Merrimack Valley Magazine

Mass. Community Colleges Announce Vaccine Requirement

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The presidents of the Massachusetts community colleges announced today that students, faculty, and staff at the commonwealth’s 15 community colleges must be fully vaccinated by January 2022.

The announcement comes amid a rise in the number of new cases of COVID-19 across the commonwealth, the increased access and availability of vaccines, the Food & Drug Administration’s full and pending approval of available vaccines, and CDC guidance that the COVID-19 vaccine has been proven to be extremely safe and highly effective at preventing infection, severe disease, hospitalization, and death.

Students who seek to register for courses that do not include any in-person component, and who do not plan to come on campus for any reason for the spring 2022 semester, will not be required to provide documentation of vaccination. All employees will be required to be vaccinated.

 

 

Baker Exploring “Important” Vaccine Verification Options

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Admin Talking With States About Their Experiences

by Colin A. Young

It will be important for people to have a simple way to prove that they have been vaccinated against COVID-19, Gov. Charlie Baker said Thursday as he stopped just short of saying that some kind of vaccination verification system will be coming to Massachusetts.

With about two-thirds of the workforce soon to be impacted by a federal vaccination-or-testing mandate, a growing number of venues requiring proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test result to enter, and with the market for phony vaccine cards exploding, some states like New York and Minnesota have launched free and voluntary platforms to provide digital and authentic proof that the user has either been vaccinated or has tested negative.

“We’ve been talking to the states that have developed this and it’s certainly something that,” Baker said, slamming on the brakes mid-sentence during an appearance on GBH Radio. “I mean, I just happen to think that getting to the point where there’s a relatively simple process for people to credential the fact that they’ve been vaccinated will be important for a whole bunch of reasons.”

The governor pointed out to co-hosts Margery Eagan and Jim Braude that people in Massachusetts can get vaccine verification or a credential from the provider who administered the vaccine.

 

“But obviously, there are states and municipalities that have done something more universal than that and we’ve been talking to those folks and working through how that would work here in the commonwealth,” the governor said.

Baker did not take the bait when Braude said that it sounded likely that Massachusetts is “going to have such a thing at some point.”

“I certainly think it’s going to be an important thing for people to have,” he said. “But again, you can validate and verify that you’ve been vaccinated right now.”

When President Joe Biden announced on Sept. 9 that the federal government will soon require companies with 100 or more workers to mandate that their employees either be vaccinated or submit to weekly COVID-19 testing, it sent the illicit market for forged U.S. Centers for Disease Control vaccination cards soaring.

The price of a fake vaccination card with a CDC logo jumped from $100 to $200 right after Biden’s announcement and the number of people in a group on the social messaging app Telegram dedicated to the forgeries rose from 30,000 to more than 300,000, according to Check Point Software Technologies. In August, there were about 1,000 vendors offering fake vaccination cards on Telegram, the company said, and now there are more than 10,000.

“The growth of the black market for fake vaccination cards has been exponential,” Ekram Ahmed, a spokesperson for the cybersecurity firm that studies the illicit market, told Pew Charitable Trusts’ Stateline publication. “Our expectation is that the black market for fake coronavirus vaccination cards will continue to thrive as more policy requiring vaccination proof gets rolled out.”

Former Boston Mayor Marty Walsh, now U.S. secretary of labor, is overseeing the drafting of Biden’s mandate. Asked about the forthcoming federal policy Thursday, Baker said that he was hesitant to comment.

“I’m obviously a big fan of people getting vaccinated and I’m obviously comfortable with employers creating programming for their own people to get vaccinated … But we have not seen yet any details on what this looks like,” he said. “At this point, it’s commenting on a press release and speech, and for something that is as significant, widespread and as complicated as this, I would really like to see how they think this would work, who qualifies, who doesn’t, what the rules are and all the rest.”

The governor was similarly non-committal when asked about the possibility of requiring vaccination for Massachusetts school students, though he suggested that having a vaccine secure final FDA approval for use in younger people could be a key factor in his thinking. In Los Angeles, district officials on Thursday voted unanimously in favor of a policy that requires eligible students (currently those 12 or older) to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

“Keep in mind that we don’t have any ability to vaccinate anybody who is under the age of 12 yet and there’s some discussion about when that might happen. We also won’t have, for kids under the age of 16, I think, a final approval on a vaccine at this point in time. Pfizer’s approved for, I think, for 16 and up as a final approval but we’re still working under emergency use authorizations below that. And Moderna doesn’t have a final approval at all, it’s still an emergency use authorization,” the governor said.

