Merrimack Valley Magazine

NoteWorthy – 5/23/21

May 23, 2021 by Kristin Cole

AROUND THE VALLEY

Local Students Graduate from NECC

Northern Essex Community College (NECC) held its 59th commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 15. Since their graduation was virtual last year, 2020 graduates were also included, .

Each ceremony involved a student speaker and an address from President Lane Glenn. Over 1300 graduates from 2020 and 2021 were celebrated and associate degrees and certificates from over 70 academic programs were awarded.

President Glenn typically shakes the hand of each graduate, which wasn’t possible this year due to safety guidelines. Instead, each graduate received a foam hand that proclaimed “NECC Grads are #1.” As they crossed the commencement platform, they were given the option of high-fiving (by far the most popular); waving, top tapping, or elbow bumping.

Of this year’s graduates:

67.4% are women
Close to half are first generation college students, meaning they are the first in their family to attend college
About half are students of color, including 37% who are Latino
35 are veterans
The youngest grad was 17 and the oldest grad was 69

The five commencement speakers included: Shanna Guy of Newburyport for business and accounting; Shania Berard of Methuen for professional studies; Rosanna Lara of Lawrence for liberal arts; Vladimir Ventura of Lawrence for STEM; and Paola Sierra de Valerio of Lawrence for health professions.

$3.3M Grant Announced to Fuel Response to Post-Pandemic Challenges

A group of Massachusetts research institutions and organizations led by UMass Lowell (UML) has received a $3.3 million federal grant to continue its efforts to ensure the commonwealth is prepared to face the ongoing challenges of COVID-19, future pandemics and other public health crises.

Through UML, the project has been awarded a $3.3 million CARES ACT grant by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA). The funding will go to continue the production of personal protective equipment (PPE), expand into other medical supplies, devices and equipment, and to develop related training and curriculum with the goal of creating new jobs and economic opportunities following the pandemic.

The Addison Gallery Celebrates 90 Years With Exhibition of Treasures From Its Permanent Collection

One of the first museums devoted solely to the art of the United States, the Addison Gallery of American Art has made prescient acquisitions and organized pioneering exhibitions over nine decades, and now holds one of the world’s most significant and dynamic collections of American art across media.

In celebration of its 90th anniversary, the museum presents “Learning to Look: The Addison at 90,” an exhibition that features iconic masterworks, exceptional but lesser-known pieces, and new acquisitions that embody the Addison’s illustrious history and ongoing commitment to groundbreaking artists. This exhibition playfully and provocatively juxtaposes works by artists such as Jacob Lawrence, Winslow Homer, Jay DeFeo, Martin Puryear, Georgia O’Keeffe, Thomas Eakins, Agnes Martin, Edward Hopper, Laurie Simmons, Martin Wong, Jackson Pollock, and Donald Judd, among many others.

In addition to the well-known paintings that comprise the core of the Addison’s original collection, many of the works in the exhibition reflect the museum’s longstanding commitment to fostering and championing the work of living artists.

Trahan Leads Introduction of Social Media Data Transparency Legislation

U.S. Rep. Lori Trahan led the introduction of the Social Media Disclosure and Transparency of Advertisements (DATA) Act, legislation that will lift the curtain on key data regarding online targeted advertisements that is currently held under lock and key by dominant platforms.

Large digital platforms have the largest repository of online behavioral data in the world, cementing their dominance in digital ad targeting. While online advertising has become the most common method for small and medium sized businesses to reach consumers, it has also emerged as a leading source of disinformation and harmful or defective product promotion that can be targeted to vulnerable populations. The digital marketing industry has allowed ads promoting high interest credit cards to target older women, junk food and pill parties to target younger users, predatory for-profit colleges to target veterans, fraudulent opioid rehabilitation centers to target potential patients, and more.

Click the following links to find a copy of the legislation, a section-by-section summary, and a fact sheet.

MCC’s Education Department Ranks No. 1 for Best Value in Mass.

The education department at Middlesex Community College provides students such as Cindy Rios with academic excellence, affordable tuition and accessible content and materials.

Middlesex Community College (MCC) was ranked number one for the 2021 Best Value Teacher Education Grade Specific Associate Degree Schools in Massachusetts and in the New England Region by Teaching Degree Search. The Education department at Middlesex provides students with academic excellence, affordable tuition and accessible content and materials.

On the Teaching Degree Search website, students can access information about teaching colleges and programs in ranked lists based on research. Middlesex was named the Best Value Teaching Schools on the site’s most recent ranking for both Massachusetts and New England, and is described as “an affordable, quality education to students.”

For over two years, MCC’s Education department has also offered free courses to Early Childhood Education (ECE) students who are working in the field and want to start their academic pathway. Classes are funded through the ECE Career Pathways grant and the Mass. Department of Early Education and Care (EEC).

