Merrimack Valley Magazine

2021 MVMA Winners – Retail Therapy

July 30, 2021 by Kristin Cole

We are happy to present the winners of the 2021 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.

Apothecaries / Natural Products – Retail
Red Antler Apothecary
Red Antler Apothecary, located in Lowell’s Mill No. 5, sells ethically created products such as soaps, moisturizers, cleansers and mustache wax. They grow, forage and farm many of their ingredients and 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

Consignment Shops
Chic Consignment
Clients come from all over the Merrimack Valley to visit this Andover consignment shop. They offer a changing selection of fun, trendy and high-end clothes and accessories, with a head-turning selection of handbags.
44 Main St.
Andover, Mass.
ChicConsignment.com

Fashion Accessories
Red’s Shoe Barn
With one of the largest selections of shoes in New England, Red’s Shoe Barn is known for providing Merrimack Valley residents the highest quality shoes at a great value and with legendary service.
22 Plaistow Rd.
Plaistow, N.H.
RedsShoeBarn.com

Jewelry — Fine
Nazarian’s
Since opening in 1943, Nazarian’s belief in family and tradition has helped them become one of the top purveyors of diamonds, fine jewelry, watches and giftware in the New England area. Over the years, the business has been operated by four generations of the same family who are eager to help customers create memories and traditions that will last forever.
Andover and Newburyport, Mass.; Salem, N.H.
NazarianDiamonds.com

Men’s Fashion
Giblees Menswear
For over 50 years, Giblees has been providing the finest of menswear and personalized service. Whether your style is casual or formal, customers can find unique merchandise from around the world while browsing one of the largest inventories of men’s designer clothing in New England.
85 Andover St.
Danvers, Mass.
Giblees.com

Women’s Fashion
Opal & Oak Boutique
Haverhill’s Opal & Oak Boutique is a contemporary women’s clothing boutique that offers trendy clothing at reasonable prices. Their bright, warm atmosphere holds items including tops, bottoms, dresses, accessories and more.
50 Washington St.
Haverhill, Mass.
ShopOpalAndOak.com

Stop by next week for the winners of the ‘Play’ category.

The 2021 MVMAs are sponsored by:

Generations – Side-By-Side

July 27, 2021 by Katie Lovett

Horseshoe Grille Owner Pat Lee Jr. Reflects on Lessons Learned From His Hardworking Parents.

From the time he was a young boy, Pat Lee Jr. had a job to do at his family’s business.

Every Sunday, his North Reading family would attend Mass at St. Theresa’s Catholic Church and then head back to The Horseshoe on Main Street for an afternoon of chores. Lee and his siblings helped — washing down shelves, sweeping and cleaning under the booths.

While his parents, Pat Lee Sr. and Veronica, couldn’t have foreseen that Lee Jr. would continue the family business one day, it was expected that the children would pitch in and help when needed.

While Lee was a high school senior, the legal drinking age in Massachusetts dropped to 18 years old. The first day the law went into effect, a Sunday, instead of heading out with his friends, Lee went to work. He took his first shift as a bartender at the Horseshoe. It was a day he’ll never forget, he says with a laugh, as the regulars threw drink names at him and kept him guessing with their orders.

“They were busting my chops,” Lee says.

His father stood down at the other end of the bar, enjoying the show, he adds.

“He was teaching me a little bit of a lesson,” Lee says. “He humbled me pretty quickly with throwing me to the wolves.”

It’s one of the countless lessons Lee learned from watching his father run the Horseshoe, which he took over about 36 years ago.

“He was revered,” Lee says of his late father. “He related well to the working man because he was one of them.”

Although his son later transformed the old ’Shoe into a popular “polished casual” establishment known for American fare and barbeque, the elder Lee had no interest in frills. His pub sold one menu item, a ham and Swiss sandwich on rye bread, which sold for 95 cents and came with a pickle.

“It was monstrous,” Lee says. “You could hardly get your hands around it, never mind your mouth. There had to be close to a pound of meat on it.”