Baker added, “I think it’s important, when you don’t have sort of a final signoff from the feds, to be careful about how you think about this stuff.”

Asked directly whether he would consider mandating vaccines for students for whom final FDA approval has been granted, Baker said neither yes nor no.

“You know, I don’t know when those things are going to happen, Jim. So in the meantime, I’d rather just focus on trying to get more kids vaccinated in those communities with the rules and the standards and the processes and procedures that we have in place currently,” the governor said.

 

NoteWorthy – 5/23/21

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AROUND THE VALLEY

Local Students Graduate from NECC

Northern Essex Community College (NECC) held its 59th commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 15. Since their graduation was virtual last year, 2020 graduates were also included, .

Each ceremony involved a student speaker and an address from President Lane Glenn. Over 1300 graduates from 2020 and 2021 were celebrated and associate degrees and certificates from over 70 academic programs were awarded.

President Glenn typically shakes the hand of each graduate, which wasn’t possible this year due to safety guidelines. Instead, each graduate received a foam hand that proclaimed “NECC Grads are #1.” As they crossed the commencement platform, they were given the option of high-fiving (by far the most popular); waving, top tapping, or elbow bumping.

Of this year’s graduates:

  • 67.4% are women
  • Close to half are first generation college students, meaning they are the first in their family to attend college
  • About half are students of color, including 37% who are Latino
  • 35 are veterans
  • The youngest grad was 17 and the oldest grad was 69

The five commencement speakers included: Shanna Guy of Newburyport for business and accounting; Shania Berard of Methuen for professional studies; Rosanna Lara of Lawrence for liberal arts; Vladimir Ventura of Lawrence for STEM; and Paola Sierra de Valerio of Lawrence for health professions.

 

$3.3M Grant Announced to Fuel Response to Post-Pandemic Challenges

A group of Massachusetts research institutions and organizations led by UMass Lowell (UML) has received a $3.3 million federal grant to continue its efforts to ensure the commonwealth is prepared to face the ongoing challenges of COVID-19, future pandemics and other public health crises.

Through UML, the project has been awarded a $3.3 million CARES ACT grant by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA). The funding will go to continue the production of personal protective equipment (PPE), expand into other medical supplies, devices and equipment, and to develop related training and curriculum with the goal of creating new jobs and economic opportunities following the pandemic.

The Addison Gallery Celebrates 90 Years With Exhibition of Treasures From Its Permanent Collection

One of the first museums devoted solely to the art of the United States, the Addison Gallery of American Art has made prescient acquisitions and organized pioneering exhibitions over nine decades, and now holds one of the world’s most significant and dynamic collections of American art across media.

In celebration of its 90th anniversary, the museum presents “Learning to Look: The Addison at 90,” an exhibition that features iconic masterworks, exceptional but lesser-known pieces, and new acquisitions that embody the Addison’s illustrious history and ongoing commitment to groundbreaking artists. This exhibition playfully and provocatively juxtaposes works by artists such as Jacob Lawrence, Winslow Homer, Jay DeFeo, Martin Puryear, Georgia O’Keeffe, Thomas Eakins, Agnes Martin, Edward Hopper, Laurie Simmons, Martin Wong, Jackson Pollock, and Donald Judd, among many others.

In addition to the well-known paintings that comprise the core of the Addison’s original collection, many of the works in the exhibition reflect the museum’s longstanding commitment to fostering and championing the work of living artists.

 

Trahan Leads Introduction of Social Media Data Transparency Legislation

U.S. Rep. Lori Trahan led the introduction of the Social Media Disclosure and Transparency of Advertisements (DATA) Act, legislation that will lift the curtain on key data regarding online targeted advertisements that is currently held under lock and key by dominant platforms.

Large digital platforms have the largest repository of online behavioral data in the world, cementing their dominance in digital ad targeting. While online advertising has become the most common method for small and medium sized businesses to reach consumers, it has also emerged as a leading source of disinformation and harmful or defective product promotion that can be targeted to vulnerable populations. The digital marketing industry has allowed ads promoting high interest credit cards to target older women, junk food and pill parties to target younger users, predatory for-profit colleges to target veterans, fraudulent opioid rehabilitation centers to target potential patients, and more.

