Merrimack Valley Magazine

NoteWorthy – 11/10/19

November 10, 2019 by Jaden Mendola

AROUND THE VALLEY

Greater Lowell Community Foundation Announces New Fund Established in Honor of Veterans and First Responders

The Greater Lowell Community Foundation announced the establishment of the Hidden Battles Endowment Fund. This new field-of-interest fund supports programs to help preserve the healthy minds of military veterans and first responders for treatment and counseling to addresses suicide prevention, depression, PTSD and other mental health issues.

Hidden Battles began as a fiscal sponsorship fund of the Greater Lowell Community Foundation in 2017. The organization was started by Scott Hyder, an Army veteran and retired Westford police officer.

“By teaming with GLCF, we know our money is in the right hands. We started this new field-of-interest fund because we know that the foundation will bring Hidden Battles to a whole new level – a level that can expand on the programs that are keeping our men and women in uniform mentally safer,” said Scott Hyder of Pelham, N.H., founder of Hidden Battles.

Enterprise Bank Once Again Supporting Local Veterans During November

For the third year, Enterprise Bank is recognizing local organizations that provide support and services to military veterans with the Checking with Purpose campaign. Throughout the month of November, Enterprise Bank will recognize six local organizations within the bank’s service area that support veterans. Each branch location is partnered with one of the organizations.

For every new checking account opened with Enterprise Bank from Nov. 1 to 30, the bank will donate $10 to a designated local veteran’s organization in the Checking with Purpose campaign, which this year includes Cunningham Veteran’s Home, Lowell; iPods for Wounded Veterans, Wilmington; Clear Path for Veterans, Devens; Veterans Northeast Outreach Center, Haverhill; Homeland Heroes Foundation, Salem; Harbor Homes – Veterans First, Nashua.

Wayside Youth & Family Support Network Receives $10,000 Grant from the Greater Lowell Health Alliance

Wayside Youth & Family Support Network’s PrideSide Lowell program received a $10,000 grant from the Greater Lowell Health Alliance (GLHA). The grant will allow PrideSide Lowell to add a group for high school youth who identify as LGBTQ+ that will focus on peer leadership and creating community connections for middle school youth.

“Wayside Lowell is incredibly thankful for the support from the GLHA,” said Beth Chin, regional director, Wayside Central Massachusetts and Lowell. “This grant allows us to empower LGBTQ+ youth in Greater Lowell to thrive, make connections and develop advocacy skills so that they can become active participants in their community.”

Greater Lowell Community Foundation and Community Foundation of North Central Massachusetts Seek Request for Proposals for 2019 Nashoba Valley Healthcare Fund Cycle

The Greater Lowell Community Foundation and the Community Foundation of North Central Massachusetts opened its 2019 Nashoba Valley Healthcare Fund Cycle on Oct. 22. The foundations are seeking requests for proposals from nonprofit organizations supporting the advancement of community health of residents in 13 communities: Ashby, Ayer, Bolton, Dunstable, Groton, Harvard, Lancaster, Littleton, Lunenburg, Pepperell, Shirley, Townsend and Westford.

Grant awards will range from $5,000 up to $20,000; however, larger scale collaborative projects that are more than $20,000 will be considered if the funding request is justified by the impact of the project. The foundations are especially interested in seeing proposals that address systemic issues including but not limited to opiate addiction, food scarcity, obesity, substance abuse, suicide screening and prevention and other specific issues as indicated by community needs.

Link House Inc.’s Links of Hope Event Raises Over $135,000

Almost 400 people gathered at the Blue Ocean Music Hall in Salisbury for Link House Inc.’s Links of Hope Gala this fall to raise funds as part of National Recovery Month. The event, which was attended by Governor Charlie Baker, raised over $135,000. Frank Cousins, Jr., former Essex County sheriff and Newburyport Chamber of Commerce & Industry president/CEO received the Nick Costello Heroes in Recovery Award. Comedian Jimmy Tingle emceed the event and John Broderick, Dartmouth Hitchcock senior director of external affairs was the keynote speaker.

Seaside Legal Solutions Ribbon Cutting

On Oct. 8, Seaside Legal Solutions held a ceremonious ribbon-cutting ceremony for their new Newburyport office located on Pleasant Street. In attendance were State Senator Diana DiZoglio’s office, Newburyport Mayor Donna Holaday, the Greater Newburyport Chamber of Commerce & Industry staff, attorney Joel Favazza, his son, and Seaside Legal Solutions staff.

