Massachusetts
Massachusetts Congressional Delegation Announces Over $59 Million in AmeriCorps Funding | U.S. Senator Ed Markey of Massachusetts
![Massachusetts Congressional Delegation Announces Over $59 Million in AmeriCorps Funding | U.S. Senator Ed Markey of Massachusetts](https://www.markey.senate.gov/assets/images/sharelogo.png)
Funding will assist 23 applications and greater than 6,000 AmeriCorps members in Massachusetts
Washington (June 6, 2022) – United States Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Representatives Richard E. Neal (MA-01), James P. McGovern (MA-02), Stephen F. Lynch (MA-08), Invoice Keating (MA-09), Assistant Speaker Katherine Clark (MA-05), Seth Moulton (MA-06), Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Lori Trahan (MA-03), and Jake Auchincloss (MA-04) in the present day introduced that the Commonwealth of Massachusetts will obtain $59,973,651 million in FY2022 State and Nationwide funding, together with grants and training awards, from AmeriCorps, the federal company for nationwide service and volunteerism.
The funding will assist about 6,110 AmeriCorps members at 23 applications working to resolve challenges in Massachusetts, together with early childhood training, conservation, and housing.
The Massachusetts Service Alliance, the Governor-appointed state service fee, may also obtain $3,274,515 in system funding, which can in flip be awarded to Massachusetts organizations to assist further AmeriCorps members within the coming months.
“As a champion for the Civilian Local weather Corps and a supporter of a various, well-paid AmeriCorps program, I applaud the practically $60 million in new AmeriCorps funding for Massachusetts,” mentioned Senator Edward J. Markey. “We are able to and should proceed to combat for a good wage for corps members, who’re doing crucial work of their communities to reply to our main nationwide and statewide challenges: COVID-19, the local weather disaster, and financial uncertainty. Working in a service corps and being educated for clear power careers needs to be an choice for folks from all walks of life, and I’ll maintain preventing for an funding on this program on the size and scope we’d like.”
“I’m grateful for AmeriCorps members who’re keen to get within the combat to make our communities, Commonwealth, and nation a greater place,” mentioned Senator Elizabeth Warren. “The practically $60 million in funding will assist hundreds of AmeriCorps members pursuing their ardour for public service in our communities.”
“AmeriCorps volunteers characterize the very best of our group,” mentioned Congressman Richard E. Neal. “This system assists organizations throughout our state and nation to enhance the lives and livelihoods of individuals from all walks of life. This funding will be sure that extra lives are impacted by their terrific service.”
“I’m thrilled to see unbelievable organizations within the Second District comparable to DIAL/SELF and Clark College obtain these crucial grants that may assist assist AmeriCorps members who will foster optimistic youth improvement, enhance scholar educational engagement, develop equitable and culturally responsive educating practices, and assist job-readiness and financial self-sufficiency,” mentioned Chairman Jim McGovern. “These are very important grants that may make an actual distinction in our group, and I’m proud that our delegation strongly supported the American Rescue Plan which helped to underwrite and broaden this funding.”
“Since its formation in 1993, AmeriCorps has engaged a whole lot of hundreds of Individuals in productive nationwide service every year, and its programming has improved the lives of numerous others,” mentioned Congressman Stephen Lynch. “This funding from the FY22 AmeriCorps State and Nationwide Grant Competitors will probably be put to nice use within the Eighth Congressional District, the place I’m happy to announce that $6 million will probably be directed in direction of key training and public well being programming by Jumpstart for Younger Youngsters and United Means of Massachusetts Bay.”
“AmeriCorps members are making an influence day by day in our Commonwealth, and I welcome the information of this practically $60 million in funding,” mentioned Congressman Invoice Keating. “In Southeastern Massachusetts, now we have seen first-hand the work that AmeriCorps members are doing in our communities by means of the AmeriCorps Authorized Advocates of Massachusetts at South Coastal Counties Authorized Providers and the AmeriCorps Cape Cod Program run by the County of Barnstable. I stay up for persevering with to affix my colleagues within the Massachusetts Delegation in supporting AmeriCorps to make sure the continued success of applications like these throughout the Commonwealth.”
