Special to the Independent

NeighborHealth announced the appointment of Maria Coppenrath, CPA, as the organization’s new Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, effective July 20, 2026.

With more than 30 years of healthcare finance experience – including over 15 years serving as CFO within complex, multi-site Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) – Coppenrath brings deep expertise in healthcare finance strategy, value-based care, 340B pharmacy operations, ACO models, and FQHC regulatory compliance.

Most recently, Coppenrath served as CFO at Caring Health Center in Springfield, Massachusetts. She has also held senior financial leadership roles at Greater Lawrence Family Health Center and Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center, where she led financial transformation initiatives, strengthened organizational sustainability, and supported significant operational growth.

Coppenrath succeeds Jamie Hazard in the CFO role following Hazard’s transition to Chief Executive Officer in December of 2025. In her role as CFO, Coppenrath will oversee financial strategy, planning and operations for one of the largest community health centers in the country, with more than $300M in annual revenue, 1700 employees, and a full complement of primary care and specialty services, a 24/7 emergency department, the Neighborhood PACE program, and multiple on-site pharmacies.

“Maria stood out throughout the search process for both her exceptional financial leadership and her deep commitment to community health,” said Jamie Hazard, President and CEO of NeighborHealth. “She brings a rare combination of strategic expertise, operational excellence, and mission alignment. We are thrilled to welcome her to NeighborHealth and are confident she will be an invaluable partner as we continue to strengthen and expand care for the communities we serve.”

Born and raised in Everett, Massachusetts, Coppenrath distinguishes herself through her collaborative leadership style, ability to translate complex financial concepts into actionable insights, and proven track record of building high-performing finance teams.

“NeighborHealth is well known for its innovation, compassion, and service, and I am honored to be part of an organization so deeply committed to equitable, community-based care,” said Coppenrath. “As a first-generation Italian American and the daughter of immigrants, I understand the hopes, sacrifices, and resilience that shape so many of the families NeighborHealth serves. That personal connection makes it especially meaningful to join an organization that has long been a trusted resource for immigrant communities. I look forward to partnering with the leadership team and staff to support NeighborHealth’s continued growth, strengthen its mission, and ensure its long-term sustainability.”

Coppenrath joins NeighborHealth following a highly competitive national search. She is the recipient of numerous professional recognitions, including the National Association of Community Health Centers’ Jeffrey T. Latman Leadership in Healthcare Finance Award, and serves as Treasurer on the Board of Directors of the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers. She is also on the Board of Directors of CapitalLink, which provides financial advisory services to community health centers in Massachusetts.

NeighborHealth, formerly East Boston Neighborhood Health Center, is one of the nation’s largest Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and the largest community-based primary care health system in Massachusetts, serving more than 120,000 people and recognized by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) as a National Quality Leader. For more than 50 years, NeighborHealth has offered access to comprehensive primary care, specialty care and emergency care for patients in the Commonwealth. In a first-of-its-kind merger in 2020, East Boston Neighborhood Health Center joined forces with the South End Community Health Center and expanded services to patients who live and work in Boston’s South End and Roxbury neighborhoods. NeighborHealth champions innovative care models to actively bridge health equity gaps in our low-income and immigrant communities with services unique from other healthcare providers in our state. For more information, visit www.neighborhealth.com.

Special to the Independent

The City of Everett welcomed residents to its first Farmers Market in more than 10 years on Saturday, July 11, marking the return of a long-requested community tradition that expands access to fresh, affordable food.

Held on School Street off Broadway from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., the market featured a variety of local vendors offering farm-fresh fruits and vegetables, homemade baked goods, botanical plants, prepared foods, and other locally made products.

“Bringing the Farmers Market back to Everett is something residents have been asking for, and I’m proud we’ve made it happen,” said Mayor Robert J. Van Campen. “It’s an opportunity to support local businesses, strengthen our community, and create a welcoming place where neighbors can come together throughout the summer.”

The Farmers Market will return throughout the summer on July 25, August 8, August 22, and September 12, with additional vendors expected to join in the coming weeks. Residents can continue to look forward to a growing selection of fresh produce, flowers, baked goods, prepared foods, and other locally sourced products. Shoppers will also be able to use WIC, Healthy Incentives Program (HIP), and Farmers Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) benefits and coupons to purchase eligible items.

The return of the Everett Farmers Market responds to a long-standing request from residents and advances priorities identified by the Everett Food Policy Council to improve access to nutritious food and strengthen the local food system.

The City hopes the market will become a lasting community gathering place that supports local businesses while promoting healthy living across Everett.

Special to the Independent

The City of Everett is honoring the life and legacy of Firefighter John B. Benoit, who dedicated more than 30 years of service to the Everett Fire Department and the residents of Everett.

