An undated file photo shows a ride at Norumbega Park, a Newton landmark recalled in a documentary to be shown Tuesday at the Newton Free Library.
Globe West People
Job lost, but a new calling found
An undated file photo shows a ride at Norumbega Park, a Newton landmark recalled in a documentary to be shown Tuesday at the Newton Free Library.
After being laid off from his job in bank marketing in December, Ken Masson of Chelmsford tried all the traditional means to land a new job. Mystified by why he and the professionals he met at networking meetings remained unsuccessful, he took their search on the air.
“There are so many extremely talented people who are getting lost in the shuffle,’’ said Masson, immediate past president of the Merrimack Valley Rotary Club. “People just need a way to get more exposure.’’
Masson is founder and executive producer of the New England Job Show, a 30-minute cable access show produced at Chelmsford TeleMedia by volunteer job seekers. Each segment features job-search resources, 30-second commercials about individual job seekers, and interviews with the newly employed about their “happy landings.’’
Masson encourages job seekers to remain optimistic. Even a forced break, for example, gives people the opportunity to reassess their changing career and personal goals.
“Losing your job isn’t the end of the world by any means,’’ said Masson, who credits his job loss with helping him discover his passion for helping others. “It’s actually the beginning of the rest of your life.’’
“The New England Job Show’’ also airs in Groton, Bedford, Sudbury, Stow, and Shrewsbury and through
FIT FOR LIFE: Last fall, personal trainer Dan Nichol of Needham found that he had the luxury of a little extra time. Instead of picking up more clients, he decided to begin volunteering.
His search led him to the Kitty Dukakis Treatment Center for Women, operated by hopeFound, a homeless services agency in Jamaica Plain that helps men and women achieve self-sufficiency through recovery, employment, and permanent housing. There, he began leading a weekly one-hour fitness class for women in recovery from homelessness and drug and alcohol addiction.
Nichol was recently honored with one of the organization’s hopeFound Hero Awards for his exercise class, which complements the center’s wellness initiative incorporating physical, social, spiritual, occupational, intellectual, and emotional programs into the recovery process.
Nichol said he enjoyed the challenge of designing a class for an ever-changing group of women of all ages and fitness levels. Although he had to put the class on hold after recently enrolling in a full-time, accelerated nursing program, he said he intends to resume volunteering with hopeFound.
His experiences at the Dukakis center “gave me a real wake-up call to the plight of people in my own community and the pain and devastation that addiction brings,’’ he said.
REMEMBERING NORUMBEGA: Five years ago, television producer Joseph Hunter (inset) of Newton visited the Newton History Museum looking for ideas for a historical documentary. He was introduced to Bob Pollock, who had grown up in Newton and already written a script about the history of Norumbega Park.
Sitting on the Charles River in Auburndale, Norumbega Park was perhaps best known for big-band and swing music at the Totem Pole Ballroom. The park, which operated from 1897 until 1963, also offered canoeing, picnic areas, an outdoor theater, an arcade, a restaurant, a zoo, and a carousel.
According to Hunter, the 50-minute film was the culmination of Pollock’s lifelong interest in the park where he had worked as a teenager. Although Pollock died just a few months after they met in 2004, Hunter finished the project the following year.
Hunter, a communications professional who produces public affairs programming for NewTV (Newton’s community-access channel), will host a screening of “Return to Norumbega’’ on Tuesday, at 7 p.m. at the Newton Free Library. He will answer questions at the conclusion of the film.
“I’m sad Bob never got to see the film,’’ Hunter said, “but it stands as a testament to his work.’’
CHILDREN’S MUSIC AWARD: When she was an elementary school music teacher in Gloucester 16 years ago, singer and pianist Debbie Cavalier (inset) of Watertown especially enjoyed teaching children the names of animal groups, such as a flock of birds or school of fish. The song that she was inspired to write as a result of those experiences recently won an award.
“Hangin’ Around’’ won in the Children’s Music category of the eighth annual Independent Music Awards Vox Populi poll. More than 33,000 votes were cast for independent artists nominated in more than 50 music genre and design categories. Winners and nominees receive promotion, distribution, and performance opportunities.
Cavalier’s award-winning song is on her first CD, “Story Songs and Sing Alongs,’’ which she recorded with her band, Debbie and Friends. While each song is stylistically diverse, they are all meant to encourage children to move, dance, sing, and laugh along.
Now dean of continuing education at Berklee College of Music’s online extension school, Cavalier spent years in the music education publishing industry, where she worked with Shari Lewis and Bob McGrath of “Sesame Street’’ fame.
“The award is very special,’’ Cavalier said. “It means even more knowing that fans picked us, rather than a panel of judges.’’
For more information, visit www.debbieandfriends.net.
SELF-DISCOVERY FOR GIRLS: In the spirit of community outreach and service, several local businesswomen are donating their time to serve as role models for the next generation.
“A Week of Self-Discovery for Girls’’ will teach girls entering grades 7-9 to become successful entrepreneurs, businesswomen, and community leaders. Sessions will focus on recognizing one’s personal value while making educated decisions about life, the community, environment, and purchases. Topics will include nutrition, image, fashion, art, dance, organizational skills, and self-defense.
Presenters include wellness educator Luann Colombo of Littleton; Clare Harlow of Career & Life Coaching & Consulting in Acton; Deborah Ricci, owner of Teresina’s in Maynard; Groton resident Molly Salans of Healing Connections in Westford; Littleton resident Eden Salto-McDonough of Massage-N-Motion; Westford resident Becky Bronson of Tranquility Yoga Center in Chelmsford; Tyngsborough resident Julie Clark of Study Skills and Tutoring Services; Amy Dempster of Cooking to Learn in Westford; Judith Guertin of All Ways Organized in Tyngsborough; Denise Tully, owner of
“A Week of Self-Discovery for Girls’’ will run July 13-17, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Tranquility Yoga Center, 290 Littleton Road in Chelmsford. For more information, go to www.aweekofselfdiscovery.com or call program developer Kathleen Veth at 978-256-9391.
People items may be submitted to Cindy Cantrell at cantrell@globe.com. 
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