LYNN NEWS ROUND-UP
MARCH 3, 2021
See our COVID-19 related posts by clicking here.
Lynn is currently in Phase 3, Step 1 of Reopening. Click here for more info.
The state of MA is slowly reopening throughout the month of March.
Click here for more info.
Learn about the Lynn Tech vaccination site & watch a
video tour by clicking here.
Salem, Beverly, Peabody, Lynn, Swampscott, and Marblehead Launch North Shore Diversity Catalog
Minority and women-owned businesses invited to register for municipal, community contracts
The Cities of Salem, Beverly, Peabody, and Lynn and the Towns of Swampscott and Marblehead have partnered to launch the North Shore Diversity Catalog, a regional vendor registry for minority- and women-owned businesses (MWBE) in order to improve equity and diversity in municipal contracts and bids, and also provide residents and other businesses with a single, comprehensive catalog of such businesses.
The Diversity Catalog is both a directory and a marketing tool for businesses that wish to offer their services or products to other businesses and institutions within the North Shore region. It will additionally help member municipalities identify diverse businesses so they can pro-actively increase equity in City and Town procurement opportunities.
The initiative is an outgrowth of the work of the City of Salem’s Race Equity Task Force and the City of Beverly’s diversity in public contracts efforts. The collaborative regional effort also is planning to develop a series of virtual training programs with state procurement specialists so local MWBE businesses can learn how they can officially qualify to meet the Commonwealth’s MWBE designation, which opens even more opportunities for contracts and business.
Businesses who believe they qualify and would like to enroll in the North Shore Diversity Catalog are invited to complete the registration form, available in English and Spanish, at www.salem.com/diversitycatalog. Businesses must be located within the greater North Shore region and have at least 51% of the ownership team in at least one of the following categories: immigrant-owned, women-owned, minority-owned, service-disabled veteran-owned, veteran-owned, lesbian gay bisexual or transgendered (LGBTQIA) owned, disability-owned business enterprise.
The catalog will be published on the participating municipalities’ websites and shared with community partners in the region.
“I’m pleased to partner with our colleagues in Beverly and Swampscott to launch the North Shore Diversity Catalog,” said Mayor Kim Driscoll of Salem. “In addition, I am grateful to the leadership of our own Race Equity Task Force members, who have identified and prioritized the need for our communities to be more intentional in how we use our purchasing power, as municipalities and as individuals, to better advance the cause of equity. I encourage all businesses and residents in our region to turn to the catalog, once it is published, when planning their purchases and I invite other cities and towns in the region to join us in committing to use the catalog to bring more diversity to our own procurements.”
“We in Beverly are excited to work together with our valued partners to promote equity by identifying additional talented individuals and qualified businesses who can bid on city work, ultimately ensuring more competition and consistently high value for the tax dollars we all invest on behalf of our communities,” said Beverly Mayor Mike Cahill.
“It is so important that we all take some time to support our regions MWBE businesses. There are so many great MWBE businesses in our region and now is the time to show how we all can use the power of the purse string to invest in these businesses as we build a more inclusive future,” said Sean Fitzgerald, Swampscott’s Town Administrator.
“Peabody is proud to partner with our neighboring communities to launch the North Shore Diversity Catalog,” said Mayor Ted Bettencourt of Peabody. “The Diversity Catalog will help encourage more equitable awarding of contracts in the marketplace and provide a valuable guide to minority and women-owned businesses on the North Shore.”
“I am happy to join in this partnership with my North Shore Mayoral colleagues to establish a diversity catalogue,” said Lynn Mayor Thomas M. McGee. “This will be a useful resource to our local minority and woman owned businesses to advertise their services, to our constituents who want to support these businesses, and also furthers the City’s efforts for advancing racial equity.”
Find a mass vaccine location near you by clicking here.
Schedule an appointment at the Lynn Tech Vaccination site by clicking here.
For phasing details and the most up-to-date status of where MA is in our vaccination timeline please click here.
Donation drives for victims of March 2nd Murphy Ave fire
From GoFundMe: I am Leah Warren, a teacher at Lynn Classical High School. I am fundraising for a student’s family whose home and personal belongings were destroyed in a fire on Murphy Avenue in Lynn on March 2, 2021.
I am so upset that another Lynn Classical family has lost their home. Just last week we were dealing with similar circumstances and at this time last year, we had another fire affect two of our Classical families.
Our brave firefighters fought through harsh winds and unbearable cold last night, but unfortunately, the Ramos-Frade family was left homeless; some members of the family without shoes on their feet.
Please find a way to share or donate what you can to help them. These kids have already endured so much this year and now they have lost everything but the clothes on their backs.
Thank you for taking the time to read this. Please give what you can and share so that others may help this family. We are trying to raise $10,000 in 10 days!
Thank you,
Leah
CLICK HERE TO VISIT GOFUNDME PAGE.
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From GoFundMe: Last night my daughter’s boyfriend, his mom, his brother and his 3 little sisters lost everything they own when their house burnt down. I am trying to raise money to help get them back on their feet, buy food, clothes and keep up with bills they still have to keep up with. It’s sad enough when we hear about a stranger’s house burning down, but it’s a lot harder knowing and being close to a family seeing them go through this tragedy. Any amount is helpful and very much appreciated.
CLICK HERE TO VISIT GOFUNDME PAGE.
