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A full house enjoyed a wonderful meal and entertainment by the Two Rivers Bluegrass Band.

Semcac hosted an open house at its newly renovated Tenborg Center, 113 E. Jessie Street, in Rushford on January 22. The building houses Semcac's Rushford Food Shelf and Senior Dining site and kitchen.

About 100 community members came for the daily 11:30 a.m. Senior Dining meal and stayed for the brief program led by Executive Director Terry Erickson. Erickson thanked the many contractors who assisted in renovating the Tenborg Center, Good Shelpherd Lutheran Services for giving Semcac space for its food shelf and dining site until other locations were restored, and the many other local and regional partners that continue to make Semcac's programs and services possible--in particular the Southeast Minnesota Area Agency on Aging, Channel One Food Bank and Rushford Foods.

Council member Ted Roberton spoke about "Nellie" Tenborg, the former Rushford resident who donated her family's funds that built the original Ellen D. Tenborg Community Center for the city. Other local residents also shared their memories of Nellie Tenborg, as well as gave thanks for Semcac's Senior Dining meal service and food shelf.

Semcac purchased the building from the City of Rushford last spring. The 2007 flood severely damaged the building, so complete restoration was needed. Semcac's Rushford Food Shelf began serving local residents from the Tenborg Center on November 17, 2009. Semcac Senior Dining began serving meals there on January 4, 2010, and the Senior Nutrition Program has also resumed preparing meals for the Houston and La Crescent Senior Dining sites and local Meals on Wheels deliveries from the Tenborg kitchen. The Tenborg Center is again a viable space to benefit the residents of Rushford and surrounding communities.