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  • Andover voters OK an extra $1.8M to save school jobs

    Andover voters OK an extra $1.8M to save school jobs

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    ANDOVER — After almost three hours of debating town finances Monday night, voters approved an operating budget with an additional $1,875,000 to prevent cuts in school positions.

    The new operating budget totals $235.9 million with the amended increase allocated for the school budget. Voters at the annual Town Meeting increased the budget to save 34 positions the school district is looking at cutting to eliminate a $2.7 million shortfall. 

    More than 900 voters turned out at Andover High School for Town Meeting, which continues Tuesday. Andover needs to balance its budget before the new fiscal year begins July 1. 

    The proposed cuts of 34 school positions amount to about $2.5 million in annual salary. The previous operating budget was $234 million.

    During debate on the budget, which included three votes on amendments, school staff members, parents and other residents made cases for why the cuts should be prevented. Others, including community officials and some residents, stressed the importance of long-range financial planning.

    “The quality of education in Andover will be diminished,” said Mary Robb, a social studies teacher at Andover High School.

    As town officials work to balance the new budget, it is unclear if the extra funding would have the desired effect of preventing all or even some of the cuts. Since the extra money was appropriated for schools, the School Committee will need to decide how it will be spent.

    Committee Chair Lauren Conoscenti said immediately after the meeting that the committee did not yet have a plan for the additional money. 

    To balance the budget, the town will need to either reduce expenses or hold a Special Town Meeting to appropriate more money, according to Town Manager Andrew Flanagan.

    During the meeting, many in the community advocated for free cash to be used to save the jobs. Officials pushed back against the idea, stating it is against state Department of Revenue guidelines to use free cash for ongoing expenses.

    Flanagan argued for sticking with the town’s budget and spoke against the solutions proposed by residents.

    “These ideas are contrary to the guiding principles that have provided the town with financial stability,” he said. “I respectfully ask that you consider the option of adhering to our plan.”

    Residents voted 488-451 against an amendment to increase the school operating budget by $2.7 million. But they also voted for the amendment to increase the school operating budget by $1.8 million.

    Operating budgets tend to make up the majority of the town’s overall budget.

    Votes on the operating budget are also often straightforward and residents’ ability to vote down the budget or amend it is rarely utilized. With hundreds of millions of dollars allocated to various departments, amending the budget can be a tricky task for residents.

    Before the amendment, the school budget totaled $103,335,959, an increase of $3,735,035 or 3.75% in the current budget.

    Personnel make up about 80% of the school budget, according to the district.

    The budget deficit is mainly the result of a contract won by the teachers union during a strike, as well as an increase in costs for services such as transportation, according to the school district. 

    Conoscenti reinforced that fact during the meeting.

    “During the strike, this point was repeatedly made,” she said. “The educators acknowledged that was something we were wrestling with.”

    School budget shortfalls are not unique to Andover this year, with North Andover facing a deficit of $3.1 million.

    Cutting positions is expected to affect class sizes, however, the School Committee has said it will stick to the district’s goals.

    Ever since the Andover Education Association was awarded the new contract, the union has said the cuts were proposed in retaliation for a largely successful strike. 

    School officials have said the cuts are also in line with reductions in enrollment that total about 11% over the past decade.

    School instructional assistant Holly Currier said staff are asked to do more.

    “Students’ needs have grown in complexity every year,” she said. “The level of need demands more staff.”

    Officials have also said larger-than-usual increases in school spending would be unwise. For each of the last few years, Andover has increased its school budget by roughly 3.75%. The norm promotes the long-term financial health of the town and stops departments from having to fight for their budgets at Town Meeting, according to officials.

    Town Meeting concluded on Monday night with only a handful of the 34 articles being taken up. The meeting resumes Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Andover High School when a proposal for a state-mandated zoning district will be addressed.  

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    By Teddy Tauscher | ttauscher@eagletribune.com

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  • Essex crash victim medflighted to Boston

    Essex crash victim medflighted to Boston

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    ESSEX — A crash on Apple Street in Essex over the weekend resulted in the driver being transported via medical helicopter to a Boston area trauma hospital.

    The crash, which took place near 129 Apple St. around 1:17 p.m. Saturday, involved a single SUV in which the driver was the sole occupant, according to the Essex Fire and Police Department. The driver crashed his black SUV into a stone wall off Apple Street, said police chief Paul Francis, who did not release the man’s name.

    Firefighters used struts to stabilize the SUV before removing the driver. The driver was then transported by Beauport Ambulance paramedics to a Boston Medflight helicopter waiting at Shepard Memorial Park off Martin Street.

    On Monday, fire Chief Ramie Reader said rescue personnel took only moments to transport the victim to Shepard Memorial Park for the emergency helicopter transport. Medflight helicopters typically use Shepard Memorial Park as a staging area, police said. The park is adjacent to Town Hall on Martin Street.

    Reader said he did not know the condition of the driver, and that the crash is still under investigation.

    “At this time, we don’t know how it happened,” he said.

    “Essex Police and Massachusetts State Police investigated the crash,” Francis said.

    Stephen Hagan can be reached at 978-675-2708 or at shagan@northofboston.com.

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    By Stephen Hagan | Staff Writer

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  • Enrollment rising for Medicare savings programs

    Enrollment rising for Medicare savings programs

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    BOSTON — The number of senior citizens enrolled in the state’s Medicare savings programs has increased since eligibility was expanded to help more beneficiaries pay for health care premiums and prescription drugs.

    There were 138,313 people enrolled in the state’s federally funded programs as of June, according to the latest data from the state Department of Public Health, which administers the programs.

    That includes 17,045 new seniors and disabled beneficiaries who enrolled in June under changes that expanded who qualifies for the programs.

    The state has several Medicare savings programs – Qualified Medicare Beneficiary, Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary and Qualifying Individual program – that pay some or all of beneficiaries’ premiums and other health care costs, including prescriptions. To qualify, residents must be at least 65 years old and approved for the federally funded program.

    Even more people are likely to qualify for the benefits under changes to the state’s new Medicare savings programs, which began March 1, with a replacement for MassHealth’s Senior Buy-In and Buy-In programs.

    Under new eligibility requirements, for a person on Medicare with less than $2,824 per month in income – or less than $3,833 for a couple – the program will pay for monthly Part B premiums, Part A and D co-pays and deductibles, as well as extra help with prescription costs, according to the administration of Gov. Maura Healey.

    Until now, eligibility was determined through an asset test that required individuals to have no more than $18,180 in assets, $27,260 for couples. Those assets included money in bank accounts and retirement funds, which advocates say often excluded people who would otherwise qualify based on annual income.

    “MassHealth is committed to ensuring that older adults on fixed budgets have access to affordable coverage,” Mike Levine, MassHealth’s assistant secretary, said in a recent statement. “Our work expanding eligibility for the Medicare Saving Program and simplifying the application process is critical to meeting this goal.”

    The Boston-based nonprofit group Healthcare for All says the new Medicare saving program will save seniors an average of $500 per month they would have otherwise spent on health care costs. The group says seniors are often having to choose between paying for food and housing or “essential” health care services.

    Massachusetts is wrestling with skyrocketing health care costs that advocates say are jeopardizing medical treatment for patients.

    A report in March by the Massachusetts Health Policy Commission’s Center for Health Information and Analysis found health care expenditures per capita increased by 5.8% from 2021 to 2022, well above the national rate of 4.1% and nearly double the 3.1% benchmark set by the commission, based on previous years’ growth.

    The center attributed the increases to a combination of high prescription drug expenses, “unprecedented” patient cost sharing, and other factors that are forcing consumers to dig deeper into their pockets to pay for health care services.

    Christian M. Wade covers the Massachusetts Statehouse for North of Boston Media Group’s newspapers and websites. Email him at cwade@cnhinews.com.

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    By Christian M. Wade | Statehouse Reporter

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  • What to Do About Your Bunions

    What to Do About Your Bunions

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    April Leonard likes to blame her bunions on her husband. In 2017, she accompanied him to a podiatrist appointment for calluses—and went home scheduled for surgery to correct her misaligned toe bone.

    In retrospect, it was a good thing. “He said, ‘I’d really like you to have this done now, because it won’t get better,’” recalls Leonard, 56, of that unexpected first conversation with the doctor. She had painful bunions on both feet and had started to have trouble handling daily chores on her farm in Missouri. Plus, she didn’t like how they looked. “When I went to the pool or the beach and would look at my feet, it was like, ugh,” she says. So in 2017, Leonard had a Lapiplasty bunion correction procedure done on her left foot; four years later, she had it on her right foot.

    More than 25% of people worldwide have bunions—and the deformity, which is particularly prevalent among older people, is more likely to affect women than men. But you wouldn’t know how common bunions are based on the level of discourse surrounding them; they’re not exactly considered dinner-party conversation. That should change, experts say. “It’s not talked about a lot…but it is an insecurity that patients have,” says Dr. Dana Brems, a podiatric foot and ankle surgery specialist in Los Angeles. “People say they feel uncomfortable wearing open-toed shoes or sandals because of the appearance of the bunion.” More discussion about bunions, including how they affect quality of life and what to do about them, could help alleviate that stigma, she adds.

