Region

Pentucket Middle High School Recaps Fall Athletics Season

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(Additional photograph below.)

Pentucket Regional Middle High School’s fall athletics season is wrapping up. According to the school, “Pentucket’s nine fall teams have shown exemplary sportsmanship and enthusiasm throughout the season.”

The football team, 1-6, defeated its rival Newburyport 35-25, Oct. 9. Quarterback Dempsey Spring rushed for a touchdown and threw for two more. Braylon Leonard caught one touchdown pass and intercepted two passes, returning one for a touchdown.

Region

North Andover Police Chief to Retire Following Upheaval After Officer Shooting

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North Andover Police Chief Charles Gray said Tuesday he will retire, following a period that saw a town police officer shot by a fellow officer, face trial on a charge of assault and ultimately be acquitted. Gray gave notice after reaching a voluntary separation agreement with the town. He will remain on leave, using his accrued earned sick time while a retirement application is processed. “The town appreciates Chief Gray’s service to the town of North Andover both as chief and in his various other roles, including as a K-9 officer. Under his leadership, the department created the Community Impact Unit, saw the first increase in staffing in two decades, improved its equipment and evolved away from Civil Service,” said North Andover Town Manager Melissa Rodrigues.

Business Bulletin

Anna Jaques Hospital Promotes Sekelsky to Chief Nursing Officer

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Alison Sekelsky was recently appointed chief nursing officer of Anna Jaques Hospital, part of Beth Israel Lahey Health. Sekelsky has spent her 27-year nursing career to Anna Jaques Hospital, most recently serving as director of maternal child health since 2014. In that role, officials said, she provided strategic and operational leadership for the hospital’s maternal-child program and led numerous initiatives aimed at advancing patient safety, quality outcomes and the patient experience, while fostering a culture of collaboration and professional excellence. “Alison is a trusted and accomplished leader whose nearly three decades of service to Anna Jaques Hospital exemplify her commitment to clinical excellence, patient-centered care and nursing leadership,” said Megan Gray, president and chief operating officer of Anna Jaques Hospital. “Her deep understanding of our organization, proven leadership and steadfast dedication to our mission make her exceptionally well suited to guide our nursing teams and support their continued success.”

Sekelsky began her career at Anna Jaques as a medical-surgical nurse in 1999 and joined the Birth Center as a staff nurse in 2001.

Business Bulletin

Bennett, Dragomaretski Join River Run Services

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Stacey Bennett and Renata Dragomaretski have joined River Run Services as vice president, performance marketing manager and assistant vice president, commercial loan servicing manager respectively. River Run Services is under the umbrella of River Run Bancorp and supports affiliated banks Newburyport Bank, Pentucket Bank and Rollstone Bank & Trust. Bennett, of Ipswich, brings more than 20 years of experience in digital marketing, performance strategy and measurement and client and team leadership to her role. She will lead integrated marketing campaign planning and execution, overseeing project management, marketing collateral and creative partner relationships across River Run’s affiliated banks. Dragomaretski brings to her new role 17 years of experience in retail banking and more than five years of experience in commercial loan servicing.

Region

All Care Hospice Seeks Merrimack Valley Volunteers

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All Care Hospice, a nonprofit serving more than 90 communities throughout Massachusetts, is seeking volunteers in the Merrimack Valley, where patients are waiting for support. The organization says an hour of a volunteer’s time can bring comfort and companionship to someone in the community. Volunteers may visit patients, provide telephone support to patients and families, help with office tasks and offer a comforting presence during a patient’s final hours. All Care Hospice says no medical experience or specialized training is needed. They ask volunteers be compassionate, patient, dependable, good listeners and at least 18 years old.

Education

 Methuen High Students Take Part in College and Careers Fair

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Methuen High School recently held a successful College and Careers Fair for senior students featuring more than 55 colleges, businesses, military organizations, technical schools and certification programs.

Besides being able to network and learn about local colleges and schools, students found opportunities to learn how their current classes remain important as they consider secondary education or enter the workforce. The school cited, for example, if a student is interested in plumbing, classes in geometry and physics at Methuen High School can help prepare them and create a bridge between their current classes and their future careers. “At Methuen Public Schools, we firmly believe in opportunities for all students, and by having our students participate in these programs and events, we are able to have more in-depth conversations and connect students with the right resources to further their education during their time in Methuen and after graduation,” said Methuen School Counseling Department Chair Martha Tatro. Methuen High School Counseling Department is also planning two field trips for Early College students where they will visit UMass Lowell.

Education

Gerber Joins Greater Lawrence Technical School in Workforce Development

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Tia Gerber has joined Greater Lawrence Technical School as workforce development program coordinator. Gerber, who previously worked nine years at Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School as director of community partnership, will help further identify new and growing opportunities for students and the public, including students from neighboring communities who do not have direct access to vocational education and adult learners. “I am thrilled to have begun my new role at GLTS, and I want to highlight the incredible team we have here. They truly pride themselves on this type of work, and it has been a pleasure getting to learn from them and work alongside them as I have entered this role,” she said, “My focus for the Workforce Development Program is to continue highlighting our wonderful programs that strive to expand the education of our students and community.”

The school, serving Lawrence, Methuen, Andover and North Andover, offers three main outlets in the program, including After Dark, Adult Technical Training and an Apprenticeship Program. All of the technical career pathways offered through the GLTS After Dark Program align with local, regional and statewide labor market needs.