Merrimack Valley Magazine

NoteWorthy – 8/15/21

August 15, 2021 by Kristin Cole

AROUND THE VALLEY

Lawrence Partnership’s Revolving Test Kitchen Officially Opens for Business

The Lawrence Partnership announced that the Revolving Test Kitchen (RTK) is now officially open for business and is accepting new food entrepreneur members.

The RTK is a shared culinary workspace in Lawrence, complete with multiple prep and cook spaces and dry and cold storage. Supported by experts in food and business, the RTK offers a workspace for local food entrepreneurs, helping them collaborate, curate ideas, and launch their local dreams.

Located on Common Street in Lawrence, the RTK will accommodate a cross section of food businesses including food trucks, catering companies, small batch manufacturers and food delivery companies.

The kitchen is open for food production from 4 a.m. to midnight with optional 24-hour access. Interested in utilizing this space? Visit here to learn more.

MCC Named a 2021 Best for Vets College

Middlesex Community College (MCC) was named one of the 2021 Best for Vets: Colleges by the Military Times. MCC ranked number one in the northeast for public, general education two-year schools, and number 16 in the country for two-year schools overall.

The Military Times’ ranking provides veteran and military-connected students with information on a college’s type of institution, region, accreditation status and overall percentage rating based on survey results, according to Jessica Frost, director of the Veterans Resource Center (VRC).

MCC supports veterans and their families through the VRC, a Veterans Advisory Board, and other special veteran services. The college also partners with the school certifying officials, student accounts and other student support areas to serve veteran and military-connected (National Guard and Reservists, active military and spouse/dependents of veterans) students, according to Frost.

Jaffarian Volvo Toyota Hosts Book Drive for Ruth’s House

This September, Jaffarian Volvo Toyota is partnering with Ruth’s House, a non-profit thrift store in Haverhill, for a book drive in memory of Sara Jaffarian’s birthday. Jaffarian invites the customers, vendors and employees to donate new or gently used children’s books from preschool to 8th-grade reading levels. Book donations will be accepted at the showroom during business hours.

Sarah Jaffarian began her career as a librarian for the Quincy school system. She later served as the director of libraries for the Greensboro, N.C., public school system, a supervisor of libraries for the Seattle, W.A. public school system, and held numerous offices and committee appointments. In 1961, she returned to her home state to design and develop a school library program in Lexington, M.A. Under her leadership, an Encyclopedia Britannica School Library Award was given to the Lexington Public Schools in 1964. Jaffarian supported many worthy causes, including the senior reading room at the Haverhill Public Library, the Advent Christian Church elevator and kitchen renovations, and the Armenian Church at Hye Pointe in Haverhill.

Brady Sullivan Properties Purchases Tax Credits in Support of Palace Theatre

Brady Sullivan Properties pledged $63,000 to purchase N.H. Community Development Finance Authority (CDFA) tax credits in support of Palace Youth Theatre’s Forever Emma Studios.

This pledge will support safety and accessibility improvements at Emma Studios, including the installation of a lift and ramp at the facility. Palace Youth Theatre has always demonstrated a strong commitment and benefit to the community by increasing access to the performing arts for youth.

Trahan, MCC Leaders Highlight American Rescue Plan Funding

U.S. Rep. Lori Trahan joined with Middlesex Community College (MCC) President Phil Sisson for a roundtable discussion on how the $13,699,521 in American Rescue Plan relief funding awarded to MCC is being put to use. The Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund III Award for Students was $6.9 million and $6.7 million for the institution.

The American Rescue Plan included a total of $36 billion for nearly 3,500 public and private nonprofit colleges, and universities nationwide, including nearly $82 million for institutions of higher education in the Massachusetts third district. MCC received more than $13.6 million of that funding.

At least half of the funding is required to be disbursed to students in the form of cash grants for housing, food, or other necessary expenses. It is also being used to address financial challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. MCC has focused much of its efforts with the most recent round of federal relief on financial assistance for students, including debt forgiveness of $4.3 million from HEERF Institutional Funds, but has also worked to distribute technology and address food insecurity for students in need. The HEERF III Student Funding of $6.9 million is being disbursed on a semester basis to students and will continue through the Fall of 2022.

Lowell Review Seeks Submissions for Second Issue

The Lowell Review, a new publication springing from the RichardHowe.com blog, will be accepting submissions for their second issue through the end of October. While they are eager for younger writers, the Lowell Review team is open to all themes and welcomes contributors from Lowell and beyond. The issue will appear in early 2022.

The publication shares the stories and creative works of “Voices from Lowell and Beyond” and offers a space for creative and intellectual expression. It 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.

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

JDCU Names SVP & Chief Marketing Officer and AVP Community Engagement Officer

Robin Lorenzen joined Jeanne D’Arc Credit Union (JDCU) in 2019 as marketing director. In her role as senior vice president — chief marketing officer, Lorenzen will continue to oversee marketing and financial education, community engagement and the We Share A Common Thread Foundation. The Framingham State College alum brings an extensive marketing background having spent 28 years working in media. Lorenzen lives in Medway, Mass., with her husband and two daughters.

Alison Hughes has been promoted to assistant vice president — community engagement officer. Hughes joined JDCU in 2017 and has been heavily involved with hundreds of local non-profits in the greater Lowell area. She is the driving force behind the We Share a Common Thread annual fundraiser and has created many initiatives and partnerships such as the “Smile Station” for Lowell General Hospital, “Reading with Rowdy”, and the TEAM 2020 fundraiser. Hughes is a George Washington University alum and currently resides in Dracut, Mass., with her three children.

MCC Staff Member Chosen for National Presidential Fellowship for Community College Leaders

Arlene Rodríguez, interim provost and vice president of academic and student affairs at Middlesex Community College (MCC), is one of 40 leaders selected for the 2021-22 class of the Aspen Rising Presidents Fellowship, a highly selective leadership program preparing the next generation of community college presidents to transform institutions to achieve higher and more equitable levels of student success. The Rising Presidents Fellows will embark on the 10-month fellowship beginning in November 2021.

