And at the helm steering the center all these years has been Beth Ryan, the center's superintendent.

Ryan said the center has grown tremendously since the Carter administration.

"We had 48 people a day when I opened this place," Ryan said. "We now have over 2,000 participants a day."

In fact, the center has had five separate additions built over the years, Ryan said.

There are a plethora of classes to take at the center, Ryan said, including those in education, exercise, health care, English, Chinese and Spanish language classes and many others.

Ryan said seniors need to be active and social and the center is one way that can happen.

"We try to get them to come out," she said. "If they're just sitting at home on the couch grieving, it doesn't help anyone."

The hours of the center are from 5:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. There is even some limited transportation.

"We have Dial-a-Ride vehicles used for medical reasons," Ryan said. "We have a lot of people who have to go to dialysis two to three times a week, so we give them priority."

Admittance to the center is free, Ryan said, but there are fees and dues for many of the activities. Lunch is also served at the center for a nominal fee as the kitchen feeds more than 400 people per day.

"Everyone's happy here," she said. "It's a nice, friendly place. There's a lot of nice people here."

One of the most popular events at the center is playing bingo, Ryan said, adding the biggest prize ever won was around $500.

Longtime volunteer Agnes Arakawa said she just loves coming to the center.

"Everybody's so friendly," said Arakawa, who added she comes to the center two or three times a week. "It's a nice atmosphere, relaxing. I don't what I'd do without this place. As long as I can walk, I'm here. The staff is so wonderful. Anything we ask for they try and help us. It makes it fun and easy for us."

Another longtime volunteer Lupe Hilario said she comes twice a week and loves to play bingo.

"I enjoy the company, the friends and I feel like I'm home," Hilario said.

In fact, there are between 80 and 90 volunteers at the center, Ryan said.

(Shel Segal can be reached at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .)