Merrimack Valley Magazine

Catching Up With Matt Thorne of the Merrimack River Watershed Council

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In the 1970s, the Merrimack River was one of the most polluted rivers in the country. The Merrimack River Watershed Council (MRWC), which was founded in 1976 and is based in Lawrence, has strived since then to improve the quality of the water in the river. Over the years, the MRWC has also worked to conserve green and open spaces throughout the region. 

Today, the water in the river is vastly improved, but the MRWC is still tackling water pollution issues such as combined sewage overflows, illegal dumping and contaminated stormwater. We sat down with Matt Thorne, executive director of the MRWC, to discuss the current state of the Merrimack River, future priorities for the organization, and how the community can get involved. 

When the MRWC was founded, the Merrimack River was one of the top 10 most polluted rivers in the country. What has changed since then? 

In the 1970s, the Clean Water Act was passed, and a lot of watershed groups like the MRWC were formed to help communities have a voice in some of the regulation around rivers and waterways. Prior to that time, the Merrimack [River] was largely a dumping ground for pollutants, widely understood as an open sewer where sewage would be directly discharged at a massive scale. So, much the work over the decades focused on building regulation that made sense and helped to keep pollutants from being released into the river. 

Besides the water quality issue, work has been done to protect our drinking water and ensure that it is safe and clean and up to standard, [such as] establishing conserved green spaces and open spaces for not only people to recreate and enjoy nature, but also for wildlife to thrive and for nature to clean the water that ends up in our local bodies of water — including the river. A lot of the preservation of that green space has been a massive undertaking. 

What issues are we still facing? 

Relating to the conservation, we are still losing green space at a really fast rate. We’re trying to keep pace with all of the rapid development that’s happening. 

Northeastern Massachusetts and all of southern New Hampshire, which form the Merrimack River Watershed, has been a real hot spot for development. We’re proud that it’s such a beautiful, wonderful place to live and work, but a lot of the development has not been done sustainably. Over the next couple of decades, we need to ensure that as people move to our region, and more housing and businesses are developed and cities are revitalized, that we are thinking about green infrastructure and sustainable development, and really have an integrated vision about how equity and the environment can work together. 

 

What are the MRWC’s top priorities for 2022? 

These are the main issues we are looking to tackle in the next couple of years: 

Water quality. Even though we’ve come so far since the 1970s in cleaning up our river — and it’s gone from an industrial river and open sewer to a navigable recreational river that hundreds of thousands of people enjoy — there are still some water quality concerns that we’re looking to monitor and regulate. We’re working closely with both state and federal agencies, as well as cities and towns, to close loopholes and fix infrastructure and address water quality. 

Climate resilience. In this case, we work with our local municipalities and agencies to build out plans and advocate for funding to put in place infrastructure that will be resilient. We want to create planning that will help communities prepare for natural disasters. As we see the conditions [caused by] changes in the climate really stressing our ecosystems and our community, we want to be [a vehicle for] science, education and policies that can help foster more forward-thinking planning, policies and projects. We’re also addressing the threat of flooding, which we know will happen, it’s just a matter of when. 

Habitat and ecological restoration. There’s a lot of old infrastructure [in the Merrimack Valley] that is impeding things like water quality. We have been working closely with the state on making sure we’re getting rid of legacy infrastructure that is aging and causing damage to our water quantity and quality. In turn, this promotes habitats for wildlife and fish, which is so important to our mission. 

Kayakers in Merrimack River
Kayakers at the confluence of the Pemigewasset and Winnipesaukee Rivers in Franklin, N.H. Photo by Adrien Bisson.

What is needed in the short term to fulfill these objectives?

We need people to get involved. Funding helps put resources toward our work on these issues, and [making a donation to the MRWC] is a way for people to advocate with their dollar. When we’re taking on issues like climate change, nonprofits [like ours] need resources to match the scale of the problems we’re finding.

The MRWC has hosted a number of community programs over the years. Which have found the most success? 

It’s really a mix. We have a few different flavors of community engagement that have [happened] through our events. We’ve been running paddling trips, which is such a great way for people to interface with the river. We know that once people get out there, they tend to fall in love with it and become better advocates for it. We also run land-based programs like trash cleanups, invasive species removal and tree planting, which attracts volunteers who like to roll their sleeves up and have a good time. 

Our advocacy program is also successful, and is supported by those who may be more focused on policy, or are not able to get out there on the ground. It’s another avenue to make change. 

How did the COVID-19 pandemic affect the MRWC? 

In general, it was more difficult to put on our in-person events. It took more time and forethought to accomplish our volunteer opportunities while implementing social distancing, which I know is something all nonprofits have experienced. 

