Merrimack Valley Magazine

NoteWorthy – 4/25/21

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AROUND THE VALLEY

University, City Mark Earth Day With Grants for ‘Green’ Projects

In honor of Earth Day, UMass Lowell (UML) and the city of Lowell awarded the first round of $50,000 in sustainability grants to five projects. The grants are the latest initiative by the leaders of the Green Community Partnership to support efforts to implement and grow sustainable operations around the region.

The alliance to provide leadership, resources and expertise for sustainability initiatives throughout greater Lowell was launched in January 2020. The partnership includes the Green Community Commission, which is co-chaired by philanthropist Nancy Donahue and includes leaders from business, community and environmental organizations. The founding of the partnership included the launch of a sustainability grant program for university-community initiatives funded by a generous donation by Donahue to the university and matched by community partners for a total of $50,000 in available funding.

The criteria for grant funding includes aligning with the sustainability goals in UML’s 2020 Strategic Plan and the city of Lowell’s Sustainable Lowell 2025 Master Plan.

The projects receiving funding are:

  • Composting Pilot Program, $10,000 – The project by Mill City Grows and UML will create an urban farm compost hub at their farm site in the Pawtucketville neighborhood. The site will source organic waste from MCG urban farm sites and community/school gardens to produce high-quality compost. The compost hub will offer hands-on education opportunities and volunteerism integrated into the operations of a demonstration composting facility.
  • Lowell Energy Efficiency Acceleration Program (LEAP), $10,000 – Led by partners Community Teamwork Inc. and UML, the project aims to reduce energy consumption and promote the financial stability and health of homeowners in the city of Lowell. The program will provide hands-on training and employment opportunities for UML students to develop a “green-collar” workforce in Lowell.
  • Northern Canal Overlook Battery Solar Street Lighting, $10,000 – The joint effort of the city of Lowell, Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources and UML will install a series of battery solar streetlights at the recently constructed Northern Canal Overlook at the corner of Pawtucket Street and University Avenue.
  • Sustainability Pathway at Lowell High School, $10,000 – Lowell High School and UML will work together to evolve a pathway focused on the environment into the Sustainability Pathway at Lowell High School to offer students a range of educational opportunities to develop them into citizens engaged in creating a sustainable city of Lowell.
  • UML Green Schools Program, $10,000 – Lowell Public Schools and UML will work together to identify a partner K-8 school in Lowell and develop a unique set of programs and projects that will serve as the pilot location for a city-wide Green School program.

 

Since signing on to the American College & University Presidents’ Climate Commitment in 2007, UML has committed itself to net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 through its aggressive Climate Action Plan. The university completed a $23.1 million Accelerated Energy Program resulting in more than $1 million in yearly savings and annual reductions of 1.7 million gallons of water and 9 million pounds of carbon dioxide emissions.

In 2010, the city of Lowell became one of the first communities in the Commonwealth to be designated as a Green Community, reflecting the city’s longstanding commitment to environmental sustainability and its leadership among Massachusetts gateway cities in implementing ambitious renewable energy and energy efficiency initiatives.

 

Rep. Trahan Announces Over $500 Million in Funding To
Massachusetts Child Care Providers

U.S. Rep. Lori Trahan announced $510,544,054 for Massachusetts child care providers to open safely, keep workers on payroll, and lower costs for hardworking families. This funding will provide both employers and the families they serve with long overdue support.

The funding comes as part of two programs Rep. Trahan voted to create through the American Rescue Plan:

  • $314,379,488 from the child care stabilization fund to help child care providers to reopen or stay open, provide safe and healthy learning environments, keep workers on payroll, and provide mental health supports for educators and children, and
  • $196,164,566 in more flexible funding for Massachusetts to make child care more affordable for more families, increase access to high-quality care for families receiving subsidies, increase compensation for early childhood workers, and meet other care needs in the state.

This $39 billion funding release will provide a lifeline to hundreds of thousands of childcare providers and early childhood educators, provide a safe and healthy learning environment for more than 5 million children. The funding will go to the state, which will allocate it to specific providers and families.

‘Father of UMass Lowell’ Honored with Dedication of Space on Campus

UMass Lowell (UML) paid tribute to the institution’s first chancellor with the unveiling of a space on campus dedicated in his memory.

Known as the “Father of UMass Lowell,” William Hogan served UML in nearly every capacity – as a professor, department head, college dean, vice president, president and chancellor – through all of the university’s modern incarnations over more than 40 years.

Now, the William T. Hogan Engineering Dean’s Suite, located in Southwick Hall, will serve as a testament to Hogan’s visionary leadership for future generations of River Hawks.

Across four decades, Hogan worked tirelessly to expand opportunities for tens of thousands of students, faculty and staff, and to strengthen the university’s education and research programs. After serving as an engineer in the U.S. Army and with General Electric, he joined Lowell Technological Institute, one of UML’s predecessor institutions, in 1963 as a professor of mechanical engineering. There, he rose to become head of the department.

