SEQUIM — Shipley Center officials continue to seek donations for a planned $1.5 million Health and Wellness Annex.

During a brief speech at the center’s 11th annual Open House on Sept. 12, Shipley Center Executive Director Michael Smith said staff members “need more space to do what we do.” The planned annex is to be built across the parking lot from the center at 921 E. Hammond St.

Smith said it will feature space for exercise classes, a fitness room, sports courts, multiple tables for ping pong, and a demonstration commercial kitchen classroom that First Federal Community Foundation donated $100,000 toward as a co-sponsor.

The facility also will be available for lectures, bazaars, fundraisers, rentals and catering events.

“We’re applying for more grants to help with the overall project,” Smith said.

With funds from the R. Leo Shipley Estate, center officials purchased the lots next to the future annex to provide for possible expansion and parking, he said.

The building will be “green” and energy-efficient with specially paneled walls and skylights.

At the open house, groups showed off multiple offerings at the center ranging from tap dancing to balance exercises.

In the game room, Bobbie Dahn continued her tradition of leading games of Scrabble every Thursday at 1 p.m. She opened her game with a “bingo” where she used all seven letters to spell “actuate” and earned 50 additional points.

Nearby in the arts and crafts area, multiple center members knitted, crocheted and more as they made conversation. The Fiber Arts group typically meets from 10 a.m. to noon Mondays and Tuesdays, and from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Fridays.

Among their participants is Marion Rutledge, who Smith recognized as Volunteer of the Quarter for her work leading the Stitches program that provides handcrafted items to various nonprofit agencies and pre-mature baby clothing to Tacoma General Hospital.

Smith also recognized retired U.S. Air Force Col. Joey Lazzaro and his wife Mahina, a Hawaiian dance class leader, who spoke in July at the center about his time with the mission control team that oversaw operations during Apollo 11’s landmark lunar landing 50 years ago.

Smith gave them celebratory T-shirts and a coin with an Apollo 11 patch on the back of the case. Lazzaro also gave Smith a coin commemorating the anniversary.

“One thousand years from now, we’re still going to remember walking on the moon,” Smith said.

Shipley Center hosts more than 1,700 active members with membership costing $55 per person per year or $95 for two people living in the same house.

For more information about the center, call 360-683-6806, email info@ shipleycenter.org or visit www.shipleycenter.org.

Matthew Nash/Olympic Peninsula News Group Michael Smith, Shipley Center executive director, said plans remain in place to fundraise and seek out grants for a planned Health and Wellness Annex across from the existing senior activity center.

Michael Smith, executive director of Shipley Center, recognizes retired U.S. Air Force Col. Joey Lazzaro and his wife Mahina, who spoke in July at the center about Lazzaro’s time with the mission control team that oversaw operations during Apollo 11’s landmark lunar landing 50 years ago. Matthew Nash/Olympic Peninsula News Group