45°
In the event your thermometer has melted and left you without an accurate measure of the temperature, rest assured; it's hot out. So hot in fact that Sue Pfister and Benjamin Palmer want residents to know that the Center for Senior Activities is open late to offer refuge from the heat.
"When in doubt, come and cool down. The center is open to everyone not just the seniors" said Pfister. She is the director for the Center for Senior Activities. People are welcome to stop in and get out of the heat until 7 p.m. tonight. Normally the center closes at 4:30 p.m.
So far today, the center hasn't seen any increased activity according to both Pfister and Palmer. They think people mostly just find the option comforting. "People tend to stay at home with the fans on," said Pfister.
Sarah Herz was on her way into the center ready for an afternoon workout. The earlier part of the day was spent relaxing and trying to stay cool. Her home doesn't have central air, but she gets by. "I have a whole screened porch. I sat out there and did my New York Times crossword puzzle this morning. And I have a lot of fans," Herz said.
First Selectman Gordon Joseloff's office made the announcement earlier today that the center would be open to all for escaping the heat. Gov. M. Jodi Rell requested municipal leaders open cooling centers in response to the heat wave that has already claimed one life, a 92-year-old Philadelphia woman. "It's the young and the elderly that have the most risk," said Palmer.
The Center for Senior Activities is located at 21 Imperial Ave. Determinations will be daily on whether or not to keep it open late. Palmer said refreshments might be offered if people are around.
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