The Winchendon Courier
Serving the community since 1878 ~ A By Light Unseen Media publication
Week of June 24 to July 1, 2021

Nova Arts in Keene Resumes In-Person Performances

Nova Arts is proud to announce a return to in person entertainment at 48 Emerald St in Keene NH.

This Thursday 6/24, Randy Miller's Irish Night returns; last time, he regaled us with stories and songs from Ireland and beyond, on fiddle, piano, and accordion. This week will be just as magical, and it begins at 7:45 p.m. The evening is free, though we are collecting donations which will get split between our programming fund and Hundred Nights, a year-round shelter and resource center here in Keene.

Friday night we are hosting legends living right in our midst! Ciaran Nagle of the Three Irish Tenors and Tara Novak (Riverdance, Rod Stewart, Stevie Wonder) will be joined by pianist Scott Nicholas, presenting an evening of song and entertainment; doors are at 7:45 p.m. We have some special table reservations available, as well as general admission seating, and we will be open for drinks throughout the show. To learn more, visit us at Brewbakers, or online at novaarts.org/events to get tickets and see what's coming up at Nova Arts.

On Saturday from 2:00-4:00, Sam Diedrich will be on the piano in the cafe. All July events are up on our website now, featuring performances by Steve Gunn & William Tyler, Low Lily, a night of music from Latin America, dark synth from Brattleboro, Chris Pureka, and our first stand up comedy night.

Nova Arts is supported by and under the fiscal sponsorship of Arts Alive.

USA Lab: MIT and Harvard Graduate Students Research Food and Agricultural Entrepreneurship in North Central Massachusetts

Cambridge, Mass - A team of students from MIT and Harvard has collaborated with the Community Foundation of North Central Massachusetts in conducting research into food production and agriculture entrepreneurship across North Central Massachusetts to evaluate its potential for bringing healthy food options to more residents and creating good jobs in food production and distribution in the area.

The students are enrolled in USA Lab, an Action Learning course at the MIT Sloan School of Management, whose goal is to deepen graduate students' understanding of America's diverse economic, cultural, and social issues through collaboration and working on-site with community host organizations in rural and small-town settings to uncover solutions together. This was the year the course was conducted virtually due to the pandemic.

The student team, hosted by the Community Foundation, recently presented its findings to Central Mass Grown and Growing Places, nonprofit organizations leading the food hub initiative. The student team includes: Rick Ganz, MBA '21, MIT Sloan; Allison Lee, MIT Master of City Planning '21 and a research assistant with the MIT CoLab; and Nora Tufano, Master of Urban Planning 22', Harvard University Graduate School of Design.

"USA Lab's partnership is a critical element to affirm and reinforce the work happening in our region’s food system," said Ayn Yeagle, Executive Director of Growing Paces, a non-profit headquartered in Leominster whose mission is to inspire and connect the North Central MA community to create equitable access to healthy food and environmental sustainability through education, collaboration and advocacy. "Findings from the project inform an operating and business plan to catalyze a Regional Food Campus that focuses on an equitable and resilient food system that benefits local producers and consumers. We cannot thank the MIT / Harvard team and our Community Foundation enough for spearheading this very important and timely project for North Central MA."

Now in its 20th year, the Community Foundation was formed by local residents to grow the amount and impact of philanthropic resources across North Central Massachusetts. "We were thrilled to be chosen by USA Lab to bring the expertise and energy of this team of MIT/Harvard-trained student analysts to bear on the twin issues of food security and agricultural entrepreneurship," said Community Foundation President Stephen Adams.

Launched in 2018, USA Lab, whose formal name is USA Lab: Bridging the American Divides, was created to address concerns about America's deep divides--economic, cultural, social and geographic--and to better understand the diversity of America's communities. Students conduct fieldwork with organizations in rural regions and small cities across the US, working with community partners who are dynamic and effective local leaders. Both in class and through fieldwork, student teams work on well-defined projects that contribute to strengthening the social and economic fabric of the host communities. The host organizations are innovative local nonprofit and government organizations.

The course was developed through a collaboration involving MIT Sloan's Good Companies, Good Jobs Initiative and Action Learning program; and the MIT Mens et Manus America Initiative.

"USA Lab is designed to benefit both MIT students and the community organizations that host them," says Barbara Dyer, Senior Lecturer at MIT Sloan and Executive Director of the School's Good Companies, Good Jobs Initiative. "Host organizations gain fresh insights on pressing issues facing their communities, and students hone critical skills such as impact investing, market analysis, strategy development, and empathetic listening, all of which make them better business leaders."