Click the following links to find a copy of the legislation, a section-by-section summary, and a fact sheet.

MCC’s Education Department Ranks No. 1 for Best Value in Mass.

The education department at Middlesex Community College provides students such as Cindy Rios with academic excellence, affordable tuition and accessible content and materials.

Middlesex Community College (MCC) was ranked number one for the 2021 Best Value Teacher Education Grade Specific Associate Degree Schools in Massachusetts and in the New England Region by Teaching Degree Search. The Education department at Middlesex provides students with academic excellence, affordable tuition and accessible content and materials.

On the Teaching Degree Search website, students can access information about teaching colleges and programs in ranked lists based on research. Middlesex was named the Best Value Teaching Schools on the site’s most recent ranking for both Massachusetts and New England, and is described as “an affordable, quality education to students.”

For over two years, MCC’s Education department has also offered free courses to Early Childhood Education (ECE) students who are working in the field and want to start their academic pathway. Classes are funded through the ECE Career Pathways grant and the Mass. Department of Early Education and Care (EEC).

 

NECC Observer Earns Gold Medal from the Columbia Scholastic Press Association

Despite the challenges of the pandemic, Northern Essex Community College’s (NECC) student newspaper, the NECC Observer, received a gold medal from the Columbia Scholastic Press Association (CSPA) for the 2019-2020 school year. The newspaper had the additional distinction of All Columbia Honors for receiving an exceptionally high judging score.

The NECC Observer is an award-winning newspaper published by NECC journalism students. The Observer is published twice monthly during the academic year. The NECC Observer staff works to inform the college community, including students, faculty, and staff. The Observer also serves as a public forum for the Haverhill and Lawrence campuses and accepts letters and guest columns from the college community.

Greater Lawrence Summer Fund Offers YWCA $6,000 To Help Fund Camp Y-Wood Summer Camp

YWCA Northeastern Massachusetts announced that the Greater Summer Fund has granted the organization $6,000 for the purpose of funding Camp Y-Wood, the YWCA’s summer camp located in Salem, N.H.

The funding that will aid in allowing the summer camp to remain an affordable, safe, and unforgettable time by covering staff salaries, camp supplies, camperships and other costs.

Camp Y-Wood serves children ages 5 to 13 on a 22-acre campsite, right on the shore of Captain’s Pond. Campers have the opportunity to learn swimming, boating, arts and nature crafts, sports, fishing, outdoor living, hiking, and survival skills, all while experimenting with new things, discovering their own creativity and passion for the outdoors, and making new friends

Museum of Printing Commemorates Haverhill Ties to Bible Translation and 19th Century Missionary Movement

Not only did the American missionary movement of the 19th century began in Haverhill, Mass., but Haverhill was also a center for Bible translations. Adoniram Judson, American linguist and Baptist missionary in Myanmar (Burma) translated the Bible into Burmese with his wife Ann Hazeltine Judson.

To commemorate the Haverhill Bible connection, Haverhill’s Museum of Printing has consolidated its extensive Bible collection and reference material in one exhibit and resource room.

Included in the exhibit is a replica of the Gutenberg and over thirty historic Bibles plus many other printed religious publications and artifacts such as leaves from Luther’s German translation are on display.

The museum also has one leaf from every Bible printed in Colonial America, including the first Bible printed in America, the Eliot Bible of 1663 in the Algonquin Indian language, and giant Folio-sized Bibles and pocket-sized Bibles on display.

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Touchstone Closing Welcomes New Partner Mary L. Cataudella

Cataudella has more than 25 years of experience in private practice and also as in-house managing counsel for a national title insurance company, which will truly enhance Touchstone’s service offerings. Cataudella earned her undergraduate degree from Holy Cross and her law degree at Northeastern University School of Law. She is a member of the Mass., N.H. and R.I. bars and the Real Estate Bar Association. Cataudella has been a panelist and author for continuing legal education seminars on real estate matters. She currently resides in Andover with her husband and two college-aged daughters.

Merrimack Valley Planning Commission Appoints Jerrard Whitten as Executive Director

Whitten has been a key contributor to the Merrimack Valley Planning Commission for 26 years. Prior to being named executive director, he served as geographic information system and information technology manager and environmental planner. Whitten is a graduate of the University of New Hampshire with a Master of Science in resource administration and management and a Bachelor of Science in resource economics. Whitten resides in Newbury.

