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Merrimack Valley Magazine

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2018 MVMA Winners – Milestone

September 1, 2018 by Doug Sparks Leave a Comment

Thousands of ballots have been cast, the results tabulated, and now we present the winners of the 2018 Merrimack Valley Magazine Awards. This spring, the top picks in all categories were chosen by our readers via our online voting platform. Thank you to everyone who took the time to vote and congratulations to all the winners!

Milestone Award – 5 Years
Red Antler Apothecary
Red Antler Apothecary is located in Lowell’s Mill No. 5, a repurposed factory on Jackson Street. The apothecary sells soaps, moisturizers, cleansers and even mustache wax. Their ethically created, home crafted products include a pine tar soap recipe that is over 100 years old. Environmentally conscious clients can bring their own containers — Red Antler’s cream, lotions and cleaners are sold by the ounce.
Mill No. 5
250 Jackson St.
Lowell, Mass.
RedAntlerApothecary.com

Milestone Award – 10 years
Brew’d Awakening Coffeehaus
With free WiFi, compostable cups, outdoor seating and custom-roasted beans, what more could you ask for in a local coffee shop? Find all this and more at Brew’d Awakening. Offering Equal Exchange fair trade coffees and three in-house roasts, Brew’d Awakening is a great place to do some work, chat with friends or just sit and sip.
61 Market St.
Lowell, Mass.
BrewdAwakening.com 

Milestone Award – 20 years
Cobblestones of Lowell
Cobblestones has brought creative American dining to downtown Lowell since 1994. While their dinner and lunch menus feature an unrivaled selection of craft brews and oysters, don’t overlook their legendary Sunday brunch offerings. A fried chicken and bacon waffle with maple honey butter? Cookie butter-stuffed French toast? Zucchini and goat cheese strata? What are you waiting for?
91 Dutton St.
Lowell, Mass.
CobblestonesOfLowell.com

Milestone Award – 30 years
Latitude Sports Clubs
Get that tip-top beach body you’ve always wanted at Latitude Sports Clubs. Bulk up with their rows of state-of-the-art weight machines and equipment. Trim down in the spinning studio or cardio theater. Get yourself on track with the help of Latitude’s trained fitness professionals or one of their famous classes.
Andover, Bradford, Methuen, Peabody, and Salisbury, Mass.
LatitudeSportsClubs.com

Milestone Award – 40 Years
Heritage Farm
As famous for its summertime Monday night classic car shows as its ice cream, Heritage lives up to its name, having fed and entertained families in the valley for over 35 years. Order your ice cream and cross the street for a walk along the Merrimack. It’s a Lowell tradition that will likely endure for years to come.
163 Pawtucket Blvd.
Lowell, Mass.
HeritageFarmIceCream.com

Milestone Award – 50 years
Jackson Kitchen Designs
In the market for a new countertop? How about freshening up the cabinetry? Ready to throw in the towel on your entire kitchen? Family-owned and operated since 1946, Jackson Kitchen Designs can help you love your kitchen again. Work with their designers to create a perfect space for your style and needs.
1093 Osgood St.
North Andover, Mass.
JacksonKitchenDesigns.com

Milestone Award – 75 years
Rocco’s Restaurant
In 1940, Rocco DePasquale opened the doors of Rocco’s Restaurant where he and his family served spaghetti and meatballs and baked their pizzas in a coal-fire hearth. In the early ‘60s, Rocco V. DePasquale took over and added a “groceria” from which he sold cold cuts and rotisserie chicken. In 1997, Rocco turned the restaurant over to his sons. Rocco Jr. and Matt updated the restaurant, exposing the original stonework their grandfather built. They added new dishes to the menu such as buffalo chicken, rattlesnake pasta and chicken Florentine while keeping all the traditional favorites: eggplant Parmigiana, chicken Marsala and pizza.
193 Main St.
Wilmington, Mass.
RoccosMA.com

Milestone Award – 100 years
UMass Lowell
The university began as the Lowell Normal School, a teaching college founded in 1894, and the Lowell Textile School, founded in 1895 to train technicians and managers for the textile industry. Lowell State and Lowell Tech, as they were then known, merged in 1975 to form the University of Lowell. The campus became part of the University of Massachusetts system in 1991. The university offers more than 17,000 students bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in six colleges and is among the top 160 research universities in the U.S. according to U.S. News & World Report.
Lowell, Mass.
UML.edu

