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Aware Recovery Care
Jul 15, 2022
Keith Abare has been a Clinical Outreach Manager with Aware Recovery Care since September 2020 when Aware was granted licensure in Massachusetts. He currently works closely with law enforcement and military entities as well as treatment centers and community advocacy groups across Massachusetts. He travels to other US states as subject matter expert on the topic of Addiction within Law Enforcement and provides education on the topic of Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) and Substance Use Disorder (SUD). Keith graduated in 1993 from Mt. Wachusett Community College with a Major in Criminal Justice. After graduation, he dedicated 22 years of his life to the Massachusetts Department of Corrections as both a Corrections Officer and subsequently as a Peer Counselor within the Employee Assistance Unit. It was in 2016 when he transitioned from Corrections Officer to the position of Peer Counselor within the EAU and in this role he received both The Governors Council for Addiction Awareness Award as well as the Charles Gaughan Award which recognizes employees who best exemplify the spirit of humanity and compassion. He currently holds 17 ICISF Continuing Education Certifications available by request. Keith’s extensive background and knowledge of both the culture of law enforcement as well as the culture of the incarcerated gives him an intimate and unique perspective around the role that AUD and SUD plays across populations. His devotion to the mental health and wellbeing of fellow officers both past and present, as well as to their families, sheds light on the fact that addiction does not discriminate. He has devoted his life to creating awareness around AUD/SUD and available treatment options, as well as to personally providing assistance to those struggling from substance abuse. Keith resides in Fitchburg and is married with two children. Sadly in 2021, Keith lost his oldest child to addiction. |
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Get to know our own Paul Mercandetti and Nancy Martinez from DCF
Jul 22, 2022
Join us for an Anodver Rotary Double Header! Nancy Martinez, Family Resource Recruiter, MA Departmemnt of Children & Families will talk to us about the Foster Care system. Currently works for the Department of Children and Families (DCF) - Lawrence Area Office. Nancy has worked for DCF for 17 years. While at DCF Nancy has worked as a Social Worker in different positions such as Assessment Social Worker, On Going Social Worker, Intake Social Worker, Family Group Conference & Family Find Coordinator and her last and most current position is Family Resource Recruiter. As a Family Resource Recruiter Nancy is responsible for spreading the awareness to the public and providing information about our great need of Foster Homes for our children in DCF custody. Nancy focuses on educating perspective applicants regarding the process of becoming a licensed Foster or Adoptive Parent by guiding them through this journey. EVERY PARENT MAKES A DIFFERENCE is our motto Andover Rotary's own Paul Mercandetti will give a classification talk...and it's Friday! |
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Andover WECAN - Electrify your life, electrify your town!
Jul 29, 2022
Andover WECAN strives to prepare the community to lead and flourish in a sustainable future. We work to educate residents on steps individuals can take to reduce their climate impact. As chapter of the Massachusetts Climate Action Network (MCAN), we join community chapters across the Commonwealth that share a commitment to reducing climate change and a passion for a sustainable future. This network is made up of local independent organizations who believe that community-based climate solutions lead our commonwealth and our nation to action on climate change. Bio - Kate Margolese - Kate has over 25 years of professional experience in the high tech industry as an engineer, management consultant and marketing professional. Currently she works as a marketing and communications specialist for nonprofits. Her nonprofit work began as Chief Marketing Office for Perkins School for the Blind. Prior to Perkins, she led marketing efforts at technology companies including Sun Microsystems and Nets Inc. and worked as a consultant at McKinsey and Company, where she focused primarily on strategic direction for technology companies. Kate earned an MBA from Harvard University and has a B.S. in engineering from the University of Michigan. Currently Kate is Governing Board Chair for West Parish Church, Vice President on the Andover Community Trust (ACT) Board and serves on the steering committees for both Andover WECAN and Courageous Conversations. Throughout her time in Andover she has served in many volunteer roles including board member of A Better Chance of Andover, foster care reviewer for the Department of Children and Families, Friendly Visitor for homebound residents, board member of the Andover Fund for Education, co-producer for 3 Merrimack Junior Theatre productions, Girl Scout leader and co-leader of the transition team for High Plain and Wood Hill. Bio - Mary Pritchard - After raising three daughters, I turned my attention to community engagement:
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Fitness Facts and Fun with Fitness Together’ s Amy
Aug 05, 2022
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Megan's House
Aug 12, 2022
