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Lowell Spinners’ Groundskeeper Jeff Paolino Honored
March 9, 2010 by Common · Please Comment
Methuen resident Jeff Paolino, the head groundskeeper for the Lowell Spinners, has been honored as the groundskeeper of the year. Jeff recently attended a Methuen City Council meeting, where he was recognized with a mayoral citation.
The Spinners press release
The Lowell Spinners, Class-A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox, are pleased to announce Head Groundskeeper Jeff Paolino has been named the New York-Penn League Sports Turf Manager of the Year.
Paolino, in his second season as the Spinners head groundskeeper after three seasons as an assistant, oversees all grounds work at LeLacheur Park during the not only the Spinners season, but also during the UMass-Lowell Baseball season.In 2009, Paolino’s tireless work ensured the Spinners would be able to play despite rain on 15 of the team’s first 18 home dates without so much as a rain delay. Overall in 2009, the Spinners were rained out just once, playing through the rain in over half of their home dates.
“This award is a testament to the hard work Jeff and his staff put forth on a daily basis in taking on the onus associated with ensuring we are able to play on a playing surface that is one of the best in the game,” said Spinners Vice President and General Manager Tim Bawmann. “With the amount of rain we had in 2009 to only have one game lost to rain is remarkable and we are very happy to have Jeff honored for his hard work in making it possible.”
With LeLacheur Park in use day-in-day out, Paolino has worked over the past few seasons to make several key improvements. In addition to the daily beautification of the field, Paolino has made improvements to the bullpens, home plate area and pitching mound, as well as added several new looks to the field with new cutouts and cuts.
During the past two seasons, Paolino has worked not only to keep LeLacheur Park ready for baseball, but also to host two concerts. Following the Dropkick Murphy’s and Mighty Mighty Bosstones concert in 2008, LeLacheur Park hosted indie-rock favorites, Wilco in 2009, again opening the playing surface for stages and concertgoers alike. In each instance, Paolino has ensured LeLacheur Park is not only ready for baseball in the days that follow but in the same condition it was before the concerts arrived.
“To be able to turn-around the field over a six-day period from baseball to a concert and then back to baseball is a testament to the work ethic of Jeff and his crew,” said Bawmann. “By the time we are back to baseball you wouldn’t even know we had 6,000 people in the outfield the day before.”
A native of Methuen, Mass., Paolino was sworn into the military in a ceremony held at LeLacheur Park in June. While he is due to report to Lackland Air Force base outside of San Antonio, Texas in late October for training, Paolino will continue his work at LeLacheur Park.
The Sports Turf Manager of the Year is selected by the top umpires in each league. Paolino was selected based on a number of criteria, including condition of turf grass, mound, infield, and communication with umpire crew and effort to complete games in adverse conditions. The national winner will be announced at the Baseball Winter Meetings, to be held the first week of December in Indianapolis.
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Town Cobbler featured in Boston Globe
March 7, 2010 by Common · Please Comment
From the Boston Globe, March 7, 2010
Chin up: The few, the proud, the holdouts
By Mark Pothier
Some fields are thinning fast, but if — like these intrepid folks — you’ve got drive, flexibility, and a competitive spirit, you can endure in the job you love.
After more than 20 years in the wholesale fruit business, Tom Belluardo’s career had stalled. With prospects for promotion dim, he decided to learn an occupation that offered more potential: cobbler.
You might not expect a lot of demand for a shoe-repair guy in a world where people toss out footwear nearly as often as they change socks. But there is some demand — enough for Belluardo to secure a slice of a niche business for the last two decades. His Methuen shop, The Town Cobbler, thrives on a base of customers that prefers to get quality shoes fixed instead of tromping around in cheap plastic heels with the life expectancy of paper coffee filters
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St Lucy’s new Pastor Haverhill’s Rev. Richard Burton
February 9, 2010 by Common · Please Comment
From the Eagle Tribune, February 09, 2010
Well-known Haverhill priest returning to the area
By Mike LaBella
HAVERHILL — The Rev. Richard Burton is coming home — almost. Beginning this spring, the Haverhill native will lead the flock at St. Lucy Parish in Methuen after leading two Catholic parishes in Salem and Peabody. Burton, 50, said he will replace St. Lucy’s pastor, the Rev. Thomas Keyes, who is going to do missionary work in South America with the Missionary Society of St. James.