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Info. from a post in the Mutal Aid Facebook group: Hi all – there was a fire at 12-14 Murphy Ave in Lynn last night. So far we have 4 LPS students identified as being affected, and they lost everything. Here are the clothing sizes for the children:
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Male, 16 years old, 16 or medium tops, shoe size 8.5
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Male, 15 years old, 29 waist, Large shirt, Shoe – 9
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Female, 12 years old, Size 7 women’s or medium. Medium/large shirt. Shoe size 7
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Female, 7 years old, 14-16, Shoes – 2
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Female, Toddler, size 10-12, shoe 11 toddler
Updates from The Food Project
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Image courtesy of The Food Project WINTER MARKET: Stock up on locally grown veggies at the Central Square Winter Market in Lynn! This year, The Food Project is hosting Lynn farmers’ markets all winter long. In an open-air setting, Farmer Dave’s, Phalla’s Produce, and Riverdale Farm will offer a diverse array of vegetables, available for purchase via SNAP/HIP, debit, credit, and cash. Please click here to learn more about farmers’ markets.
- We’ve launched our new Food for Thought series, which offers a behind-the-scenes look at The Food Project’s work. These past two months, we’ve had the opportunity to learn from our farmers, youth, and youth staff, as they shared their experiences at The Food Project. There’s still time to join us for our final virtual gathering focused on community on March 25 from 4:00-5:00 p.m. You’ll hear from North Shore Regional Director John Wang, Greater Boston Regional Director Maritza Rosario, and others. To R.S.V.P, email events@thefoodproject.org for a Zoom link.
- The Healthy Incentives Program (HIP) is a vital program helping over 900,000 MA residents access fresh, local food. Since 2017, HIP has helped SNAP families purchase more than $21 million worth of food from local farms throughout the state. Governor Baker recently announced his plans to slash the FY22 HIP budget by 60%, which would be detrimental to both MA residents and local farms. We encourage you to call the Governor’s office to voice your thoughts on these proposed budget cuts. Please click here to read MA Food System Collaborative’s full statement on the proposed cuts.
- Applications for 2021 Seed Crew are now open! We are excited to engage with our new crews safely this summer. Know someone 14-17 years old looking for a fun and meaningful summer experience? Youth in Seed Crew spend the summer working on The Food Project’s sustainable farms, learning about food justice and social justice, and empowering change. Please click here to learn more about Seed Crew.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Lynn Tech vaccine site to receive no new first-dose vaccine supply from March 3-10, 2021
Due to lack of supply from the state, the Lynn Tech Vaccination Site, a partnership between Lynn Community Health Center (LCHC) and the Lynn Department of Public Health (DPH), will receive no new vaccine supply for first-dose appointments for the days between Wednesday, March 3 , and Wednesday, March 10 . The site has received vaccine supply for appointments for people receiving their second dose of vaccine on those days. The supply shortage unfortunately means that caregivers accompanying 75+ year olds, will not be able to receive a vaccine during this time at the Lynn Tech Site.
Already-scheduled appointments will not be cancelled. LCHC has released appointments only once available vaccine supply has been confirmed. Please visit https://www.lchcnet.org/covid- 19-vaccine-scheduling for news of when we expect to have more vaccine supply.
This is an excerpt from the full press release that was released yesterday.
To read the full press release with more information please click here.
EDITOR’S NOTE: New information about vaccine distribution is available below.
Girl Scouts allowed to sell cookies in-person at Lynn Walmart this Saturday
From a Lynn Girl Scouts troop: With only a few weeks left to sell cookies we are finally allowed to sell in person! (socially distanced of course). We will be having a booth sale at Wal-Mart on the Lynnway on March 6th from 10am-3pm! Please consider supporting your local Girl Scouts and stopping by!For a list of Lynn Girl Scout Troops selling virtually please click here.
Click for full resolution images
From Mayor McGee’s office: The Lynn Public Health Department has confirmed that as of today, the number of active, confirmed positive COVID-19 cases is 293 with 18 new cases today. 15,147 Lynn residents have recovered and 195 have died. The total number of confirmed positive COVID-19 cases in Lynn since March 21, 2020, including those who have died and recovered, is 15,635. Please visit the City of Lynn COVID-19 Data Dashboard which is updated daily.
Today, Governor Baker announced that, beginning next Thursday, March 11th, K-12 and early childhood educators and staff, and child care workers, will be eligible to scheduleCOVID-19 vaccine appointments at all 170 sites currently open to eligible residents in Massachusetts. This group of workers will join the currently eligible groups (including 65+ and individuals with 2+ certain medical conditions) in receiving the vaccine.
This will include the City of Lynn/Lynn Community Health Center site located at Lynn Tech Fieldhouse. Appointments will continue to be released based on the supply of vaccines provided by the State.
Eligible groups can visit https://vaxfinder.mass.gov/ for sites statewide or make an appointment at the Lynn Tech Vaccination Site at https://www.lchcnet.org/covid-19-vaccine-scheduling. Residents who do not have access to the Internet can call 2-1-1 to make an appointment 7 days a week.
Please visit http://www.ci.lynn.ma.us/covid19/resources.shtml#p7GPc1_2 for the most up to date COVID-19 testing information, as well as more detailed information on the State and City of Lynn’s Reopening Guidelines. We will continue to provide regular updates on COVID-19 through the City website (www.lynnma.gov), social media, and the Smart 911 emergency notification system (sign up at www.smart911.com).
If you have a news story that you would like to share, please contact us via email or call 781-780-9460.
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