The Sybene Chesapeake Senior Center has been operating at its modular unit next to the Chesapeake Community Center for nearly five years.

Offering a range of activities for seniors, it serves as a way to create a community for those who are retired.

And, more importantly, through providing meals, it provides a service that is much needed.

Under the direction of Darlene Green, the center could not operate without the valuable input and contributions of its members.

One such member is Opal Cecil, who has been attending since the start, appearing at nearly every event.

Besides being a constant presence, she became well known to the center by bringing in banana bread, zucchini bread and other baked items to each event and meeting.

As she told The Tribune when she was named Senior of the Year for 2017, she did not cut corners with the ingredients and insisted on the best. It was gestures like this that earned her appreciation from fellow members.

It is through the commitment of those like her that the center has thrived and, last week, she was honored with Opal Cecil Day for all of her work.

We commend her for her impact on her community and are thankful for all of those involved with the center for all that they do.