Page 11 - BusinessWest December 7, 2020

Depending on how the pandemic
progresses, the new Ludlow Senior Center could begin hosting some indoor programs by
February.
monwealth paid for most of the $5.6 million in improvements.
Perhaps no one in Ludlow is more enthusiasti- cally looking forward to opening the new Ludlow Senior Center than Jodi Zepke. As director of the Council on Aging, she and her staff plan to move out of the basement of the former high school
on Chestnut Street and into the new building on State Street. While staff will be taking occupancy of the new building in mid-December, the Senior Center will remain closed to the public because of COVID-19 concerns, a situation that Zepke said poses both pros and cons.
“We’re excited to get into the building. It will
give the staff an opportunity to get comfortable in their new surroundings before we have seniors come back,” she said. “At the same time, we know how excited everyone is to visit the new building as soon as they can.”
In what she called a “perfect world” scenario, the Senior Center could begin hosting some of Council on Aging programs indoors at the new facility in February. Throughout the warmer months, the council’s popular exercise and social programs were held outdoors at the park adja- cent to the current senior center. As the weather became colder at the end of October, the outdoor programs wrapped up for the season.
“The outdoor programming was a great opportunity for people to see each other, get out of the house, and do some exercising,” Zepke said, noting that said groups took part in yoga, tai chi, and discussion groups, all socially distanced. Several of the exercise programs are available
on local cable-access TV. While the broadcasts can help keep people active, she recognizes that people still need the socialization such programs provide for seniors in town.
“The most important thing is to remain con- nected to people, otherwise the social isolation
is terrible,” she said. “We’re pushing for at least some indoor programming because we’re already seeing the mental-health effects of staying home all the time.”
Before COVID-19, the Senior Center hosted a popular daily lunch program. When coronavirus hit and it was no longer possible to bring people to the center, Zepke said her staff switched gears overnight and converted the daily lunch to a thrice-weekly grab-and-go meal where people drive up and receive a box lunch from center staff who are dressed in appropriate PPE. Zepke calls it one of the best things her organization has done since the pandemic hit.
“It’s an opportunity for us to see people and take a few minutes to chat with them,” she said. “It’s the highlight of my day.”
Milling About
One of the brightest spots in Ludlow’s eco- nomic development for the last several years has been the redevelopment of a series of old mills
Ludlow
Continued on page 13
Staff Photo
BusinessWest
COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT
DECEMBER 7, 2020 11