The Barre Area Senior Center hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony and open house Friday, so locals could check out its new location at 131 S. Main St.

By Aaron Retherford

Two months ago, the Barre Area Senior Center moved into its new space, going from one of the oldest buildings in Barre to a place that was built specifically for BASC and would cause anyone’s eyes to widen as he or she walks through the door.

On Friday, BASC held an open house to show off the new space, complete with a ribbon cutting ceremony, door prizes, refreshments, line dancing, a book reading, chair yoga, and more. And best of all, there was plenty of parking for the more than 50 initial attendees, and it was actually warm inside.

BASC director Marilyn Brault-Binaghi said she lost members at the old location due to a lack of parking and the inability to maintain a temperature above 65 degrees indoors. So far she says, “99.9% of the feedback has been positive.”

At 4,460 square feet, BASC’s new location at 131 South Main St., is nearly double the size of the old location. Separate rooms also allow for concurrent activities, allowing BASC to offer more options.

BASC can now seat 60 people for a new weekly dinner on Tuesday nights.

The main room when you first walk into BASC has a computer, library, games and seating for members to enjoy each other’s company.

The large adjoining room has space to hold dinners, exercise classes and some intense Wii competitions on the flat-screen TV. There is an art gallery along parts of two walls, and attached to this room is a meeting room, clinic room as well as the entryway to a full kitchen.

For more information, check out www.barreseniors.org or www.facebook.com/barreseniors.