Seaside Legal Solutions provides effective and efficient residential and commercial real estate legal services to the Cape Ann area and Boston’s North Shore. They have been providing legal services out of their other Gloucester office for 10 years, and were the lead sponsor of this year’s Newburyport Fall Harvest Festival.

Lowell Parks & Conservation Trust Renews National Recognition

The Lowell Parks & Conservation Trust (LP&CT) has renewed land trust accreditation from the Land Trust Accreditation Commission, an independent program of the Land Trust Alliance.

“The Lowell Parks & Conservation Trust’s accredited status demonstrates our commitment to permanent land conservation that benefits the entire community,” says Mark Romanowsky, president. “Our land trust is a stronger organization today having gone through the rigorous accreditation program.”

LP&CT is one of only 439 land trusts across the nation that have been accredited.

Greater Salem Chamber of Commerce to Host Southern New Hampshire Water Forum

The Greater Salem Chamber of Commerce will host the 2019 Southern New Hampshire Water Forum, Drinking Water: New Standards and Solutions, from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. on Nov 14, at Brookstone Event Center in Derry.

Attendees of the event will have the opportunity to learn more about water quality issues and developments taking place in the southern tier New Hampshire.

Expanding Beth Israel Lahey Health Primary Care to Seabrook

Beth Israel Lahey Health Primary Care, in partnership with Anna Jaques Hospital, opened a new practice on Nov. 4 in Seabrook to enhance New Hampshire residents’ access to high-quality primary care.

The new 5,000-square-foot medical office space, located at the Route 1 Shopping Center, was chosen to provide a convenient and accessible location for patients and their families.

Primary care physicians Sangita Agarwal and Alexander Asch provide personalized, comprehensive primary care for patients of all ages. Beth Israel Lahey Health Primary Care offers access to specialists and specialty programs through its affiliation with Anna Jaques Hospital in Newburyport.

Merrimack Valley Habitat for Humanity Hosts Volunteer Appreciation Event

On Nov. 1, Merrimack Valley Habitat for Humanity hosted its annual volunteer appreciation dinner. This event recognizes dedicated volunteers, supporters, board members and business leaders who have contributed time towards building affordable housing for local families in need.

Volunteers are the foundation of the organization and, during the 2018/2019 fiscal year, 1,267 dedicated individuals contributed over 33,000 hours towards volunteering. The value of these hours equates to approximately $843,000 in savings, which under normal circumstances would have been paid to construction companies and experts in the building process.

Merrimack Valley Habitat for Humanity staff and members of the board were joined by 100 of the most regular volunteers at the Claddagh Pub in Lawrence for a celebratory night of recognition. Awards were presented to volunteers who have contributed 500 or more hours over the previous year. Awards were also presented for 400, 300, 200 and 100 hours contributed.

D’Youville Hosts 17th Annual Lasting Impressions Dinner to Honor Sisters of Charity of Ottawa

The Sisters of Charity of Ottawa, sponsors of the D’Youville Life & Wellness Community. As D’Youville transitions to new sponsorship, their focus remains on providing seniors with superior, compassionate long- and short-term care solutions and expanding services to meet seniors’ ever-changing and increasing needs.

On Nov. 7, the D’Youville Life & Wellness Community hosted their 17th annual Lasting Impressions dinner. This year, over 300 guests attended the sold-out, emotional event to honor the Sisters of Charity of Ottawa. The dinner was the largest of its kind hosted by D’Youville.

Although D’Youville’s connection with the sisters dates back almost 60 years, the Sisters of Charity of Ottawa have been in Lowell since 1880 when they first arrived to provide education to the children of mill workers. The sisters also founded the St. Jeanne D’Arc School and played an instrumental role in building what is now the Saints Campus of Lowell General Hospital.

The Sisters of Charity of Ottawa established D’Youville in 1960 and ran it for three decades. D’Youville has evolved over the past two decades from being solely a nursing home (and for years an adult day health care center) to a multifaceted “continuum of care” organization. Today, D’Youville is the largest long-term skilled nursing care facility in Lowell and provides special care for Alzheimer’s patients. In addition, they also offer senior housing and both memory care and traditional assisted living.