Essex County Community Foundation Elects New Members to the Board of Trustees

Amy Kingman, who was serving on ECCF’s County Leadership Council before being elected to the board, has more than 15 years of experience in philanthropy and the nonprofit sector. Prior to launching her own consulting firm, Kingman served as chief executive for both The Learning by Giving Foundation and The Letters Foundation. At Learning by Giving, Kingman directed a coalition of 40 colleges and universities teaching accredited courses on experiential philanthropy and effective volunteerism to 1,000 students annually.

Kiame Mahaniah, a Philadelphia native, spent much of his childhood in the Democratic Republic of Congo. His work has been deeply influenced by the poverty he witnessed there and by his parents, who were dedicated to community-based nonprofit work. After returning to the U.S. and serving a decade of clinical leadership in Lawrence and Salem, N.H., Mahaniah became the chief executive officer of the Lynn Community Health Center, where he is now focused on tackling inequities that not only pervade the healthcare system, but also the everyday lives of his patients.

Jonathan Payson, a retired Wellington Management Company executive, returns to ECCF after serving on the board for nine years, seven of those years as board chair. Payson led the board during an evolutionary phase of growth and increased presence in the county, and his passion and leadership helped to grow ECCF into the regional leader it is today. A former Marine Corps Reserve officer and Gulf War veteran, Payson serves as a volunteer pilot for the Veterans Airlift Command. He is also a dedicated member of the boards of trustees at Endicott College and the Northeast Hospital Corporation, as well as at Root NS, a nonprofit offering youth training and employment opportunities in the foodservice industry.

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COMMUNITY CALENDAR

Amesbury’s Shop Local-Opoly

Amesbury businesses and non-profits have teamed up to organize “Shop Local-Opoly,” encouraging the community to shop local. For the entire month of August, community members can participate in this game, where thirty-two businesses and nonprofits each signed up for a space — called a “property” — on the monopoly-like game board. While the game supports many local businesses, each category also has a property that can only be earned through a $5.00 donation to a particular nonprofit. Click here to access the game board.

Bethany Communities’ Celebration of Innovation and Integration

Support Bethany Communities’ development of Merrimack Place, an extension of the Merrivista campus, by attending the Celebration of Innovation and Integration on Thursday, Sept. 9, from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Bradford Country Club. The event will include dinner, raffles and a live performance by local band Three Part. Visit here to reserve your spot at the event.

The Longest Table

Don’t miss Haverhill’s most exciting inclusive dining event. The Longest Table will be held on Thursday, Aug. 19, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. This a 21+ event, and participating restaurants include 110 Grill, The Barking Dog, Casa Blanca, Essex Street Grille, The Hidden Pig, Krueger Flatbread, Battle Grounds Coffee, and more. Visit here for more information.

Diamonds & Pearls, Cash & Kings Fundraiser

Visit Blue Ocean Music Hall on Friday, Aug. 20, for Jozay and Patti, Diamonds & Pearls, and Cash & Kings, who will perform a benefit concert for the Foster Kids of the Merrimack Valley. Accompanied by a 7-piece band, they will bring you the sounds of artists like Neil Diamond, Janis Joplin, Johnny Cash, Cher, Roy Orbison, Carole King and more. Visit here for more information, or click here to purchase tickets.

LGH TeamWalk for CancerCare

Last year, Lowell General Hospital transitioned their annual TeamWalk for CancerCare to TeamWalk on your terms, and the will be continuing this tradition this year. TeamWalk on Your Terms allows you to hold TeamWalk on your turf and on your time. When it is safe and you feel comfortable, simply choose when and where you want to walk. Get your team together for a three or six mile walk on the date and time of your choosing. You can walk until Sept. 1. For details, click here.

MVFB 27th Annual Golf Tournament

The Merrimack Valley Food Bank’s 27th Annual Golf Tournament and Awards Dinner will be held on Monday, Sept. 13, at Indian Ridge Country Club, with registration beginning at 11:00 a.m. The tournament will honor the heroic staff at Lowell General Hospital, and your participation directly supports the MVFB’s mission. Visit here to register.

25th Annual Elder Services Golf Classic

Bring out your inner Phil Mickelson and support a good cause during the 25th Annual Elder Services Golf Classic on Tuesday, Sept. 14, at the Haverhill Golf & Country Club. The event features contents, raffle prizes, a luncheon, a $10,000 putting content, and more. This event sells out on a regular basis so visit here to save your spot today.

19th Annual Mill City Mentors Golf Tournament

Enjoy a day of golf while supporting a good cause during the 19th Annual Mill City Mentors Golf Tournament. The event supports Community Teamwork’s Mill City Mentors program, and takes place on Thursday, Sept. 16, at the Sky Meadow Country Club in Nashua. Click here to learn more.

Tour de Greenbelt: Cycle for Land Conservation

For beginner riders to seasoned cyclists, Essex County Greenbelt’s annual Tour de Greenbelt: Cycle for Land Conservation offers a variety of courses to fit all abilities. Taking place on Saturday, Sept. 18, the ride benefits Greenbelt’s local land conservation work, and cyclists will enjoy routes that wind through the scenic landscapes of Essex County. Click here to learn more and register for the event.

Emmaus Annual Cycle for Shelter

Registration is now open for the 2021 Cycle for Shelter. Join the ride to help raise money to defeat homelessness. This year riders have the option of riding virtually or joining in-person on Sunday, Sept. 19, if COVID restrictions allow. If the in-person ride is limited in numbers due to state restrictions, the event will operate under a “first-come, first-served” model and those who registered first will have the opportunity to participate. Click here to register.

