Active Living Center moves to three-day week through more funding

2-4-26

By Lauren Royce, Editor
NEW MILFORD — The Blue Ridge Active Living Center (BRALC) New Milford site opened for three days a week starting Feb. 3, made possible by a $10 million increase from the Pennsylvania state budget. This is the first increase to the budget in nine years, according to Tiffany Warner, Executive Director of the B/S/S/T Area Agency on Aging. The center will now be open Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
“Overall there was a $10 million dollar increase to the PennCares line in the overall state budget,” Warner said. “What happens then is the Department of Aging uses the interstate funding formula to then distribute amongst the 52 AAA’s (Area Agencies on the Aging). This AAA (B/S/S/T) received $164,000, approximately, from that increase in the overall budget. What it’s going to do for us is to help continue to provide personal care, home support and meals on wheels, it’s just going back into services.”
“It’s wonderful,” said Sue Crawson-Brizzolara, site manager at New Milford. The main thing the center does is combatting isolation for folks over 60, as well as focus on nutrition, socialization and anti-scam education.
“We’re excited because the program is so good,” Crawson-Brizzolara said. “I don’t want anybody not fed— the big thing is socialization. One of the ladies said, ‘my life is so much better than a year ago, because a year ago I just sat home.’”
The BRALC is always doing new things to keep its participants engaged. She said two weeks ago, the center had an indoor snowball fight using cotton snowballs. “To hear them laugh and throw snowballs— they were picking them up and throwing them,” Crawson-Brizzolara said. “I believe in it so much.”
Susquehanna and Wyoming county buses drop off those who need transportation. “We have folks that come from Nicholson, Montrose, Great Bend,” and more, Crawson-Brizzolara said. She wants people to know that “here is a safe space” to get help facing scams, paperwork, anything. The center also helps with getting people signed up for Veteran’s Association benefits.
Crawson-Brizzolara said the center is in the process of building up its attendance, averaging about 25 people on the days they are open.

“Part of what we do is not only socialization, but you’re with people your age,” she said, who understand the mind and body struggles that come with it. “You don’t want them to think they aren’t worth anything, we’re in a very youth-oriented culture,” she said.
Butch von Ohlen, 91, is a regular at the center. “This should be everyday, it really should be everyday,” he said.
To find out more about the BRALC New Milford branch, call 570-529-7633 or 1-800-634-3746. The BSST Area Agency on Aging is also on Facebook.
As of the 2020 census, 23.7% of Susquehanna County’s population were 65 years of age or older.
Romance scams tend to be the biggest problem, because at the root, there is loneliness that scammers prey upon. “If we can address the loneliness, that’s a big help,” Crawson-Brizzolara said. The center also brings in people to talk about scam awareness so people can stay informed.
The BRALC New Milford branch moved to its new location in June 2025. The BRALC is part of the B/S/S/T Area Agency on Aging. During the month of February, The B/S/S/T Area Agency on Aging will hold multiple public hearings on what the agency will do with its budget, how many abuse investigations there have been and an overview of financial abuse. New Milford’s will be on Feb. 12.
They are as follows:
– Great Bend Active Living Center, Feb. 12, 11 a.m., 18 Maple St. New Milford, PA
– Wellsboro Active Living Center, Feb. 6, 11 a.m., 3 Queen St. Wellsboro, PA
– Mildred Active Living Center, Feb. 10, 11 a.m., 7406 Route 487 Mildred, PA
– Towanda Active Living Center, Feb. 11, 11 a.m. 131 Colonial Drive Towanda, PA