The native of Ireland came from a hardworking background and led a simple life, Lee says. “He treated everybody with a very high degree of respect and cared for them.” Lee recalls the night a local business burned down. The firefighters were still on the scene extinguishing the blaze when Pat Lee Sr. showed up and handed over a roll of cash to the fire victims to help them get back on their feet.

At times when he was growing up, Lee recalls, he didn’t see his father as much as he would have liked as the elder Lee was always at the restaurant. “When I started working at the Horseshoe,” Lee says, “that’s when I got to know him the best. We were working side-by-side, it was great.”

After Lee took over the Horseshoe from his parents, his father remained a welcome figure.

“I called him Bartender Emeritus,” Lee says, “There was always a place behind the bar whenever he showed up.”

Before the pandemic hit, his mother, Veronica, 93, visited the restaurant weekly, dining with friends and family.

“She keeps her finger on the pulse of things,” Lee says.

The Horseshoe began in 1926 as an apple cider stand. After Prohibition ended, the Horseshoe became a social club. In the 1930s, owner D. P. Murphy’s nephew John Twomey took over The Horseshoe. In 1955 his niece and nephew, Pat Lee Sr. and his wife, Veronica, purchased it. In 1960, Lee Sr. tore down the building and replaced it with the “old” Horseshoe Lounge familiar to a previous generation.

When Pat Sr. and Veronica were ready to retire, Pat Jr. was looking for a career change after spending a decade in corporate sales. He and Kathi, his wife, also a North Reading native, moved back to their hometown in 1985 and became the next generation to run the Horseshoe. The business celebrates its 95th anniversary this year, and while it’s still too early to know if Lee’s children, Jaclyn and Brian, will take the reins, the business is well positioned for the future, Lee says. The family isn’t afraid to change with the times.

“We can’t get stagnant,” Lee says.

Horseshoe Grille
North Reading, Mass.
(978) 664-3591
HorseshoeGrille.com

NoteWorthy – 7/25/21

July 25, 2021 by Kristin Cole

AROUND THE VALLEY

Comprehensive PFAS Legislation Will Help Protect Public Water Sources

This week, U.S. Rep. Lori Trahan voted to pass the PFAS Action Act of 2021, bipartisan legislation to clean up PFAS contaminations, help families who have been exposed to the dangerous “forever chemicals,” and prevent future exposures.

PFAS chemicals are manmade and have been used in common products such as firefighting foam, non-stick cookware, water resistant clothing, cleaning products, paints and sealants, personal care products, and cosmetics since the 1940s. Despite being linked to harmful health effects, these forever chemicals have been discovered in the drinking water of more than 2,000 communities nationwide, including in 50 public water sources reported in Massachusetts this year alone.

To protect communities from PFAS chemicals, the PFAS Action Act will require:

Cleanup of sites contaminated with perfluoroctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) – two of the most hazardous PFAS chemicals – as well as setting air emission limits, prohibiting unsafe incineration of PFAS, and limiting the introduction of new PFAS chemicals into commerce;
Comprehensive health testing for all PFAS, reporting of PFAS releases, and monitoring for PFAS in drinking water;
Development of a risk-communication strategy and establish a website with information on testing of household well water;
A drinking water standard for PFAS that protects public health and holds polluters accountable;

The act will also provide grants to impacted water systems, create a voluntary label for cookware that is PFAS free, provide guidance for first responders to limit their exposures, and require effluent limitations and pretreatment standards for PFAS introduction or discharge.

Arhaus Opens New Location at Tuscan Village

Arhaus, an artisan-crafted furniture and home décor store, opened a new 15,000 square-foot location at Tuscan Village in Salem, N.H., marking its first retail venture in the state. The new showroom will provide customers with heirloom-quality furniture and décor as well as design services.

Founded in 1986 with a mission to build unique, high quality home furnishings while sustaining the Earth’s natural resources and giving back whenever possible, Arhaus is committed to using sustainably sourced, recycled, and reclaimed materials and works directly with artisans and workshops. The new Salem location at Tuscan Village also offers complimentary design services to help customers with their home projects of any size.

In celebration of their grand opening at Tuscan Village, Arhaus is partnering with American Forests to plant 10,000 trees across the United States.