Merrimack Valley Hospice’s Virtual Silent Auction

This year, Merrimack Valley Hospice’s annual food, wine, beer-sampling and silent auction is going virtual. Enjoy a snack and your favorite beverage browsing their auction items from the comfort of home. Proceeds will benefit Merrimack Valley Hospice’s comfort care and supportive services for patients nearing the end of life and bereavement services for their families and loved ones. The auction will run from Thursday, Sept. 23, to Saturday, Sept. 25. Click here for more information.

The Wish Project: Backpack Attack

July 1 through mid-September. New, filled backpacks are distributed to children in need in the Merrimack Valley. For a $60 donation, The Wish Project can provide a complete backpack filled with all of the school supplies that a child needs to begin school. Learn more here.

29th Annual Trot for Special Tots 5K Road Race

The Professional Center for Child Development, a local non-profit, will host its 29th Annual 5K Road Race – Trot for Special Tots, on Saturday, Oct 2, at 32 Osgood Street in Andover. The event spreads awareness for the programs they offer, such as early intervention, special education school and child care, and raises funds to support children and families throughout the Merrimack Valley. Click here for more information.

2021 October Fun Fest

Support the Community Giving Tree and have some fun at the October Fun Fest on Saturday, Oct. 2, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. This event will feature True North Ales beer truck, the Urban Epicurean mobile pizza oven, and music from the local band RevelUp. All proceeds from this event will support Community Giving Tree’s programs that provide everyday essentials to local children in need. Visit here to find out more.

NILP 40th Anniversary Gala

Join the NILP as they celebrate 40 years of helping people with disabilities reach their independent living goals. The NILP’s annual gala — which features a silent auction, raffles, dinner and dancing — will take place on Saturday, Oct. 23, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Blue Ocean Event Center. Click here to purchase tickets.

Smiles4Families Dental Fund

The Lowell Health Community Center (LCHC) is looking for support for the Smiles4Families Dental Fund. Dental care can be very expensive, and many procedures are not covered by insurance companies. By donating to the Smiles4Families Fund, you will help the LCHC assure that every patient has access to exactly the dental care they need — regardless of ability to pay. Visit here to donate.

Greater Lawrence Summer Fund

Consider providing opportunities for thousands of children this summer by donating to the Greater Lawrence Summer Fund. The fund gives children from low-income families a chance to experience life-changing summer activities that not only keep them safe but provides them with opportunities that open doors for a promising future. Click here to consider helping this community organization.

NoteWorthy – 8/1/21

August 1, 2021 by Kristin Cole

AROUND THE VALLEY

Massachusetts Chef to Participate in the 2021 Great American Seafood Cook-Off

Denise Herrera from Red Heat Tavern is set to face-off against 12 other chefs from around the country to the nation’s ultimate seafood cooking competition.

The 2021 Great American Seafood Cook-Off will be held in New Orleans on Saturday, August 7. Each contestant will cook in front of a live audience and a panel of nationally acclaimed judges.

During the competition, each chef will prepare a dish highlighting the use of domestic seafood while interacting with the live audience. The Great American Seafood Cook-Off promotes the quality and variety of domestic seafood found in the United States.

To be eligible to compete in the event, chefs must either hold the current title of King or Queen of Seafood or be appointed by the lieutenant governor of their respective state or territory.

For more information on the competition, visit LouisianaSeafood.com.

Lawmakers Asked to Clear One More Name From Witch Trials

Almost three centuries after 19 people were hanged and dozens more accused during the 1692 witch trials, Massachusetts lawmakers apologized via a state Legislature in August 1957. This legislature officially declared the events “shocking, and the result of a wave of popular hysterical fear of the devil in the community.”

The resolution establishes that, because the laws that governed the witchcraft trials — most famously linked to Salem, though they involved residents of other nearby towns — “have been long since abandoned and superseded by our more civilized laws,” there should be “no disgrace or cause for distress” attached to the victims’ descendants.

It wasn’t the first time, or the last, that legislators had stepped in to clear the name of those accused of witchcraft during a dark period in Massachusetts history. They’re now being asked to do so again.

Presently, a bill before the Judiciary Committee, scheduled for a Tuesday hearing, proposes another name to put on the list of those who have been absolved of their witchcraft convictions — Elizabeth Johnson Jr., who was convicted in 1693, and according to Sen. Diana DiZoglio, never exonerated.

In written testimony to the committee, DiZoglio said it’s not clear why the legislature and courts did not take action on behalf of Johnson, a 22-year-old who lived in a part of Andover that’s now North Andover.

The Methuen democrat speculates one possible answer is that because Johnson “was neither a wife or a mother, she was not considered worthy of having her name cleared.”

DiZoglio was inspired to file the bill by North Andover Middle School teacher Carrie LaPierre, whose students researched the issue. DiZoglio said she was happy to work with the students, and that action is long overdue.

Want to learn more about witch trials in the Merrimack Valley? Make sure to check out the next issue of Merrimack Valley Magazine, coming in September. Click here to subscribe.

UML Receives $1.8M Research Grant and Share of $20M NSF Grant

U.S. Rep. Lori Trahan and U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm announced $1,845,000 in funding for UMass Lowell (UML) to advance quantum information science (QIS) research, helping scientists better understand the physical world and harness nature to benefit people and society.

UML’s project, titled “Next-Generation Parametrically-Induced Quantum Engineering,” will be spearheaded by Assistant Professor Archana Kamal of the department of physics and applied physics.

QIS helps researchers discover new ways to measure, analyze, process, and communicate information and could drive the next generation of computing and information processing. Potential applications for this work range from quantum computers to enable complex power forecasting to prevent outages during extreme weather events, to quantum devices to enable new smart windows, clothes, and buildings that can change their properties on demand.

