North Shore YMCA President Talks Expansion Projects In Beverly, Marblehead

PEABODY, MA — Plans for the revitalization of Marblehead's Children's Island and the renovation of the Greater Beverly YMCA's Early Childhood Education Center were among the priority projects on the agenda for the YMCA of the North Shore discussed at the annual meeting of the Friends of the YMCA of the North Shore at Beverly's historic Cabot Theater.

More than 200 supporters, staff, board members, community organizers and civic leaders attended the program earlier this month that featured two awards presentations, performances from "The Little Mermaid" and "The Sound of Music" and YMCA President and CEO Chris Lovasco on plans for North Shore expansion of services.

Those plans include the projects in Beverly and Marblehead, as well as an expansion of the Cape Ann YMCA and a transformation of the Haverhill YMCA into affordable housing to go along with a nearby center for nonprofit excellence.

"A collaborative YMCA," Lovasco said, "a Y of innovation … where many nonprofits come together, with the Y as the core."

Former YMCA of the North Shore Board Chair Scott Beyer was presented with the Jack Good Distinguished Service Award for his more than 20 years of service, while Salem's Betsy Merry was named as the posthumous recipient of the inaugural Herring Family Community Service Award, named after Swampscott residents Tricia and Bruce Herring, for Merry's lasting impact on the North Shore through her community advocacy in and around Salem.

"We were thrilled to once again gather at The Cabot to celebrate the incredible impact the Y has on the 25 communities we serve across the North Shore and into Southern New Hampshire," YMCA of the North Shore Chief Advancement Officer Marge Cregg said. "Taking time to honor, reflect, and recognize all the people who make our Y's work possible is important, now more than ever.

"The presentation of both the Jack Good Distinguished Service Award and the Herring Family Community Volunteer Award allows us to continue to celebrate people like Scott Beyer and Betsy Merry, who support and who have supported our mission as we remain committed to strengthening our community through critical programming and resources for those who need us most."

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)