Last Sunday morning, Oct. 29, officials with the Sid Jacobson JCC held groundbreaking ceremonies for the most significant additions to the facilities on 300 Forest Drive in East Hills.

Work has now begun on what will be a 29,000-sq. ft. expansion project. That breaks down to 21,000 ft. of program space, with the remaining 8,000 to be used as storage room.

According to JCC President Gerald Marsden, the expansion was necessary due to the popularity of various JCC programs and the growing needs of the community the center serves. Currently, the JCC serves both 2,500 member households, plus many nonmembers from communities throughout the North Shore. The JCC's Expansion Committee had raised enough of the $7.5 million to complete the project for construction to begin.

The bulk of the expansion effort will take place with the construction of a new wing along the Forest Drive section of the building. Once the project is completed, it will include several new or improved facilities including preschool expansion, a children's gymnasium, an auditorium, an art studio, and an indoor-outdoor cafe. The auditorium, which houses JCC offerings in performing arts, musical programs, speakers and films will be upgraded by the introduction of 255 retractable, theater-style seats.

JCC officials also used the occasion to reflect upon the institution's growth throughout the years, recalling that in 1961 it used a chicken coop for its beginnings, graduating in 1966 to a converted gas station for services and by 1981, using a village school for its programs. Finally, in 1988, the current facility on 300 Forest Drive was constructed.