What stopped happening -- and happened -- at Tripadvisor this week
As of yesterday, there have been 17,630 confirmed deaths in Massachusetts from the pandemic.
We lost too many. But it would have been much worse if it hadn’t been for the medical community, front line workers, and so many others who sacrificed so much for the rest of us.
This week I had the privilege to attend a modest – but joyful – celebration, marking how far we’ve come and honoring a few of the many who got us there.
It was a ceremony at Tripadvisor's outdoor amphitheater to commemorate the administering of the final vaccine at the clinic there.
Since opening on Feb. 3 (yep, that's snow on the ground), over 31,000 people were fully vaccinated at the Needham site, with over 56,000 total doses given.
The clinic was the result of a unique partnership between Tripadvisor, which turned over its campus rent-free, and Newton-Wellesley Hospital/Mass General Brigham.
While many vax clinics were set up statewide, Tripadvisor was the only corporation to turn over its facility for all those months.
Standing in the heat alongside hospital staff, volunteer nurses (all told more than 500 folks volunteered) and Tripadvisor employees on Tuesday, it became clear that this wasn’t just a loan of space.
It was a labor of love.
A genuine bond had developed between those in scrubs and the tech company's employees who worked side-by-side, seven days a week for five months, setting up and administering this clinic -- all to make things better for the rest of us.
It’s not a ‘lottery,’ but it is a million bucks
Speaking of vaccines, today is the first day we can register for the state’s vaccine lottery.
Although technically it’s not a lottery. It's a raffle because there's no purchase necessary.
Pretty much all you have to do to be a raffle winner of one of five weekly $1 million drawings is have been vaccinated against COVID-19 at any point and register here.
Those between the ages of 12 and 17 are eligible to win one of five $300,000 scholarship grants.
Any bets on whether we'll see the octopus of doom if the system crashes today?
Lasell receives largest-ever gift
Congratulations to Lasell University which just received the largest gift in the Auburndale school’s 170-year history.
The $6.6 million gift was made by the mother of Michal Longe, a graduate who died at a relatively young age from cystic fibrosis “who blossomed when she attended Lasell,” according to the Globe’s Jon Chesto.
Lasell will name its undergraduate business school the Michal Longe ‘95 School of Business.
“This was the highlight of her life,” Lasell’s President Michael Alexander said of Longe. “Michal is a symbol of how small- and medium-sized institutions can support students and meet them where they are.”
On-demand rides available in Newton starting Tuesday
Newton’s new on-demand transit system – NewMo 2.0 – launches on Tuesday, July 6.
Any resident, employee or visitor can book a $2 shared ride that connects between anywhere in the city and the MBTA Green Line or Commuter Rail system, Needham Street and the Wells Avenue Office Park area.
Download the NewMo Newton app on your smartphone or call 617-655-8019 to get started.
Your first five rides are free!
Businesses or nonprofits interested in rides for employees or customers should email for information about company memberships.
And a reminder: A similar on-demand system is available in Wellesley too.
Arts groups seek slice of APRA pie
With nearly $5 billion in federal stimulus funding in the state's pocket, a commission of lawmakers and industry leaders are asking Beacon Hill to spend $575 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds to help the arts and culture sector rebound.
The COVID-19 Cultural Impact Commission says the funds would help stabilize museums, performance venues, galleries, individual artists and more and to revitalize public interest in activities that supporters say drive major economic activity, writes Chris Lisinski at State House News.
"The creative and culture sector drives tourism to our communities and leads to major economic activity and investment in our cities and towns through its influence on nearby restaurants, hotels and other venues," members wrote.
$575 million is just shy of the $588 million arts organizations collectively lost over the first year of the pandemic, impacting 30,000 jobs, according to a Mass Cultural Council report.
Caterers want a helping too!
Another proposal – this one from state Rep. Brad Hill – calls to waive the $1,500 annual registration fee paid by caterers as a way to help that segment of the industry recover.
Baker urged to offer 'return to work' bonus
Groups representing supermarkets, retail grocers and restaurants are asking Gov. Charlie Baker to do more to encourage re-entry into the workforce, writes Christian M. Wade at The Eagle-Tribune.
"...we continue to face a challenge to fulfill our workforce, and respectfully request your assistance to motivate the unemployed to look for those job openings in our industry and others that so desperately need workers," said Brian Houghton, of the Massachusetts Food Association wrote in a letter to Baker.
New Hampshire is offering $500 to $1,000 bonuses to workers who get a new job and keep it for at least eight weeks. Maine offers a $1,500 payment to workers who begin new jobs between June 15 and June 30, and $1,000 for those who start in July.
"I don't know of a restaurant right now that isn't looking for workers," added Bob Luz, president of the Mass. Restaurant Association, who also thinks cash bonuses is a good idea.
Chamber honors three outstanding teens
We've selected three outstanding students to receive scholarships.
Chika Udemagwuna (Newton North), Johanna White (Needham High) and Samone Lumley (Wellesley High) were selected from a field of more than 50 applicants. Read about them here.
In prior years, the chamber awarded scholarships to graduating seniors who reside or attend school in Newton or Needham. Following our Wellesley expansion this year, we added a third scholarship to a high school senior in Wellesley.
My thanks to our scholarship committee and also to all the guidance councilors and schools' staffs who worked extra hard during this difficult year to make sure their graduating seniors were aware of this and other opportunities.
That’s today’s Need to Knows, unless you need to know about the woman who wore the same Hawaiian shirt for 264 Zoom meetings in a row.
See you tomorrow.
President, Newton-Needham Regional Chamber
617-244-1688
Your chamber is here when you need us.