COVID-19 Update: Baker-Polito Administration to Lift Restrictions

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On Monday, May 17, the Baker-Polito administration announced that the commonwealth is on track to meet the goal of vaccinating 4.1 million residents by the first week of June and all remaining COVID-19 restrictions will be lifted effective May 29.

The commonwealth’s face covering order will also be rescinded on May 29. The Department of Public Health will issue a new face covering advisory consistent with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s updated guidance. Face coverings will still be mandatory for all individuals on public and private transportation systems (including rideshares, livery, taxi, ferries, MBTA, Commuter Rail and transportation stations), in health care facilities and in other settings hosting vulnerable populations, such as congregate care settings and health and rehabilitative day services.

Massachusetts is on track to meet the goal set in December to fully vaccinate over 4 million individuals by the first week of June. The commonwealth leads the nation in vaccinating residents, with 75% of adults receiving at least one dose. To date, over 4 million residents have received a first dose, with 3.2 million fully vaccinated.

New cases have dropped by 89% since January 8. COVID hospitalizations are down 88% since January 1 and the positive test rate is down by 88% from peaking at 8.7% on January 1 to 1% today.

Effective May 29, all industries will be permitted to open. With the exception of remaining face-covering requirements for public and private transportation systems and facilities housing vulnerable populations, all industry restrictions will be lifted, and capacity will increase to 100% for all industries. The gathering limit will be rescinded.

In line with updated CDC face covering guidance, the administration will rescind the current face covering order and issue a new face covering advisory effective May 29.

Non-vaccinated individuals are advised to continue wearing face masks and to continue distancing in most settings. The advisory will also recommend fully vaccinated individuals no longer need to wear a face covering or social distance indoors or outdoors except for in certain situations.

Face coverings will also remain required indoors for staff and students of K-12 schools and early education providers. Visit here for more details on mask requirements.

Effective May 18, the youth and amateur sports guidance will be updated to no longer require face coverings for youth athletes 18-and-under while playing outdoor sports. Effective May 29, all youth and amateur sports restrictions will be lifted. Visit here for details.

Effective May 18, guidance from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and the Department of Early Education and Care will be updated to no longer require masks for outdoor activities like recess and to allow for the sharing of objects in classrooms, in both K-12 and childcare settings. This guidance will remain in effect beyond May 29.

Gov. Baker will end the State of Emergency​ June 15, and the administration will work with legislative and municipal partners during this period in order to manage an orderly transition from emergency measures adopted by executive order and special legislation during the period of the State of Emergency.

NoteWorthy – 5/9/21

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AROUND THE VALLEY

MCC Board of Trustees Selects the College’s Fifth President

 The Middlesex Community College (MCC) board of trustees voted unanimously to select Philip Sisson, MCC’s current provost and vice president of academic nad student affairs, as the next president of MCC. The MCC Board will bring their vote to the board of higher education and commissioner of higher education Carlos Santiago to approve the selection at a meeting to be held later this month.

Sisson has over 30 years of college leadership experience in the areas of campus administration, strategic planning, academic and student affairs programming, fiscal management, resource development and business, community and K-16 partnerships.

“Phil is a trusted campus leader within the college community and has a strong state and national reputation for developing innovative programs to support assessment and pathways for student success,” said Dr. James C. Mabry, MCC President. “He knows the college inside and out and is respected by the faculty and staff he leads. His work advancing the equity agenda has been ground breaking and will continue to help the college better connect with its diverse student body.”

Sisson served for six years as the director of student support services and evening administrator in the division of continuing education at Bristol Community College, where he served for six years. After serving there for a year in an interim promotion as the assistant dean of continuing education and community services, he accepted a position as the assistant dean of academic affairs and chief academic officer at the Edward J. Liston Campus at the Community College of Rhode Island, the largest community college in New England.

Sisson was promoted twice to the positions of Dean of Workforce Education & Lifelong Learning and the Dean of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences. Sisson moved next to the Cape where he served as the Dean of Language & Literature, Mathematics, Natural Sciences & Life Fitness at Cape Cod Community College. Within a year he was selected as the Vice President for Academic & Student Affairs for three years.

For the past 11 years, Sisson has been serving in his current position at MCC. In this role, he has established and maintained a number of noteworthy and innovative academic, student affairs and enrollment initiatives.