In 1973, Hogan was named the first dean of the institute’s newly organized College of Engineering and in 1975, Hogan was appointed the first vice president for academic affairs when the institute merged with Lowell State Teachers College to form the University of Lowell. Within six years, he became the institution’s first president.

When the University of Lowell joined the UMass system in 1991, Hogan became its first chancellor. Under his leadership, enrollment at UML increased and accreditation soared. Shortly before retiring in 2006, Hogan helped develop a plan for a $266 million renovation of the university’s three campuses, taking the first steps toward establishing UML as a world-class research and development center.

Hogan also worked to grow the region’s economy beyond campus, launching several revitalization initiatives in cooperation with the city of Lowell, including the Riverwalk, LeLacheur Park, the Lowell Summer Music Series, the expansion of the Tsongas Industrial History Center and the construction of what is now the Tsongas Center at UMass Lowell. He passed away in 2017.

Hogan’s commitment to higher education lives on at the university through the William T. Hogan Scholarship Fund for Innovation and Engagement. Chantohn Louangphixai, a 2020 UML graduate from Dracut who received his bachelor’s degree in history, is the latest of more than a dozen scholarship recipients assisted by the fund since its inception in 2007. Members of the public who would like to honor Hogan and his legacy with donations to the fund may do so here.

Lowell General Vaccine Program Administers 100,000th Dose to Newton Woman

Lowell General Hospital’s (LGH) Mass Vaccination Program administered its 100,000th dose of COVID-19 vaccine on Friday, April 23, to Emily Church, of Newton, who received her first dose of Pfizer vaccine.

LGH was one of the first hospitals in the state to start vaccinating employees on Dec. 15, 2020. It opened a regional vaccination site at Cross River Center in Lowell and quickly ramped up from 400 to 3,000 doses per day, five days a week. The site is staffed by LGH employees and more than 200 volunteers from across the Merrimack Valley.

“This milestone is a credit to the way the Greater Lowell community comes together in a time of crisis,” said Jody White, President and CEO of LGH. “This successful vaccination effort isn’t possible without the support of our volunteers and the incredible commitment of our staff.”

Church, who is originally from Pepperell and was born at LGH, said she came to the Lowell vaccination site on the recommendation of her mother who received her shot there. Church’s shot was given by Lowell General nurse Alison Faulhaber, who administered the MVP program’s first dose on Dec. 15, 2020.

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Pentucket Bank Welcomes Sean O’Connell at Vice President & Information Security Officer

O’Connell joins the bank with over thirty years of experience in information technology and information security.  O’Connell’s role at the Bank will include establishing and maintaining a corporate-wide information security management program to ensure that information assets are adequately protected. O’Connell has his Bachelor’s degree in information technology from Western Governor’s University in Salt Lake City, Utah. He resides in Lebanon, Maine with his wife and has four children. Outside of work, O’Connell enjoys working on projects, nature and hiking, but most of all spending quality time as a family.

 

NoteWorthy – 4/11/21

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AROUND THE VALLEY

Reps. Trahan and Castor, Sens. Markey and Blumenthal Press Facebook on Plans to Develop Instagram for Children

U.S Reps. Lori Trahan and Kathy Castor, both of whom pressed Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg on his company’s targeting of kids during a recent House Energy and Commerce Committee hearing, partnered with Sens. Edward Markey and Richard Blumenthal to demand answers regarding Facebook’s recent announcement that the company is exploring plans to develop a version of Instagram for children. In their letter, the lawmakers express concerns about Facebook’s past failures to protect children on Facebook’s messenger kids app and highlight evidence that young people’s use of social media platforms like Instagram may be detrimental to those users’ well-being and mental health.

“Children are a uniquely vulnerable population online, and images of kids are highly sensitive data,” write the lawmakers in their letter. “Facebook has an obligation to ensure that any new platforms or projects targeting children put those users’ welfare first, and we are skeptical that Facebook is prepared to fulfil this obligation.”

In their letter, the lawmakers ask Mr. Zuckerberg a series a questions and request detailed commitments about how any future version of Instagram for children would operate.

The lawmakers’ letter concludes, “Should Facebook fail to provide adequate responses to the questions above or otherwise fail to demonstrate that a future version of Instagram for children would meet the highest standards of user protection, we would advise you to abandon your plans to launch this new platform.”

A copy of the letter may be found here.

UML Prof. Creates Mentoring Network for Asian American Teachers

UMass Lowell (UML) Associate Professor Phitsamay Uy was the first refugee from Laos to receive tenure as a professor of education in the United States. And for years, she was the only one.

Determined to change that, Uy has started a mentoring network for Asian American and Pacific Islander teachers and education students.

“One of my goals is to try to bring as many Asian American educators up through the K-12 and higher-education ranks as I can,” said Uy, who joined UML’s college of education in 2011.

Working with educators in Canton, Charlestown and Medford, Uy launched the Asian American Educator Mentor Program in 2019 with a $35,000 award from a National Education Association grant program that provides support for diverse teachers. The grant was just renewed.

