Reading Nook Added to Senior Center

In addition to the popular free meal program it offers, the senior center at Recreation Park is a place where mature residents can go to play bingo, shoot a game of pool or even do the macarena in a dance class.

Until now, though, the center had no quiet place where people could read a book or simply sit and reflect.

Last week a new reading nook opened in one corner of the senior center. The small reading area was made possible by local businessman Severyn Aszkenazy, whose company, Pueblo Contracting Services, donated furniture, carpeting, bookshelves and lighting to the center.

“The city approached us and we were glad to do it,” said Aszkenazy, whose company recently built two senior housing complexes near the park and also was responsible for restoring the historic Angels Flight railway in downtown Los Angeles. “We’re local. We grew up in the area and we put our business here because we believe in this city.”

Through other donations, the senior center has acquired 150 novels to fill the new bookshelves.