Business Bulletin

It’s Official, Merrimack Valley Credit Union Now Known as BrightBridge Credit Union

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Merrimack Valley Credit Union and its Bridgewater Credit Union became known as BrightBridge Credit Union on Monday. As WHAV reported last September, President and CEO John J. Howard said, “The Merrimack Valley Credit Union name, while strong, is very specific to one region, one part of our history. It does not reflect the many communities our family tree has served, and we continue to serve.” Officials said Monday the new name unifies a branch network that spans from southern New Hampshire through the South Shore of Massachusetts. “The name BrightBridge Credit Union embodies our dedication to supporting our members through life’s biggest milestones and challenges,” said Howard. The new branding is reflected in redesigned branches and new signage, along with updated digital banking platforms. “We may look a little bit different, but the wonderful people our members work with in our branches, over the phone and online will not change,” he added.

Region

New Hampshire State Police Mourns Loss of K-9 Wyatt After 10 Years of Service

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New Hampshire State Police are mourning the loss of 10-year-old K-9 Wyatt who died last Tuesday after being diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer that spread throughout his chest and lungs. Wyatt, along with his handler, Trooper First Class Kevin Devlin, began their canine career on March 2, 2015, according to State Police. At eight weeks old, Wyatt, a Plott Hound, a breed known for its abilities to hunt bears in the mountains of North Carolina, who stood no taller than his handler’s knee, began training and became certified through the New England State Police Administrators Conference, specializing in search and rescue. “At just six months old, K-9 Wyatt and Trooper First Class Devlin became an invaluable resource to the State of New Hampshire as they began bringing relief to so many families whose loved ones had gone missing,” police said in a release. At just 10 months, Wyatt and Devlin took on greater responsibility when they began their training to become a team specializing in the recovery of human remains.

Region

YouthBuild Coalition Honors Sen. Payano During 30th Annual Advocacy Day at the State House

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State Sen. Pavel M. Payano, who represents Lawrence, Haverhill and Methuen, was recently honored with the YouthBuild Champion Award during the 30th Annual YouthBuild Advocacy Day at the State House. Payano was honored by the Massachusetts YouthBuild Coalition in recognition of his leadership and commitment to expanding opportunities for young people across the Commonwealth. The award follows passage of Payano’s budget amendment that doubled funding for YouthBuild from $1.75 million to $3 million. “YouthBuild doesn’t just give young people a second chance, it gives them the power to define their own future,” said Payano. “This is about more than education and job training.

Haverhill

Lawrence General/Holy Family Names New Temporary CEO Following Leadership Tumult

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A state official that played a role in Massachusetts’ response to the bankruptcy of the parent of Holy Family Hospital has been named interim CEO of the hospitals in Lawrence, Haverhill and Methuen. Former Tufts Medical Center President Diana L. Richardson becomes interim president and CEO of Lawrence General Hospital and its Holy Family Hospital April 14. She succeeds acting CEO Robin Hynds, a registered nurse who served as Lawrence General’s chief operating officer, who filled in following the abrupt resignation last month of President and CEO Abha Agrawal. “Her collaborative approach, thoughtful decision-making, and commitment to strong employee engagement will be essential as we continue to unify Lawrence General and Holy Family Hospitals into a regional health system that serves the Merrimack Valley,” Rosemarie Day, hospital board chair, said of Richardson in a press release. Richardson left Tufts Medical Center a year ago and, according to the release, was a “senior transition liaison with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health where she played a key role in the state’s incident command response to the Steward Health Care bankruptcy crisis.”

She previously was vice president of operations at UF Health—Shands Hospital in Gainesville, Fla.

Business Bulletin

Safe Deposit Box Holders Have Until June 5 to Retrieve Items at TD Bank Bradford, Methuen

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The TD Bank branch in Bradford at 860 S. Main St., as well as one location in Methuen is closing June 5 as part of the nationwide restructuring of the Toronto-based financial services company. In all, 38 branches will close in the U.S. with four other Massachusetts locations on the list. They are in East Longmeadow, Framingham, Holyoke and Tewksbury. The Methuen location is a 547 Broadway. The company currently operates 125 branches in the state.

Haverhill

Sens.: Trump’s Possible Sale-Leaseback of Fed Property Could go the Way of Holy Family Hospital

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Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Edward J. Markey are warning that what happened with the private equity buyout of Haverhill and Methuen’s Holy Family Hospital real estate could happen with federal buildings. Escalating and unaffordable rents played a role in the bankruptcy of the local hospitals and could confront the government if the Trump administration succeeds in selling nine federal buildings in the state, including the John F. Kennedy Federal and the Thomas P. O’Neill Jr. Buildings, two of the largest federal buildings in New England. “Massachusetts is very familiar with how these real estate schemes benefit private interests at the public’s expense. Cerberus Capital Management, a private equity firm run by now-deputy Secretary for the Department of Defense Stephen Feinberg, and Steward Health Care executives worked hand-in-glove to sell Massachusetts hospital property to Medical Properties Trust, a real estate investment trust.

Crime

Methuen Man Pleads Guilty to Drug Charges from 2023 Case, Illegal Return to U.S.

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A 44-year-old Methuen pleaded guilty Wednesday in federal court in Boston to illegally re-entering the United States after deportation and possessing narcotics intended for distribution. Raul Fernando Lora, a citizen of the Dominican Republic, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute cocaine and 40 grams or more of fentanyl and unlawful reentry of deported alien. U.S. District Court Judge Myong J. Joun scheduled sentencing for July 16. Lora was arrested on Oct. 3, 2023, when he was found in possession of a sock that contained more than 200 grams of fentanyl and more than 30 grams of cocaine in multiple plastic bags.

Region

Groveland Native Stephanos Designs Soon-to-be-Issued Betty White Postage Stamp

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A mischievous portrait of beloved American actress and comedienne Betty White, who died in 2021, will begin flying across the country on the upper right hand corner of envelopes everywhere next week, thanks in large part to the talent of illustrator Dale Stephanos, who spent his teen years in Groveland. Now a resident of Foxborough, 60-year-old Stephanos was chosen to design the U.S., Postal Service’s newest postage stamp through a competitive process, according to Postal Spokesman Stephen Doherty. Stephanos along with his art director, Greg Breeding, will be honored at the stamp’s unveiling Thursday, March 27, at the Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Garden. This “First Day of Issue” event is being held at the zoo in recognition of White’s animal activism, Doherty said. “We chose Dale for his ability to take subjects that were older and imbue them with dignity and beauty,” Doherty said.