UML was also among the team that was awarded $20 million by the National Science Foundation. Led by Sonia Chernova, associate professor of interactive computing at Georgia Tech, the team has won a five-year, $20 million grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to build intelligent systems that support aging.

The grant will support the creation of the NSF AI Institute for Collaborative Assistance and Responsive Interaction for Networked Groups, or AI-CARING. The institute aims to develop new longitudinal, collaborative AI systems that work with elderly adults, including those diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment. AI-CARING will include faculty from UMass Lowell (UML), whose share of the funding will be $2.4 million.

MCC Eliminates Over $4.3M in Student Debt

Middlesex Community College (MCC) announced it will use over $4.3 million of the institutional portion of the Federal Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds (HEERF) to erase college-held debt for students.

The debt relief program is exclusively for any students who were enrolled during the start of the pandemic, from March 13, 2020, through the end of the spring 2021 semester. Student account balances and holds will be fully forgiven and eliminated for a fresh start. This approach will assist over 2,800 students with an average of $1,539 of institutional debt forgiveness per student.

To further prevent students from having to put their education on hold for financial reasons, MCC has frozen tuition and fees for the fall 2021 semester. In May of 2021, MCC disbursed $1.5 million of Emergency Student HEERF funds, and will continue providing additional HEERF funding each semester through 2022. All returning and newly enrolled students are eligible to apply for financial aid and assistance in order to begin, return to campus and complete their higher education goals, including toward the cost of attendance and student accounts.

Local Leaders Join NECC Foundation Board

Nine local business and community leaders were recently appointed to the Northern Essex Community College (NECC) foundation board.

New members include Tim Coco of Haverhill, Frank Cousins Jr. of Newburyport; Eduardo Crespo of Boca Raton, FL; Jose Cruz of Salem, N.H.; Derek Davoli of Haverhill; Mark Forman of Merrimac; Travis Jacobs, of Quincy; Caroline Pineau of Haverhill; and Kristyn Pistone of Bradford.

The NECC Foundation, Inc. is a nonprofit organization that provides support for the college and its students. The foundation makes connections with the business community, foundations, and other potential revenue sources. Funds raised are used for student scholarships, equipment purchases, program revitalization efforts, faculty and staff development, and other needs.

North of Boston Visitor Center Open House Highlights Regional Tourism Recovery

The Maria Miles Visitor Center in Salisbury was the site of an open house on Friday, July 30, that highlighted its role in serving the public as well as approximately 200 businesses that are members of the North of Boston Convention and Visitors Bureau (NBCVB). Now in its 22nd year of operation, the visitor center is open year-round, seven days a week, 363 days per year. Although the center temporarily closed for due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it serves an average of 328,000 travelers per year, with 2021 visitation rising again.

Woodman’s of Essex served its chowder throughout the morning. Other vendors that set up tables to showcase their local businesses and towns included Haverhill Chamber, Greater Newburyport Chamber of Commerce, North Shore Chamber of Commerce, Beauport Hospitality Group, Salem Historical Tours and Haunted Footsteps Ghost Tours.

For more information, visit NorthOfBoston.org.

JDCU to Celebrate National Nonprofit Day With Donation to Local Organization

National Nonprofit Day is Tuesday, Aug. 17, and Jeanne D’Arc Credit Union (JDCU) will celebrate by donating $2,021 to a local nonprofit organization. Between now and Saturday, Aug. 7, you can nominate your favorite nonprofit organization through an online form, found here, or by mail upon request.

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

NECC Selects Vice President of Academic Affairs

Paul Beaudin has been selected as the next vice president of academic affairs for Northern Essex Community College (NECC). His previous roles include superintendent of a school district in the Bronx and principal and teacher at a school in Spanish Harlem in New York City. Although he has spent his professional career in New York, the move to NECC will be a homecoming of sorts for Beaudin. His parents were the children of mill workers in the Merrimack Valley and both graduated from Lawrence High School. Beaudin will officially join the NECC community at its September 7th Convocation.

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COMMUNITY CALENDAR

Amesbury’s Shop Local-Opoly

Amesbury businesses and non-profits have teamed up to organize “Shop Local-Opoly,” encouraging the community to shop local. For the entire month of August, community members can participate in this game, where thirty-two businesses and non-profits each signed up for a space — called a “property” — on the monopoly-like game board. While the game supports many local businesses, each category also has a property that can only be earned through a $5.00 donation to a particular non-profit. Click here to access the game board.

GWL Greenway 5k

This year’s Groundwork Lawrence (GWL) Greenway 5K walk/run event will happen both remotely and in-person. Remote runners can register for the GWL Boundless 5K and run anytime between Aug. 8 and Aug. 15. Those interested in participating in the in-person event will run on Sunday, Aug. 15, at the Spicket River Greenway. Click here to register.

2021 Summer Theater Workshop

Registration is open for the Academy of Creative Arts at Trinity’s for the 2021 Summer Theater Workshop. Open to kids ages 6 t0 16, the program will be held August 9 through 13, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. with a 5 p.m. show on Friday, August 13. Participants will learn, rehearse and perform Roald Dahl’s beloved musical “Willy Wonka” kids version. No child will be turned away for financial issues. For details and access to the registration form, contact Dr. Janet King at jking@urbanbridgesinc.org.

Lazarus House Ministries Food & Clothing Drive

Help support a local cause and donate to the Lazarus House food and clothing drive on Saturday, Aug. 14. The event will be held at Central Catholic High School from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., and participants will also have a chance to win one of three draw prizes by registering their donations. Visit here for details.

The Longest Table

MVFB 27th Annual Golf Tournament

25th Annual Elder Services Golf Classic

19th Annual Mill City Mentors Golf Tournament

Tour de Greenbelt: Cycle for Land Conservation

Emmaus Annual Cycle for Shelter

Registration is now open for the 2021 Cycle for Shelter. Join the ride to help raise money to defeat homelessness. This year riders have the option of riding virtually or joining in-person on Sunday, September 19, if COVID restrictions allow. If the in-person ride is limited in numbers due to state restrictions, the event will operate under a “first-come, first-served” model and those who registered first will have the opportunity to participate. Click here to register.

