Merrimack Valley Magazine

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Making a Difference for Seniors

Older adults are at the highest risk for severe illness with COVID-19, and they are also among the fastest growing populations in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. By 2030, about 21% of the population in Massachusetts is expected to be 65 and older, according to state Sen. Diana DiZoglio (D-Methuen), and in New Hampshire it’s projected to be about 33%. These numbers make the need for affordable housing, health care, and social services for older people crucial in the coming years, DiZoglio says.

Costs in housing communities for older adults are rising due to the pandemic. Additionally, Massachusetts is one of the most expensive places in the country to retire at $5,600 per month, according to DiZoglio, with New Hampshire not too far behind. Older adults can apply to receive Supplemental Security Income, providing cash for food, clothing and shelter.

The pandemic has brought renewed attention to the needs of seniors for affordable, safe housing. Pictured left is Patricia Pelletier playing Walkie-Talkie Bingo in her apartment at Salem Woods. Pictured right, a resident at The Arbors practices socially distanced crafting. Bottom: Tae and Soon Kim practice tai chi in their Salem Woods apartment during quarantine.

Older people in Massachusetts who are struggling to locate affordable housing during the pandemic can apply for the RFP program. Or those who are members of MassHealth can apply for the Senior Care Options plan, which is a combined effort between Medicare and Medicaid to help older adults access health and social support services. There is also the Moving Forward Plan Community Living Waiver, which offers additional Medicaid benefits to cover room and board. There are multiple programs in New Hampshire that also offer financial support for seniors.

 

Although a growing number of older Americans are choosing to live at home, many require overnight care, and therefore must find affordable and safe housing. “A lot of our older populations are getting priced out of the areas they were born and raised in, and that’s simply unacceptable,” DiZoglio says.

Technological investments have contributed to increased housing costs, but they’ve also enabled facilities to keep residents connected with one another and loved ones during the pandemic.

“I had a resident whose granddaughter got married back in June out West somewhere, so we had a Zoom for her so that she could be on with all of her family members,” says Katrina Regan, the senior reflections and engagement director of The Residence at Salem Woods in Salem, N.H. 

At Salem Woods, staff members check in with residents every day, and even spend one-on-one time with them, whether that is leading an exercise class or organizing their closets, since family members aren’t around. “We are way closer to all of our residents because of this pandemic,” Regan says.

Salem Woods and The Arbors at Dracut, an assisted living community in Massachusetts, have been using walkie-talkies to lead games such as bingo and to keep residents connected.

“Socializing is crucial to good cognitive mental health,” says Ted Doyle, the spokesperson for The Residence at Salem Woods.

L-r: Betty Carbone painting tie-dye shirts over the summer at Salem Woods; John Langtry proudly wears his Salem Woods Strong shirt; Evelyn Cruz’s celebrates her 101st birthday.

According to a Kaiser Family Foundation analysis, 25% of people over 65 said they experienced anxiety or depression in August 2020, more than twice what was reported in 2018.

“There are certainly negative impacts of not having the ability to hug a loved one, to hold a hand of a loved one, and to have that physical presence,” says DiZoglio, who believes older adults must be a priority for receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. 

“When we got our first vaccine on Jan. 12, a lot of the residents were very, very emotional,” says Jonathan Athanas, regional executive director of The Arbors Assisted Living Communities. “It has been a long year for them to do without seeing their loved ones; being skeptical of anybody they interact with — because they know that they’re the most vulnerable.”

Wellness Wednesday – 10/14/20

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HEALTH IN THE VALLEY

State Sen. Diana DiZoglio Advocating for Methuen Youth and Community Center

Last night, State Sen. Diana DiZoglio (D-Methuen) joined a group of Methuen students and met with the Methuen School Committee to advocate for a new Youth and Community Center.

Members of the school committee considered a proposal to utilize the former Pleasant Valley School building on Pleasant Valley Street as a location for a Methuen Youth and Community Center.

“We as community leaders need to step up and support our future generation of leaders’ call to action, not only for the youth who are currently advocating, but for their children and their children’s children,” said DiZoglio of her proposal. “The actions we take now could positively impact countless young people for generations to come.”

DiZoglio is also planning to walk across the Commonwealth to raise money for the Youth Innovation Program. This program is designed to prepare students for life beyond school.