Interestingly, there was more attention paid to how viruses and other pathogens travel in water pollution. There is still an issue with raw sewage occasionally being dumped into the Merrimack River. With so much study around the coronavirus, it was learned that the virus can travel through sewage and can actually be traced using sewage. This science raised more alarm and awareness. We have this beautiful river for folks to swim and fish in, and studies show that if we don’t take care of our river, there could be more viruses and pathogens being placed in it than we understand. There is no specific data on the Merrimack River yet, but in general these studies are raising awareness that we need to educate our communities. 

Left Thorne cleaning up the river with a little helper. Courtesy photo. Right: The upper reaches of the Merrimack are home to numerous species of rare wildlife, including great blue herons. Photo by Dan Graovac.

What are some other ways that people can get involved with the MRWC? 

Volunteering, which can include coming to one of our many events. We usually have a couple of events a month, which range from cleaning trash out of the river to planting trees, to testing water quality. We have an active water quality testing program at 14 sites along the river, from Manchester, New Hampshire, all the way down to Newburyport. Another way to get involved is around advocacy. We have really strengthened our policy program and put out advocacy alerts and encouraged folks to get more familiar with the issues. [You can] find out how you can go from being someone who is somewhat upset about the issues, or concerned for what kind of planet we’re leaving our children and grandchildren, to taking an active role and figuring out the tools that get something done and move an issue forward. 

When not volunteering, what can people do in their everyday lives to contribute to a clean river and water quality? 

First, people can conserve water to help protect our water supply. The less water we use, the better it is for times of drought, which is a growing problem in our region. This also reduces the amount of water running through the system. With the continued issue of combined sewage overflows, the water that’s running through the system is contributing to the problem. Using just a little less water at home has a huge impact. 

Secondly, you can plant more trees. More native trees and plants, gardens and green roofs will help to absorb rainfall. [They can also] help mitigate flooding and absorb runoff before it turns into dangerous stormwater. 

Thirdly, people can get involved politically. Voting for candidates or for initiatives that protect and conserve our environment is massively important. We don’t prescribe to any party, but people can get involved on their own to support issues they really care about at the state and local level. 

Finally, just by supporting local organizations you can make a huge difference, whether you’re volunteering or donating.  

Visit the MRWC’s YouTube page to watch a two-minute video that provides more details on how you can positively affect local water quality.

 

Merrimack River Watershed Council
Lawrence, Mass.
(978) 655-4742
Merrimack.org 

MRWC Releases New Video on CSOs in the Merrimack River

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The Merrimack River Watershed Council (MRWC) has released a new video and webpage explaining why sewage is frequently discharged into the Merrimack River, and what is being done to help solve the problem.

The 8-minute video, narrated by MRWC Environmental Science Fellow Jose Tapia, examines the causes of the Merrimack’s sewage discharges, known as combined sewer overflows (CSOs). The video also provides interviews with regional leaders who are trying to address the problem, as well as tips on what concerned residents can do to help. Watch the video below. 

 

Produced by Elevated Thought, a Lawrence-based art and social justice non-profit, this is the first video that specifically addresses CSOs in the Merrimack River. This video is paired with the release of a new educational webpage which further highlights important data points and describes the pathways to solving the problem.

CSOs have become a frequent news headline in the Merrimack Valley, and have fueled much discussion and debate on social media platforms. CSOs often occur during moderate to heavy rainstorms in five Merrimack Valley cities — Haverhill, Lawrence, Lowell, Nashua and Manchester — where street drains are connected to sewer lines. During rainstorms, too much water enters sewer lines and excess quantities are discharged into the river to prevent damage to sewer plants and sewage overflows into homes and businesses.

“CSOs are a relic of 19th and early 20th century sewer systems that were built in the Merrimack Valley’s industrial cities,” said John Macone, MRWC’s policy and outreach specialist. “Those old sewer systems were designed to dump all sewage into the river, and they are very expensive and complicated to replace.”

On average, about 500 million gallons of CSO wastewater is discharged into the Merrimack in a typical year. That’s a significant drop from 20 years ago, when an average of 780 million gallons were discharged in an average year.

The reduction is due to drought conditions in recent years, and also work being done in cities to replace their sewer lines and upgrade infrastructure. The cost of these upgrades can be in excess of $100 million, and progress can be slow because they are paid for almost entirely by sewer fees collected from city residents and businesses. However, lawmakers in Massachusetts are considering a plan which could provide up to $400 million for water and sewer projects. That funding will greatly increase the speed of CSO-related upgrades.

The year 2021 has already proven to be an unusually active year for CSOs. In the month of July — one of the rainiest Julys on record — over 160 million gallons of CSO waste have been discharged into the Merrimack, according to data from the region’s sewer treatment plants.

NoteWorthy – 7/11/21

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AROUND THE VALLEY

Harbor Seal Pup Spotted Near Merrimack River

On Friday morning, Dan Graovac, president of the Merrimack River Watershed Council (MRWC) board of directors, spotted and photographed a harbor seal pup on a beach near the mouth of the Merrimack River.

