WELLESLEY HILLS, MA — MassBay Community College 2024 graduate Michal Grinis of Natick, MA, has been awarded the esteemed Foster Furcolo Award. This Award is presented annually to one graduate from each of Massachusetts’ 15 community colleges who exemplifies outstanding academic achievement, leadership and commitment to community service. The Scholarship is accompanied by a two-year scholarship covering tuition and most mandatory fees to attend the University of Massachusetts Boston.
The Foster Furcolo Scholarship is named after Massachusetts’ 60th Governor, John Foster Furcolo. Governor Furcolo was the first Italian American governor of the Commonwealth, an active promoter of community colleges, and a member of the United States House of Representatives from 1949–1952.
“This scholarship means the world to me because this is my future,” said Grinis. “I am thankful and proud, but was shocked when I received word I had been selected as the 2024 recipient because there were many qualified applicants. When I filled out my application, I thought it would be a slim chance I would be noticed. This shows the importance of sharing your story and raising your voice. Whenever you do that, you will stand out and someone will recognize your hard work.”
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Grinis moved to the United States when she was 11 years old and faced numerous challenges when she and her family relocated for her father’s job, including learning a new language, meeting new friends, and navigating a new community. Her journey to academic success is a reflection of her resilient spirit and determination to reach her goals. Grinis considered various paths after graduating from Natick High, but following in her sister’s footsteps, she came to MassBay to find a career path.
“My family has been an instrumental support system, giving me the confidence to pursue my goals. My dad, in particular, has played a very important and inspirational role in my life. Without my dad’s foresight to come here and start from zero, to create a new life for our family, I would not be here.”
In addition to her family, Grinis credits her advisor for helping her rediscover her love for the law and helping her pivot her career track. “I initially came to MassBay to take classes for a year and then transfer, but I found a supportive community that wanted to help me succeed and find my passion in life. My advisor, Cheryl MacMillian, was always available and helpful in guiding me,” she said. “Also, with MassBay Transfer Advisor Karen Akukwe’s help with coordinating all the details to transfer to UMass Boston, I was able to reach my goals and move at my own pace to get where I wanted to be.”
Grinis will be graduating from MassBay in May with her Associate in Arts degree in Liberal Arts. She will transfer to UMass Boston to pursue a bachelor’s in political science with the goal of attending law school and becoming an attorney.
21 hours ago Announcements, Causes, Events, Latest, Press Release
“This past Sunday, June 9, was the 8th Annual Manheim New England Touch-a-Truck event.
Proceeds from raffles held at the event went towards Jaxon’s Journey with a Rare Brain Tumor and Butterflies Raising Hope Fundraisers.
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Jaxon is a 6-year-old who has been battling Hypothalamic Hamartoma since he was 9 months old. Children braved the rainy conditions to look at and play on vehicles of all types. The event hosted construction trucks, military equpiment, police, fire and EMS vehicles.”-Massachusetts State Police.
All photos by the Massachusetts State Police:
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“DANGEROUS HEAT AND HUMIDITY: After a beautiful weekend, dangerous heat and humidity begins to overspread …
“It really is a positive change and we’re really hopeful that this means a bright future for cannabis on Martha’s Vineyard.”
By Bhaamati Borkhetaria, CommonWealth Beacon
Cannabis businesses on Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket will be able to transport marijuana over state waters starting midnight on Friday, under an administrative order by the Cannabis Control Commission.
Commissioners last week heard concerns from patients, advocates and residents of the islands, about the looming loss of access to safe and legal cannabis on the two islands because cannabis could not be transported to and from the mainland. The situation was presented as being particularly dire for medical marijuana patients.
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The commission voted unanimously to pass the administrative order “regarding the transport of marijuana and marijuana products over state territorial waters to and from marijuana establishments and medical marijuana treatment centers in the counties of Dukes and Nantucket.”
“This was turned around in a really quick time frame,” said Commissioner Kimberly Roy. “At the end of the day, this was about public health and public safety and patients and consumers alike having access to safely regulated products.”
The two islands have long been siloed from the mainland cannabis market because the commission has not written regulations on transporting cannabis over water.
The problem stems from the unusual status of marijuana: legal under state law but illegal at the federal level. Transporting cannabis over federal waters could lead to prosecution for operators.
This has forced dispensaries on the Vineyard and Nantucket to source all of their marijuana from cultivators on the islands, an expensive move. And now, the only cultivator on the Vineyard is set to close its operations.
