NORTH SHORE – (Radio & Photos) Today’s headlines include: Salem School Committee split on charter schools; Local communities being considered for Registry office; Investors tour Lynn; Gloucester Times seeks documents relating to Police Chief’s leave
NEWSCAST – Rick Moore
North Shore Community College’s (NSCC) Veteran’s Services Coordinator, Kristine Babcock, from Beverly, just completed her second Run to Home Base with the NSCC Veterans team in tow. As a former Aviation Electronics Technician in the Navy, Babcock has a soft spot in her heart for the military. “If you’re a Vet, you love being around other Vets.”
Run to Home Base is a special event that celebrates America’s Military Heroes and raises necessary funds for Home Base, a Red Sox Foundation and Massachusetts General Hospital Program. Home Base works to heal the invisible wounds of war for post-9/11 Veterans, service members and their families through world-class clinical care, wellness, education and research. Invisible wounds include post-traumatic stress, traumatic brain injury and other issues associated with the deployment cycle.
In her role as NSCC’s Veteran’s Services Coordinator, Babcock guides student Veterans through the process of activating their G.I. Bill and administering education benefits. Her program brings in outside programs such as Home Base to support NSCC’s student Vets.
“I run for the combat Veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan. That’s the majority of my students. I’ve seen firsthand how post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI) affect Vet’s personal, educational and professional lives. I want to bring more awareness to that so civilians know what it’s all about—they hear about what PTSD is, but they don’t understand how it affects Vets.”
Although Babcock enjoyed her first Run to Home Base in 2015, she was surprised about one aspect of the race. “Before we got to Fenway, I was thinking, oh my God, we have to be there so early! But there were already a ton of people when we walked into Fenway at 8 a.m. It was fun from beginning to end, and there were Vets who told amazing stories about how Home Base helped them. There wasn’t a dry eye in the place.”
The NSCC team collectively raised over $6,420 for Home Base.
Photo Below – Jesse Perkins, student veteran; Kristine Babcock; Cassandra Reed; Mike Monagle: Martin Collins, student veteran; MA State Representative Jerry Parisella. Missing from the photo was team member Frederick E. Dinsmore.
Brendan Crighton @BrendanCrighton Twitter Feed From Tuesday
Had a blast talking politics at Project Haven w/ some thoughtful Lynn youths, Councilor Colluci and @CahillforLynnpic.twitter.com/r2KCzabdiS
Salem City Worker meeting this morning regarding Haunted Happenings Public Safety Plans