Founded in 1976, the MRWC is a nonprofit organization that works to improve and conserve the Merrimack River watershed with advocacy, education, recreation and science.

The harbor seal photographed above is approximately four weeks old and recently weaned from its mother, and most likely resting before heading back to the ocean. It is important to note that, per federal law, people should get no closer than 150 feet to these seals on a beach as this close proximity puts unnecessary stress on the seal. If you believe a seal is injured or sick, please reach out to the Marine Mammal Rescue at Seacoast Science Center in Rye, N.H., who will send a staff member or volunteer to evaluate the seal.

Photo courtesy of Dan Graovac.

NECC Faculty and Staff Complete National Mental Health First Aid Training

Recognizing that many college students suffer from anxiety and depression, Northern Essex Community College (NECC) is working proactively to help identify students who are struggling and connect them with help.

In the two years it’s been offered at the college, 130 members of the faculty and staff have completed the national Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) certification training through the college’s center for professional development.

The eight-hour training course teaches how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illness and substance abuse disorders. The course is taught by behavioral science and human services professor Kathleen Bartolini, who transitioned to teaching after a 20-year career as a child and adolescent psychotherapist.

Individuals enrolled in the program will grow their knowledge of signs, symptoms and risk factors of mental illnesses and addictions; be able to identify multiple types of professional and self-help resources for individuals with a mental illness or addiction; and increase their confidence in helping an individual in distress.

The Lowell Review Announces First Issue

The Lowell Review is a new publication springing from the RichardHowe.com blog, which shares the stories and creative works of “Voices from Lowell and Beyond.” This publication offers a space for creative and intellectual expression and brings together writers and readers in the Merrimack River watershed and connects them with those who share their curiosity about the small and large matters of life. Each issue includes essays, poems, stories, criticism, opinion and visual art.

Visit here to check out the first issue, which features the works of a number of MVM contributors, including Paul Marion, Doug Sparks and Charles Gargiulo.

 

New Initiative Inspires Ways to Activate Vacant Storefronts in Downtown Lawrence

In partnership with MassDevelopment TDI, Creative Collective — a business program offering opportunities for small businesses, entrepreneurs, nonprofits and individuals a modern and creative approach to business growth and brand awareness — was invited to Lawrence to facilitate new and exciting ways to pilot temporary activations of key vacant downtown Lawrence storefronts.

Creative Collective administered a six-month community engagement process through virtual info sessions, direct partner outreach, one-on-one conversations with community members and stakeholders, leadership team meetings and a variety of survey distributions. The information collected from these efforts led to inform the themes of every program slated for the Imagina Essex series, including Imagina Comercio, Imagina Gastronomia, Imagina Arte, and Imagina Teatro.

On Saturday, July 17, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., residents and visitors will once again have an opportunity to engage with this process at the second of four events in the Imagina Essex series, Imagina Gastronomia. Food will be the focus of this event with a pop-up farmers market, access to food-aligned organizations and samples and information of local dining hotspots.

Mills42 FCU Teams Up with Lowell Parks & Conservation Trust

In late June, members of the Mills42 Federal Credit Union team worked with Lowell Parks & Conservation Trust.

Their primary mission was to tackle invasive plant species that can be damaging to a waterway’s ecosystem, especially one as critical to the region as the Concord River Greenway.

CCA’s Susan Gates Receives DCU’s Hometown Hero Award

This week, the DCU Hometown Hero award was given to Susan Gates, volunteer executive director of the Chelmsford Center for the Arts (CCA). Gates received the award during Boston 25 News’ Zip Trip to Chelmsford. Watch it here.

Gates has volunteered in this role since the CCA opened in 2009, helping establish the building as a welcoming one for numerous creative organizations. She volunteers over 40 hours each week to help run the center, which boasts live events, an artist residency program, and rehearsal space for musicians.

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

MCC Appoints Interim Provost & VP of Student & Academic Affairs

Arlene Rodriguez was named interim provost and vice president of academic and student affairs. With over 20 years of experience working in the Massachusetts community college system, Rodriguez has maintained a lifelong commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, which was exemplified when she co-led the initiative “100 Males to College” to create a college-bound culture for low-income males and young men of color. Outside of academia, Rodriguez has been appointed to the Barnstable County Human Services Commission, Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce, and was on the Springfield YWCA’s board of directors, among other titles. She has also won several awards dedicated to her human service and leadership.

MCC Names 2021-2022 Student Trustee

Brooke Stevenson, of Winchester, has been named as 2021-2022 student trustee of Middlesex Community College (MCC). Stevenson, who transferred from a four-year college, is member of the Commonwealth Honors Program, Phi Theta Kappa honors society and student government association. With a passion for helping others, Stevenson is working toward both an associate in criminal justice and a certificate in paralegal studies. Her goal is to work as a paralegal as she earns her bachelor’s degree from the University of Massachusetts Lowell after she graduates from Middlesex. In the future, Stevenson is considering going to law school and starting a career as a lawyer or forensic scientist.