NECC Observer Earns Gold Medal from the Columbia Scholastic Press Association

Despite the challenges of the pandemic, Northern Essex Community College’s (NECC) student newspaper, the NECC Observer, received a gold medal from the Columbia Scholastic Press Association (CSPA) for the 2019-2020 school year. The newspaper had the additional distinction of All Columbia Honors for receiving an exceptionally high judging score.

The NECC Observer is an award-winning newspaper published by NECC journalism students. The Observer is published twice monthly during the academic year. The NECC Observer staff works to inform the college community, including students, faculty, and staff. The Observer also serves as a public forum for the Haverhill and Lawrence campuses and accepts letters and guest columns from the college community.

Greater Lawrence Summer Fund Offers YWCA $6,000 To Help Fund Camp Y-Wood Summer Camp

YWCA Northeastern Massachusetts announced that the Greater Summer Fund has granted the organization $6,000 for the purpose of funding Camp Y-Wood, the YWCA’s summer camp located in Salem, N.H.

The funding that will aid in allowing the summer camp to remain an affordable, safe, and unforgettable time by covering staff salaries, camp supplies, camperships and other costs.

Camp Y-Wood serves children ages 5 to 13 on a 22-acre campsite, right on the shore of Captain’s Pond. Campers have the opportunity to learn swimming, boating, arts and nature crafts, sports, fishing, outdoor living, hiking, and survival skills, all while experimenting with new things, discovering their own creativity and passion for the outdoors, and making new friends

Museum of Printing Commemorates Haverhill Ties to Bible Translation and 19th Century Missionary Movement

Not only did the American missionary movement of the 19th century began in Haverhill, Mass., but Haverhill was also a center for Bible translations. Adoniram Judson, American linguist and Baptist missionary in Myanmar (Burma) translated the Bible into Burmese with his wife Ann Hazeltine Judson.

To commemorate the Haverhill Bible connection, Haverhill’s Museum of Printing has consolidated its extensive Bible collection and reference material in one exhibit and resource room.

Included in the exhibit is a replica of the Gutenberg and over thirty historic Bibles plus many other printed religious publications and artifacts such as leaves from Luther’s German translation are on display.

The museum also has one leaf from every Bible printed in Colonial America, including the first Bible printed in America, the Eliot Bible of 1663 in the Algonquin Indian language, and giant Folio-sized Bibles and pocket-sized Bibles on display.

***

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Touchstone Closing Welcomes New Partner Mary L. Cataudella

Cataudella has more than 25 years of experience in private practice and also as in-house managing counsel for a national title insurance company, which will truly enhance Touchstone’s service offerings. Cataudella earned her undergraduate degree from Holy Cross and her law degree at Northeastern University School of Law. She is a member of the Mass., N.H. and R.I. bars and the Real Estate Bar Association. Cataudella has been a panelist and author for continuing legal education seminars on real estate matters. She currently resides in Andover with her husband and two college-aged daughters.

Merrimack Valley Planning Commission Appoints Jerrard Whitten as Executive Director

Whitten has been a key contributor to the Merrimack Valley Planning Commission for 26 years. Prior to being named executive director, he served as geographic information system and information technology manager and environmental planner. Whitten is a graduate of the University of New Hampshire with a Master of Science in resource administration and management and a Bachelor of Science in resource economics. Whitten resides in Newbury.

Wellness Wednesdays – 7/31/19

July 31, 2019 by Jaden Mendola Leave a Comment

WELLNESS AROUND THE WEB

How Does Owning A Dog Affect Your Health?

A study of 3.4 million people between the ages of 40 and 80 found that having a dog was associated with a 23% reduction in death from heart disease and a 20% lower risk of dying from any cause over the 12 years of the study. However, as The Guardian notes, most of these studies are considered observational – researchers note an association, but can’t prove causation.

Despite this, there is plenty of evidence to support the idea that having a dog positively affects one’s health. Dog owners are more likely to go out for regular walks, and owning a dog is a great way to battle loneliness. Both of these factors can directly benefit your heart and show why dogs truly are man’s best friend.

Casual Alcohol Use Has Been Linked to Several Major Cancers

Most people associate alcohol’s danger with excessive drinking, which can lead to problems like liver disease, addiction, and drunk driving accidents. However, according to an article by Health.com, alcohol has been directly linked to seven cancers. These include cancers of the throat, esophagus, mouth, voice box (larynx), colon and rectum, liver, and breast. The American Cancer Society (ACS) says alcohol might also lead to pancreatic and stomach cancer.

A report published earlier this year says drinking one bottle of wine each week increases a person’s cancer odds the way smoking roughly 10 cigarettes a week does.

This isn’t to say that one can never enjoy a glass of wine, or any alcoholic beverage, without worrying about the consequences of their indulgence. Rather, one should always be aware of the dangers that come with drinking. It may be socially acceptable, and even encouraged, to participate in the consumption of alcohol, but that doesn’t change the fact that drinking of any kind has zero positive effects on the human body.

***

How Does Social Media Affect Mental Health?

It is a common belief that using social media platforms can adversely affect people’s mental health, but new research has shown that using these networking sites can reduce an adult’s risk of experiencing depression or anxiety.

