"There isn't a si ngle thi ng that gives me more pride than the Beltrone Living Center," said Fred Field , a former Colonie
Seniors board member who is also a former assembl yman and town supervisor.

Read more: Times Union Article