Greater Lowell Community Foundation Elects Three to Board of Directors

Stephanie Cronin, of Dunstable, Mass., has been appointed to executive director of the Middlesex 3 Coalition, a regional economic development organization which fosters business development, job growth and retention. Cronin also currently serves on the MCC Foundation board of directors, MassHire Greater Lowell Workforce Board, FORGE Northeast Massachusetts Advisory Council, Burlington Area Chamber of Commerce, and Hanscom Air Force Civic Leader Program.

 

Diana Nguyen, of Westford, is currently project manager at MilliporeSigma in Burlington, Mass., where she has been managing strategic projects and developing a global talent pipeline of aspiring and curious leaders since 2017. Nguyen is a Lowell High School graduate, and received a bachelor of science degree in management and psychological science from Worcester Polytechnic Institute. She is pursuing a global executive master of business administration degree from the Rotman and SDA Bocconi schools.

 

Daniel Donahue of Lowell, earned his associate degree in architectural engineering technology from Wentworth Institute of Technology. That same year he worked for the National Park Service in the North Atlantic Regional Office as an architectural, mechanical, and electrical draftsman. In 1985, he joined Gavin & Sullivan Architects Inc. as an architectural designer/draftsman and has remained with the company ever since.

 

NoteWorthy – 6/6/21

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AROUND THE VALLEY

MRWC Recognized by New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services

The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES) Drinking Water and Groundwater Bureau recently recognized the Merrimack River Watershed Council (MWRC) at its annual Drinking Water Source Protection Conference on Wednesday, May 19. The award was presented as part of a two-day conference held on May 19 and 20.

The MWRC received the agency’s Source Water Protection Award for work to protect New Hampshire’s drinking water. The organization was also recognized for its work to secure $6.9 million dollars in federal funding to coordinate water supply and conservation partners in a statewide effort to permanently protect critical water supply lands and improve land management practices, primarily on land protected by easements.

UML Geologist Identifies New Form of Quasicrystal 

A UMass Lowell (UML) geologist is among the researchers who have discovered a new type of human-made quasicrystal created by the first test blast of an atomic bomb.

The formation holds promise as a new material that could one day help repair bone, insulate heat or convert heat to electricity, or aid in the use of prosthetics, according to UML Prof. G. Nelson Eby, a member of the university’s environmental, earth and atmospheric sciences department.

Eby is a member of the research team that identified the quasicrystal substance inside samples of trinitite they examined that were collected from the debris of the first atomic bomb detonated by the U.S. Army on July 16, 1945 in the New Mexico desert. Also known as atomic rock, trinitite is a glassy material produced by the extreme heat and pressure unleashed by detonated atomic devices.

The research team’s findings were published last month in the academic journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

 

Baker-Polito Administration Announces $109 Million in Direct Federal Aid for Four Communities

 The Baker-Polito Administration announced a total of $109 million in discretionary funding from the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) will be distributed today to Methuen, Chelsea, Everett and Randolph. These four communities were amongst the hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, but due to shortcomings in the federal ARPA funding formula, were set to receive disproportionately smaller amounts of federal funding compared to other hard-hit communities.

Methuen received $26.3 million in funding.

These municipalities will be able to use these funds to support costs related to the COVID-19 pandemic, including direct response efforts, addressing negative economic impacts, replacing revenue lost during the pandemic, making investments in water, sewer, and broadband infrastructure, as well as other eligible expenditures.

DiZoglio Secures State Funds for Lake Gardner Beach Renovations

Among the local funds secured by state Sen. Diana DiZoglio in the fiscal year 2022 Senate budget is $100,000 toward renovations at Lake Gardner beach in Amesbury.

Recently, local stakeholders have been working to address a variety of issues at Lake Gardner. The city will be hiring a beach director this season to ensure a consistent presence at the beach and the local department of public works has been making improvements to the bathrooms. They are also considering a potential tenant, such as a coffee shop or kayak rental company, to use the small commercial space in the building.

However, the city needs improvement of the parking area and in particular access to the beach and surrounding park in order to ensure compliance with Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements.

MCC Staff Members Awarded for Excellence During Pandemic

Two Middlesex Community College (MCC) staff members from their office of online learning received League Excellence Awards from the League for Innovation. Roxanne McCorry, MCC’s director of online learning and Blackboard support, and Daniela Loghin, MCC’s coordinator for academic resources, were recognized for supporting the college throughout the pandemic in the transition of coursework and student services to remote, virtual and limited contact systems.

Phil Sisson, MCC’s president-elect, calls McCorry and Loghin “consistently instrumental” to MCC’s success throughout the pandemic. Their support of faculty in the adjustment to online teaching has continued to be a valuable resource.

