Noah Eckstein is reporting for Columbia-Greene Media that Neannette “Nea” McKinney was chosen February 28, as Hudson’s Senior Services commissioner for the 2022-23 term. McKinney will oversee the department to serve as the city’s main resource for residents ages 62 or older. “Seniors are the backbone of our community,” McKinney said. “If it wasn’t for them and all they had to go through, we wouldn’t be here.” McKinney, in her 50s, has lived in Hudson for three years and has five years’ experience as a leader of a senior assistance program in California. She was born in Cheshire, Connecticut, and grew up in Playa del Rey, Los Angeles. McKinney studied radio and television broadcasting and business management at Elizabeth Seton College in Yonkers. She has an eclectic range of interests and a track record for bringing people together. Roughly 14 percent of Hudson’s 5,894 residents are senior citizens, according to the latest data from the U.S. Census Bureau. “Nea’s experience, skills and dedication to the well-being of seniors will be a boon to the city of Hudson,” Mayor Kamal Johnson said. McKinney plans to bring in a nutritionist to help seniors form a more balanced and healthy diet. She also plans on helping coordinate rides for seniors to and from different locations. Her main duty right now is getting to know Hudson’s senior communities. “I plan to hit the pavement, knock on doors, and get my face out there,” she said. An estimated 25 percent of all New Yorkers will be over the age of 60 by the year 2030. The appointment of a commissioner of Senior Services is a first step to put the needs of seniors at the forefront of community discussions, officials said. McKinney's professional experience is expansive, including work in business development and international television, film, and concert production. The Hudson Senior Center is located on the second floor of the Hudson Area Library at 51 N. Fifth Street. Information about the center and its programs is available at hudsonnyseniorcenter [dot] com or 518-828-3200. Note: Johnson is a volunteer WGXC on-air programmer. Read the full story at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.