Pamela Huntley was named Executive Director of The Megan House Foundation on July 1, 2019, after serving in the role on an interim basis since January of the same year. She first became involved with the organization by attending their annual Gala, a fundraising event which raises funds to help with the program and services provided to the residents of Megan’s House and Erin’s house. She served on the board of Directors for over two years until accepting her current role. In May of 2019 Pamela completed her Bachelor of Science Degree in Healthcare Administration from Southern New Hampshire University. She worked at Lowell General Hospital for ten years, her last role as the Director of Community Relations and the Center for Community Health & Wellness, developing relationships with corporate and community partners to generate a climate of understanding and support for the health system, its mission, accomplishments and challenges. Pamela began her healthcare career at Saints Medical Center in 2008. Over four years she worked with employers and municipalities throughout the Merrimack Valley educating them on the Occupational Health services, including preventative health, injury treatment and management for work related injuries, on-site health screenings, and created a program for travel medicine. Beginning in 2012 Pamela transitioned to the External Affairs division to work collaboratively with the VP of External Affairs, Philanthropy and Marketing. Prior to healthcare Pamela worked in the insurance industry as a licensed broker for Colonial Life and Accident. From there, she transitioned into Managed Care, joining a privately-owned company as the Director of Business Development. Pamela also held a management position at CorVel Corporation a national managed care company, responsible for managing the New England Medical Bill review division and overseeing the growth of the workers compensation PPO network in Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont. Pamela is involved in several community organizations, boards and committees. As a Corporator for the Lowell Boys & Girls Club she has co-chaired their Holiday Auction for two years and has served on the golf committee five years. Pamela is a past Board member of the Westford Business Association and past Chair of the Greater Lowell Chamber of Commerce. She served three years as co-chair of SEGL part of the United Way, which raises money for local non-profit organizations so that children of Greater Lowell can enjoy a safe summer of fun, learning, and employment.
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Author - Growing Up Under The Nazi Boot"
Aug 19, 2022
A Word from George Kakridas - Author of "Growing Up Under The Nazi Boot" I was born and raised in a small village named Vresthena, near Sparta, Greece, in a poor family with four siblings. During the first five years of my childhood, I lived like every child in the village. I played soccer barefooted on our neighborhood's narrow dirt roads with my friends. Kicking a ball made from old rags, we called “topi”. It didn't bounce and didn’t roll too far before it got unraveled, and we had to stop playing to put it back together again. My innocent young life suddenly ended one bright sunny morning in 1941, when I was played soccer in the “platia” square with my friends. It was a glorious warm morning. The birds were chirping and celebrating another beautiful spring day over our heads on the huge maple tree, when suddenly a loud rumble of heavy trucks full of armed soldiers rolled into our village square. It was as though someone had turned off the sunlight, stopped the birds from chirping, and our world sank into the darkness like it was midnight. It transformed our free and innocent lives into life like in a prison camp full of despair, hopelessness, and hunger. Our precious lives were meaningless to the cruel and brutal Germans.
I watched the Germans executing innocent men, women, and children to avenge their soldiers' deaths by the guerrillas. The brutality and atrocities perpetrated by the Nazis on the Greek population went on for four long years, and we all had to learn how to stay alive while watching our friends, neighbors, and villagers murdered by the ruthless occupiers. After their defeat and withdrawal from our village and country, we celebrated our freedom again, but it was short-lived when another war began, the Greek Civil War. This bloody civil war continued for five more years until they too were defeated by the Greek soldiers with the help of the Americans. Once again, we were alive but our hearts and souls were forever marred. I was fortunate to survive through what I would describe as living in a death camp full of fear and hopelessness, until I immigrated to America and lived the American dream. |
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The Andover Village Improvement Society
Aug 26, 2022
The Andover Village Improvement Society is a private land trust in Andover, Massachusetts. Founded in 1894, AVIS is the second oldest land preservation society in the United States. Its goal is to acquire land within Andover and preserve it in its natural state.bout Founded in 1894 as The Andover Village Improvement Society, AVIS is one of the oldest land conservation organizations in the country. AVIS manages more than 30 reservations comprising more than 1,200 acres in the Town of Andover. It relies on a corps of volunteers to lead the organization and to provide maintenance of its recreational trails and stewardship for the land and its wildlife habitat. Donations from community members and grant sources provide the funds to acquire, protect and manage its reservations.AboutFounded in 1894 as The Andover Village Improvement Society, AVIS is one of the oldest land conservation organizations in the country. AVIS manages more than 30 reservations comprising more than 1,200 acres in the Town of Andover. It relies on a corps of volunteers to lead the organization and to provide maintenance of its recreational trails and stewardship for the land and its wildlife habitat. Donations from community members and grant sources provide the funds to acquire, protect and manage its reservations. |
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Join us at Palmer's
Sep 01, 2022
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Rotary 7930 DG Visit
Sep 09, 2022