 

 

Baker-Polito Administration Announces Reopening of Additional Phase 4 Industries to Go Into Effect May 10

The Baker-Polito Administration announced that Massachusetts will move forward in the commonwealth’s reopening plan to reopen certain outdoor Phase 4 industries effective Monday, May 10.

On March 22, Massachusetts loosened restrictions and advanced to Phase IV of the Commonwealth’s reopening plan. Since then, daily new COVID-19 cases have dropped by 45%, hospitalizations have dropped by 23%, and deaths have dropped by 69%. All these metrics have dropped by around 80% or more since the beginning of the year. The commonwealth also remains a national leader in COVID-19 vaccinations, and over 3.9 million people are fully or partially vaccinated, and Massachusetts is on track to meet its goal of vaccinating over 4 million people by the beginning of June.

Effective Monday, May 10:

  • Amusement parks, theme parks and outdoor water parks will be permitted to operate at a 50% capacity after submitting safety plans to the Department of Public Health.
  • Road races and other large, outdoor organized amateur or professional group athletic events will be permitted to take place with staggered starts and other appropriate safety measures after submitting safety plans to a local board of health or the DPH.

Additionally, large capacity venues such as indoor and outdoor stadiums, arenas and ballparks currently open at 12% capacity as part of Phase 4, Step 1 will be permitted to increase capacity to 25%.

Youth and adult amateur sports tournaments will be allowed for moderate and high-risk sports.

Singing will also be permitted indoors with strict distancing requirements at performance venues, restaurants, event venues and other businesses.

Grocery stores and retail stores with a pharmacy department should consider dedicated hours of operation for seniors, but will no longer be required to offer senior hours.

Additional Changes Anticipated to be Effective Saturday, May 29:

Contingent on continued positive trends in the public health and vaccination data, on May 29, additional sectors will be permitted to reopen and gathering limits will increase to 200 people indoors and 250 people outdoors for event venues, public settings and private settings.

The additional sectors that will be permitted to open include:

  • Parades, street festivals and agricultural festivals, after submitting safety plans to the local board of health including measures for maintaining social distance, staffing and operations plans and hygiene and cleaning protocols.
  • Bars, beer gardens, breweries, wineries and distilleries, which will be subject to restaurant rules with seated service only, a 90-minute limit and no dance floors.

Subject to public health and vaccination data, the restaurant guidance will be updated to eliminate the requirement that food be served with alcohol and to increase the maximum table size to 10.

GLCF Announces Fiscal Sponsorship of 100+ Women Who Care Boston Metrowest

The Greater Lowell Community Foundation (GLCF) announced the recent fiscal sponsorship of 100+ Women Who Care Boston Metrowest, a group of philanthropic women dedicated to amplifying the awareness and support of deserving nonprofits in the region.

With a mission to strengthen communities west of Boston through the power of collective giving, 100+ Women Who Care Boston Metrowest brings together women who care deeply about local causes and are committed to making an impact. The group meets four times a year to donate $100 each to a nonprofit organization serving local needs.

“By supporting 100+ Women Who Care Boston Metrowest, the Greater Lowell Community Foundation embraces their vision of strengthening the local community through collective giving,” said Jay Linnehan, GLCF President & CEO. “We are proud to help these generous women continue to foster positive change.”

Lawrence Partnership Announces Grant To Help Area Food Businesses Meet Digital Demand

The Lawrence Partnership has been awarded a $250,000 grant from the Baker-Polito Administration for a pilot program that will help area food service businesses increase their digital business capacity so that they survive the pandemic and are positioned for long-term success.

The Digital Optimization Program will provide businesses access to free or subsidized digital technology tools, including new or enhanced websites, social media programs, contactless technology, customer management systems (CMS), financial management systems, and online ordering systems. In addition, the businesses will have access to food-based industry workshops and individual consultations with digital experts.

Open to independently-owned food based businesses in Lawrence, Methuen, Haverhill, Andover, North Andover and Boston, the program is a collaboration of the Lawrence Partnership, Groundwork Lawrence, Commonwealth Kitchen, ReThink Restaurants, Essex County Community Foundation, and Merrimack Valley Business Relief Coalition.

