Month: November 2023

State Senator Ed Kennedy was honored to attend the ribbon cutting ceremony for the new athletic complex at the Greater Lowell Technical High School on Wednesday, November 22, before the Thanksgiving Eve football game between Greater Lowell Technical High School and Lowell Catholic High School.

The ribbon cutting ceremony celebrated the conclusion of a $2.5 million project that provided several upgrades to bring the school’s athletic complex into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The $2.5 million was provided by the Commonwealth in two components. The first component was a Senate amendment to the state budget that dedicated an appropriation of one million dollars to the project. The second component was a Senate amendment that added $1.5 million for the project to a Capital Bond Bill, which Governor Healey then included in her Administration’s Capital Plan. The upgrades included a synthetic turf field, an eight-lane running track, a handicapped accessible grandstand, pedestrian walkways, an amenity building, and a new handicapped parking area. 

Dennis Murphy, the former football coach at the Greater Lowell Technical High School was the keynote speaker at the ribbon cutting ceremony.

In the Thanksgiving Eve football game that took place following the ribbon cutting ceremony, the Greater Lowell Technical High School Gryphons defeated the Lowell Catholic Crusaders, 42-6.

State Senator Ed Kennedy and Lowell School Committeeman Dominik Lay delivered winter jackets for veterans to Tyngsborough Veterans Agent Chris Dery at the Tyngsborough Town Hall on Monday, November 20.

Tyngsborough veterans in need of a warm winter coat can arrange to collect one by contacting Tyngsborough Veterans Agent Chris Dery at (978) 649-2300 x132. In order to verify your Military/Veteran status, please bring with you one of the following forms of verification: DD-214, VA Healthcare ID, Veteran Endorsement on Driver’s License, Retired Military ID, Active Military ID, or Military Orders.

Funding for the Coats4Vets Program is provided by the Massachusetts Military Support Foundation, The Home Depot, Ocean State Job Lot, and the New England Patriot Foundation.

State Senator Ed Kennedy and State Representative Margaret Scarsdale delivered winter jackets for veterans to Pepperell Veterans Services Officer Meagan Murphy at the VFW Auxiliary POST 3291 in Pepperell on Monday, November 20.

Pepperell veterans in need of a warm winter coat can arrange to collect one by contacting Pepperell Veterans Services Officer Meagan Murphy at 978-433-0342. In order to verify your Military/Veteran status, please bring with you one of the following forms of verification:  DD-214, VA Healthcare ID, Veteran Endorsement on Driver’s License, Retired Military ID, Active Military ID, or Military Orders

Funding for the Coats4Vets Program is provided by the Massachusetts Military Support Foundation, The Home Depot, Ocean State Job Lot and the New England Patriot Foundation.

State Senator Ed Kennedy helped Dwelling House of Hope Executive Director Levenia Furusa and her many dedicated volunteers pass out Thanksgiving food boxes at the Dwelling House of Hope food pantry on Saturday, November 18.

As always, Dwelling House of Hope’s Thanksgiving event was a great success. They distributed more than 4,000 food boxes, gift cards, baking trays and turkeys to residents of the Greater Lowell area in partnership with the United Way of Merrimack Valley, and Greater Boston Food Bank. 

State Senator Ed Kennedy was honored to participate in the ribbon-cutting ceremony officially opening the new Culinary Lab at Middlesex Community College. Middlesex Community College President Phil Sisson and Hospitality & Culinary Arts Program Coordinator Kim Morrissey also participated in the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Earlier this year, Senator Kennedy filed an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2023 State Budget dedicating $60,000 to the Hospitality & Culinary Arts Program enabling the college to purchase new kitchen equipment and transform the Cowan Center’s cafeteria into a training kitchen for students. “I am proud to support the Culinary Arts program at Middlesex Community College,” Kennedy said. “The program provides a tremendous growth opportunity for the college and college students in the Greater Lowell and Bedford area as it helps to produce the next generation of restaurant and hospitality workers.”

The Culinary Arts Certificate program at Middlesex Community College is a nine-course program providing the foundation skills and specialized instruction for entry-level employment in the restaurant industry. It provides students with valuable practical experience. The program offers internship opportunities to work in the restaurant industry to practice skills, gain experience, and investigate career pathways. All credits earned for the certificate can be applied to the associate degree program.

State Representative Rodney Elliott, MCC Board of Trustees Members Jim Campbell and Anne O’Connor, MCC Vice President Patrick Cook, Dean of Business/Public Service Judy Hogan, Professor Stacie Hargis, Diversity, Equity and Belonging Director Maria Gariepy, UMass Inn & Conference Center Sales & Marketing Director Kathleen Tormey, Susan Hartigan and several students and faculty members were also in attendance.

State Senator Ed Kennedy joined fellow members of the Joint Committee on Higher Education as the Joint Committee toured/visited the UMass-Lowell campus and Middlesex Community College campus on Monday, November 6. The visit and tour in Lowell is one of several visits and tours of the community colleges and university campuses in the Commonwealth.

Members of the Joint Committee on Higher Education that were able to attend the tour/visit of the two Lowell schools included Senate Co-Chair Joanne Comerford, House Co-Chair David Rogers, State Representatives Rodney Elliott, Jennifer Balinsky Armini, Ryan Hamilton, Sean Garballey, and Carmine Gentile. Joint Committee member Rady Mom and State Representative Vanna Howard joined the tour/visit at Middlesex Community College.