It is said that history has a way of repeating itself. So it is with the East Liverpool Area Community and Learning Center. It was built over 60 years ago to house the Trinity Presbyterian Church. Trinity was the largest church in the community in terms of attendance. It was built on what was known as Shies Hill to accommodate its approximate 500 parishioners. The original church had simply outgrown its original building on West Sixth Street.

A few years later the East Liverpool high school and middle school buildings were built adjacent to the church. Then a baseball field was added adjacent to the Trinity property line.

For many years Trinity Church prospered but as the membership dropped they decided to merge with the Longs Run Presbyterian Church in Calcutta. The building and land were purchased as the East Liverpool Area Community and Learning Center eight years ago.

History has repeated itself. The community center building that sits on an 8 acres piece of land at 110 Maine Blvd. and once again will be used as a church each Sunday now from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. The rest of the time the building will continue as a community and learning center.

The center is home to a variety of activities such as parties, weddings, private meetings and children’s activities. This is the “Best of all Worlds” – church and an activity center.

On Feb. 4 the Everyday Church held its first service in the newly renovated sanctuary at the center that now is also what serves as the center’s auditorium. The church is evangelical with about 275 people attending Sunday School and then followed by the morning service. The church pews have been removed and are replaced with 400 comfortable chairs. The old antiquated sound system has been replaced with a modern sound, lighting and visual system to enhance the services that are presided over by Pastor Mike Direnzo.

The Everyday Church began 10 years ago in Weirton, West Virginia. It later had two other West Virginia locations and attracted most of its members from West Virginia and Pennsylvania.

Direnzo has assured everyone that the church mission is not to take new members from other churches but to attract those people who are the non-churched from across the tri-state area.

The community is the real winner. Now it has a new Christian congregation while it continues to have a place for meeting and learning that also offers all sorts of activities and opportunities for persons from throughout the tri-state area.

January and February have always been slow months in the past. However, this year activities at the community center include the Masuthe Sharon Palmer, who every Tuesday through Thursday plies her trade. She is constantly gaining new clients who report that they are now relieved of their old aches and pains following their massages. Aerobic classes are held in the evenings at the center. The sessions do much to improve the body tone of its members. Music Therapy classes held on Mondays and Tuesdays for toddlers is operating at capacity. The Trinity Catholic Parish recently sold its school building and plans to use the center for out-of-church activities.

Even during the slow months of January and February when the weather forces curtailment of parties, the center is experiencing a surge of parties at the center this year.

The Thursday Nite Movie that has been held at the center in its wide-screen, surround-sound theatre plans to move the shows to an afternoon matinee to accommodate its loyal attendees who do not like night driving. The theatre is also used several times each week for private showings from its vast collection of classic videos.

The Free Little Library located in the center’s lobby, sponsored by the East Liverpool Rotary Club, continues to attract adults and children alike who wish to exchange, borrow and donate books for many of the center guests.