Caleb Chris Ballentine reads to his son, Caleb, a participant in Shared Reading Saturdays, as Stephanie Lee of Verizon (left) and Kathy Vesey of Gallaudet look on.
Globe North People
Parents get help reading to deaf children
Caleb Chris Ballentine reads to his son, Caleb, a participant in Shared Reading Saturdays, as Stephanie Lee of Verizon (left) and Kathy Vesey of Gallaudet look on.
HELPING KIDS TO READ: One Saturday morning a month, families gather at Northern Essex Community College in Lawrence for workshops in which parents learn to read storybooks in American Sign Language to their deaf and hearing-impaired children.
Shared Reading Saturdays, a partnership between the college and Gallaudet University, is designed to encourage literacy. The
“Since the majority of deaf children have parents who are hearing, families are challenged to find new ways to communicate with one another,’’ said Stephanie Lee, regional director of public affairs for Verizon. “The Shared Reading program gives families the tools to engage their deaf children in reading at an early age in a fun, interactive group setting.’’
As the parents participate in workshops, volunteers - many of whom are students or graduates of Northern Essex’s deaf studies program - run organized activities for the children and their siblings. Afterward, there is a lunch during which the families can meet and socialize.
The program is also available for Spanish-speaking parents with deaf children.
Shared Reading Saturdays welcomes new families. Those interested should contact Kathy Vesey, director of the Gallaudet University Regional Center at Northern Essex, at 978-556-3701 or kvesey@necc.mass.edu.
TREES FOR TROOPS: Visitors to any of the eight locations of Mahoney’s Garden Center through Sunday can buy a tree for a military family through the Trees for Troops program.
The center is offering balsam firs for $20 to people wishing to donate through the program. They simply fill out a card with a holiday message and Mahoney’s handles the rest. The center also donates $5 for every tree purchased.
“The final day of the event is really an exciting and emotional day for everyone,’’ said Lauri Mahoney, the center’s director of marketing. “It’s like one giant gift being packaged and sealed up.’’
Last year, about 17,000 trees were delivered to troops and their families. The trees were donated by 700 tree farmers and 45 retail locations and farms like Mahoney’s in 29 states.
A family-run garden center, Mahoney’s opened its first store in Winchester in 1959. It has expanded to seven more locations: Chelmsford, Tewksbury, Concord, Wayland, Brighton, Falmouth, and Osterville. Mahoney’s was named Retailer of the Year by the Retailers Association of Massachusetts.
Call 781-729-5900 or visit www.mahoneysgarden.com.
BEVERLY’S GOT TALENT: A fund-raiser to support renovations of the Carriage House at Lynch Park, Beverly’s Got Talent, is at 7 p.m. next Thursday at the Beverly Senior Center.
The evening features singers Vanessa Kelley, Jean Sword, Nick Consone, Katherine Palardy, Shanley Snydeman, Paul Carr, Danny Vitale, and Jocelyn and Chris Kersker. Also performing are Griffin Coombs and his a cappella group, and the Beverly High School vocal ensemble and jazz band. Don Kelly serves as master of ceremonies.
The show is being produced by Ray Novack, music director at Beverly High School and leader of the band Horizons.
Cabaret seating is available with premiere tables at $100, and reserved seating at $50. General admission is $25. Wine, beer, and light snacks are available.
All proceeds support efforts to create a community function center at the Carriage House. The first phase of renovations is scheduled to begin this winter.
Call 978-921-6067 or visit www.bevrec.com.
WHO’S WHAT WHERE: Dr. Tan Diem Pham of Revere has joined the medical staff at Winchester Hospital. Pham, who speaks English and Vietnamese, practices internal medicine at Stoneham Medical Group. She received her bachelor’s degree from Johns Hopkins University and her medical degree from New York Medical College. She completed her internship and residency at North Shore University Hospital, which is affiliated with New York University. She previously worked at Ell Pond Medical Associates in Malden. . . . “Over the Mass Grave,’’ a musical fairy tale-documentary by A. Jorgelina Zeoli of Salem, has won a Persistence Award from Beverly Community Action and a second-place Inspirational Award from the Alliance for Community Media. The video raises awareness about military violence and living with post-traumatic stress disorder, while also spreading a message of comfort and hope. Zeoli is music director at St. John the Evangelist Church in Beverly.
Items can be sent to wdkilleen@gmail.com. 
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