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North Shore Cancer WALK Participant is Flocking for a Cure

A dozen plastic pink flamingos are making their way onto selected front lawns across the city, accompanied by a sign saying, “You got flocked.”

Flamingo Flocking is a national movement created to raise money to fight for breast cancer. Peabody resident Liz Mover is using it as a fun way to spread awareness of the North Shore Cancer Walk in Salem.

“It’s been an awesome way to get the community aware of the walk,” said Mover. It allows people to give a small donation to the cause and “send the flock to the next house.”

On Sunday, June 23, Mover and her 10-member team will participate in the 29th annual North Shore Cancer Walk under their group name “Team Breasties,” supporting a cause that has changed her life.

In February 2018, Mover was diagnosed with breast cancer. After feeling a lump and experiencing pain in her arm,  she went to the Mass General/North Shore Outpatient Center in Danvers, where she received a mammogram, ultrasound and biopsy that same day.

Read the entire Salem news article here:

https://www.salemnews.com/news/local_news/flocking-for-a-cure/article_44331589-0b89-5bc9-9a7c-69650775cedd.html

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Merrimac Woman to Participate in 29th North Shore Cancer WALK

A local resident has been battling cancer by putting one foot in front of the other for almost three decades and she is looking forward to doing it all over again during the 29th annual North Shore Cancer WALK on June 23.

The walk began as an internal fundraiser for North Shore Medical Center’s Salem campus but has grown to become a popular public event that raises money for cancer-related services such as clinical trials, wellness care and other oncology services.

Francie Croft works as a respiratory care department manager on the Salem campus and has been involved in every one of the hospital’s North Shore Cancer WALKs.

“This started off as something that was hospital based,” Croft said. “Now, it is a major community force. It is astounding how many people show up to this walk every year. They are walking for different loved ones or family members that have been going through treatment or died from cancer.”

Read entire article in the Newburyport Daily News:

https://www.newburyportnews.com/news/local_news/merrimac-woman-to-participate-in-th-annual-walk/article_7114e268-c567-57f6-86a7-40c7bbfbbe5a.html

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A Father’s Two Worlds Intersect on the Autism Spectrum

My work in the field of applied behavior analysis, special education and psychology started over 15 years ago when I graduated from Northeastern University and started working as an assistant at a school for those with traumatic brain injury.

As I further defined my career choices by continuing my education in these areas, I always wanted to make a difference and help people. My work at the Northeast Arc has allowed me to continue my efforts in helping to change lives every day.

When pursuing my education and starting my career, I never thought it would end up being invaluable in how I raise a child.

Having a child wasn’t high on my list of priorities at that point, so I usually would brush off talk from my friends that I would be a great dad to a child with special needs. I would see those around me with family members or kids with autism, but I never really entertained the thought of it happening to me.

Read entire column in the Eagle Tribune:

https://www.eagletribune.com/opinion/column-a-father-s-two-worlds-intersect-on-the-autism/article_daca3678-bcb4-50d9-b7bb-4a9c831e76b6.html

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Northeast Arc & Salem News Partner for Autism Essay Contest

When the Northeast Arc decided they wanted to celebrate National Autism Awareness Month by hosting an essay contest for teenagers who have siblings with Autism, we turned to the Salem News to see if they would help to promote it.  They immediately said yes and not only promoted the contest but ran the winning essays in the paper.

Here’s the first place essay titled, “My Sunshine” by Ashley McKean, 17, of Melrose, Massachusetts;

When my dad died three years ago, it was like the world had stopped spinning. All I could think about, all day and all night, was how are my mom and brother going to be okay? Aside from the worry over what this was doing to my brother, who was my dad’s best friend, came along with the excruciating worry of something happening to one of them also. Through the worry, I remembered something, though. After my dad’s accident, I was in hysterics. I went to my brother and hugged him so tight, I refused to let go. I just screamed and cried, and through all this, my brother, who is extremely sensitive to stress, to loud noises, who cannot even speak, put his arms around me and hugged me back. My brother who everyone deemed could not feel emotion, could not understand love or happiness or sadness, or anything really, proved them wrong. In the midst of the hardest moment of my life, I wasn’t the one trying to help my brother, he was the one who was there to help me. The boy the world claimed would never know the difference between good and bad, love and hate, or anything at all really. Every day he just proves the world wrong with his unconditional love that comes so naturally from his heart. So when I worry about losing my sunshine, my brother, I remember that he is stronger than anyone thinks, he is more than what you think.

