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Saturday, May 25, 2013 | 4:47 a.m.

Posted: 6:35 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 21, 2013

Portage seniors fear center closure

By Maria Miller

PORTAGE, Pa. —

It's been about two months since the Nanty Glo senior center closed its doors, and while county officials say they're not looking to close any others, some are concerned.

The seniors at the center in Portage told 6 News they've heard rumors so they came up with a way to show county officials there's no need to shut them down. They made a video that's gotten thousands of views online in just a few days.

"I'm one of the few men here and I have a hard time handling all these ladies," said Ralph Gutshall, a senior at the Portage center.

Tina Scanlan is the manager of the center. She said her seniors are so active that they're better known as the Portage partiers.

"We are not just sitting here eating a meal and doing nothing," said Scanlan. "We are exercising, doing tai chi and Zumba. We've done everything."

"I'm very actve down here. I volunteer, come down and clean up, all that stuff," said senior Vick Miller. "My day usually starts about 7:30 in the morning."

The recent closure of the Nanty Glo center has Portage seniors worried the same thing could happen to them.

"That's what we're afraid of," said Agnes Sanford. "We don't want to close."

"I'd be sitting there playing the piano and singing to myself," said Marge Hornyak, who's soon to turn 97. "(I won't be singing) to the people, only to myself."

"Rumors circulated that even some of the (centers) that are county-owned are going to go down and it's going to be three centers remaining," said Scanlan. "That is a big concern for Portage seniors."

County officials told 6 News those rumors are false and said there's been no talk of further center closures. But the seniors in Portage said they don't know what to believe.

"I don't know," said Gutshall. "It's hard to pay attention to what all the politicians say."

"I don't know whether to believe them or not," said Miller. "But I hope not. I really enjoy coming here."

Scanlan said Cambria County Commissioner Mark Wissinger visited the center Wednesday and assured the seniors "they were not looking at this time to close any more centers." But when asked if she was stille concerned, Scanlan said, "I am, yes."

To view the video created by the Porate seniors, visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CkCF_MwZRx0

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