VERONA-CEDAR GROVE

County café in Cedar Grove offers meals for seniors

Joshua Jongsma
NorthJersey
The guests dance to the music at the Cedar Grove Robert O'Toole Community Center during the opening of the senior cafe on Wednesday, May 31, 2017.

Seniors looking for a lunch out can make the trip a town over, from Verona to Cedar Grove as of Wednesday, May 31, with the opening of a café at the Robert O’Toole Community Center.

The café will be open from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Mondays through Fridays in Cedar Grove, following the move from the Verona Boathouse. The lunches come free from the county-run program for seniors ages 60 or older, but a $3 donation is suggested. 

“I really want to commend our Division of Senior Services and Department of Parks for combining their resources to offer our seniors this wonderful program,” Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo Jr. said. “Seniors benefit from the nutritious meals they receive at our congregate meal locations, but now they will also have the opportunity to enjoy our beautiful parks when they come for lunch.”

Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo was accused of spending campaign money on trips to Puerto Rico and a gym membership, among other things.

On Wednesday the seniors were served salad, yogurt, chicken parm and vegetables. The seniors were also seated on tables coordinated with the names of Essex County parks at each area. Senior Services Director Jaklyn DeVore said it was done to make it feel inclusive and highlight the parks throughout the county.

The meal program is also expected to allow seniors to socialize and include exercise and lessons about healthy lifestyles, DeVore said.

“There is a lot of potential here to expand our program so we can attend to the complete wellness of our seniors,” she said.

Hosting the meals at the Cedar Grove center gives “flexibility” to add to the program beyond just the food, according to DeVore.

AROUND TOWN: Cedar Grove softball wins state title

RELATED: Cedar Grove Senior Citizens Club comes to an end

Jane Ballinger of Cedar Grove said she and her husband used to go to the Verona Boathouse lunch almost every day. While she said she’ll miss the view of the lake in Verona, the Cedar Grove community center is “a much better facility.”

“We met a lot of nice people, and we enjoy coming here,” Ballinger said.

The Robert O’Toole Community Center opened on Fairview Avenue in December 2016 along with the 77-acre park across the street. 

Essex County’s first senior lunch program opened in Branch Brook Park in Newark in 2011. Other sites include Independence Park, Watsessing Park Weequahic Park and Irvington Park. 

For more information about the lunch program, call the Essex County Division of Senior Services at 973-395-8375.

Balloons help celebrate the opening of the senior cafe at the Robert O'Toole Community Center in Cedar Grove on Wednesday, May 31, 2017.

Email: jongsma@northjersey.com