The Weekly Newspaper of Inglewood
Daily News on a Weekly Basis - Herald Publications - Inglewood, Hawthorne, Lawndale, El Segundo, Torrance & Manhattan Beach Community Newspapers Since 1911 - Circulation 30,000 - Readership 60,000 (310) 322-1830 - January 18, 2018
Baseball Camp at Darby Park
Cincinnati Reds first round draft pick Hunter Greene (shown in photo) welcomed kids to his free camp held at Inglewood’s Darby Park on Jan. 7. The half-day leadership seminar, baseball camp and
community festival also featured appearances from other recent top prospects-turned pros as well as baseball legends Dave Winfield and Eric Davis. Photo: Inglewood Baseball Fund
Inglewood Adds Another Jewel
in an Expanding Landscape
By Haleemon Anderson
The city of Inglewood celebrated another
milestone with the opening of the Inglewood
Senior Center last week. The entire city council
and guest of honor Congresswoman Maxine
Waters welcomed a crowd of over 500 with
ceremonial speeches and a ribbon-cutting, which
quickly turned into the party of the new year.
As the automatic doors parted and the
community streamed into the new facility, it
was hard to know which way to turn. The
two-story facility features an immense glass
and steel-encased foyer with multi-use spaces
at fore and aft. A rhythm and soul band in
the massive great room on the north end was
a definite draw. Attendees were delighted to
sample a lavish buffet catered by Red’s Flavor
Table, an Inglewood favorite. Colorful and
tasty, the appetizers flowed throughout the
almost three-hour event.
Instructor Penny Pearl led a lively and
animated session of line dancing, including
the perennial favorite electric slide, and several
original variations. “I’m so excited with this
location,” said Pearl, who leads senior classes
at the other city parks. “I didn’t know we were
moving here.”
While some ventured up the stairs and to
the rear of the building, visiting the upstairs
lounge and exercise room, still others found
their way to the choral studio in the rear. There
they found Chair Elizabeth Payne, head of the
senior advisory committee, holding court in the
sunlit room replete with a sparkling grand piano.
“This piano isn’t for plunking,” quipped Payne.
She explained the exquisite, and expensive, piece
was a donation from a longtime member of the
advisory board. The room, she noted, will house
rehearsals of the Senior Inspirational Choir.
Payne, who has spearheaded senior input into
every phase of the center, says the committee
goes back over 12 years. It moved its meetings
from the old senior center to the veterans’ center
on Centinela, as development progressed on
the new building. “Many didn’t get to see this
come to fruition,” she mused.
Payne is a member of the choir and also
the Travelaires club, which she is proud to
say she founded. “We have been everywhere,
even abroad,” she beamed. Her exuberance for
the new center was palpable, as she invited
everyone to join the center. “Don’t sit at home
and be bored. Whatever you want to do, it’s
here, so sign up!”
In mid-sentence, Payne was interrupted by
peals of laughter and a greeting. “It’s been so
long,” shrieked Jeanette Taylor, as the two friends
exchanged hugs and squeals of remembrance.
“It is a reunion,” said Taylor, who sat on the
advisory board for several years. Taylor said
she started coming to the old senior center in
1985. “I remember when the Lakers were at
the Forum, they used to come and support us.”
“I had to be here,” Taylor continued. “We
struggled for a long time to get this.” As she
took a tour, entering room after room, she settled
on another sunny room. “This one would make
a great card room,” she thought. “I hope we’ll
get to use it for Bid Whist.”
Senior Michael Benbow chairs the city’s
parking and traffic commission. He walked
the facility with his friend, Bill Widener, also
a member of the advisory committee. “We’re
living a dream that a lot of people worked on,”
said Benbow. “We’ve got so much ahead of us.”
The 35,000-square foot facility features an
industrial kitchen, administrative offices and
148 underground parking spaces. It contains
a 400-seat auditorium and is constructed to
allow a shelter in place and provide hundreds
of meals in event of disaster, according to
Mayor James Butts.
During remarks, the mayor acknowledged the
role of Rep. Waters in seeing the center built.
Waters helped secure $4.5 million in federal
grants to support the $27 million development.
In her honor, the 5,000-square foot Sycamore
Room will be named the Maxine Waters Room.
“I am overwhelmed,” said Waters. “I am so
inspired and motivated to do even more for
the seniors and for this community.”
“There is a lot of history being made here
today,” said Butts, as he asked the gathering to
listen as he read the words of Councilman Eloy
Morales, Jr. “At the groundbreaking ceremony
in Feb. 29, 2016, Eloy said this, ‘You have in
life two opportunities to be a senior. The first is
in high school. The second is here and now.’”
Butts continued, “Eloy is the senior member of
the council. He is the first Mexican American to
be elected to the city council.” The mayor then
announced that a section in the Inglewood Library
will be named after Morales, commemorating
his leadership and vision for the city.
Councilman Morales took the podium, noting
his father was raised in Inglewood. Morales
spoke to the diversity and comradery within
the council and the community at large.
Councilman George Dotson could not
understate his pleasure. After all, the center,
which will serve seniors from Inglewood,
Hawthorne and Lennox, is located within his
District 1 area. Face beaming, Dotson said
simply, “We can do it in Inglewood. That’s
what the headlines should say.” •
Senior Advisory Members Michael Benbow and Bill Widener at
the Inglewood Senior Center opening.
Certified & Licensed
Professionals.......................5
Classifieds............................3
Film.........................................2
Finance..................................4
Food.......................................5
Hawthorne Happenings....3
Legals............................... 2, 6
Looking Up......................... 7
Pets........................................8
Politically Speaking............7
Seniors..................................2
Sports....................................4
Weekend
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