According to MedicalNewsToday.com, the findings of a recent study showed that 63% of social media users (a diverse group of adults) were less likely to experience mental health issues, such as depression and anxiety, than those not using these sites. This could be because social media made it easier for them to stay in touch with extended family members and to access health information.

Natural Born Hackers

November 7, 2017 by Bill Brenner Leave a Comment

It’s well understood that lots of kids, particularly as they get older, know their way around the internet. In many cases, they’re smarter than grownups. As digital natives born in the cyber age, the online world is about the same as the real world.

They are natural-born hackers, capable of becoming good or bad guys.
I speak from experience. I’m a 47-year-old information security practitioner who has worked as a tech journalist and as an employee for companies with advanced cybersecurity programs, including Akamai and now Sophos. Because of that, my family expects me to be THE expert. Sometimes I ask for trouble when I try to teach them a lesson — like grabbing a phone and writing on the owner’s Facebook timeline to demonstrate the value of having a security PIN on the phone. I’ve done that a few times during family get-togethers, grabbing a sister-in-law’s phone and typing into her Facebook account: “My brother-in-law Bill is the best!”

One day, my oldest son — then 14 — decided to give me a taste of my own medicine. He’d been watching me punch in my PIN for some time, and when the opportunity arose, he grabbed my phone, correctly entered the PIN and gleefully wrote on my Facebook timeline: “You should be ashamed of yourself. You’re Mr. Security in the family, but you let yourself get hacked by someone who can’t even drive a car.”

Score one for the offspring. What he didn’t realize was that in getting past my PIN, he could have accessed parts of my employer’s network. That was a sobering moment and an important lesson: With my own kids, aged 13 and 16, I’m in a good position to mold them into tomorrow’s good guys — those who use their skills to help build a more perfect cyber defense. But kids without proper guidance could grow up to become tomorrow’s online villains.

Common-sense parenting
The key for us grownups is knowing how to steer them toward the light. The good news is that you don’t have to work in my industry to make a positive impact. Most of this falls under parental common sense — teaching them right from wrong and instilling virtues of kindness, love and personal responsibility. There are areas of parenting where I often come up short. Like swearing in front of the kids. I lost that battle a long time ago. Or vaping in front of them. Some bad habits are harder to hide than others.

But since they make fun of my salty tongue and vices, and are heavily involved in Boy Scouts, charity projects and have generous hearts, I have faith that we’re getting the most important things right. Beyond common sense, there are other things we need to be vigilant about. Here are some examples:

Keeping watch
We need to keep a close eye on what our kids are doing on those iPads and gaming platforms. Are they harmlessly engaged in Minecraft or reading digitized Harry Potter books? Or are they looking at sites that peddle porn and extremist views, learning how to spread hate and, if they’re more technically advanced, learning how to spoof accounts and steal? As parents, we have to watch these activities closely. Anne Reeks, who writes a computing column for the Houston Chronicle, describes this process in a Parenting.com article as stepping into your kids’ cyberworld.

Privacy matters
Another tip in her article is to teach kids how to protect their privacy. As Reeks wrote: While they won’t fully understand the consequences of revealing personal information online, you should still make sure your children know:
– Never to give their name, phone number, email address, password, postal address, school, or picture without your permission
– Not to open email from people they don’t know
– Not to respond to hurtful or disturbing messages
– Not to get together with anyone they “meet” online.

Monitor their gaming
As I’ve mentioned, one of the things to watch when you step into their online world is the gaming they engage in. When I was at Akamai, I co-authored the quarterly security version of the company’s “State of the Internet” report. Quarter after quarter we saw that gaming was one of the industries most affected by cybercrime. Here, the goal of those launching attacks is to cheat, knocking down other gamers in order to get ahead of them. If your kid is writing code for that purpose, you may not be able to tell. But you might be able to wear them down by repeating the “cheaters never win” mantra.

Limit their time and restrict their location
Reeks offered another suggestion I agree with wholeheartedly and try to practice at home: Limit the time kids can spend online, and keep the main family computer in a central spot. In our house, the kids are allowed an hour a day, though I admit that it’s not always easy to enforce. For kids who want to go past their allotted time, there’s no better scenario than a parent distracted by work who won’t see what’s happening until it’s too late. The gaming they do tends to be too complex for their tablets, so they have to use the family laptop. We always keep that laptop in the same room in the same spot.

Keep SafeKids.com bookmarked
As we in the security industry often say, the threat landscape is constantly changing. Therefore, it’s important to keep up on your reading. In my real job, I write about the latest threats from a technical perspective, and my audience ranges from consumers to businesses. But for a kid-specific perspective, I recommend SafeKids.com. The site is constantly updated with articles on everything from teaching your kids about cyberbullying to weeding out the fake news in their feeds.

Conclusion
As I mentioned earlier, parents aren’t perfect, and we can’t protect our kids from every conceivable danger. But if we remain vigilant, there’s much we can do to steer them in the right direction.

Who We Are

Sections

Links