NoteWorthy – 1/10/21

AROUND THE VALLEY

Andreas Hired for Top Job at North Shore Chamber of Commerce

Karen Andreas has been named president and chief executive officer of the North Shore Chamber of Commerce in Danvers. The chamber’s board of directors voted unanimously last month to hire Andreas, praising her as a proven leader and natural fit for the leadership position.

Andreas unexpectedly departed the North of Boston Media Group in early December, where she had been regional publisher since 2013. She began her media career as a reporter before holding a series of positions including editor, vice president of news, and publisher.

She has been an active board member of the North Shore Chamber of Commerce for many years, recently serving as chair of the board of directors. In 2016, she was inducted into the chamber’s North Shore Academy of Distinguished Leaders.

A graduate of the University of New Hampshire, Andreas is active in the community and serves on numerous boards including The Salem Partnership, Salem State University Board of Overseers, Northern Essex Community College Foundation Board, and Essex National Heritage board of trustees. She is the immediate past president of the Massachusetts Newspaper Publishers Association.

Greater Lowell Community Foundation Awarded $829K for COVID-19 Relief Work

Over the next few months, the Greater Lowell Community Foundation (GLCF) will distribute $829,983 to nonprofit organizations serving Lowell to alleviate hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, the GLCF aims to address emergency food, housing support, medical interpretation, educational program support and youth program support.

This new round of COVID-19 funding is made possible by the Baker-Polito administration’s $10 million Community Foundations Grant Program for COVID-19 Relief. The program, administered by the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development and the Department of Housing and Community Development through community foundations across the state, was announced in late November. 

Holy Family Hospital Named The Leapfrog Group’s Top Hospital of 2020

The Leapfrog Group has awarded Holy Family Hospital the Top Hospital of 2020 award. This prestigious award was granted based on the hospital’s low infection rates and high quality and patient safety ratings. The Leapfrog Top Hospital award is one of the most competitive honors American hospitals can receive. Holy Family is one of only 35 hospitals nationwide and is the only hospital in the Merrimack Valley and Southern New Hampshire to earn this distinction for performance on national standards of quality and safety.

 

Alternative Care Site Accepts First Patient, Expects More in Coming Days

The Lowell General Hospital Alternative Care Site (ACS) received its first patient from Lowell General at approximately 1 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 4, and officials expect more admissions in the coming days.

Lowell General officials are reviewing additional patients in their care for possible transfer. They are also in contact with hospitals around the region looking to create more inpatient capacity in anticipation of an expected rise in patients after the holiday season.

The ACS opened its first 14 beds on Monday and has plans to scale up to as many as 28 beds by the end of the week. The beds will be a regional resource for transfer of recovering patients who need some additional medications or therapies before being discharged to home, opening up inpatient capacity for more severely ill patients.

“We are proud to be able to provide this resource for the region and stand ready to accept additional patients,” said Jody White, President and CEO of Lowell General Hospital and Circle Health. “Patients and families should take comfort that this site is staffed by skilled physicians, nurses and support personnel, and will provide the same standard of care as they would expect in the hospital.”

MCC’s Corporate Ed. Partners with Lowell General Hospital to Offer Training to Staff

Middlesex Community College’s (MCC) Corporate Education and Training program has partnered with Lowell General Hospital (LGH) for a number of years to provide leadership training to the hospital’s employees.

The partnership between MCC’s Corporate Ed. and LGH began in 2013 after they were awarded a $50,000 workforce training grant by the Mass. Department of Higher Education. They received a $250,000 Healthcare Transformation Training Fund Grant in 2015 from the Department of Labor to develop leaders.

In their ongoing partnership, MCC offers training in English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), Certified Healthcare Access Associate (CHAA) exam prep course, and numerous leadership development courses. They also offer an enhanced tuition reimbursement process for employees to pay for trainings.

With MCC’s trainings, LGH hopes to bring out the best in their employees to build a stronger organization overall. It is also important to them to support their staff in their professional development

The New Hampshire Philharmonic Orchestra Harpist Donates Instrument to Manchester Community Music School

Diana Kolben, a Salem, N.H., resident who studied music at Oberlin College and worked as a music educator throughout her life, is parting with her beloved harp after more than 50 years. Since she is no longer able to play, Kolben has decided to donate her instrument the Manchester Community Music School (MCMS).