Teachers of color are greatly underrepresented in the nation’s schools, even as the school-age population is becoming more diverse, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. Nationwide, 79 percent of teachers are white, but nearly half of K-12 public school students are Black, Hispanic, Asian American, Pacific Islander, Native American or multiracial, according to the U.S. Census.

 

The need to support Asian American and Pacific Islander educators is particularly acute, according to Uy. Although educators are highly respected in most Asian countries, many Asian American families discourage their children from pursuing teaching careers in the United States in favor of higher paying jobs in other fields, Uy said.

Only 2 percent of U.S. public school teachers are Asian American, and less than 1 percent are Pacific Islanders, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.

The mentoring program has 40 participants and has expanded this year to include several veteran teachers in California and Minnesota. Connecting via Zoom meetings, the full group convenes regularly for educational presentations and discussions with scholars and leaders of community organizations. Smaller mentoring groups that include one education student, one or two early-career teachers and one veteran teacher also meet on a rotating basis.

 

MassDevelopment Bond Helps CREST Finance New Location in Andover

MassDevelopment has issued a $17 million tax-exempt bond on behalf of Collaborative for Regional Educational Services and Training (CREST), a nonprofit that provides educational, vocational, and therapeutic programs for children with developmental disabilities. CREST used bond proceeds to buy an approximately 127,470-square-foot newly renovated school building in Andover, where the organization will consolidate programs offered at its three existing locations in Methuen under one roof.

The new facility, which was recently converted from its previous use as an office building, consists of 62 classrooms, 10 conference rooms, 55 private offices, a gymnasium, a cafeteria, several workshops, including art, music, computer, and woodshops, an auto repair facility, group restrooms, and a kitchen area. TD Bank, N.A., purchased the bond, which MassDevelopment enhanced with a guarantee.

CREST is comprised of 16 member school districts including Andover, Dracut, Greater Lawrence Technical School, Haverhill, Lawrence, Lowell, Methuen, Newburyport and North Andover. The organization offers educational programs and services for students with developmental disabilities to supplement and strengthen existing school programs and services that otherwise would be neither affordable nor accessible to each local school district on its own.

Pentucket Bank & Cote Family Establish Memorial Scholarship at Haverhill High School

Pentucket Bank and the family of former bank president and CEO Edmund Cote Jr. have established a scholarship for graduating Haverhill High School Seniors in the name of the late Mr. Cote, beginning in 2021.

Cote served as the president and CEO of Pentucket Bank for more than 15 years from 1983 to 1998 and remained a part of the Pentucket Bank family as a director and corporator until his passing in June 2020. Cote was instrumental in several strategic growth initiatives at Pentucket Bank, most notably spearheading the purchase of what is now the bank’s main office branch and office building at One Merrimack Street in downtown Haverhill.

As a tribute to Cote, his family raised $20,000 to establish a memorial scholarship in his name at Haverhill High School. In honor of the bank’s former leader, Pentucket Bank matched the funds in full, providing the city of Haverhill with a $40,000 investment to The Edmund J. Cote Jr. | Pentucket Bank Scholarship Fund.

The scholarship will be awarding two $1,000 scholarships annually to two Haverhill High School graduating seniors beginning in 2021.

On the Move Inc. Announces “Reading with Rowdy” Literacy Program

On the Move Inc. (OTMINC), in partnership with Jeanne D’Arc Credit Union and UMass Lowell, launches “Reading with Rowdy,” a program that encourages reading and literacy. Local Division I head coaches, politicians, celebrities, business leaders, and other members of the community have come together to share some of their favorite books in a series of videos with mascot Rowdy the Riverhawk for the children of Lowell.

The goal of this collaboration is to help students achieve reading proficiency by the time they complete the third grade. To help foster children’s love of reading and to help build home libraries, OTMINC has purchased over 3,000 books to go along with the stories. The students of the Abraham Lincoln and the S. Christa McAuliffe schools, as well as the Cardinal O’Connell Early Learning Center in Lowell, will each receive an age and reading level appropriate copy of one of the featured books, so that they may read along while watching the videos on YouTube.

“Literacy is such an important factor in a child’s life. Not only did we want to do something to help the kids in our community, we wanted to make it fun,” said Mark Cochran, president and CEO of Jeanne D’Arc Credit Union.

To view the first and subsequent titles in the series of “Reading with Rowdy” videos, visit Jeanne D’Arc Credit Union You Tube channel or OTMINC.org and click on the link on the web page.

Area Child In Need of Life-Saving Transplant

With the cost of a life-saving transplant often exceeding $800,000, most transplant families are unable to shoulder that financial burden. The Children’s Organ Transplant Association (COTA) is a national 501(c)3 charity dedicated to organizing and guiding communities in raising funds for transplant-related expenses. In Newburyport, volunteers are raising funds for COTA in honor of transplant patients like local child, Heeth Atanasoff.