 

MRT Young Company to Switch to All In-Person Programs for Summer 2021

The Merrimack Repertory Theatre’s (MRT) Young Company, a summer intensive for teenagers, will return to in-person workshops this year, from July 12 to 30. The Young Company is an educational theater experience for students 14 to 18 years of age with an interest in all aspects of the performing arts and new play development. Director Robert Cornelius will return to lead the course.

Students will explore acting and performance, scene analysis and monologue work, as well as collaborative playwriting of their own original scripts. The students will be joined by nationally recognized playwrights, actors and directors.

Bread & Roses Awards Inaugural Robert Lanzoni Scholarship in Support of Education in Lawrence

Established to honor longtime Bread & Roses volunteer and executive director Bob Lanzoni, who passed away in Nov. 2020, the Robert Lanzoni Scholarship reflects his commitment and dedication to improving the lives of the people of Lawrence, particularly the many student volunteers who served with Bread & Roses.

Reflecting the educational challenges for students and their families in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, a total of $6,000 was distributed to Si Se Puede, Esperanza Academy and Notre Dame Christo Rey High School.

UML Program for First-Generation College Students Receives $100K Grant

UMass Lowell’s (UML) nationally recognized program for first-generation college students is expanding its services with the support of a $100,000 grant from the Cummings Foundation.

The award will allow the UML River Hawk Scholars Academy (RHSA) to grow the academic and support services it provides to enhance educational, campus and community experiences for full-time UML students who are the first in their families to attend college.

Forty-one percent of UML undergraduates are first-generation college students. Over the last academic year, the River Hawk Scholars Academy assisted more than 400 participants and anticipates serving more than 400 students this fall. Since it began in 2017, more than 1,000 UML first-generation college students have benefited from the program.

Community Teamwork and MCC Awarded $100k Cummings Grants

Community Teamwork and Middlesex Community College (MCC) are two of the 140 local nonprofits that will receive grants of $100,000 to $500,000 each through Cummings Foundation’s $25 Million Grant Program.

Community Teamwork will use the funding from the Cummings Foundation, to support its culinary arts vocational tract for at-risk youth interested in entering the hospitality industry. After a recent successful capital campaign, Community Teamwork was able to install a commercial kitchen at its Youth Opportunity Center.

For MCC, funding from the Cummings Grant will go toward helping students enrolled in MCC’s entrepreneurial or certificate programs launch and grow their businesses. MCC can also connect students with resources such as mentors, networking, budget review and personal support.

 

GLCF awards $180K in additional COVID-19 Response Grants to Address Youth Food Insecurity

The Greater Lowell Community Foundation (GLCF) announced it deployed a new round of COVID-19 related grants, providing an additional $180,000 to 17 area nonprofits in greater Lowell addressing youth food insecurity needs. These grants were part of the latest round of distributions from the commonwealth COVID Grant Program and GLCF COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund.

The 17 nonprofits receiving grants in the latest round of the GLCF COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund to address youth food insecurity include the Billerica Community Pantry Inc., the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Lowell, Community Teamwork Inc., Girls Inc. of Greater Lowell, Greater Lowell Family YMCA – Merrimack Valley Food Bank Inc., Middlesex Community College, Mill City Grows, YWCA of Lowell and more. 

Since March 2020, through grants from its GLCF COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund, Massachusetts COVID Relief Fund, and Commonwealth COVID Grant Program, the foundation has supported 127 local nonprofit organizations with 301 grants totaling over $4.1 million.

Museum of Printing President Celebrates 80th Birthday

Museum of Printing President Frank Romano is celebrating his 80th birthday this year and the museum is asking everyone to join in the celebration of what they are calling a Year of Frank.

Romano, who spent over 60 years in the printing industry, generously donated the building and his voluminous library to the museum. He founded the publication TypeWorld and has been the editor for many editions of “Pocket Pal: The Handy Book of Graphic Arts Production.” He also spent years as a professor at Rochester Institute of Technology and California Polytechnic State University, and is the author of more than 60 books on topics related to the printing industry.

Haverhill Mayor Announces $462K in Southwick Tax Breaks Returned to City

The city of Haverhill has successfully recovered $462,000 in tax breaks it gave the owners of the former Southwick Clothing factory in exchange for opening a manufacturing facility in Haverhill’s Broadway business park in 2014.

The 2014 agreement, approved by the mayor and city council, granted Southwick’s parent company, Golden Fleece Manufacturing Group LLC, the tax credits in exchange for moving from Lawrence to Haverhill, keeping 468 permanent local jobs and adding another 70 new jobs by 2018. The company was in talks at the time to move its jobs and the plant, which was known for making Brooks Brothers suits, outside the United States.

When Southwick abruptly announced last year that it was declaring bankruptcy and closing the Haverhill factory, Fiorentini declared he would fight to recoup the back taxes. After the city filed a claim in federal bankruptcy court, the parties were able to reach an agreement and the city received a check for $461,924.72 last month.

The city cannot spend the funds until they are certified by the state Department of Revenue as so-called free cash, which is expected in October or November.

