If you are looking to get in or stay in shape, the NECC President’s Running Cub, which begins Monday, September 16, for veteran and novice runners, joggers, and walkers, is an exercise option for you.

The club, now in its 6th year, meets every Monday at from 12:15  to 1 p.m. and on Wednesdays from 8 to 9 a.m. in the lobby of the Sport & Fitness Center on the Haverhill campus. It is open to staff, faculty, and students. Participants run or walk the college’s scenic campus, typically choosing one to three laps around the campus (about 1 to 3 miles).

Those new to running are invited to join the “couch to 5K program” led by Jeff Bickford, NECC’s chief information officer.

You can choose to participate every week or on a drop-in basis.  If Mondays or Wednesdays don’t work, you can choose to run on your own as a virtual runner and log-in to the President’s Running Club website.

Everyone who participates in a minimum number of runs, either on Mondays, Wednesdays, or by logging in, will receive free NECC running gear as well as free entry into a selected race each semester. Details will be posted on the NECC President Running Club’s website soon.

Those intending to participate in the President’s running Club should fill out a risk and consent form and bring it on the first walk/run.

The NECC President’s Running Club was started six years ago by Northern Essex President Lane Glenn, an avid runner who has been president of the college since 2011.

“I thought it would be a great idea to encourage fitness for employees and students and a social way of getting together,” he says.  “The goal is to enjoy ourselves and for everybody to improve their fitness, wherever they start from.”

For more information, visit the NECC President’s Running Club website.

 

Dr. Ken Thomas, professor of biology at Northern Essex Community College, will give a presentation titled “Paddling the Florida Everglades: A Hundred Mile Journey” at the Nevins Memorial Library in Methuen, at 305 Broadway, on September 16, 2019 at 6:30 p.m.

Free and open to the public, his talk chronicles Professor Thomas’s “trip of a lifetime” from its planning and preparation stages to the actual trip itself. Hear about the pain of fire ant and no-see-um attacks, the beauty of paddling under a full moon, the frustration of running aground at super low tides, and the challenge of paddling during small craft advisories.

Dr. Kenneth Thomas, professor of biology at Northern Essex Community College, earned his Associate of Arts degree in Liberal Arts from NECC, a Bachelor of Science degree in biology from UMass Lowell, and a Master’s of Science in Zoology and Ph.D. in Biological Sciences from the University of Rhode Island.

Prior to teaching at NECC he taught for eight years at Hillsborough Community College in Florida. His special interests include marine biology, student travel, science literacy, sailing, kayaking, and canoeing.

This presentation is made possible through the Northern Essex Community College Speakers Bureau. For more information on the speakers’ bureau, visit the college’s website or contact Ernie Greenslade, director of public relations, at 978-556-3862 or speakersbureau@necc.mass.edu.

For more information on the presentation at Nevins Library or to register, contact Sarah Sullivan, 978 686-4080, ext. 20 or ssullivan@nevinslibrary.org

Northern Essex Community College has campuses in both Haverhill and Lawrence. It offers more than 60 associate degree and certificate programs as well as hundreds of noncredit courses designed for personal enrichment and career growth.  Each year, more than 5,000 students are enrolled in credit associate degree and certificate programs on the Haverhill and Lawrence campuses; and another 2,600 take noncredit workforce development and community education classes on campus, and at businesses and community sites across the Merrimack Valley.  For more information, visit the NECC website or call 978-556-3700.

With the start of the fall 2019 semester, Northern Essex welcomes two new food services and the return of another fan favorite to the Haverhill and Lawrence campuses.

CocoRay’s will offer everything from burrito bowls and tortas to pastelitos and everything in between at its satellite location in the newly renovated Dimitry Building at 45 Franklin St., Lawrence. CocoRay’s may be familiar to many as it was the first graduate of the Revolving Test Kitchen in Lawrence. This Mexican and Puerto Rican fusion restaurant has a permanent location at 197 Parker St., in Lawrence.

The current inhabitant of the Revolving Test Kitchen – Bocaditos returns for the fall semester with a new student-oriented menu that is budget friendly. The most expensive item is $6.99 which includes a sandwich, chips, and a drink. Prandy Tavares will be behind the counter at Bocaditos serving up breakfast and lunch sandwiches and a natural juice selection. It will be open from 8 a. m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Items from its full menu are also available.