 

 

 

The 2018 MVMAs are sponsored by: Pentucket Bank

Filed Under: MVMA Tagged With: 2018, Brew’d Awakening Coffeehaus, Cobblestones of Lowell, Heritage Farm, Jackson Kitchen Designs, Latitude Sports Clubs, MVMA, MVMA Reader's Choice Winner, MVMAs, Red Antler Apothecary, Rocco's Restaurant, UMass Lowell, Winners

2017 MVMA Winners – Health and Beauty

July 31, 2017 by Doug Sparks Leave a Comment

Thousands of ballots have been cast, the results tabulated, and now we present the winners of the 2017 Merrimack Valley Magazine Awards. This spring, the top picks in all categories were chosen by our readers via our online voting platform. Thank you to everyone who took the time to vote and congratulations to all the winners!

Hair
Robert Jason Salon
Want to flaunt your flowing locks? Looking for a Pinterest-worthy updo? Let the masters at Robert Jason Salon tame your mane for your big day or any day. One trip to this spalike oasis will have your hair in tip-top shape. Robert Jason offers a full range of services and specialties to meet all of your hair needs, including high-quality products.
92 Main St.
Andover, Mass.
RobertJasonSalon.com

Health & Fitness
Latitude Sports Clubs
Get that tip-top beach body you’ve always wanted at Latitude Sports Clubs. Bulk up with their rows of state-of-the-art weight machines and equipment. Trim down in the spinning studio or cardio theatre. No idea what to do at the gym? Get yourself on track with the help of Latitude’s trained fitness professionals or one of their famous classes.
Bradford, Methuen, Peabody, and Salisbury, Mass.
LatitudeSportsClubs.com

Laser Therapy 
All Care Laser Center
All Care Laser Center is the Merrimack Valley’s go-to for all things laser technology. Head-to-toe laser hair removal is available for all skin types, and their professional, qualified staff will make sure your experience is pleasant and comfortable. Specialty services include tattoo removal, cellulite reduction, leg vein removal, Coolsculpting and more.
820A Turnpike St.
North Andover, Mass.
AllCareLaserCenter.com

Specialty Health Care
Advanced Allergy Center
Advanced Allergy Center offers three state-of-the-art technologies designed to eliminate or reduce the symptoms associated with allergies. Their methods are noninvasive and holistic, and patients have reported improvement in conditions ranging from eczema to plantar’s warts to seasonal allergies.
202 Main St., Suite G2
Salem, N.H.
AdvancedAllergyTreatment.com

Skincare
Andrea’s Skin Care
Skin feeling tired? Bring its natural beauty back to life at Andrea’s. Their skin experts offer facials, microdermabrasion and eyelash and eyebrow tinting. If you’re getting ready for a night out, stop in for a wax or have a professional makeup artist create a stunning look with Andrea’s own line of mineral makeup.
78 Main St.
Andover, Mass.
AndreasSkinCare.com

Oral Health
Dr. Joseph A. Cardarelli Jr., D.M.D.. P.C. 
Dr. Cardarelli delivers a full range of advanced orthodontics, from traditional braces to Invisalign Teen. Dr. Cardarelli’s practice features an in-house orthodontic lab and has been serving the Merrimack Valley for over 35 years. He is an Assistant Clinical Professor in the Department of Orthodontics at Tufts University.
234 Summer St.
Haverhill, Mass.
DrCardarelli.com

 

Stop by next week for the winners in the ‘Retail Therapy’ category.

The 2017 MVMAs are sponsored by: Pentucket Bank

Filed Under: Health & Wellness, MVMA Tagged With: Advanced Allergy Center, All Care Laser Center, Andrea’s Skin Care, D.M.D.. P.C., Dr. Joseph A. Cardarelli Jr., Latitude Sports Clubs, Merrimack Valley Magazine Awards, MVMA, Robert Jason Salon

NoteWorthy – 5/14/17

May 14, 2017 by Joseph Girard-Meli Leave a Comment

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

Don’t forget to subscribe to be reminded when the news goes up each week!

AROUND THE VALLEY

James Mabry, president of Middlesex Community College, Ellen Kennedy, president of Berkshire Community College, Lane Glenn, president of Northern Essex Community College, and Nolan Atkins, interim president of Lyndon State College in Vermont, all ran in the NECC Campus Classic 5K on May 6.