The court’s bankruptcy court ruling paved the way for the owners of the former Southwick factory to sell the property at 25 Computer Drive for $14 million to Boston-based Eastern Real Estate. The new owners are leasing the property to Amazon, which is currently renovating the building with plans to open a “last-mile” merchandise delivery hub there. Amazon is one of three companies, including a high-tech center and a large food-making plant, that are brining approximately 750 jobs to Haverhill this year.

Martha Velez of Lawrence Chosen to Receive Community Leadership Award 

On Thursday, the Massachusetts Public Health Association (MPHA) announced that it will present its Community Leadership Award to Martha Velez of Lawrence for her outstanding service to the community during the COVID-19 pandemic and following the 2018 Columbia Gas explosions. The Community Leadership award is given to an elected or appointed official who has made a major contribution to the health of residents in their community.

Velez is the director of human services for the city of Lawrence, overseeing the council on aging, veterans’ services office, recreation department, Mayor’s health task force, and the human rights committee.

Lowell General shifting vaccination program from regional site into hospital operations

As the demand for a large-scale regional mass vaccination site diminishes in Greater Lowell, Lowell General Hospital (LGH) will shift its Mass Vaccination Program into normal hospital operations at its Saints Campus beginning Tuesday, June 22.

Since December, 2020, the MVP program has administered more than 140,000 doses of the vaccine, first at Lowell General’s main campus and then at the Cross River Center, where as many as 3,000 doses per day were administered at the peak of demand.

The last day of operations at Cross River Center will be Tuesday, June 15.

To schedule an appointment, members of the community should to continue to visit LowellGeneralVaccine.com and click the SCHEDULE MY APPOINTMENT button. The website will redirect patients once appointments are shifted to the hospital’s central scheduling phone line in the coming weeks.

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

NECC Grad Selected for State Department Fellowship
Enoch Masih of Andover, a Northern Essex Community College (NECC) computer and information science program graduate, is one of only 15 students from across the country to be selected for the prestigious Foreign Affairs Information Technology Fellowship program, funded by the U.S. Department of State. While working at a nearby Apple store, Masih discovered that he might have a future in the technology industry. Masih was involved on-campus as peer tutor and a member of the National Society of Leadership & Success. Masih graduated from NECC in Dec. 2020 and will transfer to UMass Lowell this fall to get his bachelor’s in information technology.

 

NoteWorthy – 4/18/21

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AROUND THE VALLEY

MRWC Announces Grant to Help Tackle Climate Change

The Merrimack River Watershed Council (MRWC) and the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) will tackle climate change and the resilience of the Merrimack Valley’s drinking water supplies through a $250,297 Landscape-Scale Restoration grant.

The grant, announced this week, commences a three-year partnership between MRWC and the USFS, as well as Massachusetts Department of Conservation & Recreation, New Hampshire Division of Forests and Lands, University of NH Cooperative Extension, and the Nashua River Watershed Association, to implement riverbank resilience projects, fill an education gap in climate-resilient forest practices, and increase connections between private landowners across the two states.

As both forest fragmentation and climate change threaten the ability of riverfront forests to protect ponds, lakes, streams and rivers in the Merrimack River watershed, this project develops and implements a resilient riparian forest management approach. Through precision mapping, on-the-ground riparian restoration, and education of private landowners and foresters, the MRWC will create a cost-effective, replicable model, and the connective tissue between stakeholders, to advance the 2-state twin priorities of forest resilience and source water protection.

In 2010 the USFS identified the Merrimack River watershed as the No. 1 most threatened in the nation due to development of forest land, and No. 4 for associated threats to water quality. As identified in both N.H. and Mass. state forest action plans, the loss of forest lands in the watershed’s rural communities is far outpacing the conservation and restoration of forest lands to protect and filter source water. This is a risk to drinking water supplies, which are vulnerable to increased pollutant pressure, including nutrients, bacteria and emerging contaminants. The Merrimack River provides drinking water to 600,000 Merrimack Valley residents. It is one of the largest surface water drinking water supplies in New England.

The grant is part of the USDA Forest Service Eastern Region’s distribution of over $4.2 million in grants across the Northeast and Midwest to restore the health of rural forest landscapes.

This year, 15 funded projects will collectively:

  • Improve forest ecosystem health and benefits for nearly 600,000 acres of forest land through forest management for wildlife, removal of invasive species, treatment for hazardous fuels, prescribed burns and restoration of riparian areas.
  • Plant 18,000 trees and shrubs in rural communities.
  • Provide technical assistance and training to over 8,400 private forest landowners and practitioners.
  • Reach over 280,000 people through outreach and educational programs.
  • Develop over 460 plans for improved management of over 28,000 acres.

 

Drive Custom Fit Opens At Tuscan Village

 

From left: Tony Hajjar, Joe Faro and Jake Bosse.