The Rotary Club of Andover welcomes Rotary 7930 District Governor Alexander Falk. Alexander Falk joined the Rotary Club of Marblehead in 2009, became Youth Exchange Officer the following year as he restarted the Rotary Youth Exchange program in Marblehead, and most recently served as President of the Marblehead Rotary Club in 2018-19. He has been active in various roles in Rotary District 7930 and previously served as Membership Committee CoChair, Assistant Governor, Major Donor Chair, member of the Public Image Committee, member of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee, and District Youth Exchange Chair. Alexander is a member of the Paul Harris Society. He and his wife Nora are members of the Rotary Bequest Society Level 6, and the Arch Klumph Society – Trustee’s Circle. They live in Marblehead, MA, and are the proud parents of Calvin and Swanee Falk. Alexander Falk founded Altova – a software company focused on developer tools – in 1992 in Vienna, Austria, and relocated to the US in 2001 to expand his business. Alexander currently serves as President & CEO of the company. Altova employs close to 100 people, and has offices in Vienna, Austria, and Beverly, MA. Altova has over 5.5 million users world-wide and Altova software tools are used by 91% of the Fortune 500 companies. Alexander holds a Diplom-Ingenieur (MSc equivalent) degree from Johannes-Kepler University in Linz, Austria, with a major in semiconductor physics. |
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Andover DEI Commission and Andover DIVERSE
Sep 16, 2022
My name is Albert W. Pless, Jr, and I am the Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for the Town of Andover, Massachusetts. I am also an Adjunct Professor at the Tufts School of Medicine Online MPH program and a guest lecturer at the Tufts School of Community Health. I have over 25 years of experience working in community-based programs in the Greater Boston area. Previously, I directed nationally recognized Community Health Worker programs for Black and Latino men at the Boston Public Health Commission and Cambridge Public Health Department. I am on numerous boards and committees, including the Men’s Health and Black Health Care Workers Caucus of the American Public Health Association (APHA) and Harvard Catalyst. Most recently, I transitioned from Public Health, where I worked for the past 20 years, to the field of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. I have committed my entire professional career to addressing health and racial inequities. I received my Master of Science degree from Southern New Hampshire University in Manchester, NH. |
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Project Home Again
Oct 07, 2022
Project Home Again - Nancy Kannell When an acquaintance who was down on her luck came to Nancy and said her stove was broken and she had no money to fix it or buy a new one, she had an idea. Eighteen years later, Nancy’s passion for helping others has led PHA to grow from a one woman operation to a staff of dozens of volunteers serving hundreds of families a year. At Project Home Again, they partner with social service agencies in northeastern Massachusetts to bring new and gently used household goods, furniture and appliances to low-income families in need. Our mission is to provide them with the things they need to live with comfort and dignity. We try to make the experience as positive as we can, letting our clients “shop” to choose items that reflect their personality and individual style. It’s what allows us to truly turn their houses into homes. Our work is people-focused and people-powered, and there are three groups that make the magic of Project Home Again possible — our clients, our volunteers and our donors. |
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Educational Supplies to Zimbabwe
Oct 14, 2022
Kate is a North Andover High School senior who is very involved in the school community. After a visit to Africa she was deeply inspired to find a way to get school supplies to children in a village in Zimbabwe. She wants to connect our regional Rotary clubs with Rotary clubs in Zimbabwe to help transport the supplies she and other students have collected. |
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How Can Local Governments Earn Community Trust?
Oct 21, 2022
How Can Local Governments Earn Community Trust? The United States is facing a crisis of trust. Public trust in government in the US has been in decline for decades, and today only 24% of Americans say they can trust the government to do what is right. While the public conversation around trust in government often focuses on the national level, local governments are an equally important part of the equation. They are responsible for providing the everyday services that people depend on and generally interact more directly with their constituents. As such, they provide a key opportunity to repair government-community relationships. During this presentation and Q&A, Emily Mello, Master in Public Policy graduate from the Harvard Kennedy School, will join us to discuss her research on how local governments can earn community trust. She will share the core findings from her thesis project and discuss how these lessons can be used by governments and civil society. Emily Mello has dedicated her career to advocacy and civic engagement, both internationally and domestically. She currently serves as a management consultant with The Bridgespan Group, helping nonprofits and philanthropy achieve greater social impact. She previously worked on local and national political campaigns, including Bernie Sanders' 2020 presidential campaign. On the global side, she worked for an international women's health organization and advised the UN and foundations on their advocacy strategies. She received her Master in Public Policy from the Harvard Kennedy School and her BA from Northwestern University.