“I love the Merrimack Valley and it’s great to come back,” Burton said. “I had in a request for the last year or so that if something opened up in the Haverhill area that I’d move closer to home, and closer to my parents Lewis and Hortense Burton, who are in their older years.”
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MHS Counselor Gary Dionne dies suddenly
November 24, 2009 by Common · Please Comment
METHUEN — Popular Methuen High School guidance counselor Gary Dionne died suddenly last night, school officials said today. “Nobody knows for sure at this point what the cause of death was,” said Superintendent Jeanne Whitten. “There are a lot of assumptions, but I haven’t been told definitively.” Whitten said the entire school district is devastated.
Dionne, a Derry, N.H. resident, was in his early 60s and worked at Methuen High for his entire career. He was a special education guidance counselor, working with at-risk students, Whitten said. “He has done great work with so many kids,” Whitten said.
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from the Eagle Tribune, November 25, 2009
Methuen Mourns Death of Guidance Counselor
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Alex Shepherd : Soul of the Rangers
November 24, 2009 by Common · Please Comment
METHUEN — If anyone wondered why Alex Shepherd was named a captain this fall for the Methuen High football team, the definitive response came in Week 6 against Haverhill. Just seven days after leaving the Chelmsford game for what was feared to be a torn rotator cuff in his right shoulder, Shepherd was back in uniform, long-snapping and working his magic on special teams.
“You could see him wince and feel the pain; I mean, you know he was hurting, but there was no way he wasn’t going to be out there helping us,” said Ranger coach Pat Graham. “The kids recognize stuff like that. They see Alex out there. He didn’t miss a day.”
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MHS senior Michael Norcia wins full boat to Merrimack
November 23, 2009 by Common · Please Comment
Methuen High School senior Michael Norcia, 17, recently won a full-tuition scholarship to Merrimack College for demonstrating his science, technology, engineering, and mathematics knowledge.
Merrimack College Press Release:
Methuen High School senior Michael Norcia, 17, recently won a full-tuition scholarship to Merrimack College (estimated $120,000 over four years) for demonstrating his science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) knowledge.
Methuen, Mass. resident Michael Norcia recently won a full-tuition scholarship for four years (estimated $120,000) to study science and engineering at Merrimack College. Pictured here, Michael stands with Dr. Josephine Modica-Napolitano, dean of science and engineering at Merrimack College. Michael competed in the College’s first annual STEM contest where high school students put their science, technology, engineering, and mathematics skills to the test.
More than 50 students from six different states from as far as Maryland, participated in the first two rounds of Merrimack College’s STEM Scholarship Competition in which students were tested on their content knowledge in science, technology, engineering and math, as well as on their quantitative and analytical thinking skills.
Norcia was among the four top scorers in the first two rounds of the exam and continued on to the critical thinking round. During this third and final round of the exam, students were presented with specific open-ended problems and were asked to develop and present a creative solution to that problem. Michael’s solution was scored highest by a panel of judges that included Merrimack College School of Science and Engineering faculty members and invited professionals.
The three other finalists were each awarded $15,000 per year scholarships (four years): David Lavoie (Chelmsford, Mass.); Linden Krouse (Milford, N.H.); and Michael Jutras (Goffstown, N.H.).
Michael Norcia, Winner of STEM Competition at Merrimack College
“I’m really excited about winning. The Merrimack faculty seemed really nice and very excited for me. My parents will have three children in college next year, so this will be a big help to them.” Michael is in the process of applying to Merrimack College for the fall.
Dr. Josephine Modica-Napolitano, dean of science and engineering at Merrimack
“The School of Science and Engineering was thrilled to host the STEM Scholarship Competition, the first of what is planned to become an annual event at Merrimack College. We were especially excited about offering this scholarship opportunity to students during these tough economic times. All four finalists did an excellent job and should be very proud of their efforts. We look forward to them joining our freshman class next year.”
Visit the STEM Competition photo gallery.
Photo Caption: Methuen, Mass. resident Michael Norcia recently won a full-tuition scholarship for four years (estimated $120,000) to study science and engineering at Merrimack College. Pictured here, Michael stands with Dr. Josephine Modica-Napolitano, dean of science and engineering at Merrimack College. Michael competed in the College’s first annual STEM contest where high school students put their science, technology, engineering, and mathematics skills to the test.
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From the Eagle Tribune, November 24, 2009
Methuen teen wins full scholarship to Merrimack College
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Methuen couple celebrate 60 years of marriage
November 18, 2009 by Common · Please Comment
Methuen’s Aram and Alice Der Apkarian celebrate their 60th anniversary.