Presidents Place in NECC Campus Classic

There was friendly college rivalry at the Fifth Annual Northern Essex Community College Campus Classic 5K and Fun Run, held on Saturday, May 6 on the college’s Haverhill Campus. Lane Glenn, president of Northern Essex, won third place in his age group; Nolan Atkins, interim president of Lyndon State College in Vermont, took home second place in his age group; and James Mabry, president of Middlesex Community College was second in his age group.

All presidents brought teams from their colleges to the race and they were joined by Ellen Kennedy, president of Berkshire Community College, who drove a van of Berkshire falcons all the way from western Massachusetts.
The official teams weren’t the only ones sporting college apparel. Many of the individual runners showed their college pride by wearing running shirts and sweatshirts branded with the name of their alma mater.

Close to 300 runners, representing a wide variety of organizations and communities, registered for this year’s race.
Finishing first overall was Austin Thiele of Andover, with a time of 17:39, followed closely by Samuel Flint of Methuen, 17:44, and NECC student Ruben Santa-Waldron of Haverhill, 17:45.

***


Lawrence Student Wins 2017 Congressional Art Competition

Congresswoman Niki Tsongas congratulated Heidee Rios of Lawrence, winner of the 2017 Congressional Art Competition for the Third District of Massachusetts. A student at Abbott Lawrence Academy, Rios will have her artwork, “Trapped Introvert,” displayed at the U.S. Capitol building for one year, receive two complimentary airplane tickets to Washington, D.C. to participate in the national ceremony, and will receive an artistic scholarship.

***


Stephen & Joan Clark with Karen Gomes and John Albert.

Home Health Foundation Recognizes Community Leaders at Benefit Event

On Thursday, May 11, more than 250 guests gathered in support of the agencies of Home Health Foundation, and to honor several leaders in the community at the 6th annual Legacy of Leading recognition dinner. Honored were Stephen and Joan Clark, community philanthropists, and Dianne Anderson, president and CEO of Lawrence General Hospital.

The Clarks were recognized for their commitment to quality healthcare and their on-going support of Merrimack Valley Hospice, while Anderson was acknowledged for transforming Lawrence General Hospital from a local community hospital to a regional medical center.

During the event it was also announced that that Merrimack Valley Hospice received a gift from the Clarks to name Merrimack Valley Hospice House. Going forward, the new name will be High Pointe House, a hospice and palliative care residence of Merrimack Valley Hospice. High Pointe is the name of the foundation established by the Clarks in honor of their son Stephen, who passed away in 2009.

***


The Professional Center for Child Development Holds Annual Swing into Spring Fundraiser

The Professional Center for Child Development recently held their Annual Swing into Spring Fundraiser. Hundreds of community members came to the Andover Country Club for a spirited brunch, silent auction and a “Couture for a Cause” fashion show. Kendra Petrone, from MAGIC 106.7,  served as the event’s master of ceremonies.

During the fundraiser, two awards were given to locals dedicated to improving the lives of children in the community. George Navin, director and co-founder of Pass it On, Inc., received the 2o17 Children First Award, while Leonard and Delphine Zohn, co-founders of Autism Eats, received the 2017 Community Service Award.

For over 43 years, The Professional Center has improved the lives and educational gains of thousands of children in the greater Merrimack Valley with developmental delays, disabilities and/or complex medical conditions.

***


Merrimack Valley Magazine’s Managing Editor Doug Sparks reading to children at The Professional Center for Child Development in Andover, Mass. The event was part of their community guest reader series and, for the occasion, Sparks read from “My Busy Green Garden.” The book features work by Salisbury-based illustrator Carol Schwartz. Photo by Elizabeth MacLean.

***


Nashoba Valley Community Healthcare Fund Awards Grants

The Greater Lowell Community Foundation and the Community Foundation of North Central Massachusetts awarded 14 grants, from the Nashoba Valley Community Healthcare Fund, to help improve the health of residents in 13 area communities. Recipients of the grants were selected by the Fund Advisory Committee, comprised of local leaders in business, health care and education.

The recipients were as follows: Boys & Girls Club of Lunenburg; Community Healthlink; Cooperative Elder Services, Inc.; LUK, Inc.; Lunenburg Fire Department; MAB Community Services, Inc.; Montachusett Interfaith Hospitality Network, Inc.; Our Father’s House; Pepperell Fire Department; Seven Hills Family Services; The SHINE Initiative; Townsend Congregational Church; Townsend Fire-EMS Department; Virginia Thurston Healing Garden Health; and the Nashoba Valley Community Healthcare Fund.

