GVNA HealthCare, Inc. of Gardner and VNA of Southern Worcester County of Webster announced that they will merge to better serve the 98 communities that make up their catchment area.
The merger brings together two home health agencies who collectively have provided in-home care to patients for more than 219 years. The new name of the agency will be Care Central VNA & Hospice, Inc. …Healthcare inYour Neighborhood.
President and CEO Elaine T. Fluet, RN, MSN, will lead the two merged agencies. Jacklyn Fleming, RN, MSN, JD, executive director of the VNA of Southern Worcester County, retired April 1 after leading the agency for the past 41 years. Both CEOs felt strongly that this merge would be a natural fit, as both agencies share the same core values and love of community.
Combined, the two agencies will employ approximately 275 health care professionals and support staff. The agency will maintain offices in Gardner, Greenfield, Webster and Auburn.
The merge was approved by the Board of Directors at both agencies and was effective April 1.
For information about Care Central VNA & Hospice and its services, call (978) 632-1230 or (508) 943-0612.
FITCHBURG — Monty Tech students competing in the SkillsUSA-Massachusetts District 5 competition brought home a total of 29 medals: three gold, 12 silver and 14 bronze.
The event was held at Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School in Charlton prior to schools closing due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The district-level competition consists of written tests focusing on employment skills, trade knowledge and safety.
Anne Marie Cataldo, Monty Tech SkillsUSA advisor, announces that, due to the health crisis, the organization’s state and national competitions have been canceled for the year.
Local medal winners include: Annalisa Denio-Miller, of Athol, bronze medal in masonry; Ethan Howland, of Athol, gold medal in collision-damage appraisal; Garrett Kittredge, of Athol, bronze medal, collision-damage appraisal; Julia Moisan, of Phillipston, bronze medal, cosmetology (under 500 hours); Anthony Divoll, of Royaltson, bronze medal, collision repair technology; Nathan Ferrazza, of Templeton, silver medal, masonry; Andrew Arsenault, of Winchendon, bronze medal, welding/metal fabrication; Natlaie Dokulil, of Winchendon, bronze medal, basic health care; Nathan Gualin, of Winchendon, silver medal, urban search rescue; Deaclan Marmanidis, of Winchendon, silver medal, collision repair technology; Kaitlyn Scott, of Winchendon, bronze medal, digital cinema production.
BOSTON — State Auditor Suzanne M. Bump released an audit Monday of the Mount Wachusett Community College Foundation (MWCCF) that found it was using funds exclusively for the benefit of the college but could improve its internal controls over financial management.
Mount Wachusett Community College Foundation is a charitable nonprofit corporation that provides financial support to Mount Wachusett Community College. The audit examined the period of July 1, 2017 through June 31, 2019.
“Our audit shows that although Mount Wachusett Community College Foundation was properly directing and using funds, it should take steps to strengthen its financial controls to ensure funds continue to be used effectively. This will also help decrease the risk of money being lost or misspent,” Bump said in a press releae of the audit. “I commend the foundation for its work expanding access to higher education and for taking these matters seriously.”
Although expenditures were used properly, the audit found areas of improvement in existing internal controls of the foundation, such as better cash disbursement and credit card transaction monitoring, and enhanced documentation for expenditures.
In March, an audit called for improved oversight of background checks in the community college’s early childhood education program and for better financial reporting practices.
Mount Wachusett Community College Foundation was established in 1971 and is overseen by a 22-member board of directors. The foundation provides scholarships to students and works to enhance academic programs and facilities. During the audit period, the foundation’s total expenditures were $891,911 for fiscal 2018 and $1,091,304 for fiscal 2019.