Baker-Polito Administration Awards $7.5 Million to Early Education Programs

The Baker-Polito Administration and the Children’s Investment Fund (CIF), with its affiliate the Community Economic Development Assistance Corporation (CEDAC), awarded $7.5 million in Early Education and Out of School Time Capital Fund (EEOST) capital improvement grants to thirty-six organizations to renovate childcare facilities that serve primarily low-income families.

The grants to child care centers and out-of-school time programs range from $100,000-$250,000, and this year the emphasis shifted to provide capital funding needed to address health and safety concerns related to COVID-19. The capital grants support major renovation and construction projects at early education and out-of-school time facilities to improve the quality of learning environments for children in Massachusetts.

The Merrimack Valley organizations who received grants were the Haverhill YMCA, Community Day Care Center of Lawrence (The Community Group) and the YWCA of Northeastern Massachusetts in Lawrence.

New Partnership Between NECC and Fortune 500 Employers will Lead to “Job-Ready” Skills

This fall, Northern Essex Community College (NECC) will offer two new micro-credentials, in sales and customer service and business analytics, geared for those looking to begin, change, or enhance their careers. NECC is collaborating with Wayfair, Dell, and HubSpot, which was recently voted #4 on Glassdoor’s annual list of Best Places to Work.

While other colleges may offer micro-credentials, what is unique to NECC’s program is the level of involvement of the employers, according to Alex Rodriguez, the NECC’s director of corporate & community education. These firms helped shape the curriculum and will continue to be part of the program, speaking to classes, providing case studies, and participating in networking events. In turn, they will have more immediate access to program talent and are eager to hire participants.

The Sales and Service course will cover “real world” sales, customer service, and management/supervisory skills and will prepare students for sales careers in any industry. The Business Analytics course will prepare students for careers analyzing data that will allow them to draw conclusions to develop business strategies to improve performance.

Rep. Trahan, Energy Secretary Granholm Announce $3.8 Million for MA-03 Small Business Research and Development Grants

U.S. Rep. Lori Trahan and Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm, along with Senator Edward J. Markey announced awards totaling $3,841,107 to small businesses in the third district working on advanced scientific tools and clean, secure energy for the American people. The funding announcements were part of 110 grants across 26 states for projects pursuing technological solutions that support the Biden-Harris Administration’s clean energy goals – in areas varying from cybersecurity, renewable energy, carbon management, grid reliability, and fusion energy.

Small businesses represent 99.9% of all U.S. businesses, employ nearly half of American workers, and create two out of every three new jobs in the private sector.

Selected projects include:

Aspen Products Group, Inc., Marlborough, Mass.: Low-Cost Energy Recovery Ventilator Incorporating a High Flux Moisture-Permeable Membrane.
Physical Sciences Inc., Andover, Mass.: Efficient process for the production of high conductivity, carbon-rich materials from coal.
Solid Material Solutions, Chelmsford, Mass.: Advanced silver sheathed 2212/Ag wire for high field magnets.
Triton Systems, Inc., Chelmsford, Mass.: Wave Energy Harvesting to Power Ocean Buoys

JDCU Awards $1,500 to L’Arche Boston North

Jeanne D’Arc Credit Union (JDCU) presented L’Arche Boston North with a $1,500 donation, through their second-quarter Give-A-Click campaign.

The Give-A-Click program runs quarterly, with community members visiting the site, learning about the worthy non-profit contestants, and casting their vote for the one they would like to support.

L’Arche Boston North (LBN) homes is a local non-profit offering a welcoming place for people with intellectual disabilities. LBN is a community where people with disabilities, and those who assist them, live together and create a compassionate environment. In this community, the members can live independently or in a household with others. They provide daily programs, arts and crafts, and part-time jobs to the residences. These members learn valuable lessons about patience, faith, and love.

Help MassDOT Collect Information About Bicycling Habits in the Commonwealth

MassDOT is conducting a survey to learn more about why Massachusetts residents ride a bike, how the pandemic affected how often they ride bikes, and what they expect their bike habits to look like in the future. This brief survey will help inform bicycle planning in the state. Click here to take the survey.

