COURIER LIFE, DECEMBER 24-30, 2021 3
Todd W. Fliedner has
been promoted to Executive
Director of the Bay Ridge
Center.
Prior to this appointment,
he served as Deputy
Executive Director of the
center, which provides services
and programs for
adults 60 years and older in
southwest Brooklyn. The
programs focus on wellness
by supporting independent
lifestyles, life-long learning,
and encouraging community
involvement.
In addition, the Bay
Ridge Center serves 600
meals a day with its Meals
on Wheels Program, and
did so throughout the pandemic,
despite being forced
to close its doors for 16
months, from March 2020 –
July 2021.
Now re-opened, the Bay
Ridge Center is mandated
to operate at 25% capacity,
says Fliedner, which presents
its challenges, when
you have a membership of
1,000 people.
One way they have all
learned to adapt is through
virtual programming,
which Fliedner says the
members have come to embrace
and enjoy as a way
to stay connected to others
throughout these difficult
times. Perhaps it was the
tech training the center
offered pre-pandemic that
helped build their confidence
and knowledge. In
any case, without this virtual
connection, COVID
and the issues brought
upon by isolation, would
have been even more devastating
to the community.
“We have all come to realize
we have a finite amount
of time in life,” Fliedner
says. Staying connected to
others is so important.
Those who have returned
to live programs offered by
the center -- with all proper
pre-cautions in place -- are
so happy to be able to do so.
“Many feel they lost a year
of their lives,” Fliedner
says, and are delighted to
be able to socialize again.
“They have a reason to get
up, get dressed, and come
to the center where there’s
something going on every
day.” Activities include exercise
classes, technology
classes, and presentations
on topics of interest. A hot
meal is served at noon.
Likewise, the enthusiastic
staff is happy to be able
to interact with its members
in person, too.
As life as we know it continues
to evolve, adapting
to new language is something
the Bay Ridge Center
has also worked on. Fliedner
notes the Department
of Aging conducted a study
a year ago, and found that
adults over age 60 prefer
to be called “older adults”
as opposed to being called
“seniors,” so this is another
change they’ve adapted.
The baby boomer population
is increasing at the
fastest rate in history, and
the Bay Ridge Center will
have to keep up. Fliedner
is “cautiously optimistic”
that sometime within the
next year we will be moving
to larger space, so the program
can further expand.
“We want to have an important
place in their lives,
so they can continue to age
successfully in place,” he
says. Older adults want to
stay in their own homes.
“By providing these services,
we can help them do
that,” he says.
Bay Ridge Center 6935
Fourth Avenue between
Ovington and Bay Ridge Avenue
in Bay Ridge, 9718) 748-
0650, www.BayRidgeCenter.
org. Open Mondays – Fridays,
8 am – 4 pm.
BUS INES S , B ROOKLYN S T Y LE
Todd W. Fliedner is the new Executive Director of Bay Ridge Center
FANTASTICAL
CHRISTMAS
ON FIFTH
Santa Claus came to town with his Horse
and Buggy offering rides
to Children of all ages and their families
in Bay Ridge on Sunday.
His Pick-up station landed
right in front of PC’s bar and grill
on 73 Street and Fifth Avenue
in Bay Ridge.
The Lines were large but Santa Managed
to give every child the tour
along Fifth Avenue.
The Event was Sponsored by Billy Boshell, owner
of Super Roofer, in honor of his brother Brian
Boshell. Many thanks to Super Roofer for making
Christmas Merry and Bright ....
/www.BayRidgeCenter
/www.BayRidgeCenter