Drive Custom Fit debuted their new facility in Tuscan Village on Friday, April 16, before opening to the public on Saturday. The state-of-the-art facility holds 8 new studios, including a heated yoga studio and turf training area, new equipment from Keiser, Assault, Fitbench and more. Their new CafeFit expanded menu features acai bowls, protein and power bowls, shakes and smoothies. The facility opens daily at 4 a.m. and offers over 400 classes a month.

UML Math Professor Awarded NSF Grant for Research

A UMass Lowell (UML) professor recently received a grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to explore how change points affect statistics.

Nilabja Guha, assistant professor of mathematic sciences, received a three-year, $140,000 NSF grant for his project, “New Directions in Bayesian Change-Point Analysis,” which aims to fill a gap in the statistical tools used in the analysis of changes in data.

In his research, Guha will use the Bayesian method — a mathematical technique that applies probabilities or distributions to statistical problems and allows people to revise and update their assumptions after obtaining new experimental data – to develop methodologies for analyzing changes in the underlying data-generating process.

According to Guha, almost all dynamic and random processes in nature go through sudden and significant structural changes. Often, the change is expressed in an observable quantity, such as the change in fuel prices, stock indices, crime activities or population density, which responds significantly to a change in an unobservable factor such as an economic downturn, a change in public policy or an outbreak of disease.

Guha noted that while there is substantial literature proposing elaborate methods for detecting change points in different settings, there has been limited consideration of change points in what he considers as “hierarchical models with complex dependence or sparsity structures.”

“My research fills this gap with new statistical tools motivated by specific, real-life applications by developing a theoretical framework while retaining efficiency and usefulness in current applications,” he said. Through the project, Guha hopes to outline a comprehensive framework for estimating the change point in problems that may arise in different applications.

Trahan, Pappas, Kuster, Moulton Applaud New EPA Grant Funding to Prevent CSOs

On Wednesday, U.S. Rep. Lori Trahan, Chris Pappas, Annie Kuster, and Seth Moulton applauded the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) newly announced availability of $67 million in federal grant funding through the Sewer Overflow and Stormwater Reuse Municipal Grant program. The funding will help local communities like those along the Merrimack River address stormwater and wastewater overflows that pollute local waterways.

“Every community along the Merrimack River like Lowell, Dracut, Methuen, Lawrence, and Haverhill knows just how devastating combined sewer overflows can be. For too long, Washington has shifted the financial and environmental burdens of addressing this issue to local governments, who are already being asked to do more with less,” said Trahan.

The Sewer Overflow and Stormwater Reuse Municipal Grant program allocates federal grants for combined sewer and stormwater overflow infrastructure projects in local communities.

Francis Gruber, Trahan’s communications director, noted by email: “This is a new allocation for the EPA’s grant program, so it’ll be up to states like Mass. to apply for the funds which can then be sub-awarded to local communities in need like Lowell, Lawrence, Methuen, Haverhill and others. … [W]e’re not sure how much yet, but this $67 million amount is an increase of allocations from years’ past, which is a good sign.”

Since its reauthorization in 2018, the Sewer Overflow and Stormwater Reuse Municipal Grants program has seen consistently higher annual appropriations, from $28 million in fiscal year 2020 to $40 million in fiscal year 2021.

The lawmakers also successfully included key provisions of their Stop Sewage Overflow Act, which would authorize hundreds of millions of dollars over the next five years for CSO projects through the Sewer Overflow and Stormwater Reuse Municipal Grant program, in the Moving Forward Act, the infrastructure bill passed by the House last year.

Baker-Polito Administration Announces Regional Pilot Project Grant Awards to Support Economic Recovery

On Thursday, the Baker-Polito Administration announced 37 grants totaling $5 million were awarded to cities, towns and nonprofit entities through the Regional Pilot Project Grant Program.

Awards were made according to several factors, including an ability to demonstrate a collaborative approach on strategies to support recovery from the economic impacts of the COVID-19 public health crisis. Additionally, successful applications drew ties to one or more of the four pillars of the administration’s plan to spur economic recovery from the pandemic, Partnerships for Recovery: Get Massachusetts Back to Work, Support Small Businesses, Revitalize Downtowns, and Foster Innovation.

Grant award totals varied based on each applicant’s request, with awards limited to a maximum of $250,000. The Regional Pilot Project Grant Program was funded through the Commonwealth’s fiscal year 2021 operating budget signed by Gov. Baker in December 2020.

Local awardees include the 495/Metro West Corridor Partnership, the Hispanic-American Institute, the Lawrence Partnership, the Middlesex 3 Coalition, the town of Westford for their childhood subsidy assistance program, and the city of Lowell for a marketing campaign.

Haverhill Volunteer Leads New Merrimack Valley Hospice Support Group for LGBTQ+ Community

Following the death of his husband of 20 years at Merrimack Valley Hospice’s High Pointe House in October 2018, David Zoffoli experienced shock, overwhelming grief and numbness. Despite ongoing support from a strong network of family and close friends, Zoffoli said his healing has been slowed by discriminatory behaviors and anti-queer microaggressions which are common to marginalized groups.