Heeth is the son of Molly and Todd Atanasoff. Born in 2012, Heeth was diagnosed with aplastic anemia. The transplant team at Tufts Medical Center in Boston, Mass., recommends a life-saving bone marrow transplant. Newburyport volunteers are raising $100,000 for COTA to assist with transplant-related expenses.

Volunteers are needed for this COTA community campaign. Individuals and groups interested in more information should contact Community Coordinator Kerry Marshall at (978) 609-0866 or kerrymarshall48@gmail.com.

Heeth’s family has asked for assistance from the Children’s Organ Transplant Association. One hundred percent of all funds raised for COTA in honor of patients assist with transplant-related expenses.

Contributions may be sent to the Children’s Organ Transplant Association, 2501 West COTA Drive, Bloomington, Indiana, 47403. Checks should be made payable to COTA, with “In Honor of Heeths Hope” written on the memo line. Secure credit card gifts are accepted online at COTAforHeethsHope.com.

NECC Health Students are Administering Vaccines in Lawrence

When the city of Lawrence was in need of staff for its vaccine clinics, Northern Essex Community College answered the call.

Since March 11, 35 health care students have been volunteering at the site located at the Arlington Middle School. Nursing and medical assistant students are administering the vaccines and medical office administration students are registering those getting the vaccines.

It all started with a phone call from Elicia Miller ’13, community coordinator of the Mayor’s Health Task Force in Lawrence, to Kathy Hudson, her former professor.

“They wanted to open another vaccine site and they needed help,” says Hudson.

At the time, Hudson was struggling to find externships for her medical assisting students because many of the sites were no longer available due to COVID restrictions.

The end result was a win-win. The city had staffing help for the vaccine sites and students were gaining valuable experience administering vaccines and working with patients and their health records.

Medical assistant student Catherine Ripalda of Methuen was volunteering for the first time last week and she says it’s “a really good experience.” With each vaccine, she became “a little more comfortable” and she said she is proud to tell her son “I’m doing something for the community.”

Ripalda is bilingual as are most of the students in the college’s medical assistant program, which is a plus when giving vaccines in Lawrence, a city which is over 80% Hispanic.

Before giving the vaccines, students are fielding questions about side effects, existing health conditions, and COVID-19, according to Hudson, all under the supervision of NECC faculty.

To learn more, visit the website or contact Lancaster at slancaster@necc.mass.edu.

 

Outdoor Dining is Open at Tuscan Kitchen Burlington, Salem & Tuscan Sea Grill in Newburyport

Tuscan Brands has announced that their Burlington and Salem locations are open this weekend for dining, as is the new Tuscan Sea Grill in Newburyport.

Additionally, they have announced that the Salem Tuscan Market is moving to Tuscan Village, with a grand opening scheduled for May 2021. To learn more or to make reservations, click here.

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Physics Professor Wins $1M in Funding for Quantum Information Processing Research

UMass Lowell (UML) researcher Archana Kamal has won two early career development awards totaling more than $1 million from the U.S. Air Force and the National Science Foundation (NSF) for her research in the emerging field of quantum information processing (QIP) with open quantum systems.

QIP is based on the principles of quantum mechanics, which mathematically describe the behavior and interaction of matter and light on the atomic and subatomic scale.

 

NoteWorthy – 3/21/21

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AROUND THE VALLEY

NECC Announces Commencement and Reopening Plans for 2021

The Northern Essex Community College (NECC) 2021 commencement ceremony will feature five small in-person, socially distanced graduation ceremonies organized by academic area.

Each ceremony will be held outside on the Haverhill Campus on Saturday, May 15, starting with the first ceremony at 9 a.m. A student speaker from each of the areas — STEM, professional studies, health, liberal arts, and business — will be selected by the academic centers to speak and President Lane Glenn will present the diplomas. All graduates will be seated 6-feet apart and policies regarding guests will be announced closer to the date, when the guidelines regarding outside events become more clear.

Because last year’s ceremony was virtual, 2020 graduates have been invited to participate.

HC Media will be livestreaming all of the ceremonies so family and friends can watch from anywhere. The college also plans to hand out yard signs. Visit the college’s commencement website for up-to-date information. 

NECC also announced plans to expand its course options this fall, offering more opportunities for virtual and on-campus facetime between students and their professors.

 

UML to Return to Full On-Campus Operations

UMass Lowell (UML) plans to return to full on-campus operations for the fall 2021 semester, the university announced today.

“With vaccinations accelerating nationwide and multiple semesters of COVID-19 lessons learned and effectively implemented behind us, we believe we will be able to create a safe, social and interpersonal living and learning experience for all our students on campus,” Provost Joseph Hartman said. “This spring we’ve already increased our on-campus populations in classrooms and our residence halls. We’ve all learned through their absence just how important person-to-person interactions are.”

Current UML students can begin registering for fall classes on March 26 and new students can do so through the admissions process. 