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Feeding the Valley. Merrimack Valley Food Bank’s Role & Impact in Food and Nutrition Security
Nov 04, 2022
Amy’s personal commitment to fighting hunger began in 1997 when she joined the board of directors and volunteered at MVFB. Amy served as recording secretary on the MVFB board until 2002, when she joined the staff as Assistant Director. Amy served as Executive Director from 2005 – 2022, and took on the newly created positon, Director of Growth, in May 2022. Amy received her associates degree in Communications from Endicott College and her bachelors in General Studies from Salem State College. Her responsibilities at the Food Bank include raising awareness of the issues of hunger and health in the community, outreach to all constituencies, organizing and conducting fundraisers, volunteer recruitment, acting as liaison between the community and the organization, and providing supplemental support for all departments and programs at the food bank. Amy has served as vice-chair and chair of the Lowell Hunger Homeless Commission, and on the Greater Lowell Chamber of Commerce, Lowell Pop Warner Cheerleading and Football and Lowell Council on Aging Boards of Directors. Amy represents the Food Bank on the Greater Lowell Health Alliance’s Steering Committee and Healthy Eating and Living Task Force; the Non Profit Alliance of Greater Lowell, on the Essex County/Merrimack Valley Food Resiliency Partnership and Food Bank Coalition of Massachusetts, and was recently named a board member of the Massachusetts Nonprofit Network. Ms. Pessia is a proud Rotarian, having served as President of the Rotary Club of Lowell in 2018-19. Amy has received the Salute to Women in the Region Award from the Lowell Sun, and the Municipal Award from Lowell Telemedia Corporation, but her favorite accomplishment is raising her daughter, Sophia, aged 19, a second year college student. |
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Andover Serving and Honoring Our Veterans
Nov 11, 2022
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Special Town Meeting Update
Nov 18, 2022
Town Manager Andrew Flanagan and Building Committee Chair Joel Blumstein will discuss the Special Town Meeting that will be held on Thursday, December 1, 2022, at 7:00 pm at the Collins Center at Andover High School. The purpose of the meeting is to consider whether to authorize additional funds to allow completion of construction of the new West Elementary and Shawsheen Preschool. A two-thirds vote is required for passage. By way of background, in June of 2021, at Annual Town Meeting and at the ballot box, funds were authorized for the design and construction of the new school. The total project budget was set at $151,661,968, which included a maximum grant from the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) of $38,442,820. Due to factors affecting the overall economy – supply chain disruptions, labor shortages, inflation, the war in Ukraine – construction costs have increased significantly, resulting in a budget deficit and thus the need for a Special Town Meeting. The exact amount of the budget request is still being determined but is likely to be in the range of $15-16 million. An appropriation of $16 million would result in an annual tax increase of about $70 for the average value single-family home. |
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Andover Youth Services
Dec 02, 2022
Anthony “Tony” Serio: Tony grew up locally in Belmont, MA before receiving his undergraduate degree in Psychology from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst and Master’s Degree in Social Work from Simmons University. Most recently, he worked for the Town of Lexington as the Assistant Director of Youth & Family Services, where he provided clinical social work services for Lexington community members under the age of 60. In addition to counseling, Tony facilitated seasonal program opportunities for low-income community members, led a monthly community-crisis intervention team in partnership with local police, health, and fire departments, provided free suicide prevention trainings, and offered drop-in workshops, afterschool activities, and social events for Lexington teenagers in partnership with Cary Memorial Library.
