HONESDALE, PA — A throng of county human services and area agency staff, senior advisory council members and senior clients were on hand on May 31, as the commissioners belatedly proclaimed the month as Older Americans Month. No one seemed to mind.

The big turnout was representative of the Wayne senior community. Those over 60 now represent over 28% of the county’s most recent population count of 51,307.

Wayne Area Agency on Aging Administrator Mary Ursich spoke of the growing older community. When President John F. Kennedy established May as Older Americans Month in 1963, only 17 million Americans had reached their 65th birthday, compared to about 50 million currently, and one third of them lived in poverty with few supportive programs.

She reported that the U.S. Census calls seniors the fastest growing age group by percentage. “By 2029, more than 20% of Americans (more than 60 million) will be of retirement age.”

Ursich said the month’s theme ‘“Engage at Every Age’ emphasizes the importance of being active and involved, no matter where or when you are in life. It is becoming more apparent that remaining socially engaged can improve the quality of life for older adults. You are never too old or too young to participate….”

Human Services Director Andrea Whyte recalled the growth of the program, which had one caseworker upon its 1974 creation and now has 15. She said Wayne’s senior population has “grown strong and healthy and we attract those people.”

She credited the agency staff and advisory council members for promoting older Americans in “staying engaged in our community.”

Wayne seniors stay involved at senior centers in Honesdale, Hawley and Hamlin.

In related business, the commissioners approved a $112,616 senior community center grant agreement to renovate the portions of the Hamlin center, authorized a $3,800 contract with Avanco International Inc. for the county’s participation in a new protective, state-wide child accounting and profile system.

Separately, they accepted their engineer’s recommendation of MSW Consultants and approved a $54,000 contract for the 10-year update of the county solid waste plan, and gave final approval of a $3 million construction general obligation note at 2.99% from low bidder Wayne Bank, with bank director and Commissioner Joseph Adams abstaining.