As the sisters’ numbers decreased, they requested that their board of directors find a suitable successor to be D’Youville’s “sponsor” or formal overseer on behalf of the Catholic Church and who would uphold high standards for quality health care. After more than two years of searching, sponsorship was transferred to the Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm, a group based in upstate New York with very similar values and priorities to the Sisters of Charity of Ottawa. To learn more about the process and what it means for D’Youville, watch this video.

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Boys & Girls Club of Lawrence Welcomes Elizabeth Suh as Assistant Director of Education

The Boys and Girls Club of Lawrence has appointed Elizabeth Suh of Topsfield as assistant director of education. In this role, she provides high school students with the tools and resources required for college, including counseling in financial aid applications, SAT/ACT preparation and college tours.

“Elizabeth’s expertise will help hundreds of youths achieve their academic dreams of becoming the first in their family to attend college,” said Karen Kravchuk, director of education at the Boys & Girls Club of Lawrence. “We’re so fortunate to have her as part of our club family.”

Suh earned a master’s degree in bilingual/multicultural education from Instituto Franklin in Madrid, Spain in 2017. She earned a bachelor’s degree in environmental studies with a minor in studio art photography from Allegheny College.

Dracut Chiropractor Elected President of Massachusetts Chiropractic Society

Dracut chiropractor Gerard Cassista has recently been elected president of the Massachusetts Chiropractic Society, the only statewide, nonprofit membership service organization representing the chiropractic profession in Massachusetts.

Cassista has been an active member of the Massachusetts Chiropractic Society since 1981. During most of that time, he has served as a director on the board in one capacity or another, including continuing education director and chairman of membership. He is also a past president of the Merrimack Valley Chiropractic Society.

Lowell Remodeler Gains Regional Recognition

The Builders and Remodelers Association of Greater Boston awarded Amesbury’s BLB Custom Building with two prestigious PRISM Awards at their 75th annual event. The gala aims to recognize the finest projects and superior achievements of builders, remodelers and other professionals in the home building industry.

BLB Custom Building was awarded a Silver PRISM for their “Farmhouse Kitchen” in the highly competitive Best Kitchen Remodel category. BLB Custom Building’s Director of Marketing Tom O’Brien was also awarded the Gold PRISM for Rising Star of the Year for his accomplishments and performance within the industry.

Wellness Wednesdays – 9/18/19

September 18, 2019 by Jaden Mendola

Perhaps you’ve tried a gym or fitness routine in the past that just felt like a dead end – no guidance, no inspiration and no results. Well, it’s not you, it’s your workout. You can achieve your goals to become a fitter, stronger, better version of yourself.

Imagine a workout designed with one goal in mind: to make sure anyone who tries it feels successful. At Orangetheory Fitness, we deliver on this promise every day.

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It’s a Community, Not a Competition. At Orangetheory, you will find yourself surrounded by an encouraging and supportive group of like-minded individuals with a common goal: to become better versions of themselves.

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WELLNESS AROUND THE WEB

Five Health Tips For People With Busy Lives

There are lots of reasons that people neglect their health and wellbeing, but not having enough time is often at the top of the list. When you have a full-time job, children, a household to maintain and other obligations you’re responsible for, it can consume so much of your time that thinking about eating a nutritious meal or exercising are the last things on your mind. However, ThriveGlobal.com shows that maintaining healthy habits is not impossible with a busy schedule.

Meditate 5 Minutes Every Morning

Busy lifestyles and stress go hand in hand. While some stress gives you the adrenaline boost you need to get things done, too much of it can wear on your emotional and physical wellbeing. To try and keep stress at bay it’s a good idea to meditate before the madness begins. All you need is five minutes, a quiet space, and some instrumental music to do this.

Make Smoothies for Breakfast

No one has time anymore to make a full-course meal for breakfast. There’s simply too much to do. So they fill up on coffee and push through. Allowing your body to run on empty all day, however, is no good for your health. If getting the most important meal of the day is an issue, try simplifying your breakfast options. Smoothies are very healthy and quick to make. You can prep the fruits and veggies on the weekend and pre-bag them so that all you have to do is dump the contents in the blender when you need them.

