NEIGHBORS
The Board of Directors of the Rhode Island Association of School Principals recently named Janet Lyons, principal of Austin T. Levy Elementary School in Harrisville, as its 2010-2011 Outstanding First-Year Principal.
A Worcester resident, Ms. Lyons earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Worcester State College, a master’s degree in educational technology from Lesley University and a master’s degree in education in leadership and administration from Worcester State College.
She taught in Worcester public schools from 1991 to 1999, serving as a facilitator/coordinator from 1999 to 2004, elementary literacy facilitator from 2004 to 2006, and Title I coordinator from 2006 to 2009.
When Maria Diaz ran her first marathon in San Francisco, it was to prove to herself that she could do it. Next month, Ms. Diaz will be running in the Boston Marathon, but nor for herself. She’ll be raising money for the Metropolitan Boston Housing Partnership, an affordable housing and homelessness prevention organization serving Greater Boston.
Ms. Diaz, who resides in Worcester, is one of four runners that make up Team MBHP, all running the race to support the organization’s programs.
Worcester Community Action Council Inc. Executive Director Jill C. Dagilis has announced the appointments of Mary Herlihy-Knittle as the agency’s director of energy resources, John Benoit as energy coordinator and Rosalind Baker as low-income home energy assistance program coordinator.
Ms. Herlihy-Knittle comes to WCAC from Quinsigamond Community College, where she was manager of renewable energy program relations. She has served on the statewide MassGREEN Initiative Advisory Board and is a co-chairperson of the steering committee for the Worcester Tree Initiative, which is more than halfway to its goal of renewing and strengthening the urban forest by planting 30,000 trees in Worcester and the surrounding towns.
Mr. Benoit joined WCAC in 2009 as an energy auditor and was promoted to quality control inspector in 2010.
Ms. Baker came to WCAC from Marlboro, where she was the city’s human resources director for 12 years. She holds a bachelor’s degree in public administration from Suffolk University and is working toward a master’s degree in public administration from Framingham State University.
Worcester natives Adrian Demers and Kai Griffiths recently opened Funky Stuff, a local art store, at 113 Lovell St.
The stories carries work from more than 30 local artists whose creations include paintings, sculptures, clothing, blown glass, handmade jewelry, furniture, handmade organic teas and soaps, engraved silverware, pillows, pins and longboards.
Hannah Kilcoyne was named to the dean’s list for the 2011 fall semester at Northeastern University, Boston.
Christopher Talbot was named to the dean’s list for the 2011 fall semester at Drew University, Madison, N.J.
Tori Bentkover and Chester Caswell were named to the dean’s list for the 2011 fall semester at Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore.
Zachary Hall was named to the dean’s list for the 2011 fall semester at U.S. Military Academy, West Point, N.Y.