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Elder Services CEO Receives National Excellence in Leadership Award

Joan Hatem-Roy, CEO of the Elder Services of the Merrimack Valley and North Shore, has been awarded the Excellence in Leadership Award by the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging. The award is given to Area Agency on Aging (AAA) and Title VI directors who have demonstrated exceptional leadership capabilities at the local, state, or national level in advancing the mission of the Older Americans Act and preparing communities for our nation’s rapidly aging population. A Methuen native, Hatem-Roy has worked at Elder Services for more than 38 years, beginning as one of the first elder protective service workers in Massachusetts. As CEO, Hatem-Roy leads the largest AAA in New England, serving more than 40,000 individuals annually. During the past three years, she has navigated the agency through a natural gas explosion that devastated three communities we serve; a merger with a neighboring agency, North Shore Elder Services; and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Hooked on Books

July 24, 2021 by Anne Gardner

Free Libraries Do More Than Inspire the Next Generation of Bibliophiles

When I was a child, while other kids salivated over the thought of a shiny new bicycle or the supple leather of a catcher’s mitt, I dreamed of books. Ink-filled pages were my drug of choice and libraries my cathedrals. Nothing, it seemed, could pry my nose out of a good book.

After enduring an academic year like no other, I fear that thoughts of books now bring something else to mind for today’s children — COVID-19. The shadow of the pandemic is likely to linger for quite some time, particularly over our schools. Coupled with the extended closure of local museums, zoos and summer enrichment programs, educational opportunities for children have significantly winnowed during this past year. But despite these challenges, Merrimack Valley is ripe with other possibilities, including one hiding in plain sight.

During a recent late-night walk, I discovered a miniature library box in the middle of my suburban neighborhood. Emblazoned with the motto “Building Community, Sparking Creativity, Inspiring Readers,” the box was part of the Little Free Library initiative (LittleFreeLibrary.org), an exchange program that allows readers to share books at no cost. Curiosity piqued, I opened the tiny glass door and began to sift through the collection. That was all it took. I was hooked.

The next day I set out to locate every LFL in my adopted hometown of Andover. I was pleased to discover my environs were awash in library boxes, 10 in total. While most were built from kits provided by the LFL program, what they lacked in architectural originality they surely made up for in content.

My first stop was at a box located beside the front door of a preschool. Its collection included a copy of the children’s classic “Sarah, Plain and Tall” along with two unopened sleeves of saltine crackers, clearly on point with the targeted audience. My next box was sequestered away on a secluded loop, well off the beaten path. Underneath the tiny shingled roof were favorites like Elizabeth Gilbert’s “Eat Pray Love” and Daniel James Brown’s epic “The Boys in the Boat.” A small bench had been placed in the nearby shade, providing a comfortable spot to sit and browse.

Then I made my way to the downtown collection, located adjacent to the Andover Center for History and Culture. Apropos, it held some “artifacts” from days gone by, most notably some old CDs by Bobby Darin and Sammy Davis Jr. A bit schmaltzy perhaps, but still appreciated by this visitor.

Each subsequent stop provided its own delightful and quirky assortment. A box just up the road from the intersection of routes 28 and 125 included Spanish translations of the Harry Potter series and “Antes de ser libres” by Julia Alvarez, famed Abbot Academy graduate. A home sporting a rainbow flag had an equally colorful box out front. Although the sides had been decorated with a set of whimsical animal paintings, the offerings inside were decidedly more serious. Zora Neale Hurston’s “Their Eyes Were Watching God” and New York Times bestseller “The Red Bandanna” were among the choices. I was pleased to see such diverse offerings existed inside the town’s boundaries. There really was something for everyone.

The contents of the box vicinal to our local college included “Jane Eyre” and “The Great Gatsby,” in keeping with the neighborhood’s more academic flavor. Around the corner, I discovered a weather-beaten case. A sturdy twig doubled as its door handle. Giving it a gentle tug, I was rewarded with a collection that included “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” and the tween favorite “Twilight.” Then it was on to the other side of town. Upon arriving at my next stop, I was met by a headless wooden post. The attached note indicated the library had been removed for repair. Spinning on my heels, I headed to the last box on my list. Its exterior was covered with vibrant yellow and purple polka dots. Its playful flavor mirrored its collection, a treasure trove of children’s books. The binding of “Pippi Longstocking” was front and center. As a fellow ginger, I took particular delight in knowing the zany and clever Pippi stood ready to inspire Andover’s next generation of young girls.