LGH TeamWalk for CancerCare

Merrimack Valley Hospice’s Virtual Silent Auction

The Wish Project: Backpack Attack

2021 October Fun Fest

29th Annual Trot for Special Tots 5K Road Race

Smiles4Families Dental Fund

Greater Lawrence Summer Fund

NoteWorthy – 7/25/21

July 25, 2021 by Kristin Cole

AROUND THE VALLEY

Comprehensive PFAS Legislation Will Help Protect Public Water Sources

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

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

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

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

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

Arhaus Opens New Location at Tuscan Village

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Selected projects include:

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

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

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

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

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

Help MassDOT Collect Information About Bicycling Habits in the Commonwealth

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

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Elder Services CEO Receives National Excellence in Leadership Award

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

NoteWorthy – 7/18/21

July 18, 2021 by Kristin Cole

AROUND THE VALLEY

MRT Appoints Malika Oyetimein to Artist in Residence

Malika Oyetimein, director of Merrimack Repertory Theatre’s (MRT) critically acclaimed video production of “Fannie Lou Hamer: Speak On It!” last fall, will serve as the company’s artist in residence for the 2021-22 season. Her role will include the direction of a new play workshop, season planning support, artistic hiring and community engagement consulting.

Oyetimein’s directing credits include “Bootycandy” and “Barbecue” at Intiman Theatre Festival; “Hoodoo Love” at Sound Theatre Company; “And In This Corner … Cassius Clay” at Seattle Children’s Theatre; and “The First Deep Breath” for the National Black Theatre. A member of the Directors Lab at Lincoln Center Theater, she is also the co-adapter and director of Maya Angelou’s “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings,” and a graduate of the MFA program at The University of Washington’s school of drama.

Baker-Polito Administration Kicks Off Statewide Small Business Tour in Lowell

On Thursday, Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito joined Housing and Economic Development Secretary Mike Kennealy and local business, community and municipal leaders on the first stop of a statewide small business and downtown conversation tour. The purpose of the tour is to celebrate the commonwealth’s reopening and discuss the administration’s $2.9 billion proposal for American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to jumpstart the commonwealth’s economic recovery.

The tour will continue throughout the summer and will stop at approximately two dozen city and town centers across Massachusetts. Each stop will include a tour of downtown and main street businesses and a roundtable conversation with business owners, community leaders, and state and local officials to engage directly on how the administration can continue to offer necessary support for economic recovery.

While Massachusetts is known as a global leader in industries such as life sciences and the innovation economy, research conducted by the US Small Business Administration found that prior to the pandemic, more than 45% of the entire commonwealth’s workforce was employed by a small business.

NECC Prepares for a Fall Return to Campus

Northern Essex Community College’s (NECC) COVID response team has been working with college maintenance staff for months to prepare the campuses so that faculty, staff, students, and the community can safely return. This fall, at least 25% of classes will be taught on campus, and it’s expected that most employees will be on campus by September as well. Classes for the fall semester begin Sept. 8.

CARES Act Investments
Approximately $1.4 million in CARES Act funding has been invested to make the campus safer and help prevent the spread of the virus. With this funding, the college has purchased 96 air scrubbers—stand-alone virus killing machines— and the ducts on all campus buildings have been thoroughly cleaned and outfitted with MERV filters that capture mold, pollen, and more.

Mask Requirements
At this time, anyone who has been fully vaccinated is not required to wear a mask, unless they are in a classroom. Those who have not been vaccinated are asked to mask-up indoors, unless eating or in their offices alone. Anyone who wants to wear a mask, whether vaccinated or not, is encouraged to do so, and the college has masks, including N95 masks, available upon request for free to faculty, staff, and students.

Haverhill Mayor Announces Re-Election Campaign

Mayor James Fiorentini has announced his intention to seek re-election and continue leading the city of Haverhill. He began his campaign in June with a fundraising event at The Tap in downtown Haverhill.

Fiorentini’s new budget, which was approved by City Council on June 29, provides school funding, resources for the police department and a local health department.

According to the mayor, the city has an opportunity to further revitalize and grow downtown by remaking the Merrimack Street entrance. He also said that guiding the Consentino School project will be a focus of his next term.

Essex Art Center Installs Art Along Lawrence Canal

Essex Art Center announced “Gateway to the Arts,” a public art installation along the city’s canal from Union Street to the bridge between Island Street and Canal Street.

Gateway to the Arts is a temporary multimedia public art piece that will include painting the city’s sidewalks and installing plants and lights will the goal of highlighting Lawrence’s canal way and establishing a vibrant arts and culture district.

The painting of the sidewalks along the canal will start in mid-July. The installation will be complete in time for Essex Art Center’s grand reopening celebration and block party on Saturday, Aug. 21. This free, community and family-focused event will run from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. and include art activities, live music, and an exhibition of the region’s diverse artistic talents.

Andover Community Blood Drive to Honor ‘Jamesy’s Journey’ on July 24

In July 2020, 3-year-old James Lino of Dracut was diagnosed with cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. Although he is now in remission, the treatment protocol — which includes supplemental blood as well as chemotherapy — will continue through November 19, 2022.

On Saturday, July 24, 2021, a community blood drive in honor of “Jamesey’s Journey” will take place from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Andover Town Hall. The event was coordinated by Phil Liaboe, James’s grandfather, to raise awareness of the impact of the nationwide blood shortage on many different kinds of patients: a young child with a rare blood disorder, a family member fighting cancer or a friend involved in a car accident.

Click here schedule an appointment and enter Jamesy’s Journey.

