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Name Of Senior Center To Reflect Its Location

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By ANGELA DELGADO, The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 5, 2008

TOWN 'N COUNTRY - The name of another area facility recently came into question, and some active residents weren't pleased.

E-mail among local residents began spreading quickly regarding the naming of the future senior center in the Town 'N Country Commons. The messages stated that a possible name was the West Gate Senior Center.

Some opposed a name altogether. Others questioned why the name would be West Gate Senior Center, considering the building that would house it is named the Town 'N Country Commons.

Mary Jo McKay, senior center section manager for Aging Services, said there is a name, but it isn't West Gate.

"It's always been the Town 'N Country Senior Center," she said. "That was just the original plan."
Aging Services has the policy of naming senior centers based on geographic location, she said.

The Town 'N Country Commons, which is being built at 7606 Paula Drive, will be the home of the senior center, a Head Start facility and the new Town 'N Country Regional Library.

Construction is scheduled for completion in late summer/early fall.

In September the park adjacent to the Commons was named Shimberg Gardens after members of the community petitioned for the name. Controversy surrounded the decision since other community members felt the name was chosen without their knowledge.

McKay said there wasn't a big meeting or process to decide the name of the senior center, but the community was taken into consideration.

"We met with the Town 'N Country groups, and they have a lot of pride in their community," she said. "They work very hard, and that's what they asked for: a senior center in Town 'N Country. They've been meeting for years on improvements and needs for the area."
Active community member Laura Vickers was glad to hear the rumors were just that.

"I'm very happy," she said. "Otherwise, I was thinking the signage is going to be such a Frankenstein. This will be good. I'm happy when names reflect a geographic location."

Reporter Angela Delgado can be reached at (813) 865-1501 or adelgado@tampatrib.com.

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