Lori Johnson new director of Springfield Senior Center

Senior Center Director Heather Hall, 28, is leaving her position after two years. She’ll be the new residential director at Lincoln Street, Inc. in Springfield, and Lori Johnson, 55, will lead the Senior Center starting on Monday.


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Johnson new director of Springfield Senior Center; succeeds Hall By KATY SAVAGE ksavage@eagletimes.com Lori Johnson KATY SAVAGE Senior Center Director Heather Hall, 28, is leaving her position after two years. She’ll be the new residential director at Lincoln Street, Inc. in Springfield, and Lori Johnson, 55, will lead the Senior Center starting on Monday. “Everyone has been welcoming,” Johnson said. “I’m looking forward to it.” Johnson grew up in Springfield and already knows many members of the senior center. She is currently the childcare coordinator for the Springfield Area Parent Child Center, where she has worked for 14 years. Johnson started training for her new job at the senior center this week. “It is quite a difference,” she said. “I was ready for a change.” The Springfield Senior Center has about 300 active members, ages 50 and up, and more than 1,000 people who participate in the center’s trips and fundraising events. There are no membership fees to join the Springfield Senior Center. It receives about $50,000 a year from the town and another $2,000 or so from fundraising and donations. The center also relies heavily on volunteers. There are about 70 people who volunteer regularly—most of them are seniors themselves. Johnson will be tasked with overseeing all activities and social events for the center. She’ll be in charge of organizing the trips and catering to the changing needs of the members. “A lot of it is interacting with members, administrating, creating new activities and primarily being here for members of the senior center,” said Hall. Hall recently returned from a weeklong cruise to Canada with about 20 people senior-center members. A trip to Ireland with the seniors is planned in the fall. There are also multiple day trips planned to see shows and plays all over New England and New York throughout the year. Johnson and Hall were enjoying a quiet moment on Wednesday afternoon after more than 70 seniors sang songs and participated in a performance by the Senior Center’s chorus – complete with cookies and brownies. Hall starts her new job at Lincoln Street on Monday. She said her departure is bittersweet. “We have a great group of people here,” she said. “ It’s not really coming to work; it’s coming to a second family.” The senior center on Main Street is open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. Hall said anybody can drop in to play board games, participate in tournaments and be as involved as they choose.