MONROE - The dream of a coffee bar in the Behring Senior Center has been upgraded to a coffee cafe with a modern nutrition program.
Members of the center's board learned in May that a $20,000 state grant will help create the cafe with its additional use as a nutrition site breakfast program in Green County.
ADRC has operated its nutrition site dining program at the center for about 20 years, serving up hot, well-balanced noon meals for older and disabled persons and an opportunity to socialize. It has similar meal programs in Albany, Belleville, Monticello, Brodhead, and New Glarus.
Linda Boll, the Aging and Disability Resource Center of Southwest Wisconsin supervisor for Green County, said participation in the traditional program has fallen around the county, just as it has across the state and nation. More than 50 percent of participants are 80-plus years old, she added.
Green County ADRC is waiting with open arms for new seniors, she said.
To revitalize the program, the state has been looking for ways to encourage innovative options, she said.
"Green County was thinking maybe a breakfast program," Boll said. She also knew Behring Senior Center wanted a coffee bar.
Boll and Tammy Derrickson, director at Behring Senior Center, put together an application incorporating the two ideas for the state grant.
The state received 30 applications, Boll said, and Monroe was one of the 12 chosen by the state to receive funding.
Boll said the coffee cafe is to be "chic, modern, warm and welcoming." The funding will be used to create everything anew, from the floors to the tables and chairs.
The coffee cafe is expected to be open a couple hours each morning for self-serve breakfast items, much like continental breakfasts for guests at motels, and participants will be able to come and go on their own time schedule.
The continuing lunch program and new breakfast option will be coordinated with the Behring Wellness Center activities. ADRC will also have health prevention programs incorporated.
Derrickson also announced to the Monroe Common Council Tuesday that the Wellness Center has two new pieces of exercise equipment to replace worn out pieces. One piece is wheelchair accessible.
And a new Cybercycle, which exercises the mind and body, she said, is connected to the Internet, where exercisers can interact with their friends, keep a record of their accomplishments and even post to Facebook.
Mirrors have been added to the west wall of the senior center gym, with funds raised through a karate tournament. The mirrors are used by the city's Park and Recreation Department's karate classes, but also benefit the senior center's exercise classes, Derrickson said. The senior classes run continually with about 30 participants in each.
The senior center now has an official Friends group. As a separate entity from the city, Friends of the Behring Senior Center with Community Foundation of Southern Wisconsin offers people another avenue to donate to the center. The Friends will also sponsor fundraising events.
Members of the center's board learned in May that a $20,000 state grant will help create the cafe with its additional use as a nutrition site breakfast program in Green County.
ADRC has operated its nutrition site dining program at the center for about 20 years, serving up hot, well-balanced noon meals for older and disabled persons and an opportunity to socialize. It has similar meal programs in Albany, Belleville, Monticello, Brodhead, and New Glarus.
Linda Boll, the Aging and Disability Resource Center of Southwest Wisconsin supervisor for Green County, said participation in the traditional program has fallen around the county, just as it has across the state and nation. More than 50 percent of participants are 80-plus years old, she added.
Green County ADRC is waiting with open arms for new seniors, she said.
To revitalize the program, the state has been looking for ways to encourage innovative options, she said.
"Green County was thinking maybe a breakfast program," Boll said. She also knew Behring Senior Center wanted a coffee bar.
Boll and Tammy Derrickson, director at Behring Senior Center, put together an application incorporating the two ideas for the state grant.
The state received 30 applications, Boll said, and Monroe was one of the 12 chosen by the state to receive funding.
Boll said the coffee cafe is to be "chic, modern, warm and welcoming." The funding will be used to create everything anew, from the floors to the tables and chairs.
The coffee cafe is expected to be open a couple hours each morning for self-serve breakfast items, much like continental breakfasts for guests at motels, and participants will be able to come and go on their own time schedule.
The continuing lunch program and new breakfast option will be coordinated with the Behring Wellness Center activities. ADRC will also have health prevention programs incorporated.
Derrickson also announced to the Monroe Common Council Tuesday that the Wellness Center has two new pieces of exercise equipment to replace worn out pieces. One piece is wheelchair accessible.
And a new Cybercycle, which exercises the mind and body, she said, is connected to the Internet, where exercisers can interact with their friends, keep a record of their accomplishments and even post to Facebook.
Mirrors have been added to the west wall of the senior center gym, with funds raised through a karate tournament. The mirrors are used by the city's Park and Recreation Department's karate classes, but also benefit the senior center's exercise classes, Derrickson said. The senior classes run continually with about 30 participants in each.
The senior center now has an official Friends group. As a separate entity from the city, Friends of the Behring Senior Center with Community Foundation of Southern Wisconsin offers people another avenue to donate to the center. The Friends will also sponsor fundraising events.