“John exemplified the qualities we hold dear: integrity, compassion, dedication, and, if you knew John, a great sense of humor.” said Fire Chief Joseph Hickey. “Whether answering the call to help others, offering encouragement to a fellow firefighter, or simply sharing a laugh around the station, John made a lasting impact on everyone who had the privilege of knowing him. His legacy will never be forgotten.”

John proudly served the Everett Fire Department for more than three decades, following in the footsteps of his father and older brother. Throughout his career, he was known for his unwavering commitment to public service, his professionalism, and the genuine care he showed to both his fellow firefighters and the community. He remained an active-duty firefighter until his passing after a courageous battle with cancer.

“There are some people whose impact reaches far beyond the job they do, and John was one of them,” said Mayor Robert J. Van Campen. “For more than three decades, he served Everett with honor while earning the respect and friendship of everyone around him. We are grateful for his service, and our thoughts are with his family and the entire Everett Fire Department during this difficult time.”

Before joining the Everett Fire Department, John proudly served in the United States Air Force. Outside of his career, he embraced life with enthusiasm. He was a passionate motorcycle enthusiast who enjoyed riding alongside his wife, Cindy, and treasured every opportunity to spend time with his family. His greatest joy was his children, Amanda and Matthew, with whom he shared countless memories on trips to the White Mountains and fishing adventures.

John is survived by his loving wife, Cynthia; his daughter, Amanda; his son, Matthew; his sisters, Lois and Janice; and many extended family members, friends, and his brothers and sisters in the Everett Fire Department.

Visiting hours were held at J.F. Ward Funeral Home on July 15, followed by a Funeral Mass at Our Lady of Grace Church.

Parlin Adult and Teens

Yarn Club Parlin Fresco Room. Tuesdays at 7pm. Come chit chat and stitch! Bring your crocheting, knitting, or any other yarn craft and sit and socialize with other members of the crafting community. Recommended for ages 14-109!

Stationery Café, Parlin YA Room. Thursdays from 3-5pm. Join us every Thursday afternoon in the summertime at our stationery station in the YA Room! BYO stationery or borrow some of the library supplies as we work on scrapbooking, letters, card-making, and other paper crafts. Suggested for age 14+

Parlin Childrens

Lego Club. Parlin Children’s Room. Mondays from 3-5pm. Come to the Children’s Room on Mondays for some free-building lego fun. Open to all ages. Children under 6 years old must be accompanied by an adult. No registration required.

Storytime and Singalong with Karen, Parlin Children’s Room. Wednesday, July 29th at 11am. Join us for a fun-filled morning of singing and storytelling with Karen! Suggested ages 0-6.

Creative Drama Class. Parlin Children’s Room. Wednesdays at 3pm. Do you have a drama queen or king at home? Explore, create and get dramatic with this fun interpretive program for kids ages 6-14.

Story Time Adventures with Mrs. McAuliffe Parlin Craft Room. Fridays at 11am. Join Mrs. McAuliffe for our enchanting Story Time! You will be whisked away on magical adventures through the pages of your favorite books. Bring a friend or make a new one in our circle of friends.

Friday Family Movies Parlin Meeting Room, Friday, July 31st at 3 PM, Join us in the Parlin Library Meeting room on Friday, July 31st at 3PM for Friday Family Movies featuring Hoppers, Rated PG.  Fresh hot popcorn will be served.

Shute Adult and Teens

Ready Player One Games, Shute Meeting Room, Wednesdays at 2:30 PM. Level up your Wednesdays with our ultimate gaming hangout! Grab your friends and dive into fun Nintendo Switch and PlayStation games. Recommended for ages 11 and up.

Shute Children’s

Miss Val’s Storytime Pals Shute Children’s Room. Mondays at 10 AM and Tuesdays at 12 PM. What’s better than a good story? Sharing it with friends! Join Miss Val at the Shute Library for Fairytale Fun!

For Better or Verse – Poetry Club Shute Memorial Library Meeting Room. Every other Tuesday from 5 PM – 6:30 PM. Maybe you love poetry; maybe you’re just curious about it. Maybe you’re looking for a creative outlet and want to meet some other creative people. Whatever your reason, and whatever your knowledge or skill level, come join the Shute Memorial Library’s Poetry Club, “For Better or Verse.” Read, write, and share poetry, and create some fun art projects that might inspire poetry. Recommended for Ages 9-13.

Story to Screen: Family Movies Shute Meeting Room. Thursday,  12 PM. It’s time for films and fun! Munch on popcorn and watch movies that were once stories on the page. Can you answer the question: what was better, the book or the movie?  Join us this week for the 2025 animated film, “The Pout-Pout Fish,” based on the book by Deborah Diesen.