DiZoglio aims to raise $1000 per mile, amounting to $166,000. Along the walk, which begins this Friday, she will be joined by community leaders, residents, students, volunteers and sponsors. She has been assisted in the route planning by Lane Glenn, president of Northern Essex Community College, and William Shuttleworth, an Air Force veteran and Newburyport resident who completed a 109-day walk across the United States in 2019. You can learn more by clicking here or donate here.

Middlesex CC Hosts Health and Biotech Virtual Pathway Open House

Middlesex Community College will host a trio of virtual Pathway Open Houses throughout the fall semester. The first Pathway Open House will take place at 5 p.m. on Thursday, October 29 and cover the Health and Biotechnology programs at Middlesex. Students can learn what MCC and these specific programs offer from the beginning — diving into the specifics of the college, academic majors and all the resources that may be of interest to prospective students.

Over Zoom, attendees will learn about the admissions process, speak with financial aid counselors, meet with MCC faculty members, hear about campus offerings and learn about transfer options. Those who participate will also have the opportunity to explore career paths and learn about career-focused degrees and certificates, career development courses and customized training for businesses.

For more information or to RSVP for MCC’s Pathways Open Houses on Zoom, visit here or email Admissions@Middlesex.Mass.edu.

 

WELLNESS AROUND THE WEB

Why The Hidden World of Fungi is Essential to Life on Earth

They are eating rock, making soil, digesting pollutants, nourishing and killing plants, surviving in space, inducing visions, producing food, making medicines, manipulating animal behavior, and influencing the composition of the Earth’s atmosphere. Despite the vastness of their ecological contributions, fungi have received only a small fraction of the attention they deserve. The best estimate suggests that there are between 2.2m and 3.8m species of fungi on the Earth – as many as 10 times the estimated number of plant species — meaning that, at most, a mere 8% of all fungal species have been described, according to The Guardian.

Many of the most dramatic events on Earth have been a result of fungal activity. In fact, plants only made it out of the water around 500m years ago because of their collaboration with fungi, which served as their root systems for tens of million years. Today, more than 90% of plants depend on symbiotic fungi, which weave themselves between plant cells in an intimate brocade, supply plants with crucial nutrients and defend them from disease.

As of now, most environmental legislation and international assemblies refer to the conservation of flora (plants) and fauna (animals). Adding a third “F”, funga, to the list would write this neglected kingdom of life into conservation and agricultural policy frameworks, and unlock crucial funding for mycological research, surveys and educational programs.

One Dose Of CBD Increases Blood Flow To The Brain

Just a single dose of cannabidiol (CBD), the non-psychoactive compound of cannabis, temporarily increases blood flow to certain regions of the brain. This observation has the potential to explain some of the much-hyped therapeutic effects of CBD for people with PTSD, anxiety and other mental health problems, reports IFLScience.com

Scientists at University College London (UCL) gave 15 healthy young people 600mg of oral CBD or a placebo on different occasions. The researchers then used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans to see how the drugs changed blood oxygen levels in their brains.

Researchers found that a single dose of CBD significantly increased blood flow to the hippocampus, a brain structure that plays a role in emotions, learning, and memory. They also noted increased blood flow to the prefrontal cortex, an area in the orbitofrontal cortex that’s used to process social behavior and decision-making.

“Cannabidiol is one of the main constituents of cannabis and is gaining interest for its therapeutic potential. There is evidence that CBD may help reduce symptoms of psychosis and anxiety. There is some evidence to suggest that CBD may improve memory function,” explained Dr. Michael Bloomfield, lead study author from UCL Psychiatry.

 

NoteWorthy – 10/11/20

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AROUND THE VALLEY

State Sen. Walks to Raise Money for MV Youth

State Sen. Diana DiZoglio (D-Methuen) is planning a mid-October walk across the Commonwealth to raise money for the Youth Innovation Program, which is designed to prepare students for life beyond school.

DiZoglio aims to raise $1000 per mile, amounting to $166,000. Along the walk, she will be joined by community leaders, residents, students, volunteers and sponsors. She will be assisted in the planning by Lane Glenn, president of Northern Essex Community College, and William Shuttleworth, an Air Force veteran and Newburyport resident who completed a 109-day walk across the United States in 2019. You can learn more by clicking here or donate here.

