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Date: 10/26/2022
LUDLOW – On Oct. 18, state Rep. Jake Oliveira presented a check to the Ludlow Senior Center.
Candidate for state representative Aaron Saunders, U.S. Congressmen Richard Neal, members from state Sen. Eric Lesser’s office and Executive Director of the Ludlow Senior Center Jodie Zepke were also in attendance for the announcement.
As part of fiscal year 2023 (FY23) state budget that was passed by the Massachusetts House & Senate and signed into law by Gov. Charlie Baker, the Ludlow Senior Center received $50,000 for a new accessible van to help seniors access important services within the community.
Oliveira said when the Ludlow Senior Center moved from its original location where there was senior housing, to the new location without senior housing, transportation became more important for members of the community.
In 2017, The Friends of Ludlow Senior Center funded a feasibility study which defined the need for building a new senior center in Ludlow. In February 2021 the new building was complete with a dining hall, café, exercise rooms, an arts and crafts room, washer, dryer and more.
Oliveira added, “When we were going through the FY23 budget, I asked Jodie what she needed to make the senior center better and she said that they could use another accessible van to help with transportation of seniors across town to the Senior Center and other activities.”
Zepke said, “A new van means more opportunity for transportation and a healthy fleet. Two of our vans are getting up there in age so a new one will help with reliability. We are so fortunate to receive these funds and hope to apply for another grant for the remainder of the cost of the van so that we don’t have to ask the town.”
Oliveira said the mills are special to him because his family grew up working at them and is happy to see the economic development that is already taking place and the plans for what is to come next.
Saunders said, “When I started on the Ludlow Board of Selectmen in 2008, the Ludlow mills were basically an empty property. This Senior Center is a direct result of public partnerships, the town of Ludlow, state legislation delegation and federal delegation and their efforts to revitalizing this area.”
Neal added that he has been a part of every conceivable part in this development and that it is great to see people who care about this area by making a change.