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There are currently two dispensaries on Martha’s Vineyard: Island Time and Fine Fettle. Island Time temporarily shut its doors in May and Fine Fettle has said that without the commission’s intervention, they will close by the end of the summer.
The woes sparked a lawsuit against the Cannabis Control Commission, with businesses arguing there are water routes from the mainland to the islands through state territorial waters, rather than federal waters.
Island Time, one of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit, was previously cited by the commission when the owner, Geoff Rose, transported cannabis products to Martha’s Vineyard over state territorial waters. According to the lawsuit, the commission ruled that cannabis products cannot be transported from the mainland to the Vineyard or Nantucket.
With the new administrative order, cannabis businesses will no longer be reliant only on cultivators on the islands but will be able to transport cannabis and cannabis products to the islands using state water routes.
“Today is a great day in providing equity for operators on the islands,” Rose, who plans to reopen his business, said in a phone interview. “I truly appreciate the efforts of the cannabis commission to address this very important issue which has been long overdue for attention. I look forward to continuing to serve patients and consumers with safe and high-quality products.”
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Adam Fine, the attorney representing Island Time and the other cannabis business involved in the lawsuit said that the plaintiffs are planning to drop the lawsuit following this administrative order.
Added Chloe Loftfield, Fine Fettle’s general manager: “It really is a positive change and we’re really hopeful that this means a bright future for cannabis on Martha’s Vineyard.”
While the administrative order will provide immediate relief for dispensaries struggling to stock their shelves, the commission will still have to update their regulations to incorporate the change. Commissioner Bruce Stebbins also encouraged the commission to prioritize and expedite the granting of licenses based in Dukes County and Nantucket.
This article first appeared on CommonWealth Beacon and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.
New Hampshire House Votes To Table Marijuana Legalization Bill That Passed Senate, Potentially Killing Reform For Years To Come
Photo courtesy of Max Pixel.
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St. John’s (Shrewsbury) vs. BC High, Saturday, 6 p.m.
Division 2
Plymouth North vs. Walpole, Sunday, 1 p.m.
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Division 3
St. Mary’s vs. Oakmont, Saturday, 3 p.m.
Division 4
Pittsfield vs. Seekonk, Saturday, 12 p.m.
Division 5
English High vs. Georgetown, Sunday, 10 a.m.
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Softball
Division 1
King Philip vs. Taunton, Sunday, 3 p.m.
Division 2
Westfield vs. Walpole, Saturday, 5 p.m.
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Division 3
Hudson vs. Dighton-Rehoboth, Saturday, 2:30 p.m.
Division 4
Tyngsborough vs. Joseph Case, Sunday, 12 p.m.
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Division 5
Georgetown vs. Turners Falls, Saturday, 12 p.m.
Boys’ lacrosse
Division 1
Jack Weissenburger celebrates with captain Grayson Ambrosh after they defeated Needham in the Division 1 lacrosse state final.Winslow Townson for The Boston Globe
St. John’s Prep 17, Needham 13
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St. John’s Prep wrapped up a fourth straight championship and a 29th straight in-state victory by outdueling Needham in Saturday’s Division 1 state final, sealing senior Jake Vana’s fourth title as a member of the boys’ lacrosse program, and his seventh ring overall counting titles in hockey and soccer.
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Read the game story here.
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Division 2
Marshfield vs. Longmeadow, Saturday, 12 p.m.
Division 3
Medfield 13, Scituate 4
The Medfield seniors saved their best performance for last: a commanding victory over second-seeded Scituate for the Division 3 boys ‘ lacrosse title at Westwood High. Senior Tim Collins collected three goals and an assist, junior defenseman Ben Lusby had three goals, and senior captain Joe Bartolotta scored twice as the No. 1 Warriors (20-3) captured the program’s eighth title, but first since winning D2 in 2016.
Read the game story here.
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Division 4
Sandwich vs. Nantucket, Saturday, 12 p.m.
Girls’ lacrosse
Division 1
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Central Catholic celebrates with the trophy following their victory over Wellesley.Jim Davis for The Boston Globe
Central Catholic 14, Wellesley 9
Senior Nicolette Licare poured in five goals and junior Kerri Finneran added four to fuel the No. 1 Raiders (24-2) to their first state title in program history. Sophomore goalie Anne Cashman was sharp, and Kierstyn Zinter, Olivia Rondeau, and Abby Yfantopulos were a few of many other contributors.
Read the game story here.
