Though some residents may have gotten a glimpse of the new Community Center at the town election in May, it didn't officially open until July 1. And on Saturday, the Council on Aging and Recreation Department celebrated with a grand opening event.

Yesterday's Country Band performed while residents were encouraged to walk around building and see all the improvements. Aside from general renovations such as new paint and ceilings, there are also new cubicle offices, furniture and handicap accessibilities such as ramps and larger bathrooms.

"This place is beautiful," Joan Cambra said.

Jody Dickerson, head of the recreation department, was one of the many volunteers who worked on getting the building ready.

"We came in ahead of time and under budget. Turns out, that can actually happen in Massachusetts," he laughed. "It was definitely a team effort."

There a couple details Dickerson said were still to come, such as a few more appliance updates in the kitchen and the installation of televisions that have been recently donated. Additionally, one last special detail will be hung in the office area in honor of the community center's past life.

Will cleaning out the building, formerly belonging to the Benjamin D. Cushing VFW Post, volunteers found old photographs from VFW events, newspaper clippings and the receipt to the 100-year-old cannon out front.

"We're going to make a shadowbox of all those things and hang it up," Dickerson said. "It's pretty cool."