    A genetic predisposition

    If you have a bunion, your first metatarsal bone—which is just behind the big toe—will gradually shift sideways toward the other foot. “It’s not sitting straight on the mid-foot bone. It’s being kind of lazy and leaning towards the side,” says Dr. Ebonie Vincent, a podiatrist in Irvine, Calif., and star of My Feet Are Killing Me on TLC. Visually, you’ll notice a bump at the base of your big toe—and probably feel pain there, especially while exercising or if you wear narrow shoes. You might notice swelling or redness around your big toe, develop corns or calluses, and find that you have limited toe movement.

    Read More: The Health Benefits of Wearing Shoes in the House

    Bunions are typically caused by a genetic predisposition, says Vincent, who sees them on patients at least a few times a day. Most people who have them report that their mom or grandmother or great-grandmother did, too. Some are progressive and become bigger—and more painful—over time, especially with intensive activity or as a result of shoving your feet into ill-fitting shoes. Not everyone who has them, however, will experience pain. “There are people who have lived and died with bunions very happily,” Vincent says. In those cases, they’re little more than a cosmetic nuisance. But for others, they can make life a lot more annoying.

    Unpleasant complications

    When new patients arrive in Dr. Geoffrey Phillips’ office, they’re often focused on how their foot looks—but the orthopedic surgeon at Northwell Health in Great Neck, N.Y., is more concerned with how it’s functioning. “We look at the profile, or as I like to say, the personality of the foot,” he says. “We like to make sure patients have happy feet: feet that function well and without associated pain.”

    That includes figuring out if a bunion is leading to nefarious side effects. Once people have a symptomatic bunion, Phillips says, there’s a “fairly high frequency” of other problems involving the foot. Some patients, for example, will develop osteoarthritis over time as the result of an untreated bunion. Others might experience swollen nerves. Many have trouble with the adjacent toes and develop a hammertoe—in which the toe has an abnormal bend in the middle joint—or a crossover toe. “The second toe starts to cross over the first,” Phillips says. “You essentially have a crisscross, and you have the first deviating to the second, and the second deviating to the first.” When that happens, surgery is typically required for the toe to resume its normal position.

    How to find relief

    The main reason why people go to the doctor about their bunion is because they’re experiencing pain, Phillips says. Some can make lifestyle modifications that eliminate the need for surgery, especially if they start when their bunion is still in its early stages. Phillips’ first recommendation is to make footwear changes. “If they’re accustomed to wearing high heels, we try to change that reliance to more balanced shoewear,” he says. “That can include shoes with a wide toe box, so there’s less pressure on the foot.” It can also be helpful to seek out “rocker bottom shoes,” which have a curved sole that smoothes out the transition from heel-strike to landing on the front of the foot.

    Read More: Put Your Shoes Back On. Here’s the Problem With Going Barefoot

    When you’re considering footwear, look for a comfortable pair with good cushioning that fits; you don’t want your feet to be wedged in or slipping around, Phillips says. If you need to wear leather or dress shoes, ask a cobbler to stretch them out: “They have machines that can stretch out the toe box so there’s greater space for the toes,” he says. Custom orthotics, which are inserts based on scans of your foot, can also be helpful.

    People with bunions are often enticed by quick-fixes on the internet, like toe slings and bunion splints. Some buy toe spacers, which are placed between the toes to reduce pressure on the joint. “They’ll relieve pain while you’re wearing it,” Vincent says. “You’re not fixing anything. You’re putting your bones in more of an aligned position so they function better while you’re walking.” When you remove the toe spacer or take off the sling, your bunion will still be there—painful as ever.

    Podiatrists don’t tend to operate on bunions just for cosmetic reasons, but bunion correction surgery is the go-to treatment for people who experience continuous pain and find it difficult to walk. There are various types of surgery, most of which involve cutting and repositioning the bone at the base of the big toe. Lapiplasty—the procedure Leonard had in Missouri—is a newer technique approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2016. In addition to returning the bone to its normal alignment, the unstable joint in the foot is secured with titanium plates.

    Read More: Why Hiking Is the Perfect Mind-Body Workout

    People can generally walk immediately after surgery, but they need to wear a special post-surgery shoe, like a boot, for at least a few weeks. “That’s just unavoidable—solid bone takes six to eight weeks to heal,” Brem says. “You’ll probably be back to full activity after around three months, running and jumping and that sort of thing.”

    Five months after Leonard had her left bunion removed, she ran a 10K race. Within a year, she was running half marathons again. Now, she’s pain-free and happily wears running shoes, muck boots, and cowboy boots around the farm. “It’s been a really good thing—I wish I had done it earlier,” she says. “It’s not a debilitating surgery. I can see why people wait longer to do it, but six weeks [of recovery] is nothing compared to the rest of your life.”

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    Angela Haupt

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  • Newly promoted to be pinned in ceremony

    Newly promoted to be pinned in ceremony

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    On Thursday, police Chief Ed Conley and fire Chief Eric Smith will host a badge ceremony to swear in new and recently promoted police officers and firefighters.

    The public is invited to the ceremony on April 25 at 5 p.m. in Kyrouz Auditorium at City Hall, 9 Dale Ave.

    Being promoted are:

    Gloucester Police: Sgt. Robert Morrissey to lieutenant and Officer Michael Cimoszko to sergeant.

    Gloucester Fire: Firefighter James Hannon V to lieutenant and will swear in new Firefighter Andrew Hugel.

    Mayor Greg Verga will lead the ceremony and provide opening remarks. Conley and Smith will present their members.

    — Times Staff

    In other news taken from the logs of Cape Ann’s police and fire departments:

    GLOUCESTER Wednesday, April 17

    7:05 p.m.: A 911 caller reported smoke coming from his 2016 Ford F150 pickup at Gloucester Crossing Road. No flames were showing. Police provided the driver with a courtesy ride and the vehicle was towed for safety reasons.

    5:51 p.m.: A crash with property damage only was reported on Beacon Street.

    4:42 p.m.: After a reported stop sign violation at 370 Main St., police planned to file a complaint against a Gloucester resident with a charge of driving without a license. A licensed driver was able to drive the car from the scene.

    11:32 a.m.: A crash on Dory Road was under investigation.

    11:12 a.m.: Peace was restored after a reported crash in the vicinity of 382 Main St., Domino’s Pizza.

    12:32 a.m.: A suspicious person was reported at the Jodrey State Fish Pier on Parker Street.

    Tuesday, April 16

    11:43 p.m.: Police responded to two possible car breaks. On Cherry Hill Road, police came across a parked 2003 Nissan Altima, when a sergeant relayed information about a 2017 Volkswagen Passat on Macomber Road. Both cars’ driver’s side and rear doors were found open, and both appeared to have been ransacked. It was not known if anything was missing. Police attempted to reach the owners of the cars.

    10:43 p.m.: Police could not locate a reported disturbance on Mt. Pleasant Avenue.

    6:55 p.m.: The Fire Department was assisted with a call from Summer Street. A caller reported an alarm sounding from a neighbor’s home for roughly an hour with concerns for the neighbor’s well-being. Police were unsure if the home was occupied or not.

    4:59 p.m.: A three-car crash with injuries was reported on Blackburn Circle. The Rockport driver of a 2015 GMC told police he or she blacked out while driving on Route 128 south towards the rotary, the crash report said. The GMC reportedly sideswiped a 2014 Volkswagen before it traveled onto the median and crashed into a yield sign. The GMC then continued through the median and onto the traffic circle where it rear-ended a 2016 Volvo, spinning this vehicle 180 degrees. The GMC then came to rest in the center of the traffic circle. All three drivers were taken to area hospitals and all three vehicles were towed from the scene.

    Crashes with property damage only were reported on Washington and Poplar streets at 1:59 p.m., St. Anthony’s Lane at 2:11 p.m., and at the Cruiseport Gloucester on Rowe Square at 3:23 p.m.

    1:45 p.m.: Vandalism was reported on Centennial Avenue.

    1:04 p.m.: An abandoned vehicle was reported on Mansfield Street.

    11:31 a.m.: Police had a vehicle reported disabled on Route 128 northbound towed.

    2:33 a.m.: No action was required for a report of a disabled vehicle on the Route 128 extension.

    Monday, April 15

    10:14 p.m.: A crash with property damage only was reported at the traffic lights on Eastern Avenue and the Route 128 extension.

    Fire Department assisted on Prospect Street at 12:33 p.m., and at a possible gas leak on Magnolia Avenue at 10:06 p.m.

    Vehicles repossessed at 8:51 p.m. on Patriots Circle and 8:54 p.m. on Whittemore Street.

    7:50 p.m.: A report of fraud on High Popples Road was under investigation.

    Disturbances were reported on Main Street at 12:01 and 1:26 p.m. and on Prospect and Pleasant streets at 7:44 p.m., to which police responded.

    6:52 p.m.: Harassment was reported on Oakes Avenue.

    1:16 p.m.: An abandoned vehicle was reported on Derby Street.