 

Palace Theatres Celebrate Re-Opening with Complementary Tickets to The British Rock Experience

The Palace Theatre is welcoming the community into their venues once again with great caution and care. To celebrate re-opening, The theatre is offering complimentary tickets for the next show in their Citizens Bank 2020-2021 Performing Arts Series, The British Rock Experience.

“Come Together” to enjoy a night of dazzling musical entertainment. The British Rock Experience, a Carl Rajotte original production, promises a night of song and dance that will have you on the edge of your seat! This performance features the greatest hits by musicians from across the pond. Enjoy the music of The Beatles, David Bowie, The Kinks, The Police, Elton John, Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones, Adele and more!

The British Rock Experience is playing at the Palace Theatre from Oct. 23 through Nov. 14. To reserve your free tickets, simply visit the Palace Theatre website, or call the box office at (603) 668-5588.

 

GLFHC Awarded 10-year Cummings Grant

Greater Lawrence Family Health Center (GLFHC) is one of 30 local nonprofits to share in $10 million in funding from Cummings Foundation. The organization will receive $500,000 over 10 years.

The $500,000 will support the expansion of services for GLFHC’s Mobile Health Unit (MHU), which provides health care to the homeless throughout the Merrimack Valley. The MHU serves more than 1,000 patients a year, and the Cummings Foundation grant will enable the MHU to make more frequent visits to places along its route and add new locations. Services provided include primary and other specialized care, substance addiction treatment, and behavioral health counseling.

This long-term funding is part of the Cummings $20 Million Grant Program, which supports Massachusetts nonprofits that are based in and primarily serve Middlesex, Essex and Suffolk counties.

The complete list of Cummings Foundation grant winners is publicly available here.

 

The Reinvent Cogswell Campaign Enters Final Phase

The Reinvent Cogswell campaign is entering the final phase of the capital drive to fund the opening of the Cogswell ArtSpace. To date, $2.035 million of the $2.8 million budget has been raised with the support of the community, various foundations and the Mass Cultural Council.

A fundraising committee of community volunteers has been assembled to ensure that the goal is met by the end of next year. Construction is expected to begin by early summer of 2021, and after numerous initiatives are launched throughout the next year, the Reinvent Cogswell campaign will be closed out by the end of 2021. The opening of the Cogswell ArtSpace is planned for the fall/winter of 2021.

The first fundraiser to launch this final phase is called Donate for Desks. The Cogswell building is full of antique children’s desks and chairs that used to fill the grade school. To learn more, or to secure your desk, visit here.

 

Women Working Wonders Fund (WWWF) Presents Power of the Purse Plus Online Auction

The Women Working Wonders (WWW) Fund, a permanently endowed fund of the Greater Lowell Community Foundation, are hosting their annual Power of the Purse Plus fundraising event as an Online Auction and Raffle from Oct. 10 to 16, 2020.

This year’s Power of the Purse Plus features exclusive Tory Burch and Louis Vuitton Raffles. Tory Burch raffle tickets are $20 each, with 500 available total.  Louis Vuitton raffle tickets are $50, there are 250 available. Additionally, there will be over 50 auction items available. Raffle tickets may be purchased here.

Proceeds from the Power of the Purse Plus event support local programs that empower women and girls to effect positive change in the community. Women Working Wonders provides annual grants in three key areas: assisting women in transition, providing leadership development, and contributing to the beautification of the environment.

 

NECC’s Licensed Practical Nursing Program is One of the Top in the State

Northern Essex Community College’s Licensed Practical Nursing Program has been ranked one of the top LPN programs in Massachusetts by Practical Nursing, a national nursing advocacy organization.

The rankings were based on graduate passing rates on the NCLEX-PN (National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses) exam, which is used by state boards of nursing nationwide for testing proficiency and granting licensure.  Sixteen programs in Massachusetts were ranked, and Northern Essex received an overall score of 97.62 out of 100, missing first place to Mass Bay Community College by just .22 points.

LPN’s are in high demand in Massachusetts, due in part to the nationwide nursing shortage. According to the Practical Nursing website, LPN’s earn an average hourly wage of $28.36 or an annual salary of approximately $58,990.

 

UMass Lowell Enrolls Largest Student Body Ever

Despite the pandemic’s effect on higher education nationwide, UMass Lowell enrolled its largest student body ever this fall, nearly 18,400 students.

This semester, 11,389 undergraduates, 4,572 graduate students and 2,433 continuing education students are enrolled at UMass Lowell, for a total of 18,394, up from 18,338 last fall. Among them are nearly 3,000 new first-year and transfer students. Together, the student body represents all 50 states and more than 120 countries.