Division 2
Notre Dame (Hingham) 14, Walpole 10
The dynasty rolls on for Notre Dame Hingham girls’ lacrosse, as the top-seeded Cougars battled past second-seeded Walpole, 14-10, to win their third consecutive Division 2 state championship. Senior captains Siobhan Colin and Jane Hilsabeck scored four goals each for the Cougars (22-1) to secure the program’s fifth overall state title since winning Division 1 titles in 2013 and 2019.
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Read the game story here.
Division 3
Medfield 14, Newburyport 10
Throughout the season, members of the Medfield girls’ lacrosse team used last year’s Division 3 semifinal loss to Norwell as motivation. They reminded themselves how empty they felt, and they vowed to write a different story this time around. Thursday night, they accomplished that mission, outlasting Newburyport to capture their second Division 3 state championship in three years.
Read the game story here.
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Division 4
Cohasset 14, Ipswich 9
Third-seeded Cohasset was sharp in every facet of the game in Thursday’s MIAA Division 4 final, outlasting No. 4 Ipswich at Turco Memorial Field at Walpole High for the program’s third championship. Senior Laney Larsen scored twice in the final game of her high school career. Sophomore Avery Regan tallied a game-high six points (5 goals, 1 assist), and junior captain Libby Schiffmann recorded a hat trick for the Skippers (19-3).
Read the game story here.
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Boys’ tennis
Division 1
Concord-Carlisle vs. St. John’s Prep, Saturday, 4:30 p.m.
Division 2
Duxbury vs. Westborough, Saturday, 2 p.m.
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Division 3
Weston 3, Bedford 2
With six-time defending champion Weston tied, 2-2, in its Division 3 boys’ tennis final against Dual County League rival Bedford, the match came down to first singles, Max Ding vs. Dillon Denny-Brown. It was Ding, a senior playing his final match for the Wildcats, who wore down Denny-Brown, a junior, to close out a 3-2 victory as Weston (14-6) earned its seventh consecutive title (5 in D3, 2 in D4), and 13th overall.
Read the game story here.
Division 4
Manchester Essex vs. Lynnfield, Saturday, 11:30 a.m.
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Girls’ tennis
Division 1
Wellesley vs. Boston Latin, Saturday, 4:30 p.m.
Division 2
Notre Dame (Hingham) vs. Longmeadow, Saturday, 2 p.m.
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Division 3
Pembroke 3, Weston 2
With the final tied 2-2, Pembroke sophomore Nicole Makarewicz edged Olivia Rome at first singles, 6-2, 4-6, 6-1, to lift the third-seeded Titans to a 3-2 win over No. 4 Weston for the program’s first title.
Read the game story here.
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Division 4
Hamilton-Wenham 5, Lynnfield 0
Junior Naomi Provost and Emma Jani powered the Generals to their third straight Division 4 state championship, sweeping Lynnfield at MIT. Provost (6-0, 6-0) finished first her match first, with Jani (6-0, 6-1) close behind, both in under an hour. The second doubles team of junior Maddie Minich / senior Angelina Meimeteas secured the title with a 6-2, 6-1 victory. Senior Ellie Holbrook (6-2, 7-6/7-1) won at third singles and the first doubles pair of senior Sienna Gregory / Emily McIntosh (6-4, 7-5) prevailed in straight sets.
Read the game story here.
Boys’ rugby
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Division 1
Xaverian vs. BC High, Saturday, 12 p.m.
Division 2
Hanover vs. Weymouth, Saturday, 4 p.m.
Girls’ rugby
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Division 1
Weymouth vs. Belmont, Saturday, 2 p.m.
Boys’ volleyball
Division 1
Newton North 3, Needham 2
Senior Adam Christianson came into the season learning to set for the first time, and he ended the year with a 15-kill, 14-assist, 3-block performance that gave the second-seeded Tigers (22-3) the title in a five-set thriller — 23-25, 25-12, 17-25, 25-22, 15-8 — over the top-seeded Rockets (24-3).
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Read the game story here.
Division 2
The Westfield boys’ volleyball team huddles before taking on Wayland in the MIAA Division 2 boys’ volleyball state championship.Ken McGagh for The Boston Globe
Westfield 3, Wayland 2
Senior Miles Shepard recorded the biggest of his 19 kills to finish the game, finalizing a chaotic comeback in the Division 2 title match — 11-25, 14-25, 25-22, 25-19, 15-13 — for top-seeded Westfield (23-3), which captured its fifth title.
Read the game story here.
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Emma can be reached at emma.healy@globe.com or on X @_EmmaHealy_.