This year's other USA Lab projects are taking place in Maine, Minnesota, Florida, Iowa, and Kansas. USA Lab was among ten higher education courses nationwide honored with the Aspen Institute's 2019 Ideas Worth Teaching Award.

Call for Walkers: Register for the 33rd Annual Boston Marathon® Jimmy Fund Walk: Your Way presented by Hyundai

Participants are encouraged to "Walk Your Way" on Sunday, October 3, to support patient care and research at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

BOSTON--Registration is now open for the 2021 Boston Marathon® Jimmy Fund Walk: Your Way presented by Hyundai. The Jimmy Fund Walk will be a virtual event to ensure the safety of everyone in the community. Participants will be encouraged to "Walk Your Way" from wherever they are most comfortable—whether that be from their neighborhood, favorite trail, or from a treadmill on Sunday, October 3rd.

The 2021 Jimmy Fund Walk will continue to unite the community to raise funds for the Jimmy Fund to support all forms of adult and pediatric patient care and cancer research at the nation's premier cancer center, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Whether participating for themselves, loved ones, neighbors, or co-workers, each walker shares a common purpose: to support breakthroughs that will benefit cancer patients around the world.

Cancer care and research does not rest, even during a pandemic. We need the support of dedicated walkers now more than ever. Everyone in the Jimmy Fund community is an important partner in The Dana-Farber Campaign, our ambitious $2 billion, 7-year fundraising effort to prevent, treat, and defy cancer. The Dana-Farber Campaign will accelerate the Institute's strategic priorities by supporting Revolutionary Science, Extraordinary Care, Exceptional Expertise, and Essential Opportunities.

Please register today and our staff can help you kickstart your fundraising.

The Details:

Details for Sunday, October 3rd, are still being finalized, and participants can anticipate inspiring virtual programing throughout the day and in the days, weeks, and months leading up to Jimmy Fund Walk: Your Way.

Anyone interested in additional information can reference the Jimmy Fund Walk: Your Way frequently asked questions or can send an email to JimmyFundWalk@DFCI.Harvard.edu. The Jimmy Fund Walk has raised more than $150 million for Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in its 30+ year history. Funds raised from the Walk support all forms of adult and pediatric patient care and cancer research at the nation's premier cancer center, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. The Boston Athletic Association has supported the Walk since 1989, and Hyundai has been the presenting sponsor since 2002.

All Jimmy Fund Walk participants are encouraged to utilize the Charity Miles App to help with training and fundraising, engage with Dana-Farber patient stories and podcasts, receive special offers from Jimmy Fund Walk sponsors, and much more!

To register for the Walk (#JimmyFundWalk) or to support a walker, visit www.JimmyFundWalk.org or call (866) 531-9255. This year's event will have a lower fundraising requirement, $100 for adults and $25 for those under 18, with a $5 registration fee. All registered walkers will receive a bib and medal and the first 5,000 to register will receive a commemorative Jimmy Fund Walk T-shirt.

About the Jimmy Fund:

The Jimmy Fund, established in Boston in 1948, is comprised of community-based fundraising events and other programs that, solely and directly, benefit Dana-Farber Cancer Institute's lifesaving mission to provide compassionate patient care and groundbreaking cancer research for children and adults. The Jimmy Fund is an official charity of the Boston Red Sox, the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association, the Pan-Mass Challenge, and the Variety Children's Charity of New England. Since 1948, the generosity of millions of people has helped the Jimmy Fund save countless lives and reduce the burden of cancer for patients and families worldwide. Follow the Jimmy Fund on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram: @TheJimmyFund.

Ribbon Cutting Celebrated the Expanding Services at Summit Agency For Youth With Autism In The Worcester Area

Summit Ribbon Cutting

Worcester MA - A ribbon cutting celebration to announce the opening of Summit Health & Wellness Center and Summit Campus for children and young adults with Autism and related diagnoses took place on Thursday, June 17th.

Thursday night's ribbon cutting was a celebration of the addition of the Summit Campus and Health & Wellness Center which was a natural progression of the Summit Agency's mission. Their goal is to support this vulnerable and underserved population in the Worcester community, and the surrounding areas.