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Northern Essex Community College President Lane Glenn has been appointed to the STEM Advisory Council by Governor Charlie Baker and Lt. Governor Karyn Polito. The council is a statewide group committed to expanding access to education in science, technology, engineering, and math for students across the Commonwealth. The 29-member council includes leaders from business and industry, education, and government, and is co-chaired by U.S. Representative Joseph Kennedy III and Lt. Governor Polito. Glenn is the only community college representative on the council.

Filed Under: Community Tagged With: Community Teamwork, Essex Art Center, Greater Newburyport Chamber of Commerce, Home Health Foundation, Latitude Sports Clubs, Lowell General Hospital, Mass General Hospital, Merrimack River Feline Rescue Society, Mill City Grows, MSPCA-Angell, Nashoba Valley Community Healthcare Fund, Northeast Independent Living Program, Northern Essex Community College, Professional Center for Child Development, The JD Fund, The Palace Theatre, YWCA of Lawrence

NoteWorthy – 5/7/17

May 7, 2017 by Joseph Girard-Meli Leave a Comment

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

Don’t forget to subscribe to be reminded when the news goes up each week!

AROUND THE VALLEY

NECC Student Honored by Governor at the State House

Northern Essex Community College student Klinbert Garcia, of Methuen, was honored by Governor Charlie Baker at the Massachusetts State House in Boston on Friday, May 5, as an outstanding graduate of the class of 2017.

Each spring, the Department of Higher Education honors one graduate—along with a faculty member of his or her choice—from each of the Commonwealth’s public community colleges, colleges, and universities at a very special “29 Who Shine” event.

Born in the Dominican Republic, and raised first in New York and later Lawrence, where he learned and perfected his English by watching cartoons, Klinbert Garcia is a 2014 graduate of Methuen High School and will receive an associate degree in business transfer with high honors from Northern Essex on May 20.

Garcia is transferring to UMass Boston and majoring in Business Management with a concentration in entrepreneurship, and he recently learned that he is receiving the Foster Furcolo Scholarship, honoring the former governor of Massachusetts.

His plan is to create a company which recycles used clothing from the United States for sale in third world countries, employing distributors in the partner countries to resell the clothes. He will start in the Dominican Republic, his home country, and eventually expand to Puerto Rico and South America and India.

***


Dracut Resident to Address NECC Class of 2017 as Student Speaker

Daniela Chavez-Hernandez, a Northern Essex Community College Early Childhood Education major with a 3.96 grade point average, has been selected as the student speaker for the college’s 55th Annual Commencement Exercises, which will be held on Saturday, May 20 on the Haverhill campus.

Born in Mexico, Chavez-Herandez came to the United States when she was 16 years old, speaking no English. She attended an Arizona high school for two years where she honed her English writing and reading skills. Chavez-Herandez is the mother of a two-year old daughter and she also works full-time as a preschool teacher at the Greater Lawrence Community Action Council’s Child Care Center, which provides services to low-income families.

After graduation, Chavez-Herandez plans to transfer to Salem State University where she will pursue a bachelor’s and master’s in social work. Her goal is to become a social worker and work with underprivileged children, a direction which has been shaped by her work as a preschool teacher.

“I see a need in the community for social workers and I want to continue working with children and families to improve their quality of life through community services and counseling,” she says.

***


Fallon Health Awards Grants to 5 Lowell Nonprofit Organizations

Fallon Health recently awarded grants to five Lowell area nonprofit organizations that improve health and well-being in the Merrimack Valley community. The awardees were Boys & Girls Club of Lowell, Central Food Ministry Pantry, Lowell Community Health Center, Merrimack Valley Food Bank and Open Pantry of Greater Lowell.

“We are proud to stand with our partners in Greater Lowell to address some of the community’s most pressing needs, including one of the most basic foundations of health – accessing nutritious foods,” said Kimberly Salmon, Director of Community Relations at Fallon Health.

***


Jeanne D’Arc Employees Receive Diplomas and Certificates In Financial Training

Jeanne D’Arc Credit Union employees recently attended the Center for Financial Training Graduation and Awards Banquet where they were recognized for their accomplishments in their completed courses and programs. At the ceremony, held at the Radisson Hotel and Suites in Chelmsford, employees received either a diploma or certificate marking their completion of an entire program or awarding them for achieving “First in Class” in their courses.