Because of the pandemic, the majority of students are attending courses virtually. A small percentage of students who are participating in labs and other specific in-person learning needed to advance toward their degrees are attending some courses on campus. Approximately 700 students are living in university housing.

 

Lori Trahan Applauds $400k in Grant Funding to Greater Lawrence Community Action Council, Inc.

This week, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03) applauded the awarding of $400,000 in federal grant funding from the Administration for Children and Families’ Office of Community Services to The Greater Lawrence Community Action Council, Inc.

“Now more than ever, child care is essential as we work to get our economy back. This critical federal investment will help bring a new child care center to Lawrence, a community full of essential and frontline workers who have consistently gone above and beyond the call of duty during this public health crisis. This kind of investment is needed in communities across the Commonwealth and our nation, and it’s for that reason that I cast my vote for the Child Care is Essential Act months ago. The Senate should do the same,” said Congresswoman Trahan.

“We are overjoyed to have been awarded these funds which will go a long way to allow us to realize our dream of creating a new child care center on Andover Street in Lawrence for the children we serve. I can’t thank our Congresswoman Lori Trahan enough for supporting GLCAC in obtaining this grant,” said Evelyn Friedman, Executive Director and CEO of the Greater Lawrence Community Action Council.

The mission of the Greater Lawrence Community Action Council is to fight poverty in and around Lawrence. In addition to providing child care for low income families, their programs focus on education, social services, health, housing, and youth employment. Each year, the facility serves 29,000 individuals with the goal that people will take advantage of opportunities to achieve self-sufficiency and lift themselves out of poverty.

 

Volunteers From Across Lawrence Clean Neighborhoods to Take Part in Annual Event

Over the weekend, Groundwork Lawrence’s Spicket River Cleanup went virtual. Residents from across the city pitched in to clean the streets, sidewalk and greenspaces around their neighborhood. The cleanup, in its 19th year, would typically have taken place along the Spicket River Greenway. With an eye to maintaining social distance, Groundwork Lawrence advised groups to wear masks and socially distance while cleaning public areas nearest to their homes, with the City of Lawrence joining in to pick-up all the trash collected.

This year’s cleanup was made possible by GWL’s partners at 99 Degrees, Lawrence General Hospital, and the City of Lawrence. Celebrating the effort, participants in the cleanup took to social media to post pictures of their efforts, uniting the volunteers across this virtual space. Scanning through these posts online, it is clear the event had a large impact across the city and beyond. The array of pictures demonstrates the volunteers’ commitment to keeping their neighborhoods clean, a tradition that presses on despite a year that has been anything but traditional.

 

Fresh Beets Hosts Free Outdoor Concert and Picnic in Lowell

Fresh Beets will be hosting a free outdoor concert and picnic on Sunday. Located at Kerouac Park, this show features indie pop-rock group Slow Loris, acoustic duo Dyer Holiday and funk fusion band Off Broadway.

Claim your spot at 1:30 p.m. Click here for more info.

 

The Town and The City Festival Moves Online for 2020

The Town and The City Festival will be presenting a special online program for 2020, bringing more than a dozen acts together for the third year of the festival. The eclectic lineup will feature many past festival participants as well as new artists performing Americana, Folk, Rock, Blues, Poetry and Indie music. The program will be broadcast via ONCE Somerville’s “ONCE Virtual Venue” platform and will be streamed on both ONCE Virtual Venue’s and The Town and the City’s facebook pages as well as the ONCE Virtual Venue YouTube channel.

The Town and the City Festival will stream online Saturday, October 24 at 8pm EST on the festival’s Facebook page, the festival’s website and the ONCE Virtual Venue YouTube channel. A special Zoom link may also be used to view the program via OnceSomerville.com. There is no cost to view the stream, but donations are encouraged.

NoteWorthy – 11/17/19

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AROUND THE VALLEY

North of Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau Celebrates Tourism Awards

The North of Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau held its 2019 Annual Meeting, Tourism Awards and Mini-Grant Ceremony on Nov. 7 at the Blue Ocean Event Center.

Among the 2019 North of Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau Tourism Award winners were Karen and Glenn Cook of Amesbury’s Cider Hill Farm and Mass. Sen. Diana DiZoglio. The communities of Lawrence, Andover and North Andover were given special recognition for their collective leadership, compassion and perseverance during the Merrimack Valley natural gas disaster of 2018.