    11:55 a.m.: A hypodermic needle was retrieved from Pearl Street and disposed of safely.

    9:30 a.m.: A disabled vehicle was reported at Exit 53 on Route 128 northbound.

    12:06 a.m.: Police planned to file a complaint against a 54-year-old Gloucester resident on a charge of violating a harassment prevention order after responding to a report on Washington Street. A resident explained he was having ongoing issues with his neighbor knocking on his door, and he reportedly did so again that night. Given the order was active and required the neighbor to stay at least 20 yards away, police filed the complaint.

    Sunday, April 14

    10:09 p.m.: Peace was restored after a report that several cars were parked on Magnolia and Western Avenue.

    Crashes with property damage only were reported on on Route 128 southbound at 10:30 a.m., Poplar Park at 11:56 a.m., and Mansfield Street at 9:56 p.m.

    3:45 p.m.: After an off-duty officer called in a disabled vehicle on Route 128 southbound prior to the A. Piatt Andrew Bridge, police planned to file a complaint against a 54-year-old Gloucester resident on a charge of driving without a license. The driver, who was alone in the car, told police she was on her way to Lynn when the hood came loose and struck the windshield, cracking it. She then provided police with an expired registration and a Massachusetts ID card. Dispatch informed the officer the car’s registration was active and the driver had an active learner’s permit. The driver told police she did not have the active registration or permit on hand. Police explained to her she needed to keep her permit with her while driving, and that to drive with a learner’s permit she needed to be accompanied by a licensed driver older than 21 with at least a year of driving experience in the passenger seat. She also needed to have the registration in her possession. Police had the vehicle towed and gave the driver a ride home.

    3:25 p.m.: Police were called to assist with the Blynman Bridge on Western Avenue.

    2:55 p.m.: A motor vehicle stop at the Speedway on Main Street resulted in charges being filed, according to the log. The gray 2007 Chevrolet Colorado pickup was listed in the log as being unregistered. Police had it towed.

    2:54 p.m.: Peace was restored after a report of a disturbance on Leslie O. Johnson Road.

    2:15 p.m.: Police were called to assist with gas leak at a Rocky Neck Avenue restaurant. The caller reported everyone was out of the restaurant and the Fire Department was notified.

    1:12 p.m.: Police assisted the Fire Department with a call from Poplar Park after a medical alarm got no response from a patient. A cruiser was sent to assist firefighters and a patient was transported to Addison Gilbert Hospital.

    1:03 p.m.: Police responded to a disturbance on Main Street.

    12:11 p.m.: Debris in the roadway was reported between the lights and Blackburn Circle on Route 128 southbound.

    10:09 a.m.: A disturbance was reported at Walgreens on Main Street.

    ROCKPORT Monday, April 22

    Fire Department dispatched to Pigeon Hill Court at 2:52 and 11:16 p.m., after a report and request, respectively were received.

    10:56 p.m.: A motor vehicle crash on Old Garden Road was reported.

    7:08 p.m.: After a motor vehicle stop on Main Street, a verbal warning was issued.

    5:46 p.m.: A report was made about an animal at a Gaffield Avenue address.

    2:46 p.m.: A wellbeing check was conducted at the intersection of Main Street and Dodds Lane.

    10:06 a.m.: Police wellness check calls were made to residents around town.

    9:03 a.m.: A report was made about lost and found property at a Granite Street address.

    7:58 a.m.: An individual was assisted on Main Street.

    ESSEX Monday, April 22

    Individuals were assisted on John Wise Avenue ay 11:35 a.m. and 5:22 p.m.

    4:18 p.m.: A complaint was made about an animal at a Lakeshore Drive address.

    1:53 p.m.: After a report of an unknown medical problem, an ambulance was dispatched to a John Wise Avenue address.

    Police investigations were conducted on Southern Avenue at 1:21 a.m. and Honeysuckle Road at 11:06 a.m..

    12:57 a.m.: A report was made about a motor vehicle crash at a Western Avenue address.

    MANCHESTER Monday, April 22

    Complaints about animals on Beach Street at 10:41 a.m., near Black Beach and Kettle Cove at 10:54 a.m., on White Beach at 10:54 a.m., Raymond Street at 10:55 a.m., and Lincoln Street at 6:06 p.m. were lodged.

    Traffic stops were conducted at the intersection of Beach Street and Tappan Street at 9:47 a.m., on Pine Street at 11:19 and 11:37 a.m. when written warnings were issued, and Pleasant Street at 6:04 p.m. The first and last drivers were given verbal warnings.

    2:50 p.m.: A community policing call was conducted at a Lincoln Street address.

    2:35 p.m.: Suspicious activity at a Beach Street address was reported.

    4:06 a.m.: Suspicious activity was reported at a Forest Street address.

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  • North Shore Conference for Women kicks off next month

    North Shore Conference for Women kicks off next month

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    PEABODY — The first North Shore Conference for Women will be held May 23 from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Boston Marriott Peabody with a comedy reception the evening before the conference.

    The conference will be held in person and virtually. The theme is “Further Together.”

    Sponsors include Lyon-Waugh Auto Group, among others.

    Anna Rossi will serve as emcee for the conference. An Emmy Award-winning lifestyle host and TV personality, Rossi brings an authentic connection to food, travel and the art of gathering to viewers.

    As a network talent, food writer and recipe developer, brand ambassador, and spokesperson, her work is immersive and inviting. Well fed, and with a passion for design and travel, she is based on the Northshore with her husband and two adorable kids.

    Keynote speakers are Jill Stoddard, Ph.D., psychologist and founder and director of The Center for Stress and Anxiety Management, and Jennifer Wren Tolo, R.N., a transformational life coach.

    Stoddard is passionate about sharing science-backed ideas from psychology to help people thrive. She is a psychologist, writer, TEDx speaker, award-winning teacher, peer-reviewed ACT trainer, bariatric coach, and co-host of the “Psychologists Off the Clock” podcast.

    Tolo is a former critical care nurse who became an integrative bridge to health, hope and happiness after experiencing life-threatening health challenges with two of her four sons, followed by her own health decline.

    For the past 17 years, Tolo has helped numerous women and young adults regain their power over their lives one moment, one action, and one conscious choice at a time through her signature ABCs of Stress Management.

    In addition, there will be 10 panels that women can choose to attend in the morning and afternoon, featuring all women local to the North Shore.

    For more information, visit: sheslocal.org/north-shore-conference-for-women/.

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  • State sued over special education for young convicts

    State sued over special education for young convicts

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    BOSTON — State education officials are being sued over claims that they aren’t providing adequate special-needs services for older, incarcerated youth serving time in county jails.

    A lawsuit filed in state Superior Court last week alleges the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education failed to fulfill its statutory obligation to provide special education to youth with disabilities in houses of correction throughout the state, which is depriving them opportunities they are entitled to under state law.

    The legal challenge was filed by the Mental Health Legal Advisors Committee and Committee for Public Counsel Services on behalf of several unidentified inmates, who allege that they deprived of services such as speech and language therapy, and little or no access to tutoring from “a grossly understaffed and inadequately monitored” education provider.

    “DESE’s failure to uphold its legal obligation to provide adequate education to incarcerated youth is unacceptable,” Phil Kassel, of the Mental Health Legal Advisors Committee, said in a statement.

    “Every student, regardless of their circumstances, deserves access to a quality education that meets their individual needs.”

    A spokeswoman for the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education said the agency will “review the lawsuit” but declined comment further, citing a policy of not discussing pending litigation. The statement said the agency said it is “committed to seeing that all students with disabilities receive the services they deserve.”

    The plaintiffs argue that the failure to adequately provide special-needs services for students increases a likelihood they will not get a high school diploma, which means their prospects after release from jail “are greatly diminished, economically and otherwise.”

    “A high school diploma is necessary to have any reasonable chance to compete in today’s job market,” the lawyers wrote.

    “Without meaningful employment opportunities, youth are substantially more likely to live in poverty and depend on public benefits as adults.”

    “This poverty can exacerbate mental health issues, as well as perpetuate cycles of homelessness and unemployment,” they added.

    A report by the group Citizens for Juvenile Justice highlighted what it described as a lack of education opportunities for 18- to 21-year-olds serving time at houses of correction, alleging that the state, county, and municipal officials are violating young peoples’ right to an education under the state constitution.

    But the group says the DESE lawsuit is “narrow” in scope and won’t have an impact on the overall problem of educational opportunities for incarcerated youth.

    It has called for taking other steps including a proposal that would raise the age of juvenile jurisdiction by the courts to include 18 to 20 year olds.

    “Even if it is successful, the needs of general education students in both HOCs and DOC, as well as special education students in DOC, are not addressed by the litigation,” the group said.

    “It would be more efficient to raise the upper age of juvenile jurisdiction to ensure a state-wide fix, rather than focus on improving county-by-county programming for young adults in HOCs that are reluctant or outright resistant to do this.”

    On Thursday, supporters of the “raise the age” proposal held a rally outside the Statehouse, where formerly incarcerated youth called on lawmakers to approve the legislation.

