NoteWorthy – 2/12/17

NoteWorthy is your weekly news roundup of happenings, movers and shakers, and community events in the Merrimack Valley.

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AROUND THE VALLEY

Middlesex Community College Celebrates Nursing Program Graduates

Middlesex Community College recently celebrated the achievements of 26 graduates of the Nursing Program in a Pinning Ceremony held on the Bedford campus. MCC President James C. Mabry, Provost Phil Sisson, Dean of Nursing and Allied Health Katherine Gehly, and faculty and staff from all areas of the college joined family, friends and supporters to honor the new graduates.

“Middlesex has given us the knowledge, strength, confidence and courage we need to become outstanding registered nurses with the ability to make the world a better place,” said student speaker and graduate Amanda Veader-Brooks.

During the ceremony, graduates were called on stage individually to receive their nursing pins from MCC faculty. As a group, the new graduates recited a pledge to practice nursing ethically, promote health for all and advance the profession. A reception with friends and family followed the ceremony.

UMass Lowell Mock Trial Team Captures First Place

UMass Lowell’s Mock Trial Team recently captured first place at the Quinnipiac Invitational. UMass Lowell was undefeated in the competition against a field of 20 teams from around the Northeast. Four UMass Lowell team members took home individual awards: Thomas Wood of New London, N.H., president of the UMass Lowell Pre-Law Society, who received a perfect store as attorney, along with Jessica Carroll of North Andover, Lidia Terzian of Watertown and Matthew Levenson of Billerica for their roles as witnesses in the trials. This month, team is headed to the Northeast regionals.

EZ-Way Cleaners Honored by Haverhill Chamber with Business of the Month Award

The Greater Haverhill Chamber of Commerce has recognized EZ-Way Cleaners with the honor of Business of the Month for January for their outstanding community service to the greater Haverhill area.

EZ-Way Cleaners are the locally renowned dry cleaning professionals the greater Haverhill community has trusted since the business’ grand opening in the 1950s. In 1990, Peter Carbone and David Gaiero became co-owners and have created a legacy through customer service and community outreach.

Prior to EZ-Way Cleaners, Peter spent his time as an educator at the Sacred Hearts School displaying leadership to the community youth as a teacher, tutor and coach. The Lowell State College graduate has been honored numerous times for going the extra mile for the Haverhill community.

Pentucket Bank Presents Checks to United Way of Mass Bay & Granite United Way

 

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Karen Turnquist has been named center manager of Element Care’s Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) in Methuen. In her new role, Turnquist will be responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations as well as providing leadership for the interdisciplinary team. Prior to joining Element Care, she worked as the director of homecare services at Action, Inc., the manager of the division of gerontology at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and as the director of customer relationship management/patient advocacy at Lahey Clinic Medical Center.

 
 

John Moynihan has been hired as the Firehouse Center for the Arts’ new executive director, replacing Beth Falconer, who left in late 2016 to pursue other opportunities. Moynihan joins the Firehouse from Prescott Park Arts Festival in Portsmouth, N.H., where he held various positions for the past six years. Most recently he served as the producing director, managing a number of areas, including children’s programming, staff, budgeting and event management. He holds a B.A. in theatre from the University of New Hampshire.

 
 

Lowell Five Bank Announces Three Promotions

Lowell Five Bank has announced the following employee promotions:

Alison E. Kalman has been promoted to executive vice president of Lowell Five Bank and Lowell Five Bancorp. Kalman has worked at Lowell Five for more than 24 years, beginning her career as a retail banking representative. As EVP, she will facilitate all governance and regulatory matters, serve as project manager on numerous projects and oversee the insurance and investment management services at the bank. Kalman holds numerous Board positions on several local nonprofit organizations including D’Youville Life and Wellness Community Foundation, Greater Nashua Boys and Girls Club and Circle Home, Inc.

 

Yanelly Cruz has been promoted to assistant vice president, retail banking officer, main office. Cruz has an impressive retail banking background which spans over 12 years. She joined Lowell Five Bank in 2014 as assistant manager of the North Andover office, where she has been integral in developing staff and supporting the bank’s customer base. In her new position, Cruz will play a key role in maintaining Lowell Five’s strong commitment to the Lowell community.

 
 

Jennifer Shipp has been promoted to assistant compliance officer. Shipp’s career in compliance began in 2009 immediately upon graduating from the University of Massachusetts Lowell with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. Seven years later, she has established herself as a valuable member of Lowell Five’s compliance and risk team. In her new position, Shipp will work with all the bank’s departments to ensure that the bank remains in compliance with the numerous federal and state consumer protection regulations.

 
 

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

Now through February 15

Those wishing to participate in this year’s Parker River NWR Nature and Wildlife Photography Contest have until Feb. 15 to submit up to two matted prints. This year’s two themed categories are “Plum Island Nature and Wildlife” and “New England Nature & Wildlife.”  The winners will be announced during the refuge’s annual Conservation Film Festival. Newburyport, Mass. | FWS.gov

February 14

Good Day Cafe will hold a Valentine’s Day launch of their Suspended Coffees program, where patrons can buy one or more “suspended coffees” for people in need, who can then redeem them to help them get through a hard day. North Andover, Mass. | Facebook.com

February 18

Mass Audubon and the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge will hold the 12th annual Merrimack River Eagle Festival. This full day of indoor and outdoor activities includes eagle-spotting sites, guided bus tours, live bird demonstrations and much more. Newburyport, Mass. | MassAudubon.org/EagleFestival

The LOCO Palooza 5K and Karaoke Contest will start and finish at the Blue Ocean Music Hall, offering elegant views of the Salisbury Beach area along the course. During the after-race party, runners can participate in a special karaoke contest for cash prizes. Salisbury, Mass. | Smuttynose-Palooza.com

February 25

Jeanne D’Arc Credit Union will be holding its 7th annual We Share A Common Thread Foundation Fundraiser at Lenzi’s from 7 to 11 p.m. The entire community is invited to a fun-filled night of dancing, raffle baskets and prizes, games, a silent auction and more. Dracut, Mass. | WeShareACommonThread.org

March 4

Circle Health will hold their 2017 Ball for Community Health Initiatives at the Westin Boston Waterfront Hotel. The event helps fund vital health and wellness programs which benefit residents of the Greater Lowell community. Boston, Mass. | Circle-Health.org

Cary Hall will host “Spotlight: A Story of Asking the Right Questions and Holding Institutions Accountable” as part of its free Cary Lecture Series. Sacha Pfeiffer, a member of the Spotlight team that exposed the Catholic Church abuse cover-up, will be joined in conversation by Right Question Institute co-founder Dan Rothstein. Lexington, Mass. | CaryHallLexington.com

Know something NoteWorthy we should include? Email Joseph Girard-Meli at jgirardmeli@512mediainc.com with your news tips.