Master Builders: Lego Free-play: Shute Children’s Room. Thursdays from 3-5PM. Free-play session with Legos and other building blocks. Bring a buddy, or make a new one, as you explore your imagination brick by brick! We provide the space and the materials to let your vision take shape. What will you create?

Volunteer with S.T.E.A.M. City!

S.T.E.A.M. City Corp. is hosting a volunteer information session on Saturday, July 25 from 11a.m. to 1p.m. at the Parlin Library Meeting room, 410 Broadway in Everett.  Meet members and learn about opportunities with the new STEAM education non-profit. STEAM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math, but no experience is necessary to volunteer. They are looking for Instructors, Tutors, TRANSLATION, Social Media, Advertising, Community Outreach, Fundraising, Marketing, Website, Event planning, Advisory, Program Development, Admin. Assistance and more!!  There will be also be a sample of an upcoming activity, a free art project and mini museum displays from Professor Krumpp’s Cabinet.  For more information about STEAM City, email Hello@steam-city.org.

Special to the Independent

Mayor Robert J. Van Campen has announced the appointment of Paul Landry as Interim Director of Veterans Services for the City of Everett. The appointment reflects Mayor Van Campen’s continued commitment to building an experienced, transparent administration dedicated to serving the people of Everett.

“Paul has been an exceptional public servant throughout his decades of service to the City of Everett, earning the respect of his colleagues as a leader within the Everett Police Department,” said Mayor Robert J. Van Campen. “His extensive leadership experience with the Massachusetts National Guard, the Massachusetts Organized Militia, and the Everett Police Department makes him exceptionally well-qualified to serve as our Interim Director of Veterans Services. I am grateful that Paul has chosen to join our administration, and I look forward to working together to ensure Everett’s veterans receive the service, support, and care they have earned.”

Landry brings more than 33 years of progressive leadership and management experience in both law enforcement and the military. He served with the Everett Police Department from 1995 until his retirement in 2026, rising through the ranks to Captain. In addition to his law enforcement career, he served as a Colonel at the Massachusetts National Guard Joint Force Headquarters and retired as a Brigadier General on the Massachusetts State Retired List.

As Interim Director of Veterans Services, Landry will assist Everett veterans and their families in accessing federal, state, and local benefits and services. He will serve as their legally recognized advocate, help navigate claims with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the Social Security Administration, and connect veterans with the resources they need.

Landry’s appointment ensures that Everett’s veterans will continue to receive the high-quality support and personalized service they deserve.

Residents are invited to meet Interim Director of Veterans Services Paul Landry at the next Veterans Luncheon on Wednesday, July 29, at 12 p.m. at the Connolly Center located at 90 Chelsea Street, Everett, MA 02149.

Special to the Independent

Governor Maura Healey today announced that she will file An Act Relative to Closing the Great Divide between Ticket Prices and Affordability, or The Great Divide Act, to lower sports and concert ticket resale prices and ensure that fans have a fair opportunity to enjoy the events they love without paying exorbitant prices on the secondary market. The legislation would establish some of the nation’s strongest consumer protections for the secondary ticket marketplace, building on reforms recently adopted in states such as Vermont and Maine.

The Governor’s proposal, which will be included in her upcoming closeout supplemental budget, caps the resale price of concert tickets at 110 percent of the price of the face value of the original ticket. It also limits the service fees and charges that can be imposed by ticket resellers like StubHub and SeatGeek to no more than 10 percent of the total price of the ticket for resale. It prohibits the sale of speculative tickets, which are tickets that are not in the possession of the seller when they are listed for sale. Finally, it implements additional consumer protections measures, including prohibiting the use of deceptive websites by ticket resellers and misleading consumers about the availability of tickets.  

The name of the proposal is a nod to singer and songwriter Noah Kahan, who recently made history as the first artist ever to headline four consecutive sold-out shows at Fenway Park. Kahan has been a vocal opponent against predatory resale practices and successfully advocated for a similar bill in Vermont.

“Far too many Massachusetts residents have experienced the pain of being excited to buy tickets to see their favorite singer or sports team, only to realize that resale prices and fees have driven up the cost to outrageous levels,” said Governor Healey. “Or how about when you do purchase tickets from a reseller, only to get to the venue to realize the seller never actually transfers them to you? Enough is enough. We are taking action to lower ticket resale prices so Massachusetts fans can better afford to see their favorite performer or team.”