    Christian M. Wade covers the Massachusetts Statehouse for North of Boston Media Group’s newspapers and websites. Email him at cwade@cnhinews.com.

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    By Christian M. Wade | Statehouse Reporter

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  • Schools face loss of 41 positions due to $3.1M budget gap

    Schools face loss of 41 positions due to $3.1M budget gap

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    The inability of the city of Gloucester and its schools to fully close a $6.1 million shortfall between the cost of a level-service budget and increased funding provided by the city may mean the loss of 41 positions across the school district.

    Driven by skyrocketing out-of-district special education tuition and transportation costs, inflation, and the ending of federal COVID-19 relief funding, the schools administration says what costs $49.74 million to provide to Gloucester students this school year will cost $55.85 million next school year.

    The change represents an increase of nearly 12.3%, or $6.1 million, in the fiscal 2025 school operating budget.

    Superintendent Ben Lummis told the School Committee the city has indicated it can fund $3 million of the proposed $6.1 million increase.

    The city plans to do so through a combination of a $1.5 million supplemental appropriation and some one-time funding for the current fiscal year, which is money that can be used to offset prepaid tuition and special education costs for next year, and a $1.5 million increase in the schools’ operating budget for fiscal 2025 that begins July 1.

    However, the funding shift would still leave a $3.1 million gap to maintain level services.

    Facing a $2 million to $3 million shortfall, Lummis told the School Committee the effects could include:

    A loss of the house structure at O’Maley Innovation Middle School.

    Increased class sizes at O’Maley and Gloucester High coupled with reductions to areas of performing and visual arts, business, technology and physical education.

    Elementary art, music and physical education specialists and some social emotional learning supports.

    “So again, we don’t know if we are here yet,” Lummis said. “Yeah, well, we are here right now, OK, whether we end up here, we don’t know, we are still working on it.

    “It doesn’t mean all these areas are affected. We have to look at all of those and see where we can make changes.”

    He said the effect on social emotional learning programs will not mean all of those supports will go away “but some will.”

    With 83% of the schools’ operating costs tied up in personnel expenses, Lummis said cost reductions are found through staff cuts.

    For the first time, he outlined those cuts by school building, the number of positions and reduction in salary costs:

    Preschool, four positions, $225,000.

    Beeman, four positions, $200,000.

    East Veterans, five positions, $275,000.

    Plum Cove, three positions, $125,000.

    West Parish, four positions, $200,000.

    O’Maley, nine positions, $550,000.

    Gloucester High, eight positions, $550,000.

    District, four positions, $275,000.

    This adds up to cost savings of $2.3 million. Lummis said the reductions are made up of a broad range of positions, not just teachers. Some positions can be moved to grants and positions of staff who leave or retire will not be filled.

    More savings would come through savings from benefits of laid-off employees, moving services and supports to grants, and reductions in instructional supplies and materials.

    The process to finalize notifying staff was scheduled to wrap up last week.

    This week, the administration will meet with Gloucester Teachers Association leaders as dictated by contracts to go over expected cuts of teachers with professional status. Principals and supervisors would then inform staff and provide information on the process and next steps for each individual.

    The week of April 29, the administration would have to determine if further cuts would be necessary based on talks with the city administration. The schools have until May 7 to inform any additional teachers with professional teacher status whose positions are planned for elimination.

    Waiting to inform staff may keep everyone on edge, with the vast majority of the schools’ staff not at risk of losing their jobs, Lummis said.

    “So we are trying to balance speed with the best information we have, our obligation in terms of our contracts and at the same time treating folks with compassion as well,” he said.

    During the School Committee meeting, Lummis presented a slide showing areas of reductions including Tier 2 interventions, which support students in small groups, at all levels.

    At the preK-5 level, the reductions would affect social emotional learning and mental health supports; at the middle school, it would mean the loss of the house structure; and at Gloucester High the loss of preparation and support for post-secondary success.

    School Committee member Melissa Teixeira Prince asked what was meant by the inability to maintain the house structure, asking if this just meant larger class sizes. She said the loss of the house structure at the middle school was “scary.”

    “Parents don’t want to hear that,” she said.

    “It’s in jeopardy,” Lummis said. He said the house structure, while it adds to a sense of belonging with the same students sharing the same teachers, it constrains flexibility in terms of staffing.

    Breaking apart the house structure allows flexibility in terms of fully loading all the classes. He said while the house structure is crucial, it’s something the administration has to look at given the level of cuts.

    “It doesn’t mean at this point it’s definitely going to go away,” Lummis said.

    He also outlined cuts to programs at a $1 million to $2 million level that would not be as deep. This list included delaying the medical assisting exploratory launch as part of the high school’s Career/Vocational Technical Education program until September 2025, along with specialists and electives, reduced staff in one or more core academic areas in the middle and high schools, along with delays in IT infrastructure improvements, among other things.

    Prince said she was sensing the schools were facing at least $2 million in reductions.

    “I don’t want any of this conversation to sugarcoat, like, there’s going to be a happy ending here because I don’t believe there is going to be a happy ending,” she said. “There are going to be cuts. There are going to be cuts that are going to hurt and this is a place we haven’t been in many years.”

    Financial resources from the city “don’t appear to be there to make us whole at this day and time,” Prince said

    A School Committee vote on a public hearing for the budget is scheduled for Wednesday, with a public hearing on the budget scheduled for May 8. The School Committee would then vote May 22 to submit the school budget to the mayor and City Council. Lummis said those dates could change.

    Ethan Forman may be contacted at 978-675-2714, or at eforman@northofboston.com.

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    By Ethan Forman | Staff Writer

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  • Lawsuit targets MBTA over train safety system

    Lawsuit targets MBTA over train safety system

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    BOSTON — A Japanese high-tech corporation has filed a $158 million federal lawsuit against the MBTA, claiming the public transit agency violated the terms of a contract to install a new safety system on the commuter rail network.

    The lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court alleges that the T made changes to the contract to install a Positive Train Control system along the commuter rail tracks that drove up the cost of the project by hundreds of millions of dollars, but refused to compensate the company for the additional costs.

    “Despite Hitachi Rail’s repeated demands and attempts to resolve the claims detailed below, Defendant MBTA has failed and refused to issue Change Orders, to acknowledge delays, or to compensate Hitachi Rail for the costs and other impacts incurred by Hitachi Rail in connection with the same, in breach of the Contract,” the complaint states.

    The T is under a federal mandate to install the system on all of its 15 commuter rail lines. The technology uses antennas on locomotives, radio towers and track sensors to monitor train speeds and locations to prevent collisions.

    Hitachi’s predecessor, Ansaldo STS, was awarded a $338 million contract in 2015 for the work but alleges that the MBTA required the company to perform additional work “beyond the contractual obligations” and then later “refused to pay for it.”

    The company cited the example of the Gloucester Drawbridge Project, alleging that the MBTA failed to issue a change order or pay for the additional work to install safety systems along that new section of commuter rail track.

    The MBTA said it is reviewing the complaint but argues it has “no impact on the MBTA’s ability to work closely with the contractor and deliver a project that improves safety for both customers and employees of the commuter rail system.”

    “While the MBTA continues its efforts to resolve any outstanding issues with the contractor, the work of accomplishing these important safety enhancements is in its final stages, and both parties are firmly committed to ensuring the project is successfully completed,” the T said in a statement.

    The project is part of a long-delayed federal mandate to equip the nation’s rail lines with the Positive Train Control system, which is designed to prevent train-on-train collisions, speed-related derailments and other safety issues.

    In 2008, Congress approved the mandate in response to a series of deadly train crashes involving speed and other rail safety issues.

    Initially, the federal government set a 2015 deadline for freight railroads covered by the law to implement it, but under industry pressure congressional lawmakers have pushed back the deadline several times.

    In the lawsuit, Hitachi claims that in Massachusetts the safety upgrades have been plagued by problems stemming from the MBTA’s handling of the project.

    “These include delays driven by the aforementioned changes to the contractually agreed work, ongoing lack of MBTA supplied flagger support necessary for Hitachi Rail to perform work in the right of way, MBTA track access denials, MBTA mandated re-sequencing and COVID-19 impacts,” the complaint states.

    The T is also under a congressional mandate to install the Automatic Train Control system on all of its commuter rail lines by this year.

    Similar to PTC, the system uses satellites and wayside radio signals to monitor trains. If any problems are detected — such as excessive speeds — on-board computers can take over to slow a train or bring it to a complete stop.

    Nationwide, the rail industry has spent nearly $14 billion installing train control equipment over the past several years, according to the Federal Railroad Administration.

    The National Transportation Safety Board says the technology could have prevented 145 railroad accidents, saved an estimated 300 lives and averted more than 6,700 injuries over the past 45 years.

    Christian M. Wade covers the Massachusetts Statehouse for North of Boston Media Group’s newspapers and websites. Email him at cwade@cnhinews.com.

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    By Christian M. Wade | Statehouse Reporter

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  • Police/Fire

    Police/Fire

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    In news taken from the logs of Cape Ann’s police and fire departments:

    GLOUCESTER

    Friday, April 12

    7:28 p.m.: Debris in the roadway was reported on Washington Street.

