On any given Friday morning at the McDonald-Cecil Senior Center, dozens of feet march in time as multi-colored balls are held high in the air, fingers alternating pressure as a women in front of the room calls out an eight-count.

Soon, voices break out into a rousing rendition of “Here We Go, Steelers” – Sharon Curtis' method to break the monotony of her constant countdown.

“If it’s not fun, who wants to exercise?” asks Curtis, a certified older adult exercise instructor. “Plus, laughter burns calories.”

Laughter is big at the center, where area seniors come to work out, relax, or spend time with friends. The center, run by Washington County, has existed since 2001 when the McDonald and Cecil centers merged and made the Generations facility in the Cecil Township Municipal Building its new home.

“A lot of these seniors are younger,” says Cara Lytton, center coordinator. “They still have husbands, and they watch their grandchildren. This gets them out of the house and they do make friends. It’s so important at any point of your life to be around people your age. Some people won’t admit they need a place like this, but it does give structure to their day.”

Some things at the center reveal the ways seniors spend their days. Foosball and air hockey players sit waiting for the next games and a big-screen television is front and center for anyone wanting to watch a movie. The center’s most popular spot, however, is the pool table, where a group of men alter in and out of the game, chatting about weather, sports and family.

Other objects in the large one-room center stand as a testament to the area’s history. Photos from the graduating classes of Cecil Township High School dating back to the 1940s and 1950s line the walls. But no visitor should be fooled if they realize one of the faces smiling back at them belongs to someone in the room that day. These seniors are all about staying active.

Around 25 of them take advantage of the Silver Sneakers program three times a week at the center. Curtis teaches exercises developed to build endurance, strength, flexibility and range of motion. Seniors practice what Curtis calls “daily living exercises,” like reaching into a cupboard or gripping a cup while standing or sitting.

“A lot of us could barely exercise before we started. When you have surgery, you might think you’ll never get back on your feet, but this makes you want to work harder,” says Lois Klemash of South Fayette. “It makes you feel younger, like you’re doing something for yourself. And we don’t have any prima donnas in our group.”

Seniors also can opt to be transported to the center via Washington Rides, a free service that picks them up at their homes. In addition to Silver Sneakers, Curtis instructs a tai chi class on Wednesdays. A line-dancing class started in February, as did a personalized weight loss program, giving center visitors even more incentive to improve their health.

“It’s so great to hear when they’re getting stronger,” Curtis says. “They’ll tell me they couldn’t even raise their arms up before and now they can do it with no problem.”

Ed and Emilie Roberts of Hickory came to the center together to help themselves keep up with their active lives. The exercise program is perfect for their needs, though Ed likes to joke about the male to female ratio, calling it a hen party.

“Some of the people here have been through so much, and they always come back. It keeps up the inspiration,” says Donna Falconi of Cecil Township.

After a workout, the seniors recharge with lunch. For $1.50, meals making up one-third of their daily nutritional intake are provided Monday through Friday. The popular low-fat, low-salt options include baked chicken, pot roast and stuffed peppers.

In addition to Curtis’ programs, the center also offers Bible study, ceramics classes, bingo, cards and guest speakers. The center also hosts the senior games, cook-offs and even spelling bees.

“You can get as involved as much as you want or do as little as you want,” says Lytton.

For Marion Hull, of Meadowbrook, getting involved meant looking back on a lifetime of memories. Through the “Remember When” program, sponsored by Washington County Commissioner J. Bracken Burns, Hull was provided with weekly prompts to, propel her back through all the years of her life. She spent weeks reflecting on her seven decades and recalling details, including 30 years spent teaching Latin and Spanish, 55 moves, trips to Mexico and time spent in the Peace Corps, which she compiled in a book called “The Life and Times of Marion Hull.”

“It’s wonderful because I wanted my children to be aware of the background of their background,” Hull says. “It was a really happy experience. After reading it through, I realized I’d forgotten about this and that. I had a lot of fun in my life.” •

The McDonald-Cecil Senior Center is open Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.