During the press conference announcing the legislation, Governor Healey was joined virtually by Noah Kahan, who threw his support behind the measure: “I heard about what you’re announcing today and I just wanted to let you know how excited I am about it. The artist community and fans will greatly benefit from limiting ticket scalping and the sales of speculative tickets. I love my fans and want to protect them however I can. Artists alone could not tackle the market manipulation of secondary resellers. So, thank you so much for making this a priority in Massachusetts.”

Under the proposal, concert tickets cannot be resold for more than 110 percent of their original face value, unless an artist or venue explicitly authorizes a higher resale cap through a written agreement. For example, if a ticket originally cost $100, it could be resold for no more than $110.  

The bill limits the service fees charged by ticket resale marketplaces to no more than 10 percent of the listed resale price for sporting events and non-sporting events like concerts. For example, if a ticket is listed for resale on a resale platform for $300, the service fee charged by the resale platform cannot exceed $30. Today, many resale platforms charge service fees of roughly 20 percent or more, adding hundreds of dollars to the cost of tickets. This proposal is expected to cut resale service fees typically paid by consumers today in half.

The legislation also prohibits the sale of speculative tickets, meaning tickets that a seller does not actually have when they list them for sale. Too often, consumers pay for these tickets only to find out they are never delivered. During this summer’s World Cup matches at Gillette Stadium, some fans who purchased tickets through online resale platforms were turned away after discovering the tickets they bought never existed.

The bill includes additional consumer protections to prohibit deceptive resale websites that falsely suggest they are affiliated with artists or venues and to prevent resellers from misleading consumers about ticket availability or scarcity.

Special to the Independent

Mayor Robert J. Van Campen is encouraging Everett families to take advantage of the Summer Eats Program, which provides free, nutritious meals to all children and teens ages 18 and under throughout the summer.

The program, coordinated by Project Bread in partnership with the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and local meal providers, helps ensure children have access to healthy meals while school is out of session. In Everett, the Mystic Valley YMCA coordinates the City’s six Summer Eats meal sites, making free weekday meals available in neighborhoods across the community. No registration, identification, or application is required.

“Every child deserves access to healthy meals, especially during the summer months when school is out of session,” said Mayor Van Campen. “The Summer Eats Program is an incredible resource for Everett families, and I’m grateful to Project Bread and the Mystic Valley YMCA for helping bring this program to our community. Together, we’re making sure kids and teens don’t go hungry this summer.”

Meals must be eaten on site and are available Monday through Friday at the following Everett locations:

• Glendale Park (Elm Street & Ferry Street) – 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.

• The Meadows (Tufts Avenue) – 11:40 a.m. to 12:40 p.m.

• Big Florence (1 Florence Street) – 11:20 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.

• Little Florence (Florence Street & Nichols Street) – 11:25 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

• Staff Sgt. Day Park (68 Lexington Street) – 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

• Swan Street Park (Swan Street & Tappan Street) – 11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.

Summer Eats helps children stay fueled throughout the summer while giving families one less thing to worry about. The program also encourages kids to get outside, stay active, and connect with their community.

For more information about Summer Eats locations across Massachusetts, visit Project Bread’s Summer Eats website by scanning the QR code or call the Project Bread FoodSource Hotline at 1-800-645-8333.

The constant cacophony of bumbling babbling from our leaders in Washington these days with regard to the ongoing conflict with Iran brings to mind the wisdom of former President Theodore Roosevelt. On September 1, 1901 — just two weeks before he became President upon the assassination of President William McKinley — Roosevelt offered timeless foreign policy advice in a speech he delivered at the Minnesota State Fair:

“Speak softly and carry a big stick — you will go far. If a man continually blusters, if he lacks civility, a big stick will not save him from trouble; and neither will speaking softly avail, if back of the softness there does not lie strength, power. In private life there are few things more obnoxious than the man who is always loudly boasting; and if the boaster is not prepared to back up his words his position becomes absolutely contemptible. So it is with the nation. It is both foolish and undignified to indulge in undue self-glorification, and above all, in loose-tongued denunciation of other peoples.”

Today, the United States finds itself mired in a costly conflict with Iran. Even Israel, which has the most direct interest in subduing Iran, is sitting this one out, content to let the U.S. carry the ball.

Yet our leaders are pursuing a policy that is the antithesis of Roosevelt’s counsel. We boast loudly, but our diplomatic and military strategy lacks a true “stick” against an enemy comprised of zealots and fanatics who know they can outlast a traditional military campaign.

This approach fails to serve our national interests, threatens the stability of the global economy, and risks severe domestic financial fallout. Most importantly, the brave members of the military are putting their  lives on the line for a vague and ill-defined policy that has no clear military objective.

Now, as both Washington and Tehran dig in their heels following a collapsed truce, we must reject empty bluster. Our leaders must return to a strategy where measured diplomacy replaces pointless and endless bombing.