    6:35 p.m.: No action was required for a report of a hold-up alarm at the Market Basket on Gloucester Crossing Road.

    5:35 p.m.: Larceny was reported on Granite Street.

    4:57 p.m.: A caller reported the theft of a computer delivered to his home on on Bayfield Road. The report states the driver took a picture of the box when it was delivered, but when the person went to grab the box, it was not there. The resident suspected the driver took it and he planned to follow up with the FedEx fraud division.

    3:36 p.m.: A burglary/past break-in was reported on Nashua Avenue.

    3:04 p.m.: Police planned to file a criminal complaint against a 16-year-old on a charge of assault and battery on Pleasant Street.

    2:17 p.m.: A crash with property damage only was reported at 129 Prospect St.

    12:47: Police took a report of fraud on Prospect Street.

    Thursday, April 11

    8:07 p.m.: After a traffic stop on Eastern Avenue at Webster Street for a car without any tail lights on, police filed a criminal complaint against a 22-year-old Gloucester resident on charges of a motor-vehicle lights violation and driving without a license. The driver produced a registration but not a license when stopped. Using a translation service, the man provided the officer with a passport. Dispatch confirmed the man had no license status, only a learner’s permit. The driver contacted his boss who translated for them both. The driver was told he was going to be summonsed to court for unlicensed driving and a licensed driver arrived to take the SUV away.

    6:36 p.m.: A 29-year-old Gloucester resident was arrested on two counts of breaking and entering into a vehicle/boat in the daytime to commit a felony, resisting arrest and larceny under $1,200. A witness reported seeing a man rummaging through the passenger seat of his father’s car as it was parked on Elwell Street. The witness contacted his brother who was at home and called police. The brother went outside and saw the 29-year-old going through the vehicle from the passenger seat. He asked the suspect what he was doing, and he said he thought the vehicle belonged to his cousin. The brother said he did not believe the suspect and asked him to empty his pockets, but he did not recognize any of the belongings. The father then came out and checked his car, telling police he left his doors unlocked. He did not notice anything missing, with items from the center console strewn about, including a plastic change holder that had been removed and discarded on the floor. The suspect repeated that he thought the car belonged to his cousin, but refused to say what he was doing, what he was looking for, or who his cousin was. He could not describe the vehicle his cousin owned. The man said he had come from a local establishment and police said they could smell an odor of alcohol about him. Police went to arrest the man, but he resisted. One of the officers drew his stun gun and ordered the suspect to stop resisting and the man complied. The man was searched and police found miscellaneous property in his pockets. During booking, officers learned from dispatch there was a second report of a car break in the area, with the owner of a 2010 Toyota Corolla, reporting loose change, a half a roll of quarters and a Zippo lighter missing from his vehicle, consistent to what was found in the suspect’s possession. Police later obtained security camera footage showing the suspect walking onto Elwell Street and checking the driver’s side door of a 2020 Chevrolet before walking down the street and getting into the passenger side of the father’s car.

    Debris in the roadway was reported on Route 128 north at 2:21 p.m. and between Grant Circle and A. Piatt Andrew bridge on Route 128 south at 2:03 p.m..

    6:16 a.m.: An unwelcome guest was reported on Sheedy Park at Pleasant Street.

    Wednesday, April 10

    Crashes with property damage only at 5:16 p.m. on Grant Circle, and at 6:11 p.m. on Elm Avenue. 

    5:22 p.m.: Vandalism to a car was reported on Rockland Street. During the night, someone took a blow torch to the Ford Escape and damaged it. There were no suspects in the incident.

    5:20 p.m.: An assault as a result of a landlord/tenant dispute was reported on Centennial Avenue.

    4:59 p.m.: A hit-and-run crash with property damage only at 178 Washington St. resulted in police planning to file a criminal complaint against a 49-year-old Gloucester man on charges of driving with a revoked license as a habitual traffic offender, leaving the scene of property damage and negligent driving. Police came upon the scene and found a parked rented 2023 Nissan on the northbound side of Washington Street with damage to the driver’s side rear quarter panel. The other car, a 2018 Jeep Compass, had fled the scene. The red Jeep could be seen on video provided by a nearby restaurant fleeing to the intersection of Grove Street and turning right. The video showed the crash, with the Jeep traveling at a high rate of speed, crossing the white fog line, striking the parked car, and pushing it forward one foot. The Jeep crossed the double yellow center line nearly striking an oncoming vehicle. The driver of the oncoming vehicle told police he turned around on Washington Street and attempted to follow the Jeep on Grove Street but lost it as it sped away. Police eventually located the Jeep matching the description given in a driveway on East Main Street. The Jeep was found with a jack under the passenger side and the damaged front tire was raised in the air. Police spoke with the driver who eventually admitted to driving the Jeep, which he did not own. He told police he fled because his license was revoked.

    3:32 p.m.: Police responded to a report of trespassing on Atlantic Street.

    2:59 p.m.: A disabled vehicle was reported on Grant Circle.

    12:45 p.m.: Police took a report of stolen property.

    12:30 p.m.: Police took a report of drug activity.

    10:12 a.m.: Police took a report of fraud, identity theft. A resident reported she had contacted Xfinity after her cell phone stopped working a couple of days before. After speaking with the Xfinity fraud department and obtaining a new SIM card, the resident noticed an attempt to withdraw $2,500 from her bank account and attempted charges to her Amazon account. Both of these were stopped. The resident has since contacted her bank and changed all of her passwords linked to her phone.

    ESSEX

    Friday, April 19

    3:15 a.m.: An individual was assisted at a John Wise Avenue address.

    Thursday, April 18

    Assistance was given to individuals on John Wise Avenue  at, 4:36, 5:05 and 5:19 p.m. and on Martin Street at 5:18 p.m.

    Medical emergencies: Taken to a hospital by medical ambulance was person having difficulty breathing on Lufkin Point Road at 12:56 p.m. and a person who had fallen on Grove Street at 4:07 p.m.

    MANCHESTER

    Thursday, April 18

    Traffic stops were made at the intersection of Pleasant Street and Old Essex Road at 7:52 p.m., at the intersection of Bridge Street and Highland Avenue at 9:39 p.m., and on Lincoln Street at 10:41 p.m. Officers issued a written warning and two verbal warnings, respectively.

    Investigations were conducted by police on School Street at 3:23 p.m. and Tucks Point Road at 9:53 p.m.

    3:11 p.m.: An individual was aided at a Central Street address.

    Complaints about animals on Beach Street at 10:26 a.m., The Plains at 11:17 a.m. and Smiths Point Road at 2:15 p.m.

    10:05 a.m.: A report was made about a motor vehicle crash at a University Lane address.

    9:36 a.m.: The Manchester-by-the-Sea Fire Department doused a fire in a red dump truck in the vicinity of 129 Pine St. According to a post on Facebook, the North Shore Regional 911 Center alerted the Fire and Police departments to a reported vehicle fire. Engine 1 and C1 responded and crews using a single line quickly extinguished the flames. There were no injuries.  

    1:05 a.m.: Police issued a verbal warning to an. individual on Beach Street.

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  • Hugging Face releases a benchmark for testing generative AI on health tasks | TechCrunch

    Hugging Face releases a benchmark for testing generative AI on health tasks | TechCrunch

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    Generative AI models are increasingly being brought to healthcare settings — in some cases prematurely, perhaps. Early adopters believe that they’ll unlock increased efficiency while revealing insights that’d otherwise be missed. Critics, meanwhile, point out that these models have flaws and biases that could contribute to worse health outcomes.

    But is there a quantitative way to know how helpful, or harmful, a model might be when tasked with things like summarizing patient records or answering health-related questions?

    Hugging Face, the AI startup, proposes a solution in a newly released benchmark test called Open Medical-LLM. Created in partnership with researchers at the nonprofit Open Life Science AI and the University of Edinburgh’s Natural Language Processing Group, Open Medical-LLM aims to standardize evaluating the performance of generative AI models on a range of medical-related tasks.

    Open Medical-LLM isn’t a from-scratch benchmark, per se, but rather a stitching-together of existing test sets — MedQA, PubMedQA, MedMCQA and so on — designed to probe models for general medical knowledge and related fields, such as anatomy, pharmacology, genetics and clinical practice. The benchmark contains multiple choice and open-ended questions that require medical reasoning and understanding, drawing from material including U.S. and Indian medical licensing exams and college biology test question banks.

    “[Open Medical-LLM] enables researchers and practitioners to identify the strengths and weaknesses of different approaches, drive further advancements in the field and ultimately contribute to better patient care and outcome,” Hugging Face wrote in a blog post.

    gen AI healthcare

    Image Credits: Hugging Face

    Hugging Face is positioning the benchmark as a “robust assessment” of healthcare-bound generative AI models. But some medical experts on social media cautioned against putting too much stock into Open Medical-LLM, lest it lead to ill-informed deployments.

    On X, Liam McCoy, a resident physician in neurology at the University of Alberta, pointed out that the gap between the “contrived environment” of medical question-answering and actual clinical practice can be quite large.

