011426...R SR CENTER 4...Champion...01-14-26...John Wagner of Champion, left, and Austin Senerchia of Warren the new Champion Senior Center a nice place to come and tie jigs (for fishing) while getting out the house on a winter's day and also seeing others at the center...Here they tie jigs while others enjoy other activities at the center...by R. Michael Semple

CHAMPION — Local senior citizens have been stopping in this week at the newly opened Champion SCOPE Senior Center, which is offering a variety of activities and programs.

The center, at 243 Marshall Road, off state Route 45 in the Champion Township administration building, opened Monday. A center also operated by SCOPE is set to open Tuesday at the Bristol Township administration building. That location will be open Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Marge Haley, interim manager at the Champion site, said more than 35 people attended on the first day.

She said the center in Champion is open 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday and Wednesday, and then a few hours for specific programs on other days, with martial arts on Tuesdays and Fridays and line dancing on Saturdays and Sundays. Haley said SCOPE welcomes anyone age 50 and older for the programming but noted senior levy funds are targeted for ages 60 and older.

She said seniors who attend programming at the Warren site had requested new sites in other communities.

Another center is scheduled to open this summer in Brookfield.

“The seniors have told us they wanted a center in Champion. We have seniors from the community who volunteer their time to help oversee the center,” Haley said.

“We have people who have come for the different programs. Others have said they wanted to stop in for coffee and socialization. They like interacting with each other,” Haley said.

She said people are signing up for future classes that will soon be on the schedule. Programs coming up are board games, chair yoga, cornhole and chair volleyball.

Haley said other ideas are health lectures, trivia, paint parties, book club and quilting.

“We want people to let us know what they would like to see offered. We are starting from scratch. We offer lunches on Mondays and Wednesdays. People are welcome to come to any center. Some go to programs in Newton Falls, Warren or here,” Haley said.

Elayne Jameson of Champion said she likes the camaraderie and meeting new people while also enjoying exercise programs and bingo.

“This allows me to get out of the house. I have gone to the Warren SCOPE for bingo,” Jameson said.

She said she and her husband, Jim Jameson, volunteer at the center. Jim Jameson said he was impressed with the new center having attended programs at the Warren location.

“I have always enjoyed the programs in Warren. I am sure I will like coming here as well,” he said.

Jamie Taneri of Champion said she has not been to any of the other SCOPE centers, so she was glad to have one in the township.

“This is a beautiful center right here in Champion. There is a kitchen here,” she said, noting otherwise she would be at home watching TV with her dog.

Taneri said meals prepared by the Warren chapter of the St. Vincent de Paul Society are being brought to the center on Mondays and Wednesdays.

Enjoying playing cards were John Wagner of West Farmington and Austin Senerchia of Warren.

“I like playing poker and other card games,” Senerchia said.

Wagner said he was at a table working on his fishing lures and then played cards.

“My daughter told me about this center opening. A few other people told me about it. I came here to see what was going on,” he said.

Self-defense is offered 3 to 4 p.m. Tuesday and Friday, line dancing 4:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.