New to the NECC food scene is the Newbury Café, formerly Jitters, operated by Felicia White, in the Spurk Building. Salads, sandwiches, and home-cooked meals will be available at the Haverhill campus eatery.

All locations opened Wednesday, Sept. 4.

Ray Gonzalez, who owns CocoRays says he has barely slept for the last few weeks because he is so excited about opening an additional location.

The nearly 1,000 square-foot food bar in the lobby of Dimitry has all new equipment and furniture. Gonzalez says he looks forward to “breaking in” the new kitchen with help from clients of Opportunity Works. There is seating for up to 45 people.

Gonzalez, who is vegetarian, says he was certain to offer more healthful choices such as three salad selections, fruit cups, brown rice, and fruit shakes with no sugar or milk added. Nothing is fried everything is grilled. While there are rice cookers and warmers, some of the food will be prepared in the Parker Street kitchen.

CocoRay’s hours of operation will be 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday with the possibility of adding evening hours.

Meanwhile, Felicia White has been settling in on the first floor of the Spurk Building on the Haverhill campus where she is opening Newbury Café. It was named for the town the original settlers of Haverhill came from.

With 23 years of experience from dishwashing to catering, White is ready to tackle the food needs and catering needs of NECC. She hopes the café gives off a welcoming vibe. Breakfast will include bacon, eggs, toast, muffins, bagels, and yogurt parfaits. Lunch will include prepared salads and sandwiches, soups, and a hot meal.

“It’s home-style cooking,” she said. “I want people to feel like they do when they go to their parents’ house for a meal.”

She will occasionally introduce novelty items like a taco bar. Her goal she said is to keep the price point under $6. In addition to operating Newbury Café, she will also do catering upon request. She is prepared to serve everything from continental breakfast to assorted sandwiches to prime rib dinner.

Her full menu will soon be available here.

For more information on food providers go to the campus food page.

 

 

Three Northern Essex Community College employees, Kirsten Kortz of Hampstead, NH, Kathleen Bartolini of Amesbury, and Janel D’Agata-Lynch of Haverhill recently received the Employee Recognition Award for the third quarter of 2019.

0The Employee Recognition Award recognizes the many and varied contributions of the college’s nearly 700 employees. Employees are selected each quarter based on recommendations from supervisors and co-workers.  Recipients receive a $150 certificate to the restaurant or mall of his or her choice.

Bartolini has been an adjunct faculty member in the human services and academic preparation area since 2014. For the last two years, she has also served as the adjunct faculty fellow in the Center for Professional Development.

She was nominated by Kim Burns, dean of academic innovations and professional development, who praised her for her involvement with adjunct faculty and taking on numerous leadership roles.

“Kathleen is a committed educator who is dedicated to the mission of NECC…” she wrote. The nomination was supported by Sharon McManus, director of professional development, who wrote, “Kathleen’s positivity, enthusiasm and can do attitude has been a true asset to the Center for Professional Development.”

She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance Performance and Education from Boston Conservatory and a Master of Art in Mental Health Sciences and Dance Movement from Hahnemann University Graduate School.

Kortz an adjunct faculty member as well the director of Transitional Support for New Students. She was nominated by Stephanie Haskell, coordinator of student activities for leadership and social justice initiatives, who lauded her for caring about the success of her students as well as NECC. “When working with Kirsten her words as well as her actions show her empathy for our students and her sensitivity to our college’s diverse student population,” she wrote.

She earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from William Smith College, a Master of Arts in Child Development from Tufts University, and a PhD. in Education from the University of New Hampshire.

D’Agata-Lynch is the coordinator of civic engagement, service-learning and community resources. She has worked at NECC since 2017. She was nominated by Paula Richards, associate professor of Academic ESL and English, Liberal Arts Division, who credited her with encouraging students to engage civically through volunteerism. “In addition, she has been a champion for students who experience food insecurity and housing instability…She accomplishes all with a calm, personable, compassionate and down-to-earth demeanor,” she wrote in the nomination. It was supported by Deb LaValley, administrative assistant for careers and civic engagement who praised her for moving the civic engagement and service learning initiative forward.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Holy Cross College and a Master of Social Work with a concentration in community organizing, policy, planning, and administration from Boston College.