The recipients were also joined by their managers. In total, 13 employees received diplomas and certificates for classes including Introduction to Lending, Selling Fundamentals, Business Math, Business Communication, Financial Services Management, and more. Some employees also received more than one certificate or diploma for their accomplishments in multiple courses.

Cedardale Health & Fitness’ New Andover Location Now Open

Cedardale Health & Fitness’ Andover location opened on May 1. Located in Haverhill for the past 45 years, Cedardale was forced to close its doors on March 1 due to a massive fire. In an effort to keep its’ close-knit, community-based membership together, Cedardale management are now operating in the former Boston Sports Club on 307 Lowell Street in Andover, owned by local developer Lupoli Companies, while its Haverhill club is rebuilt.

“Cedardale Health & Fitness is a valued, longstanding organization in Haverhill, and we are thrilled to be able to provide its employees with a new workplace following this tragedy,” said Sal Lupoli, president and CEO of Lupoli Companies. “Supporting jobs in our local communities is critical to our mission at Lupoli Companies, and we are excited to welcome them at our facility in Andover.”

Site Work Underway at Tuscan Village in Salem

The first steps were taken this week toward transforming the former Rockingham Park racetrack site into the much-anticipated Tuscan Village residential/retail district with the removal of the historic racetrack’s clubhouse.

Construction workers began dismantling the clubhouse yesterday, marking the start of a transformative project that will include more than two million square feet of residential, retail and office space over 170 sprawling acres, making it one of the largest “live, work, play” communities on the East Coast.

An official groundbreaking ceremony on Tuscan Village is expected in June.

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Sovanna Pouv, executive director of the Cambodian Mutual Assistance Association of Greater Lowell, has been brought on as the newest board member at Jeanne D’Arc Credit Union. Pouv joins the Credit Union’s board of directors with more than 15 years of experience working for organizations geared towards cultural and social improvement within the local community. Prior to his role at the CMAA, Pouv held several positions at the United Teen Equality Center. A long-time Lowell resident, Pouv was born in the Khao-I-Dang refugee camp in Thailand. He moved to Chicago with his family in 1981, where he lived for seven years before moving to Lowell to be closer to family.

Filed Under: Community Tagged With: Budget Buddies, Cedardale Health & Fitness, Community Teamwork, Fallon Health, Greater Newburyport Chamber of Commerce, Jeanne D’Arc Credit Union, Latitude Sports Clubs, Lowell General Hospital, Mass General Hospital, Merrimack River Feline Rescue Society, MSPCA-Angell, Northern Essex Community College, The JD Fund, Tuscan Brands, YWCA of Lawrence

NoteWorthy – 4/30/17

April 30, 2017 by Joseph Girard-Meli Leave a Comment

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

Don’t forget to subscribe to be reminded when the news goes up each week!

AROUND THE VALLEY

UMass Lowell recognized eight outstanding graduates with University Alumni Awards on Thursday, April 20. Shown at the event with Chancellor Jacqueline Moloney, center, are the recipients, clockwise from center: Russell LeClaire, Jerry St. Peters, Norm Bazin, Emmanuel Lamour, James Costos, William Geary, Robert Bushong and Lorna Boucher.

UMass Lowell Honors Outstanding Alumni at Event

Eight distinguished graduates of UMass Lowell were presented with University Alumni Awards at a ceremony on April 20. The honorees were selected from graduates of each of the university’s six schools and colleges, as well as its athletics program.

The 2017 University Alumni Award recipients are:

Norm Bazin ’90, ’94 (College of Education), who is in his sixth season as head coach of the UMass Lowell River Hawks men’s ice hockey team. He has led the team to several firsts: two Hockey East regular-season championships and three tournament championships, as well as an appearance in the NCAA Division I Frozen Four.

Lorna Boucher ’86 (Manning School of Business), a Lowell native who now lives in New York, where she is the chief marketing officer of Instinet, a global financial securities company. As a student, Boucher worked part time at her parents’ diner while earning her degree in marketing and international management.

Robert Bushong ’67 (Athletics), the founder of Bushong Industrials Inc. and a resident of Bluffton, S.C., who traces his love of sports back to his days playing baseball at what was then Lowell Tech., which inspired him to create a scholarship for student-athletes in the name of his former coach, Jim Stone.