Extend Your Walks

Getting outdoors and staying active isn’t always easy for someone who’s always preoccupied with other tasks. However, restricting your time outdoors and skipping out on physical activity can cause weight issues, sleep problems, mood disorders, and puts you at risk for certain long-term illnesses. If you don’t have time to hit the gym or follow along with a workout DVD, then perhaps you could just extend your walks. Instead of parking at the front of your office building, park further away and walk. Take the stairs instead of the elevator as well. Or, while you’re at work, take the longer routes to get to equipment or people you may need to see.

Visit Your Doctor Online

Checking in with your doctor at least once a year is ideal to stay healthy. If you have preexisting health conditions that also need proper monitoring and regular treatment, this means seeing the doctor even more. When you’re busy, however, a trip to the doctor tends to go to the bottom of the list of priorities. You can easily change this, however, by using an online doctor. You can schedule virtual visits, ask questions, and get prescriptions filled online to save you time.

Quick Recipes or Meal Delivery

You can’t go all day without refueling on foods your body needs to function properly. However, when you have a busy lifestyle, it can be pretty common to skip a meal or two. If timing is the issue, it is best to look into quick recipe solutions. There are lots of meals that can be made with just a few ingredients in a few minutes. You can also utilize cooking appliances like a crockpot which would allow your meals to cook while you’re on the go. A final option would be to opt for meal delivery services. You can choose from hundreds of recipes and have all the ingredients portioned and prepped to your front door for easier cooking.

You only get one body. If you’re not doing everything you can to take care of it, eventually, you will break down. While other obligations and busy schedules can often get in the way it’s imperative that you find solutions to prioritize your health. The above-suggested ideas help to save you time and money while allowing you to continue to care for your health and wellness on a regular basis.

Is Napping Good Or Bad For Your Health?

According to Heathline.com, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Trusted Source reports that a third of adults in the United States don’t get the recommended 7 hours of sleep a night.

Getting that every night as an adult seems more like a pipe dream than attainable goal. We often suffer for it later, relying on caffeinated beverages to help us power through our day when we’d rather find a quiet spot in the office to doze off for a minute.

From the “I’m just closing my eyes” to crashing long enough that you awake wondering what time and day it is, naps are surprisingly controversial in the medical community.

For starters, the need for a nap could signal larger health problems. Among other things, it can mean you’re not getting adequate sleep during the night. It can also be a symptom of dementia in older adults.

New research published this past week suggests sleep is yet another thing we need with a Goldilocks-like balance, and napping a few times a week to catch up might help stave off cardiovascular-related incidents, such as heart attack.

Dr. Anil Rama is the medical director and founder of Kaiser Permanente’s tertiary sleep medicine laboratory, adjunct clinical faculty at Stanford University’s Center for Sleep Sciences and Medicine in California, and author of the new book “Shut Up and Sleep.”

Rama says that it’s important to look at whether a person’s nighttime sleep is healthy and free of things such as arousals, awakenings, disordered breathing and other issues that prevent a person from getting actual rest, rather than simply being in a bed.

“In my opinion, the question of whether napping is healthy or not in terms of duration or frequency is not relevant,” Rama says. “The relevant question: Is one’s sleep healthy? If so, one would surmise that napping should be healthy.”

He says as long as a person doesn’t have issues with insomnia, there’s nothing wrong with napping. He recommends people nap between 20 to 30 minutes or extend the nap to 90 minutes.

If you’re tired and have the time, a quick nap isn’t the worst thing for you. But you shouldn’t ignore why you’re so tired in the first place.

HEALTH IN THE VALLEY

Healthy Living Expo Comes At Harbor Place Plaza

The Greater Haverhill Chamber of Commerce’s 5th Annual Healthy Living Expo kicks off at 10 a.m. on Saturday, September 21. This year’s expo will be in a new location, Haverhill’s Harbor Place Plaza.

The Healthy Living Expo provides an opportunity for people to meet with health and wellness professionals including traditional practices as well as holistic options that promote relaxation and stress management.

There will be free workouts from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm including Zumba, Yoga and Body Weight Boot Camp (program below).

“Bringing the Healthy Living Expo downtown is by design. Hosting it on the same day as Haverhill’s River Ruckus was accidental, but we love it. This will be an opportunity for folks to enjoy downtown from one end of the downtown to the other– with the farmer’s market, River Ruckus and our event, it will be a great day in Haverhill,” said Dougan Sherwood, President of the Greater Haverhill Chamber of Commerce.