Full story at the Armenian Reporter website:
Golden anniversary couples shine
by Tom Vartabedian
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Sightless Methuenite rocks at bowling on the Wii
November 16, 2009 by Common · Please Comment
From the Eagle Tribune
November 16, 2009
‘Dynomite Methuenite’ bowls virtually perfect without his sight
Knocking them down is a family affair for Al and Shirley Kelso
By J.J. Huggins
METHUEN — Gripping a video game controller in his right hand, 84-year-old Al Kelso listens as his wife, Shirley, 86, tells him where to stand so he’s facing the flat screen TV dead on. Kelso swings his arm backward then forward and releases his finger from the button on the controller, causing his character in the bowling game on the Wii video game system to roll the bowling ball straight down the middle of the lane on the screen.
Kelso can’t see what’s happening because he lost his vision during a fall earlier this year, but he can rely on his time spent competing in real-life bowling leagues to conjure up an image inside his head. The ball rolls down the virtual lane and nails a perfect strike. It was Kelso’s first try of the day. “As long as they put me directly in front of the lane, I know it has to go down the middle and I let it go,” he said.
Kathleen Corey Rahme, the social program director at the facility, keeps score for the team, called the Dynomite Methuenites. She e-mails the information to the National Senior League, in which the Methuenites compete online with seniors from New Hampshire to Michigan.
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Methuen’s Leonard Joiner solo show in Rockport 11/8 – 11/20
November 10, 2009 by Common · Please Comment
The Rockport Art Association will host a solo show of award-winning fine artist Leonard G Joiner. Lifelong artist, Joiner is known for his intricate and accurate drawings of the natural settings of New England. Leonard lives with his wife and daughter on a working farm on Hampshire Rd in Methuen.
Joiner: “My medium is graphite, which is great because I can work on it just about anywhere. Always keeping my eyes open for New England farm and country scenes. Not always focusing on the big picture but hunting for that close-up or unique angle. I have a keen interest in form, texture and the seasonal light.”
Leonard Joiner website
Free reception will be Sunday, November 8, from 2 to 4 p.m.
the show will run November 8th to November 20th.
Admission is free
Rockport Art Association
12 Main St
Rockport, MA
www.rockportartassn.org
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Kate Zehnter November’s Artist of the Month
November 9, 2009 by Common · Please Comment
Mayor Manzi Names Kate Zehnter As November’s Artist Of The Month
Methuen Artist’s Work on Display in the Mayor’s Office
Mayor William M. Manzi has named Kate Zehnter as November’s Artist of the Month. Kate has been an art educator and visual artist since graduating from Massachusetts College of Art in Boston, MA. The hard-edge oil narrative paintings with complimentary colors that emerged after attending college have been transformed since then into soft translucent multilayered acrylic paintings that represent light, passage of time and space. Examples of her new painting style with translucent images that appear and disappear as the viewer moves, are on display in the Mayor’s office at the Searles Building.
Kate has always been passionate about the importance of art and uses her teaching and artistic skills to teach Color and Design at Northern Essex Community College. The desire to make art has always been an important part of her life. In the 1980s, she concentrated her creative energy in fiber art specifically a joining technique known as Twining. Her one-person show of wearable art at the Whistler House Museum in Lowell, MA was a success. However, the desire to paint was ever present and while she continued to explore other mediums she always returned to her first art passion painting.
The Kate’s Imagery art web site http://www.katesimagery.com showcases all her mediums and artistic skills. On this web site one will see mini-tapestries, which push the boundaries of accepted crewelwork using thread as her paint to create a unique narrative image of scenes from her experiences while traveling.
“In my artwork, I let intuition and risk-taking lead me toward completion. At this point in time it becomes a visual record of my life at that moment. This fact, however, is often only obvious to me in retrospect. Since retiring from being a full-time high school art educator at Timberlane Regional HS, Plaistow, NH in 2008, it has been a delight to be a full time visual artist,” says Zehnter.
Mayor Manzi stated, “Kate is one of the many talented artists living in our community. It is an honor to display her cutting edge artwork. I encourage people to come to my office and view her colorful paintings.”
The Methuen Artist of the Month Program was created by Mayor Manzi three years ago in order to give members of the Methuen Arts Community a forum to display their work and to encourage participation in Methuen’s growing creative economy. Methuen artists interested in being considered for Artist of the Month should contact the Mayor’s Office.
