Region

Groveland Water Valve Repairs May Disrupt Service Monday

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Center Street-area residents in Groveland are being told to expect water service disruptions Monday as valve repairs are undertaken. Groveland Water and Sewer Department said repairs will take place Monday, July 14, with work beginning at 8 a.m., affecting Center Street, between Salem Street and Washington Street and including Hillview Drive. Residents are told to expect loss of pressure and discolored water, possibly even outside of the work area due to rerouting of water during the shutdown. Water discoloration can be cleared by running cold water from the faucet. While discoloration does not pose an immediate health risk, officials said, it is best to avoid drinking it until clear.

Region

Thomas, Pastor of Atkinson, N.H., Church to Retire

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The Atkinson Congregational Church bids farewell to its pastor, the Rev. Jim Thomas, in September. Thomas, who has served the church for seven years, will preach his last sermon Sunday, Sept. 7. Church leaders say attendance in various church activities including worship services increased during his time with the congregation as did music offerings, including a handbell choir and “pop-up” choir which perform on occasional Sundays. During his tenure, Thomas led the initiative to update technology so the church could offer virtual services, essential during the global pandemic five years ago.  Services are now available on the church’s YouTube channel.

Beacon Hill News

White House Holds Up $108M for Local After School Programs, Absenteeism Help, Other Ed Money

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Michael P. Norton

State officials said Monday that $108 million in federal education grants that were expected to arrive July 1 are now instead under review “to make sure they align with President Trump’s priorities.”

Gov. Maura Healey’s administration said local school districts were counting on the funding for summer and after-school programs, behavioral and mental health supports, bullying prevention and intervention, reducing chronic absenteeism and buying materials and supplies for classrooms.

“Every day that goes by without this education funding hurts children, educators, communities and our economy,” Healey said in a statement. “Without this funding, districts are going to be forced to lay off staff, delay or cancel programs and services, and disrupt learning. Our schools were promised this funding, and the Trump Administration needs to deliver it.”

The U.S. Department of Education notified states on June 30 that certain programs would not be issuing grant award notifications on July 1, Healey’s office said. The administration added that the department “also communicated that they are withholding funds for the Integrated English Language and Civics Education programs, as well as the Adult Basic Education Grants to States program.”

“Congress appropriated these funds, and they need to be issued to states,” Education Secretary Patrick Tutwiler said. “Intentionally withholding this funding is going to have detrimental impacts on every state and all communities, especially for some of our most vulnerable students.”

ABC News on July 2 reported that the Trump administration had “paused” more than $6 billion in education funding, writing that funding decisions concerning this academic year have “not yet been made.”

In statements released by the governor’s office, House Speaker Ron Mariano called the Trump administration actions “reckless and mean-spirited” and Senate President Karen Spilka said Trump “must respect the separation of powers and Congress’s Constitutional authority to appropriate funding.”

“I urge him to release these funds immediately—and I urge Congress to stop ceding their power to this President,” Spilka said.

Crime

Police Arrest 4 Out of 5 Men Alleged to Have Robbed North Andover Jewelry Store

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Four of the five masked men, alleged to have taken part in an armed robbery Thursday morning at a North Andover jewelry store, are in custody after being arrested following a car chase. In a statement, North Andover police credited “astounding collaboration” among town police resources and area law enforcement agencies for the quick action. Police were alerted to the robbery just before 10:30 a.m. at Milos Joyeria, 563 Chickering Road, by emergency 911 callers. A North Andover police officer working a detail quickly noticed a vehicle fitting the description of one used by the men and alerted another officer in a cruiser, according to a press release. That officer followed the car into a restaurant parking lot where the men escaped in another car that appears to have been “staged” there.

The Declaration of Independence

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IN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776. The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,

When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation. We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.–That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, –That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.–Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government.

Business Bulletin

Merrimack College Plans Bowling and Networking Mixer for Merrimack Valley Chamber

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Merrimack College hosts members of the Merrimack Valley Chamber of Commerce next Wednesday night for a Bowling and Networking Mixer. The night promises networking opportunities, bowling, appetizers and the potential to win a door prize. There will also be a cash bar. The mixer takes place Wednesday, July 9, from 5-7 p.m., at Merrimack College’s Student Union, 315 Turnpike St., Parking Lot A, North Andover. Attendees are advised to enter the campus from Elm Street.

Community Spotlight

Ladies Tea at the Groveland Senior Center Benefits Council on Aging

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The Friends of the Groveland Council on Aging is hosting a Ladies Tea featuring cold strawberry soup, scones, savory and sweet breads, finger sandwiches and a variety of hot teas. The event tea takes place Thursday, July 17, at 2 p.m., at the Groveland Congregational Church, 4 King St., Groveland. Doors open at 1:30 p.m. Classical guitarist Scott Ouellette provides entertainment. Tickets, which must be purchased by Thursday, July 10, are $25 each. All proceeds benefit the Friends group in its efforts to support the senior center.

Haverhill

United Way Rolls Out United Response Fund to Help Ease Fed Cuts to Safety Net Programs

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United Way of Massachusetts Bay recently launched its United Response Fund with an initial allocation of $250,000 to help replace federal grants taken away from local organizations. United Way said it is calling on donors, corporations and foundations to “come together in support of the community-based organizations that are working to meet emerging needs and quickly deploy emergency assistance to individuals and families.” The Response Fund is aimed at addressing “reductions and threats to funding for essential needs, fear and uncertainty among communities most affected, job losses and instability facing community-based organizations.”

“Over the past four months, we’ve convened hundreds of nonprofit partners, business leaders and government officials to ensure we have a deep understanding of the concerns and impacts resulting from federal actions. It’s clear that this is not just a moment—the disruption we are experiencing today will have ripple effects for years to come,” explained United Way of Massachusetts Bay President and CEO Marty Martinez.  “Our entire nonprofit sector and many community-based organizations must now fundamentally shift how we fund our missions and services in the future. The United Response Fund will act as a bridge toward that new reality.”

Officials noted the United Response Fund will support community-based organizations that are most impacted; provide emergency financial assistance in response to immediate and significant shifts in federal policy that place safety net programs at risk, such as aid to immigrant families, food stamps, Medicaid and the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program; support contingency planning, exploration of different program delivery models and new partnerships; and call on corporate partners to donate support to nonprofits as they adapt. There’s more information about the United Response Fund online.