Unsung heroine
North Andover's Elaine Kirby is being honored this week as one of the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women's Unsung Heroines for 2006. A teacher in the Peabody public schools, Kirby launched several programs for young women: an industrial arts food program, a young mothers program, and a mentoring program that helps first-year teachers adjust to the profession. Kirby is one of eight women -- out of 241 nominated -- to be honored Wednesday at the State House and at a special luncheon at the Fairmont Copley Plaza in Boston.
''MR. MAIN STREET": Concord's well-known Fritz Kussin is this year's ''Honored Citizen" in the town where he has logged more than 1,200 volunteers hours at Emerson Hospital, has served on numerous boards, owns a local business, and will ride in the town's Patriots Day parade as part of the tribute to his work. Kussin, owner of Fritz and Gigi, a children's shop, is a descendant of Louisa May Alcott and a lifelong Concord resident. In 1979, he was president of the Chamber of Commerce and was nominated as businessman of the year in 1996. He was elected president of the Concord Business Partnership, has acted in two Concord Players productions, and serves as an ambassador to the Orchard House, where he has also been on the board for many years. Kussin was selected by the Public Ceremonies and Celebrations Committee of Concord for the honor.
BLASTING INTO TOWN: Ed Spargo, a bassist and composer from North Billerica, is celebrating the release of his newest compact disc, ''Ed Spargo!" on Sunday at 7:30 p.m. in ''An Evening With The Ed Spargo Band" at the Regent Theatre in Arlington. Expected to play that night are Spargo on bass, Steve Hunt on piano, Dino Govoni on saxophone, Brendan Byrnes on drums, and John LaMoia on percussion. Spargo has made a career of touring with big-name blues artists such as Ronnie Earl, Toni Lynn Washington, and Peter Wolf. ''My goal as a composer is to allow plenty of room for self-expression for me and for other musicians," Spargo said.
REACHING OUT: The Lexington area National Organization for Women welcomes Bishnu Pariyar, a Dalit woman from western Nepal, tomorrow from 8 to 10 p.m. at The Arlington Center in Arlington. Pariyar, who founded a group called Empower Dalit Women of Nepal and has helped more than 1,500 women, will talk about how women who live in Nepal's rural Dalits area face fierce discrimination due to their gender and caste. ''We Have the Same Kind of Blood," a documentary about their plight, will be aired at the event.
MAKING A DIFFERENCE: Retired Concord pediatrician Dr. Nancy Hendrie was pleased to learn that an international issues class at Concord-Carlisle High School had taken a special interest in her organization, The Sharing Foundation, which works to increase educational opportunities for children in Cambodia. The students made and sold T-shirts and bags made by girls and women at a sewing school founded by The Sharing Foundation. They also lobbied congressional leaders to increase foreign aid to Cambodia. Then, this winter, the students hosted a dinner and silent auction in Carlisle that raised more than $7,000, with music provided by the high school's jazz band, orchestra, and chorus.
MAKEOVER MADNESS: Winchester Chamber of Commerce director Cathy Alexander, community member Dot Butler, women's clothing store owner Danielle Driscoll, financial planner Kimberly Miles, and cosmetic consultant Robyn Serra are working together to host Winchester's version of the television show ''Extreme Makeover." Six area women were selected to participate in the makeover. Their identities are being kept confidential until April 5, when they will reveal how they have been transformed after counseling on weight loss, nutrition, exercise, organizational skills, financial planning, tax assistance, teeth whitening, skin care, hair care, and wardrobe. The local cable station will air a show on their progress. It's part of the chamber's ''Women Helping Women" program that aims to promote business networking. Tickets for the event to be held at the Montvale Plaza in Stoneham are on sale at Book Ends in Winchester and at the chamber office.
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