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Merrivista to produce electricity on site and saving $$$!
After more than a year of negotiations and gaining approvals, Merrivista will soon have a new generator added to the exterior of the building. This generator will create both hot water for domestic and heating use and electricity for use in the buildings. We hope that at some times in the year, when it runs the most, all of the electricity needed for Merrivista will be produced on site thus seriously reducing our electric bills. CoEnergy America was awarded the bid in a competitive process. The generator will be paid for with escrowed funds and have a payback period of less than five years.
| September, 2009 A Newsletter of the Friends of Bethany Friends A Way of Life, not Just a Place to Live |
2 Thanks for being a Friend 3 Questions we get asked (and the answers!) 4 New Board members and Officers |
| | Annual Meeting honors Becky Weeks, Bill LaPierre for service | | Rev. Norman B. Crook Award Becky Weeks began at the Carleton Home and now has been Administrative Assistant in the BCS management office for eleven years. Among Becky’s numerous “hats” is her responsibility to make arrangements for awards to staff members, and so this choice required diversionary tactics and covert activities! Nonetheless, we pulled it off to everyone’s delight! Becky received a plaque and cash award; the plaque with annual award winners will hang in the BCS office for the next year. Becky and husband Keith continue to live in the Carleton Home cottage and provide overnight and work order response, lawn care, as well as a variety of other supervisory tasks. At BCS Becky manages all human resource issues, outreach to minority groups, Friends of Bethany activities and acknowledgements, Board matters, document retention, insurances, and a dozen other tasks. The comment most often heard about Becky’s choice was, “This is long overdue!” Rev. William O’Rourke Award William ‘Bill’ LaPierre was presented the Father William O’Rourke Award. Bill and his wife Karen have five children, ten grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Bill and his wife have been foster parents since 1985 fostering over one-hundred and eighty children. Bill volunteers as a DSS pack coordinator. He attends Mass at Sacred Hearts Church. He coordinates the Healing Masses for Haverhill seniors, is the Outreach Coordinator, a Eucharistic Minister, and oversees the food pantry.
He also goes to the food bank in Boston to pick up food for the pantry, coordinates hospitality and picks up food donations after Mass. He serves communion monthly at Merrivista, Mission Towers, Sarah’s Place and AHEPA 39 and at local nursing homes.
Other staff members were recognized for long tenured service. Thirty years service: Paul Eversole Twenty five years service: Linda Pelletier Twenty years service: Joe Giambarresi, David Thomas Fifteen years service: Luke Malbon, Toni Biros Ten years service: Darlene Sutton, Ray Bouchard Five years service: Tricia Bullis, Danielle Cronin, Jean McDermott, Jim Dinges, Matthew Church, Maria
Goncalves, Laurie Leveille, and Marge Dolph
| Thank you for your gift April to August
Frederic Rose, O.D. Margaret Moynihan Peter and Donna Carbone Beverly Philbrick Leo and Theresa Sansoucie Charles Hamel Margaret Hurley Helen Chartier Alma Jones Purple Crayon Studios Margaret Hurley Yvonne Sullivan Florence Champion Francoise St. James Flora Martin Marjorie Wholley Dale and Marcia Rogers Mary Culliford Natalie McLaughlin Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Corcoran Marie Johnson Kathryn Krafton David and Patricia Thomas
Thank you for helping us to remember Friends and Family Muriel Jenne in memory of Kitty Avery Margaret Shlossberg in memory of Dr.Robert Morris Martha and Fred MacDonald in memory of Dr. Robert Morris Stephen J. Corcoran, Esq in memory of Dr. Robert Morris Margaret Jesby in memory of Dr. Robert Morris David and Patricia Thomas in memory of Dr. Robert Morris Virginia Myszka in memory of Roland Booth & Joseph Myszka Rose Cole in memory of Helen Garnos Duane Windemiller in memory Pauline "Polly" Windemiller Jack, Alice & Jeff Raymond in memory of Rita Candini Stuart Mandell in memory of Myn Mandell Doris Chevalier in memory of the Chabot & Chevalier families Domenica LaJoie in memory of Edmund LaJoie Renee Robinson in memory of Melvin Robinson Patricia Kalip in memory of Susan Kalip & Raymond Kalip Jack and Dorine Gorski in memory of Donald Bourgeois George and Dianne Moonoogian in memory of Barbara McNamara Christina Sargent in memory of Harold & Scott Sargent Jack and Dorine Gorski in memory of Alfred Payette Helen Batchelder in memory of Katherine Avery Phoenix Row Resident Council in memory of Kitty Avery Patricia Racine in memory of Kitty Avery Jacquelyn Paul in memory of Kitty Avery Angelina Banks in memory of Chester Banks Ann Jones in memory of Hazel Coffen Anita Angerame Judkins in memory of Anita M. Angerame William and Ruthann Frost in a birthday remembrance for Jeffrey Frost Philip and Kimberly Kissel in memory of Eleanor Smith Rita Lalumiere in memory of Robert Lalumiere Arlene Reddington in memory of David Reddington Mary Jacques in memory of Roland Jacques Frank Barberio in memory of Maria Barberio Theresa Latina in memory of Virginia Putis Edmund Lucey in memory of Joan Lucey & Dennis Lucey Elaine Insero in memory of Sabina Gardella, John Taglieri & Alice Sciacca Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Marzioli in memory of Rose & Vincent Dirago Gerald Williams in memory of Mrs. A. Marble Anita George in memory of Jennie Bologna Jacquelyn Paul in memory of Jean (Betty) Buckley Lorraine Roy in memory of Jean (Betty) Buckley Pamela Kandrut in memory of Jean (Betty) Buckley Amy Chute in memory of Jean (Betty) Buckley Vallie Kench in memory of Jean (Betty) Buckley Phoenix Row Resident Council in memory of Jean (Betty) Buckley Louise Baxter in memory of Jean (Betty) Buckley Helen Chartier in memory of Jean (Betty) Buckley Muriel Jenne in memory of Jean (Betty) Buckley Patricia Racine in memory of Jean (Betty) Buckley Peter Voisine in memory of Jean (Betty) Buckley Tetty Bouvin in memory of Jean (Betty) Buckley Jeanette Parker in memory of Betty Buckley & Howie Parker