 

Trahan Leads Reintroduction of Bipartisan Legislation to Tackle Root Causes of Addiction Crisis

U.S. Rep Lori Trahan, a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Health Subcommittee, led the reintroduction of the Medication Access and Training Expansion (MATE) Act,  bipartisan legislation to implement a standard for substance use disorder (SUD) training to require prescribers of highly addictive medications to have baseline knowledge in evidence-based addiction prevention and treatment.

“Every person in our community, in our Commonwealth, and in our country knows firsthand or through a loved one the devastating havoc the opioid epidemic continues to wreak. Congress has an obligation undertake a holistic approach to ending the addiction crisis that has taken far too many lives already,” said Trahan. “That can’t happen without understanding addiction’s root causes and the stigma associated with seeking out help. The MATE Act will ensure that medical professionals across the nation have standardized training that not only ensures a strong understanding of addiction, but also gives them the tools necessary to identify, treat, and manage patients with substance use disorders.”

Specifically, the bipartisan legislation would:

  • Create a one-time, non-repetitive requirement for all DEA controlled substance prescribers to complete training on treating and managing patients with opioid and other substance use disorders, unless the prescriber is otherwise qualified.
  • Allow accredited medical schools and residency programs, physician assistant schools, and schools of advanced practice nursing to fulfill the training requirement through comprehensive curriculum that meets the standards laid out in statute, without having to coordinate the development of their education with an outside medical society or state licensing body.
  • Normalize addiction medicine education across certain professional schools and phase out the need for these future practitioners to take a separate, federally mandated addiction course.
  • Authorize the federal government to appropriate grants to schools and medical programs to develop the curricula used to train prescribers on how to best identify and treat SUDs. 

Expert Says COVID-19 is Complicating Tax Season

The COVID-19 pandemic is creating complications for tax filers this season, according to a UMass Lowell (UML) taxation expert.

This week, the IRS extended the deadline until Monday, May 17, to give people filing individual returns more time to navigate tax implications for 2020. The economic stimulus programs instituted over last year, the millions of people who received unemployment compensation and the fact millions of others worked from home have created a perfect storm for accountants and other tax preparers, according to Janie Casello Bouges, a UML expert on taxation and regulation.

“The federal government has changed and eased a number of tax rules because of COVID. The question is whether the rules will return to the previous status quo once the pandemic is under control. This may represent a huge shift in taxation for business and individuals,” she said.

GLCF awards more than $500K in additional COVID-19 Response Grants 

After more than a year after the pandemic began, the Greater Lowell Community Foundation (GLCF) continues its work to support nonprofits providing relief to people affected by COVID-19.  The GLCF deployed a new round of COVID-19 related grants, providing an additional $550,142 to 32 area nonprofits through the Commonwealth COVID Grant Program and GLCF COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund.

GLCF awarded $414,992 in grant funding in the first round of the Commonwealth COVID Grant Program, made possible by the Baker-Polito Administration’s $10 million grant program for COVID-19 relief. The program is administered by the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development through community foundations.

Among the 24 Commonwealth COVID Grants funded through GLCF, the International Institute of New England in Lowell received a grant to support food supplies and rental assistance.

The 24 nonprofits receiving $414,992 in grant funding in the first round of the Commonwealth COVID Grant Program are:

  • Boys & Girls Club of Greater Lowell:  Educational Support
  • Cambodian Mutual Assistance Association: CMAA Emergency Response Project
  • Catie’s Closet Inc.: Meeting the COVID-19 Needs of the Lowell Community
  • Coalition for a Better Acre:  Pandemic Response 2021
  • Community Teamwork Inc. . COVID Relief Projects
  • Dwelling House of Hope: Food Pantry
  • Girls, Inc. of Greater Lowell: Remote Learning
  • Greater Lowell Family YMCA: Remote Learning
  • House of Hope, Inc.: COVID Prevention Baskets
  • International Institute of New England: Food Supplies and Rental Assistance
  • Life Connection Center Inc.: COVID 19 Basic Needs Emergency Project
  • Lowell House Inc.: Housing Stabilization
  • Merrimack Valley Food Bank Inc.: Food Assistance in Lowell
  • Mill City Grows: Increasing Food Security in Lowell
  • NFI MA Inc.: COVID 19 Essential Supplies Support for Lowell
  • Northeast Legal Aid Inc.: – Supporting Lowell Tenants Facing Eviction
  • Project Home Again: New Items Program
  • Sankofa Support Services: Diaper Distribution Program
  • The Center for Hope and Healing Inc.: Hopeful Futures, Supporting BIPOC and LGBQ/T Youth
  • The Megan House Foundation: COVID-19 Relief Support
  • Troubled Waters Inc.: Bi-lingual Recovery Coach Program
  • VNA Care Network Inc.: Equipping VNA Care Network’s Frontline Nurses
  • Wayside Youth & Family Support Network: Wayside | Lowell – PPE and Addressing Food Insecurities
  • YWCA of Lowell: Acre Youth Center Educational Enrichment Support Resources

Additionally, GLCF distributed a round of support from the GLCF COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund. Of the six recent grants from the GLCF COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund, Boys and Girls Club of Greater Billerica received a grant to support COVID-19 Remote Learning and STEAM Enrichment.