Read the Salem News article with all of the winning essays here:

https://www.salemnews.com/opinion/columns/more-than-what-you-think-siblings-share-their-stories-of/article_c8243f61-6e30-517e-bb2d-49b967d8f31a.html

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Clark School Offering Eight Free Tuition Spots for New Students

Clark School, a private independent school founded in 1978 to provide a unique and individualized approach to education, announced a free tuition program exclusively available for children living in Rowley and Ipswich.

Clark School provides a customized learning approach that embraces innovation. Parents, teachers, and students are jointly accountable in ensuring student success while fostering an empathetic community. Clark School cultivates resilient and compassionate problem solvers, while recognizing that success takes many forms.

“Since we moved to Rowley in 2014, the towns of Rowley and Ipswich have been extremely welcoming,” said Jeff Clark, Head of School.  “We are now in a position to show our appreciation to the community by offering free tuition for four students in Grades K or 1 and free tuition for four students in Grades 2 or 3.”

Read the entire article on the Northshore Magazine web site here:

https://www.nshoremag.com/community-news/clark-school-offering-eight-free-tuition-spots-for-new-students/

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WBZ Features DanversCARES & #WhyYouMatter Campaign

Students in Danvers are holding up a mirror to their peers with a simple message: you matter. They’ve taken more than 1000 pictures of students, teachers and staff. Their goal? To help others.

The Why You Matter project has turned into a beautiful display in the halls of the high school.

“I said, I matter because I have more to accomplish in life,” says Calvin Mansfield, a Danvers High School student.

“I care about others,” adds Julia Ryan.

Watch the entire WBZ-TV segment here:

https://boston.cbslocal.com/2019/04/25/danvers-high-school-students-why-you-matter-campaign/

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Andover Residents Cast in Voices of Hope Production of “Titanic”

Seven residents of Andover will be performing at the North Shore Music Theater in a production of TITANIC, a musical.

Bob Hanscom, Scott Helmers, Susan Lynehan, Renee Manning, Suzanne Neuman, Ronnie Ventura, and Heidi Knepper, all of Andover, have been cast in the Voices of Hope production.

To celebrate Voices of Hope’s 10th anniversary season, the musical will run for two dates – May 4 and 5 – at North Shore Music Theater in Beverly.

Voices of Hope is a non-profit organization with more than 200 individuals from Greater Boston who donate their time and creative talents to raise awareness and funds for cancer research.

When the RMS Titanic sank on the evening of April 14, 1912, the world focused on the inconceivable sinking of a ship believed to be unsinkable. Over time, we would come to know the compelling stories of her passengers. We learned the hopes and dreams, heartbreak and heroism of the various social classes who set sail on this historic journey — some to enjoy the luxury of the finest ship at sea, others sailing to a new life in America — all blissfully unaware of the fate that awaited them.

Read the entire article on the Andover Townsman web site:

https://www.andovertownsman.com/news/lifestyles/andover-residents-to-perform-in-musical-about-the-titanic/article_7e929998-c426-519d-b668-c2650089e4ea.html

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Bedford & Burlington Residents Cast in Voices of Hope’s “Titanic”

Jill Scanlon and Lisa Bailey, of Bedford, and Tim Rose, of Burlington, have been cast in the Voices of Hope production of “Titanic.”

To celebrate Voices of Hope’s 10th anniversary season, the musical will run for two dates – May 4 and May 5 — at North Shore Music Theater in Beverly.

Voices of Hope is a non-profit organization, with area residents who donate their time and talents to raise funds for cancer research.

Proceeds will benefit the Henri and Belinda Termeer Center for Targeted Therapies at the Mass General Cancer Center.

Read the entire article on the Bedford Minuteman web site:

https://bedford.wickedlocal.com/news/20190404/bedford-burlington-residents-in-musical

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