Job fair reflects region's economic changes

March Madness isn't just about college hoop dreams.

It's also about scoring jobs for the Merrimack Valley or the North Shore.

On Tuesday, the March Madness Regional Job Fair will be held at Osgood Landing, the former Lucent Technologies plant on the Haverhill/North Andover line.

ValleyWorks Career Center in Haverhill and the North Shore Career Center in Salem have teamed to cosponsor the job fair, which will feature nearly 50 private employers from Massachusetts and New Hampshire. The event will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Employers attending represent fast-growing industries such as healthcare, financial services, retail, and technology, including Osram Sylvania, based in Danvers, and Raytheon, long a major employer in the Merrimack Valley. Other participants include Staples and Bank of America. Despite broad interest, organizers had to play a tough game of offense to lure participants.

"I don't know if its the time of year or economics," said Larry Snow, a job developer at the ValleyWorks Career Center. "But we had a harder time than usual getting companies. . . . Every time you hear, 'Things are turning around,' but then we hit a lull."

The Merrimack Valley has been hurt by the loss of manufacturing jobs at Alcatel-Lucent, the telecom plant that plans to close this year. But the jobs picture has improved with the opening of new retail outlets such as Target and BJ's Wholesale Club. Greater Haverhill had a 4 percent unemployment rate in December, the most recent month reported by the state Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development.

Greater Peabody also had a 4 percent unemployment rate for December. Overall, Massachusetts had a 4.5 percent unemployment rate for the month, compared with the 5 percent national average, the state reported in late January.

Dr. Mark Girard is the new president of the medical staff at North Shore Medical Center in Salem. He was elected by his fellow 650 physicians who work at the center's main facilities: Salem Hospital and North Shore Children's Hospital in Salem, Union Hospital in Lynn, the North Shore Cancer Center in Peabody, and the North Shore Women's Health Center in Danvers.

Girard, a radiologist, was elected to a two-year term. He will act as a liaison to the board of trustees and administrators. He succeeds Dr. Riad Riskalla, who completed a two-year term.

Girard graduated from Harvard Medical School and Salem State College, where he earned a master's degree in business administration. He lives in Marblehead.

The Women's Business Center in Portsmouth is looking for Granite State women to take part in WomenBiz, its annual fund-raiser, scheduled for 5 to 8 p.m. March 31 at the Sheraton Portsmouth Hotel. Business owners will have the chance to exhibit their products and services at the event, which is expected to draw more than 200 visitors. The cost to participate is $50 for members and $75 for nonmembers.

Exhibitors also will be able to take part in a silent auction. A raffle will feature four big prizes: a Red Sox package, Nantucket getaway, a home theater system, and outdoor sports gear. Money raised will support the center, which provides counseling for women business owners throughout the Seacoast area. For more information, call Nancy Blake at 603-430-2892, ext. 1, or e-mail nblake@womenbiz.org.

The Landing Restaurant in Marblehead on Tuesday will host Share A Meal, a fund-raiser to benefit the Basic Needs Emergency Services Program of Catholic Charities North. The program provides fuel, rental, utility, and food assistance for low- to moderate-income people. The restaurant will donate 20 percent of the total bill for each meal rung up from 6 to 9 p.m. Reservations are required; call 781-639-1266.

The Greater Newburyport Chamber of Commerce & Industry on Thursday will hold a breakfast forum on "The State of The Economy," with guest speaker Jeff Knight, chief investment officer of Global Asset Management at Putnam Investments. The meeting will be held from 7:30 to 9 a.m. at The Phoenix Room. The cost is $18 for members, $25 for nonmembers. Register at newburyportchamber.org or call 978-462-6680, ext 17.

Kathy McCabe can be reached at kmccabe@globe.com.