The eight nonprofits receiving $135,150 in grants in the latest round of the GLCF COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund are:

  • Aaron’s Presents: Keeping Our Teens Engaged and Creative during the Pandemic
  • Boys and Girls Club of Greater Billerica: COVID-19 Remote Learning and STEAM Enrichment
  • Greater Lowell Health Alliance – Equitable COVID-19 Vaccine Community Education Roll-out
  • Lowell Community Health Center: Strengthening Health Equity – LCHC Patient Access Services
  • Minute Man Arc for Human Services Inc. – Safeguarding children with disabilities during COVID-19 pandemic
  • Nashua River Watershed Association: Wednesday Walks with NRWA Naturalists
  • UTEC Inc.: Madd Love Meals for Dracut + Tyngsboro Elders
  • VNA Care Network Inc.: COVID-19 Patient Isolation Kits

Western Avenue Resumes First Saturday Outdoor Art Market

Western Avenue artists are excited to welcome enthusiastic art lovers again. Their first Saturday in-person Outdoor Art Market of 2021 will be on Saturday, April 3,  from 12 p.m. until 4 p.m. Attendance inside the market will be limited to state guidelines and masks will be required to be worn at all times.

Henry Marte, Western Avenue’s marketing manager, is working hard to accommodate the 40 plus artists that want to participate in the outdoor event. Western Avenue will be using their social media feed to highlight the participating artists so the public can get to know participating artists before arriving on site.

This event will mark the first time the new Tiny Arms Coffee cafe (whose owners were recently featured on The 495 podcast) will be open to the public. Tiny Arms is located in the Studios building and will be serving up coffee and tea, as well as selling their beans roasted on site. The Loading Dock Gallery will be hosting their April show, “Invocation of Place,” featuring the work of Priscilla Levesque and Noel Soucy. Levesque is a Western Avenue artist who paint in the pointillist style, building her landscape images from small dots.

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Pentucket Bank Welcomes Community Leaders to Board of Trustees

Michelle Lavigne, a corporator of Pentucket Bank since 2019, is the owner of several Servpro franchises, including Haverhill where their headquarters are located. Lavigne officially joined the Servpro team, her family’s business, in 2006 where she worked for her father and fellow Pentucket Bank Corporator, Dave Hart, as marketing and office manager before purchasing the business with her husband Patrick in 2013. Lavigne is a member of the Exchange Club of Haverhill and currently serves on the board as Treasurer. Lavigne is also an active supporter of numerous local organizations including the Liz Murphy Open Hand Food Pantry, Sacred Hearts School, the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Haverhill and many youth sports programs. Lavigne lives in Haverhill with Patrick and their two children.

 

Daniel Norris, became a Bank Corporator in 2011. He practices corporate law and is a director in the McLane Middleton Law firm in Manchester, N.H., and Woburn, Mass. Norris received his J.D. from Northeastern University School of Law and his B.A with distinction from Purdue University. Norris’ areas of focus at the firm include mergers and acquisition and corporate business law, as well as other corporate specialties. In the community, Norris is a member of the Central Catholic board of directors, a member of the Salem Chamber of Commerce, and has served on the Salem Boys & Girls Club board of directors, as well as many other local and statewide affiliations. Norris lives in Salem, N.H. with his wife, Lori, and their three children.

Jeanne D’Arc Credit Union announced the addition of two new team members.

Tracy Dodier-Brochu to AVP, Operational Risk Management

Dodier-Brochu has more than 30 years of experience at Newburyport Bank, holding multiple officer titles with the most recent being assistant vice president, security and information technology business analyst. Dodier-Brochu has an extensive background in information technology, information security, risk management, and quality assurance, as well as experience in various areas of operations, bank policies, programs, procedures, and Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council guidelines. She attended Northern Essex Community College and holds the following certification titles, Certified Banking Security Manager and Certified Banking Vendor Manager.

 

Yan Ventura to AT Business Services Advisor

Ventura joins Jeanne D’Arc’s Business Services Team with six years of banking experience. He was previously a small business specialist at Santander Bank where he was recognized as the number one small business specialist in the district and a top performer in the northeastern district. Ventura received his BA in Business Administration from Southern New Hampshire University. He holds his NMLS certification and is a certified Salesforce.com administrator.

 

NoteWorthy – 8/2/20

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AROUND THE VALLEY

GLCF Awards Grant to Lowell Association for the Blind

The Greater Lowell Community Foundation (GLCF) announced that the Lowell Association for the Blind (LAB) has received this year’s grant from the Greater Lowell Community Foundation’s Center for Business Philanthropy. The $10,000 grant will allow LAB to buy new computer workstations, accessible software and accessories to be used in its STEP computer training sessions.