Trahan, Donoghue, UML Leaders Highlight American Rescue Plan Funding

U.S Rep. Lori Trahan and Lowell City Manager Eileen Donoghue participated in a briefing with University of Massachusetts System President Marty Meehan, University of Massachusetts Lowell (UML) Chancellor Jacquie Moloney, and other UML officials on how the university will put relief funding from the American Rescue Plan to work.

UML was recently awarded $27,551,474 in higher education relief funding from the American Rescue Plan to address severe financial challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and continue serving their students safely. UML officials said the funds will help strengthen the university’s programs for first-generation students, diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, and environmental sustainability initiatives.

The American Rescue Plan allocated a total of $36 billion for nearly 3,500 public and private, nonprofit colleges and universities nationwide. Colleges and students in Massachusetts’ third congressional district received a total of $81,819,954 of that emergency funding. At least half of the funding will be distributed in the form of emergency cash assistance grants to students who are facing hunger, homelessness, and other hardships.

Feaster Five Thanksgiving Returns to Andover for In-Person Race

The Thanksgiving Day Feaster Five Road Race announced its return to downtown Andover with an in-person race this year.

Registration for the 34th Annual Feaster Five Road Race is now open and race day is November 25 in downtown Andover, with a three-day race expo beginning November 22 at the Merrimack Valley YMCA.

Over the last 30 years, thousands of people have gathered their families together to run or walk the 5K or 5-mile route that weaves through downtown Andover, finishing at Andover Landing at Brickstone Square. All race finishers receive a Table Talk Apple Pie — a Feaster Five tradition. Click here to register for the race.

Essex County Sheriff Department Celebrates Inmates Who Completed Educational Programming

On June 29, a recognition ceremony was held at the Middleton House of Correction for Essex County Sheriff Department (ECSD) inmates who have completed educational programs. Students were recognized by Education Director Darla Lamanna and the Northern Essex Community College (NECC) staff for successfully completing programs offered by the college.

NECC has been offering educational programming for the Essex County Sheriff’s Department since 2019 when the college was selected as part of a competitive grant process. Programs included preparation classes for students taking the HiSET (high school equivalency) exam; three-credit college courses; and a week-long peer class leading to certification as a peer tutor.

NECC maintains a staff at the Middleton House of Correction, including on-site academic and career advisors; learning specialists; law librarians for the inmates’ library, which NECC manages; and a program director.

GLCF Announces LHS Scholarship Established in Honor of Gabriel Cuevas

The Greater Lowell Community Foundation (GLCF) announced the establishment of the Gabriel Cuevas Memorial Scholarship Fund. This new scholarship fund honors Gabriel’s spirit of giving by annually awarding a Lowell High School (LHS) senior up to $1000.

Gabriel Cuevas passed away unexpectedly in August 2020, just before beginning his senior year at LHS. Cuevas, a beloved son, brother, and friend, used his voice to lift those marginalized and excluded in school and society. Additionally, Cuevas was also a dedicated member of Aaron’s Presents, an organization that provides opportunities for young people to build community and care for others. Aaron’s Presents founder Leah Okimoto established the Gabriel Cuevas Memorial Scholarship Fund through GLCF to honor his memory.

Whittier Birthplace Reopens for Tours

This month, the Whittier Birthplace in Haverhill has reopened for in-person tours after months of closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The historic Whittier Birthplace was originally organized over a century ago, in December 1892, in order to preserve the historic landscape, house, and other buildings in the same condition as when John Greenleaf Whittier lived on the farmstead. The building is now a tour site maintaining the legacy of Whittier’s literary and abolition.

Whittier, born and raised in Haverhill, Mass., in the 19th century, was a bestselling poet who was active in the abolitionist cause. Visit here to book a tour of this local site.

NMYO Announces In-Person Rehearsals & Concerts

Northeast Massachusetts Youth Orchestras (NMYO) is back for in-person rehearsals and concerts. Now accepting video auditions, NMYO is looking for young musicians to join its ensembles for the 2021-2022 academic season.

The NYMO offers a space to play your instrument, perform in concert, and socialize with other young players. String, Woodwind, Brass, and Percussion students, at all levels of playing, are invited to audition. Musicians new to NMYO and returning students who wish to move to a different ensemble, are required to submit a video consisting of two scales and a piece of your choosing. Returning musicians who wish to remain in their current NMYO ensemble simply need to register.

NMYO offers seven ensembles including two beginning string. Small chamber music ensembles are also offered as part of the Symphony program. These ensembles perform two major concerts and several smaller concerts annually.

Windrush Farm Announces Scholarship for Therapeutic Horseback Riding this Fall

Windrush Farm in North Andover announced that they will offer a new Kathy Blanton Memorial Scholarship to provide an opportunity for a child adolescent, or adult with disabilities to partake in a therapeutic riding session this fall.

The scholarship is for a participant over the age of six, with physical, cognitive, or emotional challenges whose family qualifies on financial need and consideration of circumstances. The scholarship is for an individual who has not previously participated in a therapeutic riding program.

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Haverhill Police Chief Sworn-in at City Hall

Robert Pistone was officially sworn-in as Haverhill’s new police chief at a City Hall ceremony on Friday, July 16. Pistone is a 22-year veteran of the Haverhill Police Department.

Haverhill Bank Promotes Employee to Branch Manager

Alison Barker was recently promoted to branch manager of Haverhill Bank’s Salem, N.H., branch. Barker has 18 years of banking experience and joined Haverhill Bank four years ago, working as a universal banker and assistant branch manager. Barker is a resident of Atkinson, N.H., and graduated from Winnacunnet High School, in Hampton, N.H.

New Executive Director Heralds Bread & Roses’ Reopening

Jessica Perrault-Gordon has extensive experience with individuals facing addiction, incarceration, homelessness, and mental illness, and remains steadfast in her passion for social justice and economic equality. Her first initiative at the helm of Bread & Roses will be bringing mobile vaccine stations to Newbury Street in an effort to boost vaccination rates community wide.

