WHAV (https://whav.net/category/region/)
The Massachusetts Senate adjourned its session Wednesday in memory of 54-year-old North Andover Firefighter Jeffrey Deschenes. Senators approved the motion for memorial adjournment offered by Sens. Barry R. Finegold of Andover, Pavel M. Payano of Lawrence, Bruce E. Tarr of Gloucester, Sal N. DiDomenico of Everett and John F. Keenan of Quincy. Deschenes died unexpectedly May 29 after a medical emergency at his home.
Officials from the 11 communities that send students to Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School celebrated their joint agreement yesterday afternoon with a signing ceremony on the 50-yard line of the school’s football field. The concept of a shared campus at Northern Essex Community College’s Haverhill site surfaced a year ago after voters in 10 of the 11 sending school communities rejected a $445 million standalone replacement. Only Haverhill voted in favor of building a new school on the current campus at 115 Amesbury Line Road. In order to pursue state financial support for the combined campus plan, all 11 communities had to agree to bring an application before the Massachusetts School Building Authority. Up until a month ago, Rowley had been a hold out.
A.W. Chesterton Co. recently donated two specialized Class D fire extinguishers to the Groveland Fire Department. They are specifically designed to combat fires involving combustible metals, such as magnesium, sodium and potassium. One extinguisher will be placed on Engine 1 at Central Station and the other on Engine 3 at South Station. In a release, the town said the addition improves the department’s ability to respond effectively to specialized fire incidents and reinforces the town’s commitment to firefighter and public safety.
West Newbury Police Officer Hayden Sanborn was honored last week with an OUI Excellence Award from Mothers Against Drunk Driving for his outstanding commitment to impaired driving enforcement. “Officer Sanborn is an outstanding member of our department, who has worked diligently in his OUI enforcement efforts throughout the past year,” said West Newbury Police Chief Michael Dwyer. “This recognition is well-deserved, and I am grateful for his service to our community.”
Sanborn was recognized among more than 50 honorees during the Annual Law Enforcement Recognition Ceremony June 10 at the Devens Common Center. In addition to OUI Excellence Awards, MADD recognized the Officer of the Year, Trooper of the Year, Drug Recognition Expert of the Year, MADD Lifetime Achievement Award and Unit of the Year. Sanborn joined the department in 2022, having previously worked with the MBTA.
Methuen Fire Department Deputy Chief David Toto was nominated Friday by Mayor David P. “D.J.” Beauregard Jr. to succeed Chief Tim Sheehy. Beauregard said Toto brings more than 25 years of experience in the Methuen Fire Department, including the past eight years as deputy chief. “David is a respected leader within the department and the broader community. His deep commitment to public safety and mentorship, and his readiness to adapt and lead, are exactly what Methuen needs as we look to the future of fire service in our city,” the mayor said in a release. Sheehy plans to retire next month.
Georgetown-based G. Mello Disposal Corp. was recently awarded Merrimack Valley Chamber of Commerce’s award for environmental stewardship. The company, represented by Jason Mello, president and CEO, and Mark Van Weelden, vice president business development, accepted the award during the Chamber’s recent business awards ceremony as well as a Massachusetts State Senate citation. “Our team of nearly 100 employees are dedicated to providing environmentally responsible disposal services daily. This recognition is a result of their continued dedication,” said Mello. Van Weelden added, “The Mello team appreciates the MVCC, the Commonwealth and our customers for supporting our locally owned and operated disposal company.”
The Senate citation, signed by Senate President Karen E. Spilka, Sen. Bruce E. Tarr and Senate Clerk Michael D. Hurley, was presented in recognition of Mello’s “leadership and contributions to the regional economy, acknowledged by the Environmental award.”
Mello Disposal Corp.
Northern Essex Community College third baseman Manny Castro was recently selected as a NJCAA Second Team All-American as announced Thursday by the NJCAA Baseball Committee. Castro, of Manchester, N.H., who was the Region 21 Player of the Year, finished the year with a .465 batting average which ranked 10th nationally while also slugging .806 which ranked 11th in the country. He also had an on base percentage of .540. He recorded 60 hits on the season, including 24 extra base hits and 53 RBI’s to go along with 34 stolen bases in 39 attempts. His slugging percentage, home runs (7), triples, (6), RBI’s and total hit numbers all led the region.
BrightBridge Credit Union recently hosted a series of bouquet-making events in partnership with the Power of Flowers Project, for delivery to seniors and veterans in local care. Founded in 2009, Power of Flowers is a nonprofit dedicated to sharing joy through flowers. It repurposes donated flowers into bouquets and delivers them to recipients to “improve their quality of life, to reduce loneliness and depression, and to let them know they are valued.”
The credit union welcomed the Power of Flowers team for three “Kindness Connection Workshops” at its corporate offices in Lawrence, Waltham and Bridgewater. Volunteers from the nonprofit guided BrightBridge team members through creating floral arrangements using fresh flowers and greens. Then, 135 handcrafted bouquets were donated to local care facilities, including Methuen Village, CareOne at Wilmington, the German Home in Lawrence and Edgewood LifeCare Community in North Andover.
Allied health professionals—lab technicians, physical therapists, pharmacists and others in similar professions—who work at the two Holy Family Hospital campuses are on track to be represented by the Massachusetts Nurses Association. Eligible employees voted 46-5 Wednesday in favor of collective bargaining. In all, 76 employees were eligible to vote. Physical therapist David Matthews said he voted in favor of union representation because he felt his wages and benefits have lagged during the period when Steward Health Care owned the two campuses and that the new owner, Lawrence General Hospital, hasn’t taken their concerns seriously. Lawrence General purchased the two campuses last October after Steward filed for bankruptcy.