Fort Hamilton Senior Center celebrates 50 years

The Fort Hamilton Senior Center celebrated its 50th Anniversary with an event on Saturday, December 9.

The festivities included singing performances, tap dancing displays from members of the center and appearances from local leaders, including 43rd District Councilmember Vincent Gentile, State Senator Marty Golden and Community Board 10 District Manager Josephine Beckmann.

“It has just been great serving the seniors here in Bay Ridge,” said Fort Hamilton Senior Center Manager Peter Lovett.

“They are very active, very youthful in their activities. It’s been a pleasure serving them and to be part of the community. A great time was had by all,” Lovett continued.

Lovett noted that the celebration was not held on the exact day of the Senior Center’s 50th Anniversary because of renovations being done to its kitchen. The two week-long renovations left the Senior Center’s kitchen with new paint, up-to-date appliances, new lighting and an expanded sink. A second phase of the renovations — spearheaded by local grassroots organization Bay Ridge Cares — will begin in January.

Those updates, Bay Ridge Cares President Karen Tadross told this paper, will focus on the exterior of the center.

“It will include a mural for the wall facing the park, which will double as a community project,” she explained, noting that said mural will have a theme of “Bridging the Generations.” In its creation, she hopes to showcase the work of local artists, young and old. “That’s something that we think will be just wonderful, especially in the shadow of the Verrazano Bridge.”

As for the milestone, local electeds like Gentile shared Lovett’s pride in the center’s successful 50 years. He even highlighted Lovett’s efforts in a Facebook post.

“Had a great time celebrating the Fort Hamilton Senior Center this weekend, congrats on 50 years!! And a shout out to Peter Lovett, the manager of the Ft. Hamilton Senior Center, for doing his best each and every day for seniors in Brooklyn,” Gentile wrote.

The Fort Hamilton Senior Center is located at 9941 Fort Hamilton Parkway.