    Hugging Face research scientist Clémentine Fourrier, who co-authored the blog post, agreed.

    “These leaderboards should only be used as a first approximation of which [generative AI model] to explore for a given use case, but then a deeper phase of testing is always needed to examine the model’s limits and relevance in real conditions,” Fourrier replied on X. “Medical [models] should absolutely not be used on their own by patients, but instead should be trained to become support tools for MDs.”

    It brings to mind Google’s experience when it tried to bring an AI screening tool for diabetic retinopathy to healthcare systems in Thailand.

    Google created a deep learning system that scanned images of the eye, looking for evidence of retinopathy, a leading cause of vision loss. But despite high theoretical accuracy, the tool proved impractical in real-world testing, frustrating both patients and nurses with inconsistent results and a general lack of harmony with on-the-ground practices.

    It’s telling that of the 139 AI-related medical devices the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved to date, none use generative AI. It’s exceptionally difficult to test how a generative AI tool’s performance in the lab will translate to hospitals and outpatient clinics, and, perhaps more importantly, how the outcomes might trend over time.

    That’s not to suggest Open Medical-LLM isn’t useful or informative. The results leaderboard, if nothing else, serves as a reminder of just how poorly models answer basic health questions. But Open Medical-LLM, and no other benchmark for that matter, is a substitute for carefully thought-out real-world testing.

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    Kyle Wiggers

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  • Toe photo doesn’t save motorist from parking fine

    Toe photo doesn’t save motorist from parking fine

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    NEWBURYPORT — When City Clerk Richard Jones recently received a photo of a man with a partially amputated left toe, little did he know it would open the door to a larger debate about how much the city fines motorists for illegally parking in a handicap-only spot.

    On Jan. 1, the penalty for parking in a municipal handicap spot without a placard jumped to $300, up $100 from the previous year. The change was formalized roughly nine months ago after City Council approval. 

    Jones, who also also functions as the city’s parking clerk, said he recently received an email from a motorist upset about being hit with the $300 fine after illegally parking in a Pleasant Street handicap spot. 

    The unhappy motorist also sent along photos of his semi-missing toe in, what Jones said was, an attempt to justify his parking decision.

    “It looks like he took the picture in the hospital, right after he had surgery,” Jones said. “I think he left the hospital thinking he could park in handicap spaces. But you can’t do that without a placard. The law is pretty clear.”

    The city has roughly a half-dozen handicap parking spaces located on downtown streets, according to Jones, who added there is also one for every 25 spots in municipal parking lots.

    “Parking is at such a premium in the downtown, when you put in a handicap parking space, it’s not used 24/7. So it takes a space off the grid,” Jones said. 

    The Registry of Motor Vehicles issues handicap parking placards and license plates, according to Jones, who added the state allows very little latitude when it comes to fighting violations. That left Jones in the unenviable position of having to stand his ground in terms of appeasing the annoyed motorist. 

    Ward 2 City Councilor Jennie Donahue, who also serves as the council’s liaison to the Commission on Disabilities, said she also heard about the man’s complaint and the photos. 

    According to Donahue, the motorist is arguing that he applied for a placard and should be allowed to park in a handicap spot while waiting for it.

    But just because the man expects to receive a placard that doesn’t cover a current violation, she countered. 

    “The laws apply to everybody and there’s really no wiggle room to that,” she said. “You can’t really wave a fine if someone’s going to have a placard in the future.”

    Jones added that many people try to illegally use the downtown handicap parking spaces as a pickup and drop-off location.

    “If you talk to anyone who is truly handicapped, you will hear that’s not a valid excuse,” he said. “Because, if someone’s in that space, they don’t pull up and ask them to use it. They just drive on and don’t get a space.”

    Donahue, who is blind, said there are a tremendous amount of misconceptions when it comes to handicap parking and many disabled people often don’t know if they are, or are not breaking the law.

    “People need to understand that it is never OK to take that handicap spot without a permitted placard or plate. And, if you do, you’re going to be subject to a fine,” she said.

    Jones said he has received plenty of complaints from people who have been hit with parking tickets, ever since the fine increase.

    “It would be disingenuous for me not to say the new fee has increased complaints,” he said.

    He also said he has heard rumblings from some that there may be a movement to kick the illegal handicap parking fines back down to $200. 

    “In my opinion, the $200 fine should be sufficient,” he said. “The $300 fine is shocking to some people. But, to be fair, there are a number of communities at $300 or even higher. But they tend to be near Boston.”

    Donahue said she’s in favor of the $300 fine.

    “Typically, you don’t go backwards when it comes to anything to do with the Americans with Disabilities Act,” she said.

    With handicap parking abuse so common in the state, Donahue said more communities will be adopting larger fines to combat the problem.

    “No one can really not bat an eye at $300,” she said. “But that’s the idea and people don’t pay attention to the signs. Then they feel entitled to a break.”

    Donahue also said she could see a system put in place in the future that would allow the Commission on Disabilities to hear from people who believe they were unjustly fined and make a recommendation to the city clerk’s office after that.

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    By Jim Sullivan | jsullivan@newburyportnews.com

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  • Family fighting teen killer’s possible parole board release

    Family fighting teen killer’s possible parole board release

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    GROVELAND — Sean Aylward lost his sister more than three decades ago. It still bothers him that he never got to see her go to the prom, graduate high school, attend college, get married or have children.

    Beth Brodie, who was murdered at age 15, also didn’t get a chance to be an aunt to Aylward’s son, who is now 30.

    “We didn’t get to experience all of that,” Aylward said.

    Brodie, a Pentucket High School cheerleader, was murdered in 1992 by Peabody resident Richard Baldwin, a then-16-year-old boy she had briefly dated. He beat her to death with an aluminum baseball bat.

    Baldwin in 1994 was sentenced to life in prison without parole for Brodie’s murder.

    But in 2013, a controversial state Supreme Judicial Court ruling allowed teen killers once sentenced to life without parole to seek release. The ruling expanded upon a 2011 United States Supreme Court decision holding that because the brains of juveniles were not fully developed, a sentence that forecloses all possibility of rehabilitation is unconstitutional.

    On May 16, Baldwin has a hearing scheduled before the parole board in Natick. Aylward and his family are “adamantly opposed” to any consideration of Baldwin’s release.

    “Our pain and suffering has not subsided since Beth was taken from us. It has in fact increased more pain, suffering and tears for us and Beth’s large circle of friends. The impending threat of parole is re-traumatizing and cannot be mitigated by the mere passage of time,” the Brodie family wrote in a statement posted on social media.

    “Granting parole would only serve to undermine justice and disregard the severity of the crime committed. Releasing this offender, without a doubt, would pose a continued threat to society. We urge the parole board to uphold the original sentencing and deny any requests for parole,” Brodie’s family continued.

    It was unclear what attorney would be representing Baldwin before the parole board.

    Aylward, who lives in Atkinson, New Hampshire, and is a manager at Commonwealth Motors in Lawrence, became an activist after the 2013 SJC decision.

    He, along with other family members and Beth’s friends, maintain social media posts in her memory and dedicated to justice for Brodie on social media. They’re hoping others will join a letter-writing campaign and ask the parole board to deny Baldwin’s release.

    “We need to get people thinking about it,” Aylward said last week. He said he wants the parole board not to view the hearing as “just another day at work.

    “This is a first degree killer,” he said, noting the board may be acquainted with the law “but they didn’t know Beth.”

    Another teen killer is Jamie Fuller, 16, who was convicted of murdering Amy Carnevale, 14, in Beverly in 1991. Fuller is scheduled for a hearing before the parole board on April 25.

    The parole board hearings, at 12 Mercer Road, Natick, are open to the public.

    In 2019, Baldwin had a parole board hearing scheduled. However, the hearing request was subsequently withdrawn.

    Aylward said he will be prepared to fight parole for as long as Baldwin lives.

    “It’s our job to bring Beth back to the story,” he has said.

    Follow staff reporter Jill Harmacinski on Twitter @EagleTribJill.

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    By Jill Harmacinski | Staff Writer

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  • Parenting 101: Fever dreams: What they are and why they can be so scary for kids

    Parenting 101: Fever dreams: What they are and why they can be so scary for kids

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    My son had pneumonia a few weeks ago, and when he started to run a fever, he said, “I hate fevers. I always have scary dreams.”

    My son is a tad dramatic, especially when he’s sick (anyone ever heard of the “man cold”?). So, when he mentioned the dreams, I figured this was just my son creating new symptoms that didn’t really exist.

    Despite doubting him, I decided to Google it, and I was surprised to find that this is a very real condition. “Fever dreams” are what can happen when someone is running a high fever and can cause somewhat delirious dreams. These fever-stoked reveries are often scary, bizarre, or unnerving as well as very vivid, and can be quite common, especially in kids who have cold or flu.

    If you or your child is prone to fever dreams, there are a few things you can do to try to stave them off. Firstly, make sure everyone is getting enough rest and sleep and is also staying hydrated. You want the bedroom temperature to be comfortable and conducive to good sleep. You can also take over-the-counter fever reducing medications.