The grant program, given in partnership with Juniper Networks, a leader in secure, AI-driven networks, builds relationships with nonprofit organizations and engages employees in learning about volunteer opportunities in the Greater Lowell community.

 

MCC to Host Weekly Virtual Drop-In Enrollment Sessions

Fall semester classes at Middlesex Community College (MCC) begin Wednesday, September 9. MCC’s Office of Admissions are now hosting virtual drop-in enrollment sessions every week to guide students to success starting.

The Virtual Drop-In enrollment sessions are held 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and 9 a.m. to noon on Fridays. These one-stop enrollment sessions will include MCC staff from admissions, enrollment, placement testing, financial aid, student accounts and advising. They will answer questions regarding admissions, course placement and financial aid.

With virtual drop-in enrollment, students can learn about MCC’s more than 80 degree and certificate programs without leaving their homes. They can also receive information about student support services – including tutoring, career counseling and disability support.

For more information, contact admissions@middlesex.mass.edu or call (800) 818-3434.

Visit here or call (800) 818-3434 to register for fall classes.

 

 

New Massachusetts Travel Orders for Visitors and Returning Residents

As of August 1, all visitors and returning residents entering Massachusetts must follow new travel orders. All visitors entering Massachusetts, including returning residents, who do not meet an exemption, are required to complete the Massachusetts Travel Form prior to arrival, unless you are visiting from a state designated by the Department of Public Health as lower-risk. Returning residents must also quarantine for 14 days or produce a negative COVID-19 test result that has been administered up to 72-hours prior to your arrival in Massachusetts.

Travelers from COVID-19 lower-risk states are not required to fill out the Massachusetts Traveler Form and do not need to quarantine. These states include Connecticut, Hawaii, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont.

 

Pentucket Bank Named Industry Top Loan Producer

Independent Banker, the magazine of the Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) and a for community banking news, recognized Pentucket Bank of Haverhill as an ICBA top lender in its July issue. Pentucket Bank’s recognition is based on the strength of its competitive banking services and operational efficiencies throughout 2019.

The annual list is based on the strength of competitive banking services and operational efficiencies using FDIC data for 2019. Scores were determined by combining the average of the bank’s percentile rank for lending concentration and for loan growth over the past.

 

Keep Kids Engaged with MCC’s Virtual College for Kids

Middlesex Community College is helping to keep kids ages 8 to 17 busy and engaged this summer with virtual College for Kids. College for Kids allows children to have a productive and fun summer while exploring careers, learning new skills, meeting new friends and boosting self-confidence. MCC’s College for Kids offers one and three-week, full and half-day summer programs for children and teens. The program runs through August 13.

Classes will either be on ZOOM, Google Classroom or Google Meet. Having classes in a virtual format ensures kids stay safe and healthy while learning. Upcoming classes include creative writing, exploration art studio, veterinary science, choreography and healthy eating. For the complete 2020 College for Kids schedule and registration information, visit here or call (781) 280-3663.


National and State Grants Awarded to MRT

Merrimack Repertory Theatre (MRT) recently received $60,000 in CARES Act grants from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) and Mass Humanities, primarily in support of the MRT Young Company.

The grants were supported by Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey and Rep. Lori Trahan to provide assistance for the theater’s longtime education program for high school students and its associated costs. Due to the pandemic, Young Company launched virtually for the first time earlier this month.

The pandemic caused the theater to close its doors in March and cancel the final two shows of the 2019-20 Season, which resulted in a deficit of more than $300,000.

 

Whittier Home in Amesbury, Virtually Yours

Since the museum has been closed indefinitely, the Whittier Home has produced a virtual tour of the museum to provide those who can’t visit in person but wish to learn more of Whittier, his Quaker beliefs of nonviolence and his antiracist works prior to and during the Civil War.  The tour, which is 35 minutes in length, is available on YouTube at this link: https://youtu.be/PbDzN7jmL8Q

Events in the garden of the Home have also been canceled this year, but the August poetry reading, “Tapestry of Voices,” a collaboration which has been held for 21 years, will offer a Zoom session for its 22nd year on August 9 from 3 to 5 p.m.

To make a reservation to attend the live Zoom session on August 9, please send a request in email to chrisbryant1@comcast.net. The event will be recorded on Zoom and be available at a later date on YouTube.

 

UML Researcher Invents New Printing Process, Advances 3D Capabilities

More durable prosthetics and medical devices for patients and stronger parts for airplanes and automobiles are just some of the products that could be created through a new 3D printing technology invented by a UMass Lowell researcher.

Substances such as plastics, metals and wax are used in 3D printers to make products and parts for larger items, as the practice has disrupted the prototyping and manufacturing fields. Products created through the 3D printing of plastics include everything from toys to drones.

Called injection printing, the technology Kazmer pioneered is featured in the academic journal Additive Manufacturing posted online last week. The process took about 18 months to develop.