James Costos ’85 (College of Fine Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences), who grew up in Lowell and was the first in his family to graduate from college when he received his degree in political science from UMass Lowell. Costos went on to a successful career as an international leader in the entertainment and retail industries, most notably with HBO and Tod’s.

William C. Geary III ’80 (Francis College of Engineering), an Andover resident who is a patent and trademark attorney with Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C., in Boston. Geary grew up in Lowell and originally came to UML to study biology and chemistry, which led him to major in plastics engineering. Geary also served as captain of the swim team and met his wife, Kathleen, a fellow student, while at the university.

Emmanuel Lamour ’05, ’16 (Young Alumnus honoree), a Canton resident who is a program manager with Raytheon overseeing teams around the world. Lamour was hired by Raytheon shortly before he graduated with his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering and has earned his MBA while working there.

Russell LeClaire ’67, ’74 (Kennedy College of Sciences), a Plano, Texas resident who is the retired vice president of development of CA Technologies. LeClaire, who earned bachelor’s and doctoral degrees in physics at UMass Lowell, worked as a staff physicist at a university in Florida before taking a position in computer systems with Texas Instruments that was the start of a 40-year career with the company.

Jerry St. Peter ’89 (College of Health Sciences), the vice president and head of ophthalmic business with Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Inc. and a resident of Plano, Texas. A Lowell native, he majored in health education at UMass Lowell and began his career in pharmaceutical sales, working his way up to executive management and corporate leadership positions in the industry, most recently at Sun Pharmaceuticals.

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Michelle Silveira, senior vice president and chief marketing officer of Jeanne D’Arc Credit Union, presents UMass Lowell junior and men’s soccer player Joe Conti with the first ever Michelle Silveira Heart & Soul Award.

UMass Lowell Institutes Heart & Soul Award In Honor Of Jeanne D’Arc Credit Union’s Michelle Silveira

University of Massachusetts Lowell’s Student-Athlete Advisory Council recently established the Heart & Soul Award in honor of Jeanne D’Arc Credit Union’s Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer Michelle Silveira. The naming of the Michelle Silveira Heart & Soul Award recognizes her commitment to community involvement and passion for volunteerism, while honoring UMass Lowell student athletes who demonstrate the same passion for giving back.

Silveira, a 30-year Jeanne D’Arc Credit Union employee, is a graduate of UMass Lowell with a degree in business management. She sits on several local boards including Jeanne D’Arc Credit Union’s We Share A Common Thread Foundation, the Lowell Festival Foundation, the Power of Flowers Project and the Greater Lowell YMCA. She also participates in several committees including the UMass Lowell Financial Wellness Committee, the UMass Lowell Peer to Peer Advising Subcommittee, the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Lowell Golf Committee and the New England Patriots Alumni Football for YOU Camp Committee.

“I am privileged and honored that the UMass Lowell Student-Athlete Advisory Council has thought highly enough of my history of community service to name the Heart & Soul award after me,” said Silveira. “It is both humbling and satisfying to know that student athletes think as highly of community involvement as we at Jeanne D’Arc Credit Union do,” she added.

At a ceremony on April 25, Silveira presented the first-ever Heart & Soul Award to Joe Conti, a member of the Men’s Soccer Team. Conti is a junior pursuing a degree in business administration. SAAC Vice President Georgia Cowderoy says that although he mostly works behind the scenes and never likes to gloat about his input in the program, Conti is always the first SAAC member to volunteer whenever help is needed with any event or other activity the Council is involved with.

***


Element Care and Lowell CHC Celebrate Khmer New Year

Element Care recently hosted nearly 100 people at its PACE Center in Lowell, for a Khmer New Year celebration. The event was co-sponsored with Lowell Community Health Center.

To kick off the event, Element Care CEO Bob Wakefield addressed the audience, providing a little background on the New Year festivities and offering a welcome to everyone in attendance. Bob was followed by Susan West Levine, CEO of Lowell Community Health Center, with a welcome for the audience on behalf of LCHC.

The highlights of the event were the percussion ensemble and four different dance performances by the Lowell Community Charter Public School.

 

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Boys & Girls Club of Lawrence alumnus Adrian Ayala (top row, left) has been hired as the director of digital arts for the organization.

