B.J. Walters celebrated his 103^rd birthday with a party at Hope Village in Williamsburg on June 13. Residents enjoyed some of B.J.’s favorite foods for dinner, along with a birthday cake. Tables were decorated with highlights of 1909, the year he was born. B.J. was one of the first residents to move into Hope Village, a senior living community. “It was a great day to celebrate a very special man, who is a wonderful example of how to age well,” said Cathy Stathkis, Hope Village administrator.

Hope Village will serve as a gathering place seniors as part of an expansion of the Grand Traverse County Senior Center Network. The network has provided programs for adults 50 and over throughout the county, with active sites in Interlochen and Kingsley. This spring the Network expanded into Fife Lake and Acme. By providing space and staff support, Hope Village will enhance the offerings provided to seniors on the east side of Grand Traverse County.

“We are delighted to partner with the Network in providing this wonderful programming to not only our residents, but to other area seniors,” said Cathy Stathakis, Hope Village manager.

Starting next week, Sharon Neumann of the Senior Center staff will be at Hope Village every Monday morning from 9 to 10 a.m. to answer questions and recruit interested volunteers. Programming has started with a painting class by renowned watercolor artist and teacher Charles Murphy. An open house will be held at Hope Village on Monday, May 21, at 2 p.m. to introduce staff, programs, and future plans. For reservations, call the Network at (231) 922-4911.

Cathy Stathakis has accepted the position of manager of Hope Village, an independent living/assisted living senior community in Williamsburg, near Traverse City.

Stathakis has more than 13 years of senior housing sales and marketing experience in the senior housing industry. Prior to coming to Lutheran Social Services of Michigan in 2010, she served as divisional director of sales for the Franciscan Sisters of Chicago Service Corporation, supporting 18 senior living communities in six states. Previously, Stathakis worked in public relations and journalism, including nine years as senior staff writer and publicist for Interlochen Center for the Arts. As a news reporter, she received first-place honors from the National Federation of Press Women. Stathakis is a former president of Michigan Press Women. Stathakis and her husband, Stace, are longtime residents of Traverse City. She graduated from Northwestern Michigan College in Traverse City and Central Michigan University.