“For over 50 years, AmeriCorps has linked younger folks to service alternatives throughout the nation, enhancing lives, strengthening communities, and fostering civic engagement. I’m thrilled to announce that Massachusetts will obtain nearly $60 million in funding from AmeriCorps – we’re dedicated to assembly this second of historic problem with historic motion and investing within the volunteers and repair work of AmeriCorps is a vital piece of our restoration,” mentioned Assistant Speaker Katherine Clark.
“Not solely does nationwide service make America stronger, it builds character and a way of objective alongside the best way. My very own service as a Marine formed who I’m in the present day,” mentioned Congressman Moulton. “However nationwide service isn’t nearly becoming a member of the army. AmeriCorps gives all Individuals a chance to make our nation higher in several methods. I’m thrilled that Massachusetts is receiving nearly $60 million in funding from AmeriCorps. Every greenback spent will profit our group for years to come back.”
“The AmeriCorps grant will permit the Commonwealth to proceed its long-standing custom of service and volunteerism,” mentioned Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley. “From Somerville to Boston, this worthwhile funding will assist the Massachusetts 7thtackle inequities in training and uplift our neighbors in group and throughout the nation. I’m proud to affix my colleagues within the Massachusetts delegation to ship these funds.”
“Massachusetts has a robust custom of younger adults stepping as much as serve their communities. This AmeriCorps grant funding will allow many organizations throughout the Commonwealth to proceed selling area people service,” mentioned Congresswoman Lori Trahan. “I’m thrilled that a few of this funding will as soon as once more go to TerraCorps, a Lowell-based group that helps land trusts, city agriculture, and meals justice nonprofits. Packages like these have interaction our communities in environmentally acutely aware practices and are central to preserving our surroundings for future generations.”
19 grants will assist organizations working in Massachusetts, together with:
- $332,640 to The Pupil Conservation Affiliation, Inc. in Rowe, MA
- $907,200 to the Lieteracy Lab in Springfield, MA
- $519,067 to Springfield School in Springfield, MA
- $481,487 to Franklin County DIAL SELL INC. in Greenfield, MA
- $686,807 to the Trustees of Clark College in Worcester, MA
- $1,036,800 to TerraCorps, Inc. in Lowell, MA
- $777,600 to South Coastal Counties Authorized Providers, Inc. in Fall River, MA
- $222,700 to Boston Well being Look after the Homeless Program, Inc. in Boston, MA
- $777,600 to Boston College (School Advising Corps – BU) in Boston, MA
- $777,600 to BPE, Inc. in Boston, MA
- $6,480,000 to Metropolis Yr, Inc. in Boston, MA
- $648,000 to Match College Basis, Inc. in Boston, MA
- $651,427 to Northeastern College in Boston, MA
- $604,811 to Playworks Educations Energized in Boston, MA
- $387,351 to Tenacity, Inc. in Boston, MA
- $324,000 826 Boston, Inc. in Roxbury, MA
- $1,685,595 to Jumpstart for Younger Youngsters, Inc. in Boston, MA
- $539,847 to United Means of Massachusetts Bay, Inc. in Boston, MA
- $499,999 to the County of Barnstable in Barnstable, MA
4 grants will go to nationwide organizations headquartered in Massachusetts that function across the nation, together with:
- $6,048,000 to SAGA Improvements, Inc. in Newton, MA
- $17,625,600 Metropolis Yr, Inc. in Boston, MA
- $10,933,738 to YouthBuild USA, Inc. in Somerville, MA
- $3,751,267 to Jumpstart for Younger Youngsters, Inc. in Boston, MA
These AmeriCorps State and Nationwide grants and new AmeriCorps members will assist put together college students for faculty, revitalize cities, join veterans to jobs, combat the opioid epidemic, rebuild communities following disasters, protect public lands, strengthen training, foster financial alternative, and extra. They are going to be part of the greater than 1.1 million AmeriCorps members who’ve served for the reason that program’s inception in 1994, incomes practically $4 billion in training awards.
The funding consists of as much as $18,925,660 million in training awards for AmeriCorps members. After a full-service time period, members can obtain a Segal AmeriCorps Training Award of roughly $6,500 in direction of tuition at eligible colleges and at sure GI Invoice-approved instructional applications for veterans, or scholar mortgage compensation.