 

Dacey Zouzas Endowment for the Arts Sneaker Project

The Dacey Zouzas Endowment for the Arts has 23 pair of girls sneakers donated by Puma North America to give away The shoes are painted with the endowment’s daisy logo by local artist Angelina Tavares of Forty Kicks.
To reserve your girl’s sneakers, email info@chelmsfordarts.org with the following information: 1. Adult’s Name AND Telephone number 2. Girls size requested (see above) PUT DACEY’S DAISY in the SUBJECT line.

NoteWorthy – 5/3/20

by

Around the Valley

GLCF Announces $75,000 in COVID-19 Emergency Response Grants

The Greater Lowell Community Foundation (GLCF) recently provided phase one emergency response grants to Greater Lowell nonprofits serving vulnerable populations during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Totaling $75,000, these 60 grants are the first to be distributed from the newly established GLCF COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund, created to meet the need for nonprofit resources and services for the elderly, low-income, immigrants and homeless during these uncertain times. Categories of funding included: food insecure, essential/front line workers, homeless, immigrants, individuals with disabilities/elders, technology support/educational supplies and essential supplies.

 

 

 

An Update on the Greater Lawrence Family Health Center

The support Greater Lawrence Family Health Center (GLFHC) continues to look for new and innovative ways to raise philanthropic support and donations of personal protective equipment. They wish to thank those that have given to the GLFHC COVID-19 Response Fund, as well as the individuals and organizations who have donated to help recognize our hardworking staff.

Their monthly Mobile Food Market at the 34 Haverhill Street site, in partnership with the Greater Boston Food Bank, continues to serve the community as it has for the past three years. Their community support services team leads a group of over 30 staff volunteers on the last Saturday of every month in preparing bags of food and produce for patients in need. Over 750 Lawrence families received assistance this month. Here is short video from Saturday: GLFHC Mobile Food Market.

Pentucket Bank Processes Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Loan Applications Through the Night

On April 27, Pentucket Bank processed over 100 Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan applications through the night, securing critical funds for business owners who had applied with the bank.

The Small Business Administration (SBA) released the anticipated second round of PPP funds at 10:30 a.m. in the amount of $351 billion. Despite complications with the SBA portal, the Pentucket Bank team committed to securing funds for their customers, and they worked straight through until just before 3 a.m. when the last of their applications in queue was submitted and authorized.

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Business and Community Leaders Launch One Haverhill Fund

Haverhill community leaders launched the One Haverhill Fund to mobilize resources to provide emergency assistance to individuals and families impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The One Haverhill Fund — convened by Rep. Andy Vargas and established by community leaders including Mayor James Fiorentini, Rep. Christina Minicucci, the Greater Haverhill Chamber, Community Action, Inc., Emmaus, Haverhill food pantries, and United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley — will mobilize resources for emergency assistance and expanded food distribution, with a focus on those who are most economically vulnerable during the pandemic. The fund will deploy resources through nonprofit partners to prevent financial crises and displacement for the residents of Haverhill.

Groundwork Lawrence Helps Eight Local Restaurants To Provide 1600 Meals A Week To Families

Groundwork Lawrence (GWL) recently reached out to community and funding partners to collaborate on a COVID-19 relief response. Working with funding partner MassDevelopment’s Transformative Development Initiative (TDI) — a state program for Gateway Cities designed to accelerate economic growth within focused districts — GWL contracted with 8 local downtown Lawrence restaurants to launch a COVID-19 relief response that provides much needed meals to families while also providing critical dollars to local businesses and supporting local jobs.

Blue Lounge Restaurant, Cafe Azteca, Coco’s Cafe & Catering, El Taller Cafe & Bookstore, Grumpy G, Lu’s Cafe & Bakery, Tu Kasa, and Vaka Restaurant have entered into an agreement with Groundwork Lawrence to provide catered meals that are delivered to three community partners: Lawrence YMCA, Boys and Girls Club of Lawrence, and Bread and Roses.

Align Credit Union Donates $10,000 to Hospitals and Food Banks on Pay It Forward Day

Align Credit Union announced that it has donated $10,000 to a group of local hospitals, food banks and food pantries that are helping Massachusetts communities battle the spread and effects of COVID-19. On Pay It Forward Day, which takes place every year on April 28 and is meant to inspire acts of kindness globally, Align donated $1000 to each of the following organizations: A Place to Turn, Anna Jaques Hospital, Danvers People to People Food Pantry, Holy Family Hospital, Lowell General Hospital, Merrimack Valley Food Bank, MetroWest Medical Center, North Shore Medical Center, Our Neighbors’ Table and Wilmington Community Fund Food Pantry.

Speechapalooza Speakers And Speeches Announced

Students from Northern Essex Community College hosted an online public speaking event, Speechapalooza, on Instagram, Facebook and Youtube. Taking place April 29 through May 1, this event was used to collect donations for the college’s COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund.

The fund helps to provide laptops and/or internet access, tuition assistance, and stipends for students dealing with food insecurity, the switch to remote learning and other needs connected to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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