CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. – The community is invited to join in a celebration this week marking the beginning of construction on the new Live Oak Senior Center in Clearlake Oaks.

A groundbreaking ceremony will take place at the gazebo in The Plaza across the street from the senior center beginning at 10 a.m. Friday, Sept. 27.

“It’s finally happening!” said Live Oak Senior Center Executive Director Pat Grabham.

Grabham is thrilled that ground has broken on construction for the new 4,000 square foot senior center.

Level floors, better ADA access, a bigger kitchen and an extra 1,600 square feet of space are some of the highlights staff and seniors are looking forward to in the new building.

The current building at 12502 Foothill Blvd. is more than 70 years old and served as the Moose Lodge and a social club before becoming the Live Oak Senior Center in 1984.

In 2008, the county recognized the need to improve the existing center and directed staff to start developing the project.

When it became apparent with the building limitations that repairs were not economically feasible, Thomson & Hendricks, an architect firm out of Chico, was hired to design a new facility.

Grading began on Sept. 17 on the new building site, a vacant lot next door to the current senior center.

The project is scheduled for completion in June 2014.

Eric Seely, deputy county administrative officer for special projects, has been with project since day one.

He praises the support of the Lake County Board of Supervisors. “They should be credited for their long-term vision of setting aside funds for the last several years so that we can finally break ground.”

Grabham said the center’s users are all very excited.

Live Oak is known for its great food – they serve approximately 80 lunches a day on site and prepare another 30 meals to be delivered – but in Grabham's opinion “the social aspect of the center is far more important than the food.”

After lunch, you can find seniors playing cards and dominoes, and often times it can become so noisy that hearing is hard for even the best ears.

At the Friday event refreshments will be served in the existing center after a brief presentation by District 3 Supervisor Denise Rushing, retired County Administrative Officer Kelly Cox, Seely and Grabham.