Prior to working for the Town of Lexington, Tony maintained several clinical positions within the field of social work across various school, hospital, and behavioral health settings. These positions included providing intensive case management at an inpatient residential facility, providing individual and community-based counseling services via the Child-Behavioral Health Initiative (CBHI), working as the Clinical Coordinator of a DMH-funded residential program, and coordinating summer activities for a therapeutic foster care agency. Through these experiences, Tony gained an array of clinical skills as well as a depth of knowledge of the mental health system and available resources, which has further enhanced his approach to working with youth and families. Finally, Tony’s hobbies and interests include outdoor education, playing music, and cooking, which he looks forward to sharing with AYS on a regular basis. Hayato Tsurumaki: My name is Hayato Tsurumaki, new Assistant Director of Andover Youth Services. I have over 15 years of experience in the Recreation field, planning and implementing programs for toddlers through adults. Most recently, I was the Recreation Supervisor for the Town of Lexington for almost the past 4 years. During my time there, I was responsible for overseeing our two aquatic facilities (pool complex with 4 pools and a reservoir), oversaw all our flag football and basketball leagues, managed all the field permitting for over 30 ballfields, and oversaw over 150 seasonal staff and volunteers. I recently received my certification as a Certified Parks and Recreation Professional (CPRP) to show my commitment to the field and to continue my growth, knowledge and network of fellow colleagues. Growing up, I would always take part in many recreational classes, programs and various sports teams. Having the ability to participate in these programs, has fueled my passion to provide services for others. The thing I enjoy most about my work is fostering a fun, safe space for others to create new connections within the community and being able to provide similar opportunities that I was afforded when I was younger. Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, coaching my son’s sports teams, watching college and professional sports, going to the beach, and going out to try new foods. I am excited to bring my knowledge and experience to the Town of Andover, specifically to the youth in the community and hope to get to know everyone soon! |
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Lazarus House Ministries
Dec 09, 2022
Carmen Vega currently serves as Executive Director of Lazarus House Ministries. She has worked at other positions within the organization for four years, including: Shelter Program Director and Transitional Housing Program Director. Before joining Lazarus House she spent over twenty years serving the Greater Lawrence community through a diverse range of entities and organizations including: The Essex County Sheriff’s Department, The City of Lawrence School Department, Family Services of the Merrimack Valley and faith based nonprofits. Carmen is passionate about Lazarus House’s mission, which is “To honor God in our work by serving every person we encounter with dignity and respect. We offer community, food, shelter, clothing, and advocacy services with an open and non-judgmental heart.” She was born and raised in the Hancock Housing Projects in Lawrence, Massachusetts. Her family, friends and neighbors all struggled with many issues one witnesses in a typical urban city; some of the same hardships that the families served by Lazarus House are working to overcome. It is through her lived experiences, that Carmen leads the organization to serve families and individuals struggling with food insecurity, poverty, and homelessness. In her “free” time, Carmen serves as an Associate Pastor at MAJES Worship Center in Lawrence, Massachusetts. She enjoys weekend adventures with her family, which includes her husband Mike, her son Luis, and daughters Diandra and Mikeyla. Credentials: Carmen H. Vega, Med, LMHC
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Pieces of the puzzle: Teasing out the story of 1646 and Andover
Dec 16, 2022
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Bell Ringing for Salvation Army 9 AM - 5 PM
Dec 23, 2022
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Town of Andover Zoning and Master Plan Update
Jan 06, 2023
The Zoning Bylaw Recodification has been a multi-year process, starting with the budget request for funding of a consultant to help Town staff, to the request for proposals to select the consultant, selection of a working group, public input meetings then to a final submission of the recodified bylaw for Town Meeting. Barrett Planning Group in collaboration with Robert P. Mitchell, FAICP was chosen as the consultant to assist the Town with the recodifying of the bylaw. The current Zoning Bylaw was adopted by Andover Town Meeting in 2001. Since then, the Town has added a new zoning district (ID2); 3 overlay districts (Senior Residential Community Overlay District, Medical Marijuana Overlay District and Historic Mill Overlay District); rezoned areas from Single Residence A (SRA) to General Business (GB) and Industrial A (IA) to Single Residence A (SRA), amended sections of the sign bylaw, Table of Uses, home occupations, historic preservation and other key sections of the bylaw. It is time to improve accessibility of the bylaw by reformatting and reorganizing content to make it navigable, eliminate confusing language and to clarify existing provisions. In a few instances portions of the bylaw were revised to be in conformance with state statutes, state standards and current case law. |
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Traveling with Road Scholar, The University of the World
Jan 13, 2023
Our speaker is Dave VanArsdale who retired in 2013 after 41 years in ministry that started in Framingham and concluded as Pastor of Faith Presbyterian Church in Sun City, AZ. We moved to the Edgewood Retirement Community in North Andover in 2016. We are parents of 3 sons and 8 grandchildren. Dave is now serving as the Chair of the Council on Aging for North Andover. |