Lowell Community Health Center, UMass Lowell and D’Youville Life & Wellness Community Among  Massachusetts 2019 Top 100 Women-Led Businesses

Lowell Community Health Center (Lowell CHC) CEO Susan West Levine, UMass Lowell Chancellor Jaqueline Moloney and President of D’Youville Life and Wellness Company Naomi Prendergast were honored on Nov. 8 by the Commonwealth Institute (TCI) and the Globe Magazine for leading one of the Commonwealth’s most noteworthy women-led businesses. This is the first time that Lowell CHC has been included on this list.

Spanning all sectors, the 2019 list includes leaders of health care companies, retail giants, construction companies, financial institutions and nonprofit groups.

The Commonwealth Institute, a nonprofit that supports female business leaders, examined revenue or operating budget as well as other variables, including number of full-time employees in the state, workplace and management diversity and innovative projects. TCI then ranked organizations according to its own formula. This is the 19th year that TCI has created the list and the seventh year that the Globe Magazine has partnered with the group.

For the complete list of honorees, click here.

Enterprise Bank Named Best Place To Work Among Large-Sized Companies

Enterprise Bank has been named the number one place to work among large-sized companies in the employee-based “Top Places to Work” survey from The Boston Globe. Enterprise Bank has been recognized as a top employer since 2012.

In a joint statement, Chairman George L. Duncan, President Richard W. Main and CEO Jack Clancy said “We are deeply honored and humbled that the opinions of our team members have earned us recognition as the Top Place to Work. There is nothing more important to us than our Enterprise Family, who have made Enterprise what it is today. Our team and work environment is our greatest asset and is what sets us apart from other companies. We are truly a family — united by our core values of integrity, community, excellence, teamwork and professionalism.”

Chelmsford Center for the Arts Hosts 10th Anniversary Gala Celebration

Dan Rodriguez and soprano Sarah Ryman perform at the CCA’s Gala. Photo by Bob Stegmaier of Silver Fox Studios.

On Friday, Nov. 8, 2019, the Chelmsford Center for the Arts (CCA) hosted its 10th Anniversary Gala Celebration. The Gala was attended by nearly 100 members of the community, including donors, artists and the CCA leadership and advisory board.

Performers included pianists Diana Tetzlaff, Nathan An, Zoe Liu, Dan Rodriguez and Frank Wilkins; flutist Sarah Buliszak; vocalists Sarah Wyman and Joan Watson-Jones; and rock band True North. Anna Kehoe, a Chelmsford High School student, charmed the audience with the story of how she raised $2,500 for the CCA.

Susan Gates, the CCA’s executive director, said, “While there is still much to accomplish, we celebrate all we have done over the past decade to make the Chelmsford Center for the Arts the only public visual and performing arts center serving Chelmsford and the Merrimack Valley. The Gala showcased the impact we have on young artists and the caliber of professional musicians we present at the CCA.”

UMass Lowell Honors Local Oprah Winfrey Scholars

Photo by Tory Wesnofske for UMass Lowell

Sixty UMass Lowell students who are this year’s Oprah Winfrey Scholars were recognized at an event at University Crossing on Friday, Nov. 15, the one-year anniversary of Winfrey’s appearance at UMass Lowell’s Chancellor’s Speaker Series. A total of $300,000 in scholarships was awarded to the scholars, who hail from cities and towns across New England as well as Washington, D.C. The funds raised will allow UMass Lowell to continue to award Oprah Winfrey scholarships for years to come.

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Sound Recording Pioneer Named UMass Lowell Distinguished University Professor

Music Prof. William Moylan, architect of UMass Lowell’s nationally acclaimed Sound Recording Technology program, has been named the 2019 Distinguished University Professor. The highest accolade bestowed on a UMass Lowell faculty member, the award honors educators for exemplary teaching, research and service to the university. 

Moylan, an authority on audio engineering and music theory, founded UMass Lowell’s Sound Recording Technology (SRT) program in the 1980s. A signature course of study at the university and one of only a few of its kind in the United States, the program is a renowned training ground for professionals in all fields involving capturing sound. The program has produced numerous Grammy and Emmy winners, and UMass Lowell graduates working in the industry are making essential contributions to music, radio, TV, film, video and live-event production.

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