 

Baker-Polito Administration Celebrates COVID-19 Business Relief Program, Awards Final Round of Grants

Governor Charlie Baker, Lt. Governor Karyn Polito, Housing and Economic Development Secretary Mike Kennealy, legislators and key partners celebrated the success of the Baker-Polito Administration’s COIVD-19 business relief program administered by the Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation (MGCC). Gathering in person at Panela Restaurant in Lowell, a program grantee, the administration announced the end of the program, which has provided over $687.2 million in direct cash grants to 15,112 businesses across the Commonwealth. Among the awardees included in the final round were 108 additional businesses that received a total of approximately $4.8 million in COVID relief grants.

First launched in October 2020 as part of the Administration’s Partnerships for Recovery initiative to stabilize and grow the Massachusetts economy, this program became the biggest state-sponsored business relief program in the nation after being infused with an additional $668 million in December. Established to provide direct financial support for businesses, the administration has tapped numerous partners to ensure specific economic sectors and priority demographics known to be the most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic applied to the program and were prioritized for aid.

 

Greater Haverhill Chamber Welcomes Haverhill Print Cafe to Merrimack Street

The Greater Haverhill Chamber helped Haverhill Print Cafe celebrate their grand opening with a ribbon-cutting celebration on Monday, May 3.

Located at 126 Merrimack Street, the Haverhill Print Cafe does not offer coffee, but a relaxed well-equipped alternative for all printing needs right in downtown Haverhill. Clients have the option to work with a printing specialist to take their project from concept to production or simply take advantage of the cafe’s Instant Print Kiosk to fax, scan and print with WiFi or thumb drive. Other services include free local delivery, USPS direct mail services and authorized UPS packing process and shipping center.

Fresh Pearl MedSpa Opens in North Andover

Last week, Fresh Pearl MedSpa opened its doors in North Andover, Mass., to offer the community an innovative medspa that makes aesthetics services more accessible. Fresh Pearl MedSpa offers flexible options that enable more people to invest in themselves. With a personal, warm and welcoming approach, Fresh Pearl Medspa also offers three convenient ways to receive treatments: at its medspa location in downtown North Andover, via its concierge services in which Fresh Pearl comes to clients’ homes, or at events or parties.

 

Museum of Printing Acquires Major Vintage Type Collection

The Haverhill-based Museum of Printing has acquired the type collection of T. J. Lyons, who collected Victorian wood and metal type from the 1820s to the 1880s. Lyons amassed over 2,500 unique typefaces for his small print shop in Allston, Mass. Eventually the collection was housed at the Massachusetts College of Art in Boston before its relocation to Haverhill.

“Tom Lyons spent two years in the AEF Airforce during WW1,” said his grandson Steve Lyons, “and he returned from France for a stint in an advertising agency, where he was inspired by a freelance designer, George Trenholm, who used Old Fashioned Ornamented Typography. … When the Great Depression struck, printers began dumping the old ornamented type, and TJ went all in to build his collection.”

This type was then in demand by ad agencies anxious for type that would stand out. Some of his type was made into film and digital fonts by VGC and Compugraphic in the 1960s and 1970s, but it all exists as individual pieces of wood and metal, to be set by hand, one letter at a time.

“This collection cries to be used,” said MoP president Frank Romano, “and the museum will have workshops and student projects that use this type for design and print projects.”

In addition to special collections and small exhibits, the museum contains hundreds of antique printing, typesetting, and bindery machines, as well as a library of books and printing-related documents. It is located at 15 Thornton Avenue and you can find them on the web at MuseumOfPrinting.org.

 

Penacook Place’s New Chapel Opens with a Special Blessing from Auxiliary Bishop of Boston

Penacook Place, a member of Covenant Health’s family of organizations, recently welcomed Most Reverend Robert F. Hennessey, Auxiliary Bishop of Boston and Vicar General Bishop — Merrimack Region to bless its new chapel, a sanctuary that came to fruition during the challenges of a pandemic.

Penacook renovated its ground floor into a chapel — a space that offers residents and their loved ones, staff and the community a place for reflection and religious services. The chapel is adorned with Stations of the Cross that were donated by Teresa Drelick, it can accommodate individuals aided by walkers and wheelchairs and has a folding glass partition to accommodate small and large occasions.

Bishop Hennessey then blessed the chapel as well as extended a blessing on behalf of Cardinal Sean P. O’Malley, OFM Cap., Archbishop of Boston. Bishop Hennessey shared, “We are in the season of Easter — a season of hope. The chapel’s opening conveys a message of dedication, hope and resilience.”