Boys & Girls Club of Lawrence Appoints Alumnus as Director of Digital Arts

Lawrence resident Adrian Ayala, an alumnus of the Boys & Girls Club of Lawrence, has been appointed as the organization’s new director of digital arts. Ayala, who was a member from ages 6 to 18, said he was “practically born and raised at the club.”

“I went there every single day,” he said. “It was my second home.”

Ayala graduated from Lawrence High School in 2012 and attended Middlesex Community College. He has worked part-time at the Boys & Girls Club of Lawrence since 2012. In his new role, Ayala says he is committed to encouraging youth members to develop skills in the digital arts as a creative outlet for personal and potentially professional development.

The range of digital media includes graphic design, video production, music composition, coding, web design, an anime club, and a new ScratchX group that creates interactive video games. A team of club kids recently began building their own computers, and Ayala plans to introduce movie-making — which he enjoyed most when he was a youth member.

Five at Lowell Community Health Center Advance to New Positions

Karen Myers has been promoted from associate director of development to director of grants and foundation relations. Myers joined the health center in June 2015. Over the past two years, she has submitted numerous grants raising funds for vital health center programs, operating support and the Building Bridges capital campaign. She will continue to identify grant funding and work with program managers to create compelling grant requests. Myers also leads the Research Ethics Committee, spearheading creation of a process to assure that all research projects at the health center align with our mission and benefit our patients and staff. In her new role, she will serve as second in command in the Development & Communications Department.

 

Karen Peugh has been promoted to the role of senior director of clinical systems and support. Peugh has worked at the health center for 15 years and has been responsible for development and expansion of HIV and STI screening, treatment and prevention services. In this new role, she will be responsible for overseeing the quality and process improvement programs. She will also develop systems to support operational efficiencies and quality improvement. Peugh will be responsible for Joint Commission and the PCMH program as well as assisting with the implementation of systems to support the ACO development. She will also be responsible for grant management for clinical services.

 

After working with the National Park Service for the past 22 months, Linda Sou returns to Lowell CHC, where she previously served as director of the Teen BLOCK program. In her new role as senior director of strategy and innovation, Sou will design, direct and manage processes for innovation and strategy development that lead to new growth and innovative opportunities for the organization.

 

 

Daniella DeOliveira has assumed the role of nurse manager for adult medicine. In her new role, DeOliveira will be responsible for directing day to day clinical operations, staff development and clinical education. She will work collaboratively with the charge nurse and clinical lead in establishing evidence based standards of care and clinical quality standards. DeOliveira has worked at the health center for four years and holds a master’s degree in nursing with a concentration in public health nursing.

 

 

Date Kouy has assumed the role of interim information technology manager. Kouy previously held the position of help desk supervisor. He will be assisting the chief information officer in managing day-to-day IT operations and work with the information systems staff to ensure that the electronic health record system is appropriately supported.

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Jennifer Matthews has been appointed as the new executive director and community leader of L’Arche Boston North. L’Arche Boston North provides homes where people with and without intellectual disabilities live and work together as peers, creating inclusive communities of faith and friendship. The agency has been located in Haverhill since 1983 and serves 17 adults with intellectual disabilities. Matthews has served as Program Coordinator for L’Arche Boston North for the past ten years. She is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts and is a candidate for an M.S.W. from Salem State University in 2019. She begins her new position on July 1. Swanna Champlin, the current executive director, will be retiring from her position in June.

 

Andy Neary has joined Captivated Health as national advisor partner manager. He will focus on growing the company’s nationwide footprint by working directly with advisors whose clients can benefit from Captivated Health’s program. Captivated Health is a product of Borislow Insurance, founded in Methuen in 1982. Neary is a national healthcare strategist who has 15 years of experience using innovative strategies that help employers manage the impact of the rising costs of their health care plans. He is a former professional pitcher with the Milwaukee Brewers.

Filed Under: Community Tagged With: Boys & Girls Club of Lawrence, Budget Buddies, Community Teamwork, Element Care, Greater Newburyport Chamber of Commerce, Inc., Jeanne D’Arc Credit Union, L'Arche Boston North, Latitude Sports Clubs, LifeLinks, Lowell Community Health Center, Lowell General Hospital, Mass General Hospital, Mental Health Association of Greater Lowell, Merrimack Valley Food Bank, MSPCA-Angell, Nashoba Learning Group, UMass Lowell, YWCA of Lawrence

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