“We are so happy to continue working with MCMS and its own mission to change lives through the power of learning, sharing and making music,’” says Mark Latham, music director of the NH Philharmonic Orchestra. When asked how music impacts youth, Kolben, a long-time music educator, replied: “It impacts everything! There isn’t a thing that music doesn’t touch.” She hopes that students at MCMS will share her love for the instrument.

LMACS Seeks New Executive Director

Lowell Middlesex Academy Charter School (LMACS) offers an inclusive and supportive environment that holds its students to high standards to ensure that they reach their goals. Margaret McDevitt will be retiring from LMACS this spring after 17 years of service and leadership to the school. James Mabry, president of Middlesex Community College (MCC) and chair of LMACS Board of Trustees, announced on Tuesday that a search committee is looking to hire the next LMACS executive director.

The accredited public charter high school partners with MCC to serve students between the ages of 15 and 21 who have left school or are at risk of dropping out. The program provides academic, social and career skills necessary to succeed post-graduation — emphasizing the importance of college education. The search committee will be looking for a candidate who will contribute leadership, enthusiasm and efforts toward the fulfillment of the school’s mission and the development of an innovative learning community that serves its diverse student body. The executive director is responsible for providing administrative leadership, instructional leadership and student leadership, as well as building community relationships for LMACS.

Click here for details regarding the job posting.

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Irene Haley Hired as CEO of The Greater Haverhill Chamber Board of Directors
Irene Haley has been hired as The Greater Haverhill Chamber (GHC) next chief executive officer. Haley will assume the role of GHC President and CEO on Jan. 11, 2021. Haley brings over 20 years of experience in corporate management at both Exxon Mobil and Starbucks. She has a Master of Business Administration degree from Boston University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature from UMass Lowell.

“I am thrilled to be joining this amazing team and vibrant, diverse community.  I bring more than 20 years of leadership experience and a passion to serve others to this role and to this critical moment.  I look forward to partnering with other local leaders to serve our members and our community,” said Haley.

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COMMUNITY CALENDAR

Sign Up for the 2021 Merrimack River Watershed Council Water Quality Monitoring Program

The Merrimack River Watershed Council (MRWC) is continuing to advocate and monitor the Merrimack River into 2021, in addition to pushing for necessary legislation and action that will keep our watershed and its surrounding communities healthy. For those looking to aid the efforts, consider signing up for the 2021 water quality monitoring program. Those interested are asked to email volunteer@merrimack.org with your availability or visit their water quality monitoring page. The MRWC requests that everyone signing up commit to volunteering from January through June (not including back up days.)

Kids In Tech Interactive Panel Discussion

Join the Kids in Tech organization for Beyond the Microscope: Building a Pathway for Diversity, Equity and Belonging in STEAM virtual event series on February 15, 2021. This will be an interactive discussion with educators, community partners and program participants of Kids in Tech exploring how we can excite, empower and equip kids with the tools and skills to create solutions that meet the world’s needs and be future leaders.

Register for the virtual event here by February 13, 2021. Each person must register separately.

Bring Live Theater Back to Lowell

Lend a hand in the effort to bring live theater back to Lowell by making a donation to the Merrimack Repertory Theatre (MRT). Your support will bring back vital, remarkable storytelling to the stage and help revive the careers of 40 gifted artists, technicians, and staff members who have all been out of work since March. Visit here to support the MRT.

Middlesex CC Continues to be a Leader of Online Learning Platforms

With a strong lineup of curriculums created to run online, Middlesex Community College (MCC)continues to help students reach their academic goals throughout the pandemic. The school will offer a blend of asynchronous and synchronous online learning. For the spring 2021 semester, MCC will offer about 90% of courses online. Registration is now open.

Project Learn

Project LEARN is an organization that works hand-in-hand with Lowell public schools to fund innovative programs and services to inspire today’s students and equip them with the skills, knowledge and mindset they need for college, career and life. Your support will ensure that Project LEARN can expand in 2021 to impact more of Lowell’s young people through game-changing programs. Visit here to donate and learn more about this program.

2021 SONH Penguin Plunge

The Plunge will look different this year, but that does not mean it will be any less fun. No matter how you plunge, you are directly supporting Special Olympic New Hampshire athletes who want nothing more than to return to competition and need your support this year more than ever before. The Plunge runs Feb. 3-7. Click here to sign up today.

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Check out the latest episode of The 495 Podcast!

The 495 is back in a BIG way! Host Doug Sparks opens 2021 talking with the crew from Red Antler Apothecary and Hive & Forge. Listen to the podcast here.