This comes at a good time as the prevalence of ASD (Autism Spectrum Diagnosis) and related diagnoses are on the rise. According to the CDC 1 in 54 children are diagnosed with ASD . In the US alone there are roughly 550,000 children with ASD who will be transitioning into adulthood over the next decade, and it is expected that approximately 45 percent of these emerging adults will enroll in a university, college, or technical/vocational school in the coming years. Springer's Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. (January 2018)

The Summit Health & Wellness Center and Summit Campus ribbon cutting took place on Thursday June 17th, 2021 from 5pm - 7pm outdoors at the corner of Fruit Street and William Street in Worcester. The Summit Health and Wellness Center will be opening July 1. Appointments can be made now by visiting the website: www.summitagencyma.com or by calling 774-701-0670.

Guests at the ribbon cutting included: Senator Michael Moore, Worcester Councilor-at-Large, Kathleen Toomey, Worcester District 2 Councilor, Candy Mero-Carlson, and Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce President, Tim Murray. Summit Agency was recognized by the State of Massachusetts with an Official Citation.

"Think back to 20-30 years ago and the services that were available for young adults who had intellectual or developmental disabilities, we were just learning, we were just providing services in K-12, we were beginning inclusive enrollment legislation to provide more services for this demographic in colleges and universities; so I think it is great that we've been able, through your advocacy, and grassroots efforts and getting the attention of legislators and other policy officials to tell us what your children need to be successful and have a good quality of life." stated Senator Michael Moore.

There were over 70 guests, and the celebration included a tour of the facilities, refreshments and hor d'oeuvres, along with raffles for a Worcester Railers Gift Basket and gift cards to Wings Over Worcester, Smoke Stack Urban BBQ, 'Olo Pizza and Meze Estiatorio.

Winchendon Resident to Participate in the 2021 Pan-Mass Challenge

Locals will cycle with the goal of raising $52 million for Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

NEEDHAM, Mass. June 18, 2021 - On Aug. 7 and 8, more than 6,000 riders, including Madison Murphy from Winchendon, will take part in the Pan-Mass Challenge (PMC), a two-day 211-mile bike-a-thon across Massachusetts, with the goal of raising $52 million for cancer research and patient care at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (Dana-Farber).

The PMC is the nation's single most successful athletic fundraiser, donating 100 percent of every rider-raised dollar to Dana-Farber as its largest single contributor, accounting for 64 percent of its Jimmy Fund's annual revenue. For the first time since 2019, more than 6,000 riders from 47 states and 11 countries will once again hit the road together during the first weekend of August with the common goal of making an impact in the fight against cancer. In 2020, the PMC raised an impressive $50 million through its summer-long Reimagined campaign, bringing its 41-year contribution to $767 million.

"We couldn't be more excited to bring our passionate PMC riders, volunteers, donors and sponsors back together in person for PMC Ride Weekend this year," said Billy Starr, founder and executive director of the PMC. "With fully supported routes and Reimagined options, everyone can customize their PMC experience to join us in the fight against cancer. Cancer doesn't stop for anything, even a global pandemic, and funding for research, treatment and care is as critical as ever."

PMC 2021 will include 16 routes--from 25 to 211 miles--designed to cater to all levels of cycling and fundraising ability, including Reimagined options for those who prefer to complete their PMC ride on their own. Most participate in honor of a family member or friend fighting cancer and more than 950 riders and volunteers are cancer survivors or current patients, considered Living Proof® of the PMC mission. More than 150 Dana-Farber employees are committed to the cause as riders and volunteers as well, in some cases to fund their own cancer research.

Registration for PMC 2021 is open through June 30. Join in the fight against cancer by registering for one of the following featured routes still available:

  • 25 & 50-Mile Routes (1-Day 25 or 50 Miles; Sunday, August 8):
    Starting and finishing in either Wellesley or Foxboro, these Sunday routes are perfect single day options for those passionate about giving back.
  • Wellesley Century Ride (1-Day, 100 Miles; Sunday, August 8):
    NEW this year, the Wellesley Century route is a popular option for riders looking to challenge their endurance in a single day format while making an impact in the fight against cancer.
  • Reimagined Ride (Rider's Choice Mileage/Timing):
    PMC Reimagined riders can ride wherever and whenever they want – except for the PMC routes on PMC weekend. This option is intended to provide flexibility for those that want to contribute to the fight against cancer without specific time or mileage constraints.
The PMC is presented by the Red Sox Foundation®. To make a financial contribution to a rider from your town or to register as a rider, visit www.pmc.org, or call (800) WE-CYCLE. Connect with #PMC2021 on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.