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Project LEARN Welcomes New Board Members

Edward Crockett works as a strategist and consultant with experience within financial services and diversified industrials sectors. Crockett, a Lowell High School alum, obtained an MBA from the University of Texas at Austin. Since 2018, Crockett has worked as a consultant at EY-Parthenon. In his spare time, Crockett’s an avid fan of independent cinema, European soccer, the NBA, bookstores, craft beer, and creating a better future for his hometown of Lowell, Mass. He’s also currently engaged in a multiyear hunt for the world’s best pizza (Current Leader: Roberta’s of Brooklyn), and he counteracts that search with CrossFit, yoga and the occasional half-marathon.

 

Magaly Ronan serves as the assistant principal at the Greenhalge Elementary School in Lowell, where she has worked since 2017. Prior to this role, Ronan worked in various capacities for the district supporting curriculum, instruction, and assessment. Ronan was the first in her family to receive an undergraduate degree. A proud Lowell High alum, Ronan continues to be a lifelong learner through participating in ongoing graduate courses and workshop webinars. She lives with her family in Lowell and loves gardening, do-it-yourself projects like furniture refinishing and upholstering, attending music and art shows, relaxing by the pool or beach and most of all, spending time with her daughter, Corey Jayne.

 

Narin Sinuon works as an IT specialist that supports over 200+ employees within Lexia Learning and also serves on the company’s cultural committee. The Lowell High School alum worked at Lowell Catholic High School as their only full time IT support technician where he helped roll out their Chromebook initiative. During his spare time, Sinuon enjoys spending time with his two daughters and his wife. He enjoys anime, photography, and keeping up with the latest technology. Sinuon was one of the co-founders of Cultural Shock Apparel, having served as their director of marketing for six years. He is also involved with the local Lowell community having served on UTEC’s board as a teen, formerly served as a committee member on the Clemente Park Committee, and a former board member of the Angkor Dance Troupe.

 

Phitsamay Sychitkokhong Uy is associate professor in the college of education’s Leadership in Schooling Program and co-director of the Center for Asian American Studies at UMass Lowell. Uy went on to graduate from Boston College as the first and only Lao-American refugee to receive a Doctor of Education from Harvard University. With 25 years in the K-21 education field, her teaching experiences include being an elementary teacher, a literacy specialist, an Asian American studies instructor and a teacher education professor. Uy has been involved in various community boards of directors including Southeast Asian Resource Action Center. She currently serves on Mass Humanities, Pencils of Promise, and the Nisei Student Relocation Commemorative Fund and is a member of the Merrimack Valley DEI Consortium.

Lawrence Nursing Grad will Represent NECC at Statewide “29 Who Shine” Event

Yashana Rivera of Lawrence will graduate from Northern Essex Community College (NECC) with high honors and an associate degree in Nursing in May. A bi-lingual nursing graduate with a passion for delivering health care in Greater Lawrence, Rivera has been selected to receive the “29 Who Shine” award which honors class of 2021 graduates from each of the state’s community and public colleges and universities for their service. Rivera works part time as a medical assistant providing rapid COVID testing and has also volunteered with the Movement Family, an organization that helps the homeless by delivering meals and COVID care packages. She recently began administering vaccines in Lawrence as a volunteer. After passing her nursing boards, Yashana plans achieve her ultimate goal of becoming a family nurse practitioner serving the Lawrence community. In her free time, Rivera circuit and weight trains, practices yoga, and hikes. She also loves to travel and has been pirana fishing in the Amazon, climbed Macchu Picchu, and dined aboard a floating house in Lake Titicaca.

Lazarus House Ministries Welcomes Five Dynamic Board Members

Deacon Mike Curren is a nonprofit manager and member of the Order of the Diaconate at St. Augustine Parish in Andover.

 

 

 

 

Art Durkin is a real estate agent and consultant at Keller Williams Realty in Andover.

 

 

 

 

Todd Johnson is a senior vice president at USI Insurance, as well as an attorney, who lives in Tewksbury. He is passionate about serving those in need.

 

 

 

 

Olivia Rosa works in resource development and marketing. She favors the quote: “The trees act not as individuals, but as a collective. Exactly how they do this, we don’t yet know. But what we see is the power of unity. What happens to one happens to us all. We can starve together or feast together.” – Robin Wall Kimmerer.

 

 

 

Jesus Suriel is a senior branch service manager at Enterprise Bank in Lawrence and is strong supporter of the fight against poverty and hunger.

 

 

 

 

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