For the past 19 years, staff and members of the Greater Bradford Senior Activity Center have relied on wooden and cardboard signs placed in the front lawn of the facility to announce upcoming events.
Those days are gone forever thanks to a new, permanent sign installed Tuesday in front of the 60 Campus Drive center. The sign, installed by PV Paving and Stamped Concrete of Bradford, soon will be used to announce activities that include public breakfasts, fundraisers and celebrations.
Nancy Reynolds, president of the senior center, said the sign is something that has been needed since the senior center opened in 1998.
“This way, people driving up and down (Campus Drive) can see what we have going on,” Reynolds said. In addition, the senior center’s name on the sign will identify the facility for people traveling from the direction of the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford. The senior center’s only other sign with its name is on the front of the facility.
Reynolds said the sign, which will have messages posted manually, was always too much of an expense for the nonprofit facility. There are always more pressing needs for its day-to-day operation. To help meet expenses, regular fundraisers such as the recent soup luncheon are held for the public.
Reynolds said the sign became a reality when a portion of the funds needed were provided through significant donations from the Blaisdell Foundation and Ann Keane.
“We still need $1,250 for the sign, but the rest has been paid for,” Reynolds added.
Mike Alviti, owner of PV Paving, said his company was happy to help the senior center with the sign installation, and other projects.
He said the business laid a new driveway at the senior center last year and recently installed a new front entrance sidewalk. Alviti said the concrete base for the sign was poured last week, and the large, metal-framed sign was set in place Tuesday.
As for the inaugural message on the board, Reynolds said it will be simple and to the point.
“It will say ‘Breakfast, Tuesday, 8 to 9:30 a.m. Open to the public,’” Reynolds said while looking with pride at the bronze and gold artwork at the top of the sign.