    So, the next time your child is sick and complaining of a symptom that doesn’t seem common or usual, don’t disregard it. Look into it. You never know when what they’re feeling is totally legitimate. 

    A full-time work-from-home mom, Jennifer Cox (our “Supermom in Training”) loves dabbling in healthy cooking, craft projects, family outings, and more, sharing with Suburban readers everything she knows about being an (almost) superhero mommy.

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  • Three-car crash in Manchester-by-the-Sea sends two to hospital

    Three-car crash in Manchester-by-the-Sea sends two to hospital

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    MANCHESTER-BY-THE-SEA — At least two people were injured, one seriously, when a three-car crash Sunday shut down the southbound lanes of Route 128 for approximately 30 minutes.

    The crash, reported the by North Shore Regional 911 Center at 8:35 p.m., spanned approximately 1,000 feet, according to Manchester-by-the-Sea Fire.

    The crash took place between School Street and Pine Street, fire Chief James “Jake” McNeilly said.

    One individual suffered “serious injuries,” while a second suffered minor injuries, McNeilly said.

    “Both patients were taken to Beverly Hospital,” McNeilly said. “We had vehicles in every lane so it forced us to shut down the highway so we could transport the patients and the tow trucks could remove the vehicles.”

    Four other people involved in the crash refused medical care at the scene, Manchester Fire said.

    Manchester Police Officer Zak Johnson said the initial crash involved a black hatchback that hit a guardrail on the travel side of the highway and then spun and crashed into the guardrail across the road.

    The lone occupant was able to get out of the vehicle and get into a vehicle that pulled over to help, Johnson said.

    At that point, two approaching vehicles crashed into the Good Samaritan’s car, one after another, Johnson said.

    “Technically, there were three crashes in one crash,” Johnson said. “He got into the Good Samaritan’s car and then was slammed by the two other cars.”

    McNeilly said one vehicle flipped over in the crash, a second suffered severe damage to the front-end and a third had minor damage.

    “Route 128 was totally shut down for roughly 30 minutes,” Manchester Fire posted to Facebook.

    Among the first to arrive was Manchester Fire Lt. Robert Cavender, who requested an “all-tone” to be transmitted, callling all available fire personnel to the scene

    Manchester Fire units responded and were joined by mutual aid units from the Beverly and Essex Fire Departments. An additional ambulance from Beauport Ambulance responded to the crash as did personnel from the Massachusetts State Police and Department of Transportation, and Todisco Towing.

    Stephen Hagan may be contacted at 978-675-2708, or shagan@gloucestertimes.com.

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    By Stephen Hagan | Staff Writer

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  • Fundraiser to benefit Beverly man diagnosed with ALS

    Fundraiser to benefit Beverly man diagnosed with ALS

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    BEVERLY — Friends of a Beverly man diagnosed with ALS are organizing a fundraiser on behalf of him and his family.

    The event, called “Mugs for Mike,” will benefit Mike Marcinkowski, who at the age of 53 was recently diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.

    The fundraiser is scheduled for May 23 from 6-11 p.m. at the Italian Community Center in Beverly. It will include the chance to win gift cards and merchandise donated by local sponsors.

    John Frates, one of the organizers, said the fundraiser will help Marcinkowski’s family deal with the range of expenses caused by the disease, including medical bills, equipment and home modifications.

    Frates is the father of Pete Frates, the Beverly man who inspired the Ice Bucket Challenge that raised millions of dollars for ALS research. Pete Frates died in 2019 at age 34.

    John Frates said he was introduced to Marcinkowski through Paul LeBel, a mutual friend who is organizing the fundraiser.

    “I met the (Marcinkowski) family in January and I have to say he’s now part of our family too,” John Frates said. “You automatically have to say that you love that person because this is a man given a terminal diagnosis.”

    Frates said “Mugs for Mike” is modeled on the “Pints for Pete” events that were held for Pete Frates. He said he’s hoping that people who came out to support Pete will do the same for Marcinkowski.

    ALS is a progressive neurological disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, leading to paralysis. There is no cure. Marcinkowski was diagnosed with bulbar-onset ALS, which primarily affects muscles in the face, head and neck and is considered one of the most devastating variants of ALS, according to the National Institutes for Health.

    For more information on “Mugs for Mike” or to donate, go to www.gofundme.com/f/donate-to-help-mike-marcinkowski.

    Staff Writer Paul Leighton can be reached at 978-338-2535, by email at pleighton@northofboston.com, or on Twitter at @heardinbeverly.

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    By Paul Leighton | Staff Writer

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  • State to pay off $10M more in student loans

    State to pay off $10M more in student loans

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    BOSTON — Financial relief from college debt is coming for hundreds of mental health workers under a state loan repayment program aimed at easing workforce shortages.

    A taxpayer-funded program, which launched in 2022, pays off up to $300,000 in college loans for eligible health care professionals in a variety of disciplines, including dental, medical, mental health and substance abuse.

    The state Executive Office of Health and Human Services, which oversees the MA Repay program, announced a new round of disbursements earlier this week totaling $10 million. The latest round of loan repayments will specifically target more than 200 eligible mental health workers, the agency said.

    Gov. Maura Healey said the move will “offer life changing loan repayment to our dedicated state employees who continue to provide care daily to community members with serious mental illness.”

    “Massachusetts relies on our incredible behavioral health workforce to provide essential care to our residents, but far too many workers are being held back by crushing levels of student debt,” Healey said in a statement.

    The MA Repay program was approved as part of a $4 billion pandemic relief bill signed by then-Gov. Charlie Baker in December 2021. It is aimed at recruiting and retaining new workers in a sector of the state’s health care system that is traditionally among the lowest paid.

    Under the program, psychiatrists are eligible for up to $300,000 if they are employed full time, and $150,000 if they work part time. Psychologists can receive up to $150,000 in loans repaid if they are full-time workers, $75,000 if they work part time.

    Nurses, nurse practitioners, advanced practice nurses, physician assistants and social workers with master’s degrees who are employed in mental health settings can receive $25,000 to $50,000. Workers in those professions with bachelor’s degrees can get between $15,000 and $30,000.

    Those who qualify must commit to working for at least four years in the state under a “service commitment” to receive the financial relief. That employment can be with up to two employers, according to the state agency.

    In August, the state announced the first round of disbursements for nearly 3,000 health care workers totaling $140.9 million. In October, the state opened a second round of disbursements for $25 million. In January, an additional $16.5 million was made available to early education, child care, home health and other home workers.

    The move comes as President Joe Biden unveiled a new proposal this week that seeks to reduce or cancel federal student loans for 30 million Americans.

    Biden’s latest forgiveness plan calls for offering loan relief to borrowers who have large amounts of interest on their loans, have been paying for decades or who face financial hardship.

    A group of Republican states filed a federal lawsuit on Tuesday challenging Biden’s SAVE Plan, arguing the move bypasses Congress and a 2023 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that rejected the president’s previous loan forgiveness program, which called for eliminating $400 billion in outstanding college debt.

    To date, $136.6 billion in federal college loans have been forgiven for more than 3.7 million Americans, according to the Biden administration.

    Christian M. Wade covers the Massachusetts Statehouse for North of Boston Media Group’s newspapers and websites. Email him at cwade@cnhinews.com.

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    By Christian M. Wade | Statehouse Reporter

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  • State to pay off another $10M in student loans

    State to pay off another $10M in student loans

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    BOSTON — Financial relief from college debt is coming for hundreds of mental health workers under a state loan repayment program aimed at easing workforce shortages.

    A taxpayer-funded program, which launched in 2022, pays off up to $300,000 in college loans for eligible health care professionals in a variety of disciplines, including dental, medical, mental health and substance abuse.

    The state Executive Office of Health and Human Services, which oversees the MA Repay program, announced a new round of disbursements earlier this week, totaling $10 million. The latest round of loan repayments will specifically target more than 200 eligible mental health workers, the agency said.

    Gov. Maura Healey said the move will “offer life changing loan repayment to our dedicated state employees who continue to provide care daily to community members with serious mental illness.”

    “Massachusetts relies on our incredible behavioral health workforce to provide essential care to our residents, but far too many workers are being held back by crushing levels of student debt,” Healey said in a statement.

    The MA Repay program was approved as part of a $4 billion pandemic relief bill signed by then-Gov. Charlie Baker in December 2021. It’s aimed at recruiting and retaining new workers in a sector of the state’s health care system that is traditionally among the lowest paid.

    Under the program, psychiatrists are eligible for up to $300,000 if they are employed full time, and $150,000 if they work part time. Psychologists can get up to $150,000 in loans repaid if they are full-time workers, $75,000 if they work part time.

    Nurses, nurse practitioners, advanced practice nurses, physician assistants and social workers with master’s degrees who are employed in mental health settings can get between $25,000 to $50,000. Workers in those professions with bachelor’s degrees can get between $15,000 and $30,000.

    Those who qualify must commit to working for at least four years in the state under a “service commitment” to receive the financial relief. That employment can be with up to two different employers, according to the state agency.

