Active Senior Lifestyle
Q. Is there an active Senior Services Center in the area?
A.Twin Cities Senior Center is a very active center that provides Senior Transportation, a daily hot lunch program (including “Meals On Wheels”), weekly dances, and a variety of other programs.
Q. Are Centralia and Stillwaters Estates safe places to live?
A. While safety is a growing concern in many small towns, Centralia remains a place where people can safely shop or enjoy an evening out. Stillwaters is a gated community where people feel safe, whether walking, driving, or sitting on their porches or patios.
Q. What other amenities can be found in the area?
A. In addition to Washington State’s pristine mountains and ocean beaches, you can enjoy the convenience of Lewis County’s nearby lakes for water skiing and fishing, golf courses, antique malls, numerous restaurants, and an outlet mall, along with a growing number of major stores and restaurants.
Churches
A. Centralia and Chehalis have almost 50 churches representing many different
denominations from which to choose.
Cultural Activities
Q. Are there cultural activities within driving distance?
A. Centralia and Chehalis offer many cultural activities and venues, including the outstanding Veterans Memorial Museum. Lewis County Concerts at Corbet Theatre at Centralia College, a summer “Music in The Park” series, sporting events at the Northwest Sports Hub, Centralia College, and our local high schools, the Southwest Washington Fair, live theatre productions at the Evergreen Playhouse, and a variety of other small town events worth attending that give Centralia and Chehalis a distinct Norman Rockwell feeling. In addition, Olympia, our State Capital city, is just a 30-minute drive north of Centralia, and offers another whole array of cultural activities and entertainment.
Education
A. In addition to Saint Martin’s University and The Evergreen State College in Lacey and Olympia, respectively, Centralia Community College offers various Associate Degree programs, limited Bachelor of Applied Science Programs, and regularly offers classes for senior citizens. Some classes are hosted by the Senior Services Center, and some are offered at Stillwaters Estates.
Q. Is there a community library nearby, and do they mail books?
A. The answer to both questions is “Yes.” In addition to the college library, the City of Centralia has a lovely, historic Carnegie Library located downtown in beautiful Washington Park.
Fees/Covenants
A. There is no buy-in or entry fee at Stillwaters, instead, you pay a development fee when you sell your home. Yes, each homeowner also owns the land his or her home sits on.
Q. Does Stillwaters have Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions and who enforces them?
A. In order to protect the integrity of our community and the quality of life of our residents, Stillwaters Estates does have Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions (CCRs). Because Stillwaters is a family owned and operated business, it is a managed community, and its covenants are enforced by the office staff.
Healthcare
A. Providence Centralia Hospital is just ¾ of a mile from Stillwaters Estates.
Q. What type of emergency service is available?
A. Along with 911 and an excellent Emergency Room at the hospital, each home at Stillwaters is monitored by Custom Security Systems for medical and fire emergencies.
Shopping
A. Approximately 6 minutes or 2.3 miles to the closest gas station, and 9 minutes or 3.2 miles to the closest grocery store.
Travel
A. Along with Senior Transportation, a service provided by our local Senior Services Center, the Twin Transit bus system stops at two Stillwaters locations every hour.
Q. How far is it to a large airport facility when I need to take a trip by airplane?
A. Centralia is approximately 1½ hours from both Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and Portland International Airport. Several airport shuttles are available to provide transportation to both.
Q. What other travel options are available in the area?
A. In addition to the Twin Transit bus system, there is also an Amtrak Cascades train depot located in Centralia. The Amtrak Cascades route runs between Vancouver, British Columbia and Eugene, Oregon. In addition to Centralia, it has many major destinations in between, such as Seattle and Portland.
Q. Do I need to drive on a major freeway to get to where I want to go?
A. While I-5 goes north to Tacoma and Seattle and south to Portland through Centralia, all local destinations can be reached without going onto the Interstate highway.
Volunteer Opportunities
A. Local affiliates of national organizations such as the United Way and Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP), Big Brothers Big Sisters, and Scouting are active in Centralia. In addition, many local organizations such as churches, Providence Centralia Hospital, school districts, local law enforcement agencies, and fire departments offer a wide variety of opportunities to seasoned volunteers.