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Massachusetts
Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey said Joe Biden’s political situation is ‘irretrievable,’ New York Times reports
![Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey said Joe Biden’s political situation is ‘irretrievable,’ New York Times reports](https://www.bostonherald.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/AP23339606465515.jpg?w=1024&h=683)
Gov. Maura Healey described President Joe Biden’s political situation as “irretrievable” earlier this week following a damaging debate performance, The New York Times reported.
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Massachusetts
Global 'chess boom' ripples through western Massachusetts
![Global 'chess boom' ripples through western Massachusetts](https://wordpress.wbur.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/wmass_chess-1000x750.jpeg)
Normally, Alex Cespedes’ classroom is filled with fourth and fifth graders learning science and social studies. But on Thursdays, after classes let out, students at McMahon Elementary School in Holyoke, Massachusetts, pour into the room for a different reason: to do battle.
“That’s actually a very good move,” Rodman Parvin, who co-facilitates the after-school club the kids are all excited about, explained to two students on an afternoon in early May. “Because now it’s check again. And it’s a double attack.”
This is the Cheetah Chess Club, which Cespedes and Parvin started earlier this year. Despite the spring weather coaxing students outdoors, 16 kids showed up that day to push pawns, rooks, knights, bishops, queens and kings around the board. For some players, like Nicole Davis, chess is new. She and fellow fifth grader Tae’la Feliciano are moving pieces across the board, not worried too much about the rules. Others have been playing longer, like fifth grader JJ Rodriguez. He can confidently explain why he plays the Dutch Defense with the black pieces.
“The rook, bishop and knight are all lined up on the inside,” he said. “Because they are the stronger pieces.”
‘Like a virus right now’
In recent years, there has been an upswell in worldwide interest in chess. For example, the website Chess.com’s servers repeatedly crashed last year under the weight of millions of new players gravitating to the game. It’s a trend that started in 2020 with COVID lockdowns and the hit Netflix show “The Queen’s Gambit,” and has continued as chess influencers get big on social media.
And that global “chess boom” has sent shockwaves through western Massachusetts, too, including at McMahon Elementary.
“It’s kind of like a virus right now,” Cespedes said, who sees students playing everywhere in school now. “If there’s any still or free time, they’re like, ‘Can I have the chess set? I will protect it with my life. I just want to play chess with my friends.’ And beat all the teachers. That’s what they really want to do.”
Chess clubs in local libraries and other schools have grown in size, too. Sophie Argetsinger is the parent of a second grader at Northampton’s Lander-Grinspoon Academy. She grew up in the vibrant chess scene in Rochester, New York. So when Lander-Grinspoon approached her last year about running a chess club at the school, she was excited.
“The first time I held it there was like 20 kids who signed up, which is crazy because there’s only about 60 kids at the school in total,” she said.
Those numbers have shrunk a bit. But Argetsinger has organized two tournaments at the school in the past year and more students than she expected — from around the region — turned up to play.
“That might have a lot to do with the online presence,” she said of the game’s growing popularity locally. “There’s a lot of chess creators now that are making chess kind of cool and something everyone can engage with.”
‘They thought it was a nerdy thing’
Ed Kostreba has been organizing chess tournaments in the region for around a quarter century. He directs the Western Massachusetts Chess Association, which last year had 308 people play in its tournaments. That’s more than any year since 1996, the year the world’s media focused its attention on Russian grandmaster Gary Kasparov as he beat the IBM supercomputer Deep Blue — a quaint notion nowadays, when computers are much stronger players than humans.
Kostreba said, back then, the association used to hold around six tournaments a year. That number has now doubled. He is hoping for even more growth in the coming years. However, he and others say there are challenges to keeping chess thriving locally.
“It’s tough because you have to get venues that are reasonable,” Kostreba said. “I’m working on a tournament where we collect entry fees, and paying back 80% as prizes. So that’s tough to do, and at some places the rents have gone way up and we can’t do it.”
On a recent afternoon, Kostreba was playing chess at the Friends of the Homeless shelter in Springfield, where he volunteers weekly
Sitting across the board from Kostreba was Jay Williams, who has been playing chess for 25 years. He originally learned the game in the correctional system and says he has seen more people playing in recent years — and a more diverse group of players, too.
“A lot of people are definitely interested in chess,” Williams said between moves. “I would say when I was young in junior high school, people wasn’t really all that. They thought it was a nerdy thing. But now I would say it’s a cool thing now.”
