A longtime children’s advocate, born in Lawrence and raised in Haverhill, was memorialized by the state Senate yesterday. Monday’s Senate adjournment was in honor of James E. Lister, who died unexpectedly last Nov. 30 from an underlying medical condition complicated by COVID-19. Sen. Joan B. Lovely of Salem (Mass.) offered the motion, which was adopted by the full Senate Monday. Lister, who was 45, worked as executive director of Plummer Youth Promise in Salem for nearly 15 years.
The ancient proverb “Physician, heal thyself,” received a literal endorsement this week when the federal government formally awarded area health centers nearly $3 million. The money is aimed at improving “the retention of health care workers and help respond to the nation’s critical staffing needs by reducing burnout and promoting mental health and wellness among the health care workforce.” The grant was awarded to the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers,” which serves the needs of the state’ 52 community health center organizations, including Greater Lawrence Family Health Center, which operates in Lawrence, Haverhill and Methuen. “I have traveled to many health centers across the country and know that the COVID-19 pandemic has intensified issues that have long been a source of stress for frontline health care workers — from increased patient volumes to long working hours,” said Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra. “This funding reflects the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to ensuring we have enough critical frontline workers by supporting health care providers now and beyond as they face burnout and mental health challenges. We will continue to promote the well-being of those who have made so many sacrifices to keep others well.”
The grant comes from the American Rescue Plan Act.
Update: Because of this weekend’s storm, visitation and services have been rescheduled to Monday, Jan. 31, from 9-10:30 a.m., at Farrah Funeral Home, 133 Lawrence St, Lawrence. Merrimack Valley Regional Transit Authority staff and passengers alike are mourning the loss of a popular 51-year-old driver who died Jan. 12 from complications related to COVID-19. MVRTA Executive Director Noah S. Berger told WHAV Gleason Nicholls, a native of the Island of Trinidad who lived in Lawrence, was a 16-year veteran of the Transit Authority.
Haverhill’s COVID-19 testing site is to remain in place three days a week through February. The site offers the nose swab, or PCR, test takes an upper respiratory specimen. Free testing takes place Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 1-5 p.m., and Saturdays 10 a.m.-2 p.m., at Haverhill AmVets, 576 Primrose St., Haverhill. No appointments or pre-registration are required.
Massachusetts Education Justice Alliance, citing relatively low vaccination rates in Haverhill and Lawrence, as compared with wealthier communities, called on Gov. Charlie Baker Wednesday to take immediate action to protect students, families and educators. The Alliance called for the governor to take a three-pronged approach to fully protect students and families across the state. They said the plan must include a comprehensive, state-run and in-school vaccination program for every school with a vaccination rate under the statewide average of 75%, state sponsored distribution of high-quality masks for every school district that requests them and a state coordinated, state-financed and transparent testing program for every school district. “If the state has the power to require children to attend school in the midst of a runaway pandemic, the state has an obligation to provide adequate protection for students in every district,” said Lisa Guisbond, executive director of Citizens for Public Schools and chair of MEJA’s board of directors. “A comprehensive in-school COVID response in advance of the next surge of the virus is long overdue.”
The group said school-aged children in Gateway Cities across the Commonwealth are at particular risk, noting these are “communities where alarmingly low vaccination rates put children in harm’s way.
ByChris Van Buskirk and Katie Lannan, State House News Service |
Massachusetts schools this week will be able to sign up to receive at-home rapid COVID-19 tests for weekly use by their students and staff, and those that choose to do so will stop contact tracing and participating in the “test-and-stay” program that allows close contacts to stay in the classroom as long as they test negative for the virus daily. State officials said Tuesday the new option for local school districts will allow school nurses to focus more on symptomatic individuals and general COVID-19 management. Schools will still need to continue participating in symptomatic or pooled testing to take part in the new at-home test program. K-12 students and staff at schools that opt in to the program will receive one packet of two COVID tests each week for use on a day designated by local officials. Local districts can start opting in to the program for staff this week and will start receiving tests for staff during the week of Jan.
The Lower Merrimack Valley Regional Collaborative is continuing a series of community COVID-19 vaccination clinics every Monday this month. The Coalition, comprised of Amesbury, Georgetown, Groveland, Merrimac, Newbury, Newburyport, Rowley, Salisbury and West Newbury, is administering first, second and booster doses of all vaccines to all eligible age groups. Clinics take place Mondays, Jan. 17, 24 and 31, from 5-8 p.m., at the West Newbury Town Office Building Annex, 381 Main St. Registration takes place on online here.
The One Haverhill Fund, established in 2020 to help families impacted by COVID-19, has received a $50,000 boost from the federal American Rescue Plan Act. United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley, which operates the fund, said Gov. Charlie Baker recently signed off on the aid following advocacy by state Rep. Andy X. Vargas. Vargas sought the additional resources along with $50,000 for Sacred Hearts Parish food pantry in Haverhill. “Early on in the pandemic, we brought some of the most important nonprofit and service agencies in Haverhill together for a Zoom call. That led to the creation of a sustained collaboration called the One Haverhill Fund, which has critically been facilitated by the United Way,” said Vargas.