Thank you for helping us to give honor where honor is due Angela Cheyne in honor of Ruth LaFountain Amy Chute in honor of Rev. David Thomas for all his efforts to make us safe & secure Juliette Yemma in honor of Arthur & Sandra Richard and Janice Hawes in honor of Kathleen Catherine Nelson in honor of Dianne & George Moonoogian Friends in honor of Ruth Lafontaine a Mission Towers resident for 30 years Esther and Ray Metthe in honor of Anna Grillo Peter and Helen Cunningham in honor of David & Patricia Thomas Amy Chute in honor & in thankfullness for the kind & helpful staff at Phoenix Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Mazza in honor of Ruth LaFontaine
We can now send you the Friends newsletter by email. When you send your gift to us, include your email address and the next edition will come to you electronically. We promise NOT to share your email or to use it for any other purpose. What you should know . . . from questions we get asked. 1. What is your mission? Bethany was founded as a non-profit in 1965 to provide housing and social services to low income seniors—A way of life, not just a Place to Live.
2. Why do you ask for donations? We provide services that people cannot pay for such as Assisted living and Supportive services. These cannot be included in the rent.
3. Can anyone live at Bethany? Yes, but with income restrictions--some as high as $40,000. Half of our rentals are to people with 40% of the average income. Homeless seniors, those paying 50% of their income for rent, or those displaced receive priority.
4. Does Bethany pay property taxes? Yes. We pay $200,000/year in property taxes to the City. We get no break!
5. What happened with the flood? We had $1,000,000 damages in the Mother’s Day Flood which was covered in large measure by insurance. Friends helped us with resident losses.
6. Is it true that Bethany is involved with for profit housing? No, we do manage three properties that we do not own; all are non-profits.
7. How many people work at Bethany? We have 120 people who get a Bethany paycheck, many of whom have worked at Bethany longer than me (I just passed 20 years).
Bethany Board of Directors | Atty. Stephen Corcoran, Chair | Duncan Farmer | Jesse Medley | | Paul Johnson, Treasurer | Warren Gerety | Calvin Pingree | | Sharyn Russell, Clerk | David Hart | Kevin Shea | | Lynn Champion |
| Nancy Thornton | | Atty. Joseph Cleary | Founder and Board Member Emeritus: | William Torrence | | Dalia Diaz | Rev. Dr. Duane Windemiller | Denise Woodcock |
| Bethany Good News | | Bethany Board of Directors elected two new members at the Annual Meeting. Lynn Champion is a college educator with experience in finance. Her mother currently lives at Merrivista. Dalia Diaz has assisted residents and staff with personal finance and security issues from her position at Merrimack Valley Credit Union.
| The Board also elected Atty. Stephen Corcoran as Chair and Sharyn Russell as Clerk. Paul Johnson was reelected Treasurer. Also recognized at the annual meeting were long time staff member and Board Clerk, Arlene Robinson, and Thelma Cheney who had worked at the Carleton Home for more than 25 years. | | Four Mile Village conducted their Annual Meeting in July with residents reelecting Betty Eckerson to the Board. The Board President, David Benson, also presented the new budget and discussed a variety of capital projects.
Bethany is nearly finished with a several month project of offering a free meal to any resident who will welcome a staff member to help them understand how much the meal program would cost and benefit them.
Benches have been placed in honor of former Board members Donald Beaton, Daniel Pascoe, George Winfield, and Dr. Robert Morris. |
Thank you for using the enclosed gift envelope to send The Friends of Bethany a cash contribution to subsidize services to frail and low income residents. Our work depends on your generosity!
Your gifts are tax deductible
| Mission Towers staff prepared for a Real Estate Assessment inspection required by HUD in June. Only minor findings resulted.
Merrivista and Phoenix grounds have once again been commended by the City of Haverhill for their beauty and care. Trees at both locations were recently trimmed. Mission Towers lawns are being cared for through a program with the Haverhill Activities Center.
Merrivista will soon have a new deck on the west wing. This deck will feature materials that will last much longer than wood. A bench honoring Mary Dinges has been replaced. | The policy of the Friends of Bethany is that every gift received from our donors is used 100% for either the designated purpose of the gift, or if undesignated, for the supportive services programs of our residents. Our Board Members serve as volunteers and receive no compensation for their hours of service. All gifts to the Friends of Bethany are tax deductible and will be acknowledged with a receipt for your tax records |
| Friends of Bethany Bethany Community Services 10 Phoenix Row Haverhill, MA 01832
Address service requested
A Way of Life, not Just a Place to Live
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