Fierce competition
The chess boom has also hit home — for me. After decades away from the game, I found myself returning to it during the pandemic. And somebody else in my family took notice: my 6-year-old daughter, Sasha. She kept seeing me playing on my phone and computer and soon insisted I teach her.
If I had guessed, I would have said she fell in love with chess because of the game’s beauty. The stunning tactics and complicated dance between pieces. But when I asked her, it was much more simple.
“Winning against Daddy,” she said with a big laugh. “The guy who always losed against me.”
This story is a production of the New England News Collaborative. It was originally published by New England Public Media.
Massachusetts
Massachusetts ice cream trail leads to sweet hot summer relief
![Massachusetts ice cream trail leads to sweet hot summer relief](https://www.fiftyplusadvocate.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Massachusetts-ice-cream-trail-1.jpg)
By Sharon Oliver, Contributing Writer
REGION – The people of Massachusetts are serious about their ice cream. From chasing down ice cream trucks as a kid to licking the wooden spoon of a Hoodsie cup to trying their first gelato, cooling off with a frozen treat has long been a summer ritual. For some, it is a year-long love affair.
July is National Ice Cream Month, and the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) has teamed up with nearly 100 state dairy farms in an effort to introduce visitors to various ice cream stands that source local dairy for their delectable desserts.
Encouraging travel and tourism
Phu Mai, director of communications for the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources, told MassLive, “This project will not only promote the consumption of Massachusetts dairy and encourage visitors to discover new dairy farms and local ice cream stands, but it will also support travel and tourism and celebrate the hard-working cows and farmers of the Massachusetts dairy industry, support travel and tourism, and excite ice cream enthusiasts everywhere.”
These farms supply the state with money and milk that helps produce millions of pounds of butter, cheese, ice cream and yogurt. There will be a digital and print map available listing participating dairy farms and ice cream parlors featuring some very dope flavors. Historically, the Bay State has not been afraid of featuring some interesting tastes. For example, located in the western part of the state, in the town of Hadley is a fifth-generation family-owned business called Flayvors of Cook Farm. Asparagus ice cream may sound like a joke, but customers have been coming to Flayvors for 20 years for their “Hadley Grass,” a green seasonal concoction made with fresh spears that is often topped with a caramel sauce.
Steve’s was an early pioneer
As for the die-hard lovers of ice cream, many can recall lining up around and down the block from Steve’s Ice Cream shop in Somerville for a nice hefty scoop. Perhaps lining up is an understatement. Surround and converge upon may be more like it. Established in 1973, owner Steve Herrell’s pioneering business concept of cookie and candy mix-ins inspired chains like Ben & Jerry’s and Cold Stone Creamery, and products like Dairy Queen’s Blizzard and Wendy’s Twisted Frosty. MSNBC’s travel/leisure journalist Tom Austin credits Herrell with creating “modern gourmet ice cream.”
Steve’s Ice Cream, along with a few other local shops made lasting impressions evident by the following comments on Facebook.
Lawrence Lavigne:
“Kinda interesting to think about all the regional ice cream names that made it big…Ben & Jerry’s, Steve’s, Herrell’s, Brigham’s, Friendly…And now JP Licks. New England sure does love a sundae.”
Allen Lomax:
“Awe, I remember Steve’s Ice Cream. They even opened a store in Washington, D.C. Sad it’s gone like Bailey’s Ice Cream and Brigham’s.”
Christina Coleman:
“I remember waiting in line for over an hour just to get to the front door! Delicious ice cream.”
Don Burchelt:
“I was often in that line, with my late wife. Once you got in the door, the line continued all the way around the inside wall. The ice cream freezer was in the window, working continuously.”
The state is a hotbed for serving up delicious satisfaction for some cold cravings. Toscanini’s would be another firm yes, as far as local favorites go. The busy ice cream parlor and café won the Best of Boston award for best ice cream in 1997, 2009, and 2010.
Massachusetts has about 95 dairy farms that contribute about $61 million to the state’s economy. The ice cream trail is one of many trail projects the state offers but this one is sure to please all those ice cream enthusiasts with a very discerning sweet tooth. Stay tuned this month for more details about the ice cream trail.
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