Wheeling senior center head resigns

After eight months as director of the Wheeling Senior Center, Sara Sondergaard is leaving.

Sondergaard said her decision is for personal reasons.

"I will honestly miss them and will certainly be coming back to visit," she said.

One of Sondergaard's final tasks will be to help the senior center celebrate its 23rd anniversary this weekend.

"In the short time I've been here, we've actually been able to do a couple things," she said.

The center has held fund raisers and will have another one Sept. 15 at Steak 'N Shake, 201 E. Euclid Ave., Mount Prospect. Vouchers are available at Wheeling Village Hall and the senior center. Show the voucher, and 20 percent of your bill will go to the center.

The Jaycees also purchased a Wii for the seniors, and Sondergaard said she'd love to see a bowling league get started. Several centers in the area have started using Wiis as a way to help seniors get active, and she said it'd be a great opportunity to start up a tournament with other facilities.

Although Sondergaard has worked in senior housing and assisted living, this is her first time working in a senior center.

"I certainly understand this population," she said. "I had a lot of fun here. The seniors here are wonderful."

Sondergaard stepped into a somewhat controversial job after her predecessor Nancy Janssen was fired last October for reportedly telling people the center was closing.

The rumors stemmed from the village's attempts to move the program to larger quarters at the park district, although the village would still handle the program.

Sondergaard said she hopes the move comes soon because the program has outgrown its space at the pavilion on First Street.

"I think moving out to the park district makes a lot of sense," she said. "They already have seniors coming there. Maybe we could be helping more seniors if we were housed over there."

She said she's had to give up her office several times just to allow special programs to go on at the building.

"There would be a lot more programs I would like to bring," she said. "But you can't have all programs going when you only have three rooms to do it."

However, Sondergaard said Wheeling has shown a lot of support for senior programs, evidenced by the fact that the center is celebrating 23 years.

"Twenty-three years ago, municipalities did not have free-standing senior centers," she said. "They were really innovative for their time. They've continued to support that."

Seniors these days are doing much more playing bridge and exercising, she said.

"We are a central place, a one-stop shop, where the seniors can come and get their art classes and information on Medicare," she said.

More space would also allow the center to host communal dining. Seniors who live on their own would be assured of one balanced meal and some company, she added.

"The population of older people is just going to continue to grow," Sondergaard said. "The need is just more and more for services like this."

Sondergaard's last day will be Sept. 12.

The anniversary celebration will start at 1 p.m. this Saturday and include live music, door prizes and food. While it's free, the senior center is asking for registration to prepare for food. Call (847) 459-2670.