I’m looking to work with the library to have children’s storytelling down here once a week in the lounge, near the fireplace.”

Michele Geremia, Peck Center for Adult Enrichment Director

It is August, but Michele Geremia is still very excited about the fireplace.

The director of the Peck Center for Adult Enrichment (formerly known as the Barrington Senior Center) said its recently renovated interior, complete with a coffee bar, lounge seating, and a fireplace, is much more welcoming than the previous center.

“I think this a much warmer environment,” Ms. Geremia said. 

“Everybody comes in here and looks at it and says ‘This is beautiful.’ And it really is. I am very excited.”

On a recent Friday morning, Ms. Geremia looked out across the Peck Center and tried to remember what it looked like prior to the renovation: Boxy, cold, outdated, uninviting. 

Now almost everything has changed. There is a large open seating area with comfortable tables and chairs and lighting. There are separate rooms for activities and for offices. A cozy seating area, bordered by large windows looking out to the woods behind the Peck building, offers relaxed seating, a coffee table with this week’s newspaper, and a handsome fireplace.

“The architects were a big help,” Ms. Geremia said. “They worked with us… We hired a company the town has worked with — they helped us pick colors.”

Toward the back of the center is a wall-length coffee bar and countertop. There is a gallery space just a few feet away. Music fills the center.

“It’s elevated in terms of design,” Ms. Geremia said. “I think it’s more welcoming. It’s a much warmer environment. And it’s more open — we’ve made it so that the lounge is almost incorporated into the dining room, where before it was an isolated room. Nobody used it. Now people can come in and read the newspaper. They can play scrabble. They can play cribbage. They can bring their own book. Stay a while.”

That is the hope: Town officials are optimistic that seniors will return to the center and participate in the programming. There is a line dancing class, and there are plans to offer another one for beginners.

“We also have meditation going on Mondays,” Mr. Geremia said, referring to a course led by former Barrington Police Chief John LaCross. 

Ms. Geremia said the Peck Center for Adult Enrichment also has two senior strength classes on Thursday mornings and two classes of chair yoga on Wednesdays. (An additional class is held at the Bayside YMCA, as the gymnasium there can accommodate a larger crowd.)

“Some people are anxious to get back, and some people are super cautious. If they feel comfortable wearing the mask, that’s fine,” she said.

The Peck Center had been allowing fully vaccinated people to go unmasked during visits but that rule changed last week. The town is now requiring masks inside all municipal buildings.

Ms. Geremia is hoping people frequent the Peck Center even when they are not attending a class.

“All residents, if you’re up visiting in the library you should come down,” Ms. Geremia said. “You can come down with your children, have coffee. In the winter you can sit by the fireplace and enjoy the fire. I’m looking to work with the library to have children’s storytelling down here once a week in the lounge, near the fireplace. The seniors will see that. It will be nice.”

Ms. Geremia said people do not need to be members of the Peck Center to use the coffee bar. She said the meal program is also open to non-members. Monday through Friday people can have lunch at the Peck Center — for those who are 60 and older there is a $3 suggested donation; for anyone under 60 there is a $5 donation. Ms. Geremia said people just need to notify the center about lunch orders 24 hours in advance.

New hours

The Peck Center and recreation department office are open Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. 

“It gives a little more time for people who want to play cards or Mah Jongg in the afternoon,” Ms. Geremia said. “They can just hang out.”

Ms. Geremia, who also serves as the recreation department director, said the Peck Center upgrades have made arriving for work each day a little bit better. She said the town manager recently asked her about the center’s improvements.

“…He said ‘How’s it going over there?’” Ms. Geremia said. “I said I love it.”