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Politics & Government

Don't Sweat it! How to Beat the Heat at Middletown's Senior Center

Beat the heat at the Middletown Senior Center, 1 of 3 designated cooling centers in town open to all ages. A giant flat screen TV, books, computers, activities and great company makes for a great refuge.

The temperature outside might be approaching 100 degrees, but the seniors at the --one of three official town cooling centers--are not sweating it.

“I’m glad I’m here at the center because it’s cold. I think I’ll stay here all day,” said Dee Potter from Middletown early Friday afternoon. Mrs. Potter said she has never seen it so hot before in this part of the country.

With Friday's extreme heat foreseen days ago, the Town of Middletown and local emergency services personnel warned the public about the dangers to the elderly and to the ill, and announced that three "cooling centers" would be available to the public to seek refuge from the heat: The Middletown Senior Center, the and the

All three sites are open to people of all ages.

Middletown Senior Center Staffer Chris Johnson noted that the Senior Center has air conditioners in every room. A daily low-cost lunch, TV viewing area, library, arts and crafts room and daily activities provide an all-around welcoming and homey feeling to anyone seeking refuge from the heat or looking to check out the Senior Center for the first time.

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Earlier this week, the state Department of Elderly Affairs (DEA) and the Department of Health (DOH) issued a about the extreme heat and asked that neighbors, family members and friends check in on seniors and the ill regularly during extreme heat.

Senior Center Executive Director Arleen Kaull on Friday morning was busy putting together a list of tips and health warnings for the seniors of Middletown, warning them of their susceptibility to rapid dehydration and the symptoms to watch for, as well as other health risks from extreme heat and prolonged sun exposure.

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Many seniors are also living on a tight budget and don't turn on a fan or air conditioner, even during extreme temperatures, for fear of driving up electricity costs, Kaull said.

When asked if the center sees an influx of elderly visitors during the hottest days of summer, Johnson said many elderly are tougher than we think, and some actually prefer the heat to the air conditioner. 

Johnson knows the center members well. The center’s oldest member, Helen Kalisz, 95, from Newport, said the heat does not bother her at all. 

Mary Winters from Middletown said they have central air conditioning at home. But she does not care for it; she prefers the natural air.

Pat Tengco from Portsmouth said that although they have an air conditioner at the house, she didn’t even bother putting it on either. She said the ocean breezes off the water is enough for her.  

Elizabeth Yashura didn’t agree.

“It’s so darn hot that I’m moving to Alaska,” she said. She said her daughter called her this morning and told her to get out of her house and get down to the center where it was cooler.  

On a different topic, Mrs. Yashura was overheard telling another member that the best cure for his hay-fever was a daily shot of whiskey.   

Johnson said that although the center is usually for residents 55 and older, the center is a designated cooling center and anyone from the public is welcome to stop in to get out of the heat.  

There is a large, flat screen TV, books, water, and best of all great company to get you through the dog days of summer. 

Middletown Patch Local Editor Angela Lemire also contributed to this report.

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