    In August, the state announced the first round of disbursements for nearly 3,000 health care workers, totaling $140.9 million. In October, the state opened a second round of disbursements for $25 million. and in January, another $16.5 million was made available to early education, childcare, home health and other home workers.

    The move comes as President Joe Biden unveiled a new proposal this week that seeks to reduce or cancel federal student loans for 30 million Americans.

    Biden’s latest forgiveness plan calls for offering loan relief to borrowers who have large amounts of interest on their loans, have been paying for decades or those who face financial hardship.

    A group of Republican states filed a federal lawsuit on Tuesday challenging Biden’s SAVE Plan, arguing the move bypasses Congress and a 2023 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that rejected Biden’s previous loan forgiveness program, which had called for eliminating $400 billion in outstanding college debt.

    To date, $136.6 billion in federal college loans have been forgiven for more than 3.7 million Americans, according to the Biden administration.

    Christian M. Wade covers the Massachusetts Statehouse for North of Boston Media Group’s newspapers and websites. Email him at cwade@cnhinews.com.

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    By Christian M. Wade | Statehouse Reporter

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  • SENIOR LOOKOUT: Course offers strategies for savvy caregiving

    SENIOR LOOKOUT: Course offers strategies for savvy caregiving

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    The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that 14% of the population, 37.1 million people, provide unpaid eldercare in the United States. These millions of individuals provide unpaid care to someone age 65 or older who needs help because of a condition related to aging. This care is provided to family and non-family members living at home, as well as those people living in skilled nursing or assisted care facilities.

    Family members who take on the caregiving role are often under a lot of stress – usually for a long time. When caregivers of a person living with dementia are compared with persons like them who are not caregivers, the potential perils of the situation are clear. These caregivers are:

    — Twice as likely to have health and mental health problems.

    — Two-and-a-half times as likely to be taking medicine for their nerves.

    — Only half as likely to seek medical help for their problems.

    — More likely to feel cut off from their family and friends.

    — More likely to be pinched financially.

    There is an evidence-based workshop available nationwide called “The Savvy Caregiver” for family and friends who are active caregivers, caring for those living with Alzheimer’s or related dementias.

    On the North Shore, the Savvy Caregiver six-week workshop is offered several times throughout the year. The next session will be held virtually, beginning April 26, 2024.

    The Savvy Caregiver program is built on the notion that the successful caregiver has three main tasks:

    Manage daily life with the person.

    Find and use help with caregiving tasks.

    Take care of yourself.

    Savvy Caregiver training will help you:

    Understand the impact of dementia on both you and the person for whom you are caring.

    Learn the skills you need to manage daily life.

    Take control and set goals.

    Communicate more effectively.

    Strengthen family resources.

    Feel better about your caregiving.

    Take care of yourself!

    The Savvy Caregiver program offers help for caregivers with two frequent problems:

    Disagreements. Sometimes family members and friends disagree with the caregiver about what’s going on. The program seeks to help all gain a better understanding of the situation and join together in helping the family member with dementia.

    Help. Sometimes, family members and friends don’t know help is needed. Often they don’t know what help to give or how to give it. Savvy Caregivers know the many different tasks involved in caregiving. They are better able to decide which parts others might play and to instruct others in how to perform those tasks.

    Being savvy about caregiving won’t stop the course of what the caregiver is dealing with or make it go away. Savvy caregiving won’t mean there will be no stress in the day-to-day or the long-term situation with which they are dealing. But, savvy caregiving can enable a person to develop a sense of control or mastery. It can help them to find ways to reduce the effects of caregiving stress and to increase their sense of satisfaction and accomplishment.

    This program is designed to expand a caregiver’s knowledge and skills. The most important outcome, though, should be that the caregiver will feel more confident of their ability to carry out the role they have taken on.

    For more information about or to register for The Savvy Caregiver workshop, please contact Abbie Considine at 978-281-1750. Advance registration for the workshop is required.

    Tracy Arabian is the communications officer at SeniorCare Inc., a local agency on aging that serves Gloucester, Beverly, Essex, Hamilton, Ipswich, Manchester-by-the-Sea, Rockport, Topsfield and Wenham.

    Tracy Arabian is the communications officer at SeniorCare Inc., a local agency on aging that serves Gloucester, Beverly, Essex, Hamilton, Ipswich, Manchester-by-the-Sea, Rockport, Topsfield and Wenham.

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    Senior Lookout | Tracy Arabian

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  • Teachers rally for paid parental leave

    Teachers rally for paid parental leave

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    BEVERLY — When Kellie Moulton gave birth two years ago, she used eight weeks of sick time to stay home with her newborn son. When that ran out, the McKeown Preschool special education teacher took another month off without pay.

    Moulton wanted to stay home longer, but the lack of a paycheck made that option unrealistic.

    “I definitely felt I had to come back sooner than I was ready,” she said, “because I wasn’t getting paid.”

    The lack of paid parental leave has become a point of contention for teachers across the region. On Wednesday morning, Beverly was the latest public school district on the North Shore to hold a demonstration demanding paid parental leave as part of their contract negotiations.

    More than 600 teachers and paraprofessionals stood outside all eight of the city’s public schools before they began the school day, holding signs, playing music and waving to people driving by.

    “This is a huge issue for us,” McKeown School paraprofessional Judy Martin said during the rally in front of the school on Balch Street. “Everybody should have this as a benefit.”

    The “walk in” event, as the teachers called it, was part of a coordinated series of demonstrations by more than 5,000 teachers and staff in 11 North Shore school districts this week, according to the Massachusetts Teachers Association.

    The union says although teacher unions were among the strongest advocates for the state’s Paid Family and Medical Leave Act that was approved in 2018, the law excluded municipal workers, including public school employees, leaving unions to negotiate for the benefit independently.

    Beverly Teachers Association President Julia Brotherton said the lack of paid parental leave forces teachers to use sick time, if they have it. The union has asked the Beverly School Committee for several years for paid parental benefits in contract negotiations, and is asking for 12 weeks paid leave in its current negotiations.

    “As more and more education unions win paid parental leave benefits in their contracts, Beverly cannot be left behind. I hope the School Committee sees our commitment, does the right thing, and agrees to fair and just paid parental leave for our members at the bargaining table,” she said in a news release issued by the Massachusetts Teachers Association.

    In an interview outside Beverly Middle School during Wednesday morning’s demonstration, Brotherton, who is a history teacher at Beverly High School, said she was “confident the School Committee will do the right thing about paid parental leave.

    “We all care about kids, and this issue is obviously all about kids and giving kids the right start.”

    Beverly School Committee President Rachael Abell said she could not comment directly, out of respect for the negotiating process.

    “But we look forward to our continued work with the BTA on a fair, equitable, and affordable solution that benefits all Beverly students,” she said in a prepared statement.

    At Beverly Middle School, where about 100 teachers took part in the rally, several teachers spoke about how the lack of paid leave has affected them.

    Casey Fiore said he took two months of unpaid leave when his daughter was born last August.

    “I would not trade a moment of it for the world,” he said. “But it would have been great if I would have been able to be with my daughter without being worried about bills.”

    Taylor Cross, who is due to have her first baby in May, said she has not taken time off during a difficult pregnancy — even to the point of fainting in class one day — because she is saving up sick days for after the birth.

    “I’m not giving my 100% because I’m not feeling well,” Cross said. “I’m a special education teacher and it’s a demanding job. It’s physically taxing. It’s mentally taxing.”

    Allison Nichols, who is pregnant with her second child, said being pregnant or post-partum “should not be considered the same as being sick.

    “I think it’s really insulting that in a profession where we go above and beyond to care for other children that we’re not afforded the same right to care for our own during the most vulnerable time of a child’s life.”

    Other districts participating in the demonstrations this week include Salem, Danvers, Marblehead, Ipswich, Hamilton-Wenham, Masconomet Regional, Gloucester, Revere, Georgetown and Chelsea, according to the Massachusetts Teachers Association.

    Ann Berman, president of the Salem Teachers’ Union, echoed these sentiments, noting that if both parents of a newborn child are teachers in the same district that causes further complications.

    “This all means that the child is going into daycare much earlier than is really healthy and beneficial. A lot of moms experience postpartum depression — there’s scientific evidence about that, and they’re being forced to come back to work too soon. They’re not ready, their bodies and minds are not healed,” she said.

    “Pregnancy is really, really tough. and then you have this little bundle of joy and you’re handing them over to somebody to care for your child, while you come into work to care for other people’s children. There’s something wrong in the whole dichotomy.”

    “I’m proud of the way that we, in the North Shore, have come together to work towards this goal as a coordinated effort,” Danvers Teachers’ Association President Kathleen Murphy said.

    “It’s something that we all recognize needs to change. I think that the bottom line is that when teachers feel valued, their needs are met, and they can take the time they need, then they will be better employees and teachers.”

    Staff Writer Michael McHugh contributed to this report.

    Staff Writer Paul Leighton can be reached at 978-338-2535, by email at pleighton@northofboston.com, or on Twitter at @heardinbeverly.

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    By Paul Leighton | Staff Writer

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