Recognizing the vital nature of a sense of community, shared experiences and connection, Zoffoli and Merrimack Valley Hospice Clinical Social Worker Kara Cheek are co-facilitating a new virtual support group for individuals in the LGBTQ+ community who are grieving a death. The group meets every other Tuesday, from 5:30 to 7 p.m., via Zoom in a drop-in format, with no long-term commitment required.

Zoffoli said he was so appreciative of the compassionate care which he received alongside his late husband, Stephen Fales, that he resolved to give back to Merrimack Valley Hospice. In addition to donating an award-winning photograph taken by Fales to a fundraiser benefiting the nonprofit organization, Zoffoli became an active volunteer following the required one-year waiting period following a loss.

In “Volunteering From a Distance, the fifth podcast episode of “Compassionate Journeys: Conversations About Home Care and Hospice,” Zoffoli discusses his roles co-facilitating the support group; sewing memory pillows and teddy bears from clothing of the deceased; and leading the virtual Calm Breathing session each week for staff members and fellow volunteers of Home Health Foundation, which includes providers Merrimack Valley Hospice, Circle Home, Commonwealth Nursing Services, Hallmark Health VNA, Home Health VNA, Home Health VNA of NH and York Hospital Hospice as part of the Wellforce Health System.

New Degree Option Provides New Path for UML Exercise Science Students

A new UMass Lowell (UML) course of study for students interested in pursuing a career in fitness and sports management is already proving to be a popular option.

Students enrolled in UML’s Zuckerberg College of Health Sciences as exercise science majors now have their choice of two academic options to pursue. The first provides the coursework and clinical experience essential to becoming a physical therapist, physician’s assistant or other health-care practitioner. A new option in exercise and fitness management (EFM), combines courses in science with business, public health and psychology to prepare students for careers as athletic trainers, exercise and fitness business managers and more.

Westford resident Michael Hines, who enrolled in the exercise science program before the new option existed, found his way to the EFM option as one if its first students. An accomplished basketball player, he said the new option combines his twin passions: business and sports. As he prepares to graduate in May, he’s not sure if he wants to go on for his doctorate in physical therapy. But he does know that he wants to run his own athletic training or physical therapy business one day.

The academic path for the EFM option was developed by the Zuckerberg College of Health Sciences and UML’s Manning School of Business to provide enough elective courses in business for students to complete a business minor.

EFM is especially exciting for students who want to pursue careers in college or professional athletics, according to Kyle Coffey, assistant teaching professor of physical therapy and kinesiology, who directs the exercise science program.

Coffey is hoping to grow the program with the addition of a for-credit internship, similar to the experience that students in the clinical option must complete.

Hines has already gotten a head start. With help from Coffey, he got an internship at Athletic Evolution in Woburn, which has high-level athletic strength and conditioning, physical therapy and general fitness all under one roof, he said.

Hines is already working with the certified strength and conditioning trainers. He will also get to rotate through the business operations and the physical therapy unit, giving him insight into several aspects of the operation, he said.

Boston Business Journal names Touchstone Closing a 2021 Best Places to Work Company

From left, attorney partner, David Allosso and Touchstone co-Founder and managing partner, John K. O’Donohue.

The Boston Business Journal (BBJ) has named Touchstone Closing, who is locally owned and has offices in Andover and Salem, N.H., to its 2021 Best Places to Work — the BBJ’s exclusive ranking of the Massachusetts companies that have built outstanding work environments for their people.

The 80 companies honored in 2021 range in size and industry, with winners from the technology sector, retail industry, health care space, commercial real estate and more.

The 165 businesses that met criteria for office location and size participated in employee-engagement surveys distributed by Business Journal partner Quantum Workplace. Employees were asked to rate their work environment, work-life balance, job satisfaction, advancement opportunities, management, compensation and benefits.

Based on the results of those surveys, businesses were assigned a score out of 100 percent and ranked by Quantum. The top-rated companies are listed in five size categories — extra small (20 to 49 employees), small (50 to 99 employees), medium (100 to 249 employees), large (250 to 999 employees) and extra-large (1,000 employees and up).

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Ezequiel Cruz Joins Mortgage Network’s Burlington Branch

Ezequiel Cruz has joined the company’s Burlington, Mass., branch as a loan officer and sales assistant. Cruz will help residents in both Mass. and N.H. with their home financing needs. A longtime Essex County resident, Cruz brings almost a decade of mortgage banking experience to his role. Cruz is involved in the Greater Lawrence Community Action Council and the Kiwanis Club of Methuen. Fluent in Spanish, Cruz is able to assist Hispanic borrowers, who have accounted for more than half of the homeownership growth in the U.S. over the past 10 years.

 

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