NoteWorthy – 6/13/21

June 13, 2021 by Kristin Cole

AROUND THE VALLEY

Greater Haverhill Chamber Hosts 105th Annual Dinner

On Thursday, June 10, the Greater Haverhill Chamber hosted their 105th annual dinner at the Bradford Country Club.

The Chamber Service award was presented to Stephanie Guyette, associate director of UMass Lowell’s Innovation Hub. The Community Leadership award was given to Allison Heartquist, who works for the city of Haverhill. The Jerry Loy Outstanding Director of the Year award was received by Penelope Guerrero-Perez, a footwear design consultant. Northern Essex Community College President Lane Glenn received the Charles E. Billups award, which recognizes an individual that continuously supports the Greater Haverhill Chamber’s efforts.

(Photo caption: Greater Haverhill Chamber 105th Annual Dinner award recipients from left: NECC President Lane Glenn, Penelope Guerrero-Perez, Allison Heartquist and Stephanie Guyotte.)

Lawrence Partnership Announces New Executive Director

George Ramirez, a former state economic development official, has been named executive director of The Lawrence Partnership, the collaboration of business and civic leaders committed to building an inclusive and resilient economy in Lawrence.

Ramirez, who was born in Colombia and raised in Lowell, is an attorney and consultant to businesses and nonprofits. Ramirez previously served as executive vice president of operations for MassDevelopment and as general counsel to the secretary of housing and economic development under former Mass. Gov. Deval Patrick’s administration. Ramirez also served as chairman of the economic assistance coordinating council, a member of emerging technology fund advisory committee, and as a member of Patrick’s development cabinet. Earlier in his career, Ramirez served as a member of the Lowell City Council.

Ramirez will begin his role later this month.

State Sen. Diana DiZoglio Announces Run for State Auditor

This week, state Sen. Diana DiZoglio announced her run for state auditor.

“As state auditor, I will begin by auditing the Baker administration’s actions during the pandemic crisis,” DiZoglio said. “The millions of taxpayer dollars spent on no-bid contracts during the failed vaccine rollout requires greater transparency. I will also launch an audit into the tragedy surrounding the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home.”

DiZoglio reported that her other priorities include fighting for increased transparency, equity, accountability and accessibility, as well as addressing the abuse of nondisclosure agreements, which she states have been used to silence victims of harassment, discrimination and abuse.

Groundwork Lawrence Receives Honorary Degree from Merrimack College

Groundwork Lawrence (GWL) joined the 2021 Merrimack College graduate class to accept an honorary Doctor of Public Service degree from President Christopher E. Hopey.

GWL Executive Director Heather McMann accepted honorary degree on the organization’s behalf. During the ceremony, President Hopey recognized the empowering change that GWL has brought to marginalized communities within Greater Lawrence for over 22 years.

Hike for Hope 2021 Hike Event Raises $130,000 to Help Alleviate Food Insecurity

Lazarus House Ministries hosted its 22nd annual Hike for Hope Challenge, a virtual/in-person 5k walk/run, on the weekend of May 22. The 3-part challenge included the hike, food collection, and fundraising and was a 200-strong community gathered for the greater good many of whom walked the Andover route and stopped at the check points to win prizes at Town Hall, Spark Fitness, A3 Fitness and Free Christian Church.

Innovative Leadership Program Completes Its Second Cohort In Merrimack Valley

With state and local regulations recently lifted, over 100 regional leaders convened for the culmination of the inaugural Merrimack Valley LEADS fellowship, an executive leadership program delivered in partnership with Harvard Business School faculty.

In addition to a graduation ceremony, the event, hosted at NECC’s Haverhill Campus, featured presentations from 9 project teams that were organized through the program around the themes of food security, affordable/fair housing, youth mentoring, racial equity, and small business supports. As a result of the pitches, approximately $50,000 of funding was committed by philanthropists and foundations to launch projects to address these community and regional priorities.

LEADS was founded in 2018 in collaboration with the Lawrence Partnership. The initiative has since scaled to serve Lowell and Haverhill, and is scheduled to grow to another region in 2022.

The presentations were provided feedback from a high profile set of panelists, which included state officials, foundation heads, and corporate leaders. Panelists during the event included Beth Francis, president and CEO of Essex County Community Foundation, Mike Kennealy, secretary of the Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing/Economic Development and U.S. Rep. Lori Trahan.

Trahan, State and Local Leaders Tour GLCAC Head Start Facility in Methuen, Tout American Rescue Plan Investments in Child Care Facilities

U.S. Rep. Lori Trahan toured Greater Lawrence Community Action Council’s (GLCAC) Methuen Head Start facility and met with its leadership to hear about the importance of continued federal investments in head start and child care programs like those in the American Rescue Plan.

Trahan was joined on the tour by state Sen. Diana DiZoglio, state Rep. Linda Dean Campbell, Methuen Mayor Neil Perry, GLCAC Director of Early Division Learning Justine Donovan, and GLCAC Methuen Head Start Supervisors Brenda Adorno and Connie Quinn.

GLCAC serves 507 children across their Methuen and Lawrence Head Start facilities. The organization offers a wide array of services to the most vulnerable in Methuen and the Greater Lawrence area, including health and mental health services, professional development, transportation, meals, case management, family engagement, parent training, transition to kindergarten, and more.

Additionally, GLCAC was also the recipient of a recent $5,882,634 federal Head Start grant through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Head Start. The program received $11.6 billion in funding for FY2020, an increase of $1.5 billion from the year before. Trahan continues to advocate for additional funding for this important program.

NECC Celebrates Early College Graduates

214 graduates from ten local high schools earned college credits in addition to their high school diplomas this year, as participants in Northern Essex Community College’s (NECC) Early College Program.

