LOXLEY, Ala. — Traditionally July is a slow month at the Loxley Civic Center, but not so this year.

In addition to maintaining most of the Civic Center’s regular monthly and weekly activities, Activities Director Tina Harris and Senior Activities Director Beryl Allen, along with dozens of volunteers, have been hard at work cleaning, painting and doing repair work at the center throughout the month of July.

At its July 8 meeting the Loxley Town Council approved the expenditure of $1,500 for materials to paint various parts of the civic center.

“The next day we went out and started gathering materials for the project,” Harris said. “We’ve also been doing a lot of cleaning out and trying to get everything organized.”

Painting work at the civic center included the front entrance, main room, billiard room, stage area and kitchen, Harris said. Work has also been done to replace damaged ceiling tiles, along with various other cleaning projects.

“We’re pretty much done aside from some touch-up work here and there,” Harris said, adding that she also wants to redo the stage area. “Everyone that comes here loves this building and we’re just working to get it in the best shape that we can.”

Several volunteers, including members of Loxley’s senior program and inmates from the Loxley Work Release Program, have helped with the project.

“We want to take this opportunity to thank them for all their hard work,” Harris said. “We certainly wouldn’t have been able to finish the project without them.”

The Loxley senior program will be holding a membership drive in August, Allen said. Last year, the senior program had 142 members.

“They are able to pick and choose what activities they participate in,” Allen said. Senior breakfasts, which are held every Tuesday at 8 a.m., are among the largest participation events, averaging about 50 with sometimes as many as 60 to 70 participants.

Membership costs $10 for single membership, $15 for couples. Membership is not required to participate in senior activities at the civic center, Allen said, but includes several discounts for activities.

Other activities at the Civic Center include:

Pool sharks meet daily from 6 to 8 a.m. The club is free and open to the public. House sticks are available.

Exercise classes with are held beginning at 3:30 and 5:30 p.m. every Monday and Thursday.

Digital Camera Club meets at 9 a.m. every Tuesday.

Ballroom dance is held beginning at 7 p.m. every Tuesday.

Exercise classes with Renee Williams are conducted beginning at 5:30 p.m. every Tuesday and Thursday. Classes include free weights, Pilates and Zumba.

Painting classes are conducted from 1 to 3 p.m. every Thursday.

Coffee and tea with Beryl meets from 9 to 11 a.m. every Friday.

Arnold Bryars Chapter 45 Disabled American Veterans, meets at 9 a.m. the first Tuesday of every month.

Birthday bash is held beginning at 1:30 p.m. the first Wednesday of every month.

Lunch bunch meets at 10:30 a.m. the second Wednesday of every month to try out a local restaurant.  Aug. 14 seniors will head to Red Lobster in Pensacola.

Senior trips are held the third Wednesday of every month. Meet at 10 a.m. to visit local spots of interest. Wednesday, Aug. 21 will feature a trip to the Railroad Train Museum in Foley.

Red Hatters meet at 10:30 a.m. the third Thursday of month.

The Civic Center is also open to the public for rental on the weekends, Harris said.

“We stay busy,” she said. “Our goal is for this to be the nicest facility around. Something that the residents of Loxley can be proud of.”

For more information about activities or how to rent the Civic Center, contact Harris at 964-7733, Allen at 964-4995 or email loxcivic@gulftel.com. You can also visit the town’s website at townofloxley.org.