What initially began as a fact-finding mission turned into something quite different. By the end of the afternoon, I had collected an armful of books. For a bibliophile like me, it was akin to shooting fish in a barrel.

Since 2009, the Little Free Library project has supplied over 165 million books to readers of every persuasion. More than 100,000 library boxes are now scattered across all 50 states and over 100 countries. Initially created by Todd Bol, an entrepreneur and former schoolteacher, as a tribute to his mother, the Little Free Library movement has inspired countless others to build their own diminutive athenaeums, including our own neighbors. Bol passed away in 2018 from pancreatic cancer at the age of 62.

Here in the Merrimack Valley, about 90 boxes are spread across our 21 cities and towns. Twenty percent of these were constructed during this past academic year, an indication of the creative spirit and ingenuity of the region. Only two communities, Lawrence and Merrimac, are currently without an LFL collection. With blueprints, building tips and advice on proper installation readily available on the LFL website, expanding the literacy footprint here in the Valley is just a click away.

The pandemic has reminded us of the dangers posed by interruptions in learning. With summer upon us, building a neighborhood library box offers each of us a chance to enrich educational opportunities for everyone.

So dust off your tool belt. Round up the folks from your book club, your church, your office, even your own family, and let your artistic juices flow. After all, there’s nothing like a good book.

2021 MVMA Winners – Health & Beauty

July 23, 2021 by Kristin Cole

Alternative Health & Wellness
Massage Envy
Massage Envy is a perfect place for customized and convenient massages. Their professional massage and skin care services are performed by therapists and estheticians who care about helping you feel your best.
Billerica, Burlington and Methuen, Mass.; Nashua and Manchester, N.H.
Locations.MassageEnvy.com

Day Spa
Spa Nijoli and Salon
At Spa Nijoli, you can rejuvenate your body and soul with services such as seaweed wraps and their signature goddess treatment. The spa also offers massages, waxing, spray tans, nail and makeup studios, and more.
116 Pleasant Valley St.
Methuen, Mass.
Nijoli.com

Health & Fitness Clubs
SLS Fitness
SLS Fitness is a strength and conditioning center where people of all fitness levels are welcomed and supported. The wide array of services offered at SLS include group classes, personal training, nutrition counseling, kids programming, and physical therapy. Want to learn more? Check out our story on page 48.
345 Chelmsford St.
Lowell, Mass.
SLSFitness.com

Laser Therapy
Laser Aesthetic
Laser Aesthetic offers personalized hair removal and skin care solutions that include waxing and electrolysis, microdermabrasion, Botox and dermal fillers, and a variety of facials and chemical peels.
181 Swan St.
Methuen, Mass.
LaserHairMA.com/treatments

Oral Health
Dr. Joseph A. Cardarelli Jr. D.M.D., P.C.
For more than 35 years, Dr. Cardarelli of Cardarelli Orthodontics has been dedicated to providing the best specialized care orthodontics has to offer. Their practice maintains its reputation by delivering a full range of advanced orthodontics, from traditional braces to invisible braces.
234 Summer St.
Haverhill, Mass.
DrCardarelli.com

Salon
Salon Metta
Fostering a culture of kindness and camaraderie, Salon Metta in North Andover offers beauty services in hair and makeup. In addition to hair cutting, coloring and styling, Salon Metta specializes in waxing, facials, lash extensions, makeup and more.
70 Main St.
North Andover, Mass.
SalonMetta.com

Skin Care
Serenity Spa and Salon
Serenity Spa and Salon offers some of the most personalized skin care treatments around the Merrimack Valley, with over ten facial services as well as express services.
315 Middlesex Rd.
Tyngsboro, Mass.
SerenitySpaAndSalon.com

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