Members of the Senior Citizen Foundation of Shelter Island, Inc. handed over to Town officials keys to “The Silver Streak”, a new 20-passenger bus the nonprofit purchased so that Island seniors can ride in comfort, safety and style when they make trips together.
The bus arrived on the Island to fanfare on August 20. Driven by Jim Polychron with members of the Foundation board along for the ride, The Silver Streak traveled from North Ferry to Town Hall, where it was festooned with balloons. Foundation President Chris Lewis ceremoniously handed over keys to Town Supervisor Gerry Siller and Deputy Supervisor Amber Brach-Williams.
The new bus has been a passion project for the foundation, and especially for its board president. Lewis, a former Town Councilwoman, said transportation is a critical issue for Island seniors, who are at risk of becoming isolated.
“I know we had the older bus which was given to us off the line somewhere years ago,” Lewis said. “I knew it had been with us as long as I had been in Town Hall which was 16 years. And when you take older residents — or anybody — on a trip off-Island, you can’t end up parked by the side of the road.”
Lewis credited the success of the fundraiser in part to Senior Activity Center Director Laurie Fanelli.
“She brought such energy and creativity to the role, and had all these great ideas, just waiting to be implemented,” Lewis said.
Thanks to donors
The bus, manufactured by Starcraft and purchased through Lucas Ford, cost about $85K. Lewis said the foundation is working on raising another $3,000 to cover some of the finishing touches. Ongoing expenses — maintenance, registration, insurance, etc. — will be covered by the Town.
“Our donors have been incredibly generous,” Lewis said. “They are very supportive of the Foundation, which in turn supports the activities here, among other things. I give the Board a lot of credit for biting the bullet and saying we’ll spend the money.”
She noted this was the biggest investment to date for the Foundation. It had previously raised $36,000 for a new wheelchair accessible van for the Town to use for in its Senior Services programs and had made numerous grants to programs and organizations around the Island that serve seniors. You can learn more about the foundation, and make a donation, at siseniorfoundation.org.
The Silver Streak inaugural ride
Brach-Williams and Siller, accompanied by his wife, Roni, joined Foundation board members to continue the inaugural ride to the Shelter Island Senior Activity Center, where about a dozen seniors gathered for a celebration, observing social distancing.
“I wish The Silver Streak many happy, safe trips and a lot of joy,” Fanelli said, as she christened the bus with a splash of sparkling apple cider.
The new bus, which replaces a much older model that had a leaky roof (ice would form inside in winter, Fanelli said), will be used to carry seniors to destinations around the Island as well as on field trips off-Island.
“This is style, and you know, they deserve this,” Fanelli said of the bus and its future riders. “They’re wonderful folks. They like to travel and they like to be comfortable. I think it’s just great.”
The Silver Streak holds 20 seated passengers, as well as two wheelchairs, with access provided by a built-in lift. Fanelli said restoring transportation is vital for Island seniors, who’ve been especially isolated due to COVID-19.
“They’re lonely,” she said, noting that the gathering to celebrate the bus was the first outing for many seniors in months. Lewis said loneliness is one of the biggest challenges facing seniors, and she notices the effects even in her own busy, multi-generational family.
“They were out to work and doing things,” she said of younger generations. “But there wasn’t a lot I could do. There wasn’t any place to go. I couldn’t invite people in because everybody didn’t want to be together. I know many friends who are younger than I am, in their early 70s, and they’re commenting on struggling to feel cheerful and upbeat.”
A festive future
Restoration of field trips and other activities will help ease the isolation. Favorite Senior Center destinations include The Parrish Art Museum in Southampton, Spirit’s Promise Equine Rescue in Calverton, and the North Fork Community Theater in Mattituck.
“We love going to their shows,” said Sara Mundy, who assists Fanelli at the Center. “So once it’s safe, we can get on this thing and have some fun.”
Mundy, a singer who performs at events around the Island, was herself treated to a song from those assembled, who sang Happy Birthday to her. “Thank you for giving me a bus for my birthday,” she said.
While field trips are on hiatus due to the pandemic, all those gathered expressed hope they would soon resume and when they do, the Town will need drivers who hold a commercial license to operate the bus. If you have such a license (or are interested in obtaining one) and would like to join the roster of drivers, contact Supervisor Siller at gsiller@shelterislandtown.us.
Foundation board members on hand for the celebration were: Robert Lipsyte, vice president; Richard Lomuscio, secretary; Jacqueline Smith, treasurer; Donald D’Amato; Eleanor Oakley; the Rev. Charles McCarron, pastor of St. Mary’s Episcopal Church; and Janet and Bruce Jernick.