The students, along with their families, celebrated at an early college recognition ceremony held under a tent on NECC’s Haverhill Campus on May 13.

Graduating early college students earned an average of 23 credits — close to eight college courses each — which they will take to 40 colleges in the fall, including public universities and private institutions, such as UMass Amherst, UMass Lowell, Boston University, Clark University, Merrimack College and Providence College. Thirty-eight of the graduates will attend NECC.

Check out the full story on the graduates of the Early College Program here.

We Share A Common Thread Foundation Donates More Than $95k to Local Organizations

Jeanne D’Arc Credit Union (JDCU) recently held its 11th annual We Share A Common Thread Foundation fundraiser, raising more than $95,000 to support the foundation’s mission. The event kicked off online on Tuesday, April 27, and ended with an in-person walkthrough event on Wednesday, May 5, at Four Oaks Country Club. The We Share a Common Thread Foundation was established in 2011 to help support the lives of people in the community by assisting with food, shelter, clothing, health, and education.

This year’s event, allowed for the We Share A Common Thread Foundation to make donations to 132 non-profit organizations in 19 communities.

MassDevelopment Funds Business Assistance Programs through Transformative Development Initiative

MassDevelopment has awarded $390,000 in grants to multiple organizations to implement outdoor dining, business signage improvements, district branding and marketing plans, placemaking and wayfinding projects, public events, and more through locally developed business assistance programs in gateway cities. The grants were awarded through MassDevelopment’s Transformative Development Initiative (TDI) Local program.

Created in 2017, TDI Local is a small-business grants program that supports local market development by fostering business, resident, and property-owner engagement, building community identity, and improving the public realm in TDI districts.

For this round, fiscal agents in TDI districts in Chelsea, Chicopee, Fall River, Fitchburg, Lawrence, Springfield, and Worcester (Main South) will receive $30,000 district grants.

The Essex Art Center in Lawrence, one of the projects who received a TDI award, will use the $30,000 district grant to implement a key component of a downtown action strategy, which was funded and managed by the Lawrence TDI Partnership, that includes improving pedestrian and auto-oriented placemaking and wayfinding on the corridor from Island Street and Canal Street into downtown Lawrence. The Canal Activation Program aims to create temporary creative visual markers, including asphalt and sidewalk art and a flash flower field installation, which are aimed at helping establish a future downtown arts and culture district.

Trahan Calls for Robust Investments to Stop Sewage Overflows, Bolster Renewable Energy Initiatives

U.S. Rep. Lori Trahan testified before the House Appropriations Committee about the need for long overdue federal investments in preventing combined sewage overflows (CSOs) that pollute waterways like the Merrimack River and strong support for the fusion energy research, a renewable energy source that holds unprecedented promises for America’s transition to a clean energy economy.

The Merrimack River Watershed Council estimates that hundreds of millions of gallons of untreated sewage are released into the Merrimack from urban treatment plants each year, and a recent Boston Herald report highlighted a recent discharge of 84 million gallons of wastewater and stormwater from Lowell’s combined sewage system as recently as April.

Downtown Amesbury Welcomes New Home Decor Boutique and Artisan Marketplace

This week, Aumnii Emporium opened its doors on 82 Main Street in downtown Amesbury.

Owner Tanya Webster, a Lawrence native, has strong family ties to Listuguj, a small Mi’qmaq reservation in Quebec. At a young age she learned traditional Mi’qmaq crafts such as basket weaving, dream catchers and moccasins.

The new Amesbury location will offer products like signs, supplies, and refinished furniture, as well as a space for other artisans to feature their own products and build their own business.

North Andover Merchants Association Announce Community Gift Card Program

The North Andover Merchants Association announced the new “Shop NA Community E-Gift Card,” a community-based digital gift card that makes it fun and easy to shop local. Purchase a Shop NA E-Card here to use at any of the participating shops in North Andover. With this card, you can write a personal message and send it to family, friends and colleagues via email, text, or physical copy. Recipients can choose to spend it at one of over 25 (and growing) participating merchants — or mix it up and spend flexibly at multiple locations.

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Lawrence City Council Recognizes 2021 Biology Grad

2021 Northern Essex Community College Biology Graduate Mariel Bloise received honors for her academic success from the Lawrence City Council, which recognizes one outstanding graduate from the city each year, based on a recommendation from Northern Essex President Lane Glenn. Bloise came to Lawrence from the Dominican Republic with her family in 2015. She began taking college classes as a high school senior through the NECC Early College Program. Bloise graduated from Northern Essex with high honors and is transferring to UMass Lowell to continue her studies in biology. Her goal is to enroll in physician’s assistant school after getting her bachelor’s, and she is considering dermatology as a specialty. She comes from a family of doctors (her uncle and cousins) which is what interested her in the medical field.

UML Educator Honored with Manning Prize

Stacy Szczesiul, an associate professor in the university’s college of education, has received the 2021 Manning Prize for excellence in teaching. Szczesiul joined UMass Lowell’s college of education in 2010. For the past five years, Szczesiul has taught exclusively in and served as coordinator of the college’s nationally recognized online leadership in schooling doctoral program, which has doubled in size since its inaugural cohort in 2016 and includes students who work as school administrators all over the world.

Covenant Health Welcomes Jennifer Newburger as Vice President of Quality Improvement and Safety

Newburger will provide leadership and direction to system-wide quality and safety programs, which specifically focus on the continuous improvement of quality of care; patient safety and satisfaction; as well as overall efficiency. Newburger earned her master of science in health education from Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y., and a bachelor of art in sociology from George Mason University in Fairfax, V.A. She also attended Beth Israel Nursing School in N.Y. and is a registered nurse. In addition, Newburger is a certified professional in healthcare quality as well as a current member of the National Association for Healthcare Quality and American College of Healthcare Executives.