North Quabbin briefs

All Millers River paddling events scheduled for April 11-12, have been canceled by the paddling club requestors due to concerns with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Therefore, Birch Hill Dam and Tully Lake staff in Royalston will not be providing controlled releases of water that weekend, according to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District officials.

Construction of Birch Hill Dam was completed in 1942 at a cost of $4.8 million. The 1,400-foot-long, 56-foot-high dam can store 16.2 billion gallons of water. Tully Lake Dam, on the East Branch of the Tully River in Royalston, is 1,570 feet long and 62 feet high. Completed in 1949 at a cost of $1.7 million, the dam has a reservoir storage capacity of 7.1 billion gallons of water.

WORCESTER – In response to the coronavirus public health crisis, The Health Foundation of Central Massachusetts has expedited $371,000 in supplemental funding to 27 non-profits serving Central Massachusetts.

The following nonprofits were awarded funding: Abby’s House, Ascentria Care Alliance, Community Legal Aid, Easter Seals of Massachusetts, Fitchburg State University, Friendly House, GAAMHA, Inc., Health Care For All, Health Law Advocates, Jeremiah’s Inn, LUK, Inc., Massachusetts Association for Community Action, Massachusetts Budget & Policy Center, Massachusetts Housing & Shelter Alliance, Massachusetts Public Health Association, Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, Neighbor to Neighbor Massachusetts, Quaboag Valley Community Development Corporation, Quinsigamond Community College Foundation, RCAP Solutions, Riverside Community Care, Seven Hills Foundation, South Middlesex Opportunity Council, Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce, Worcester Regional Food Hub, World Farmers, and YWCA of Central Massachusetts.

“The Board of the Foundation devised a three-pronged strategy for helping area non-profits in response to coronavirus. The top priority to bolster current grantees’ projects and to address special circumstances has been accomplished with this distribution of supplemental funding,” said Jan Yost, foundation president, in a prepared statement.

The foundation’s Activation Fund remains open, with letters of intent due April 30. Further allocations to address gaps and the long-term impact of coronavirus will be informed by government and private funding and determined in the months ahead, she explained.

The foundation was established in 1999 with the proceeds from the sale of Central Massachusetts Health Care, Inc., a physician-initiated, not-for-profit HMO. The foundation currently has assets of approximately $67 million and has awarded grants totaling over $44 million.

Aligning with the growing trend of taking programming virtual, the program team at Girl Scouts of Central and Western Massachusetts has begun offering digital opportunities normally offered at their leadership centers and camps, a perfect solution for families wanting to stay connected to Girl Scouts and continue their badge work.

Each week, Girl Scouts of Central and Western Massachusetts program specialists will be releasing digital activities, one focusing on a badge and the other will be a fun activity or patch program. There will be activities available across all six Girl Scout age levels. Additional virtual resources will be available for Girl Scouts and their families, including content from other councils across the country.

To learn more visit www.gscwm.org/virtual and let the organization know if it can connect you with someone from Girl Scouts of Central and Western Massachusetts for more information.