Massachusetts Anti-Bullying Legislation Passes

After the suicides of Pheobe Prince, 15 and and Carl Joseph Walker-Hoover, 11, Anti-Bulluing legislation has passed with unanimous agreement. The bill requires school employees to report and principals to investigate all cases of bullying. Read More

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/24/nyregion/24neediest.html?_r=2

An Illness Brings Hardship; a Diagnosis, Relief:

This article is about one families struggle with a son's illness. The mother spent $4,000 out of pocket on testings for the diagnosis since she did not have health insurance. Eventually he was diagnosed with thalassemia and thru his father's insurance he was able to be covered financially and is now doing well. This article not only addresses the hardship of dealing with the chronic illness of a child but dealing with the financial difficulties that occur with this child and how without healthcare it is incredibly hard to pay for treatment.

Mass. Senate Weighs Foreclosures Bill

The Mass. Senate is planning on debating whether or not to impliment a bill that plans to protect renters and old homeowners. The bill would prevent tenants from being evicted and would also toughen consumer protection. Foreclosures initiated by tenants went up from 8 percent from last year to 22 percent from the last month. To learn more: http://www1.whdh.com/news/articles/local/BO140750/

Sex offender re-arrests fuel GPS debate

This article from the Boston Herald describes the debate over using GPS tracking bracelets to follow sex offenders. Eleven sex offenders who were removed from GPS monitoring last year have been re-arrested in recent months for crimes ranging from armed robbery to assault to failing to register as a sex offender. There is currently a debate going on as to whether level-3 sex offenders should be required to wear the GPS bracelets or if this is an "unconstitutional burden on their freedom". Personally, I would agree with Northeastern University criminologist who, in the article, proposes the idea that sex offender supervision should be handled on a case-by-case basis.

For Or Against Deval Patrick?

Many people adore Governor Deval Patrick, while many feel as if his time in office needs to end quick. With elections coming soon, many people have different views on who should hold the seat at the State House as the Governor of Massachusetts. In March 2007, during his campaign, Deval Patrick promised many a property tax relief, which would aid in lowering property tax. However, the people of Massachusetts have not yet seen a relief but instead seen a continuing increase. Though Patrick promised such relief, according to a budget specialist, budget cuts and the slow economy made it impossible in doing so. On the contrary, if the economy was in good standing, to make such plan work he would have to add billions and billions of dollars into his annual budget. So far in office, he managed to increase education funding, closed a tax loop hole for telecommunication companies, and gave cities and towns the power to raise restaurant meals and hotel rooms. He also made it easy for municipalities to join the state health insurance program. These improvements in society does not sway Patrick from the promises he has made that have not yet became a form of reality for many. Because Patrick failed to lower property tax during his term in office, this issue has become a major issue in his race. Voters and opponents are using it against him. In this economic downfall, many are suffering and only so much can be done to tackle these issues. However the ending results will show if he did enough to gain the votes from the people of Massachusetts.

Westfield State College takes aim at school bullying

The teacher education center at Westfield State College has created an anti-bullying program that will be implemented in local schools surrounding Westfield. The plan, called "Bully Proof Zones" is designed to bring teachers, administrators, counselors, and students together with the college students specifically being able to help the younger people change their attitudes about bullying. The college is planning a two-day seminar as well as workshops to help develop a model for the schools in what will hopefully be a successful program.

Personally, I think is this is a fantastic idea and would like to see other colleges follow in Westfield's footsteps if their model proves efficient and especially effective. I'm sure this will just be one of many other initiatives we will see being taken followed by the tragic suicides of Pheobe Prince and Carl Walker-Hoover.

Odgren Spoke of Suicide

In this article, John Odgren was hurt by all the teasing, he told his parents he wanted to get a gun and shoot his bullies as well as kill himself. At the time he spoke of this, John was nine years old. He has had a long history of mental disorders, all of which have played a role in John committing murder of a 15 year old boy who he stabbed to death in 2007. The trial is ongoing and he is pleading not guilty by reason of insanity. If he is found not guilty, he will have to stay at a psychiatric hospital until "competent enough to stand trial". His parents described him as being very smart, but emotionally distraught and isolated. He had shown signs of being mentally ill early on and his parents had sought help from school guidance counselors who did nothing to stop John from committing acts such as drinking bleach. This will be a very critical trial in a step towards treating mental illness.

2 suspended in Mass. after prison release errors

The Boston globe reported that two state prison employees were suspended last week (with pay) when one inmate was released too early and a second inmate was released past his release date. Mistakes with both inmates occurred last Thursday at a minimum-security pre-release center located in Roslindale (Boston).

A convicted drug dealer was released 11 months early but was taken back into custody after only a a fewer hours once the mistake was discovered. The second inmate was release 2 months later than he should have been after completing his sentence for manslaughter.  For full article

A Great Law for Animals and Abused Victims

Advocates for domestic violence are pushing to pass a bill in which pets are included under restraining order. The bill was filed by D-Watertown Peter Koutoujian. The bill is insisted to help those who were in a domestic situation where the animal as well as the person was the victim. In other word judges are able to include pets in the restraining orders in the case of domestic abuse. Other states have passed a similar bill and Massachusetts will be tagging along in the days to come. Based on research, people are more prone to leave their animals behind and not seek help. “By helping insures the pet is OK, we’re really helping people, too.” said the director of advocacy for the MSPCA. In one incident, one victim stayed with her abusers because while she had a restraining order put on her former husband, her tabby cat and beagle were not on the restraining order. She stayed because she feared that her former husband was going to retaliate by putting her animals at risk. She eventually left the animals behind. After two months of leaving her husband, he began stalking her in which she later filed a police report on him. He then retaliated by killing them.

People who commit such horrendous acts of crime should pay because animals are seened as humans too and if they abuse others then they would have to pay also. It is crazy how far a person would go to retaliate on a person. Passing this bill will allow animals to be free of cruelty as well as seek the help in the case of domestic abuse they need.

Number of Homeless Families Living in Motels Decreasing

State statistics are showing that the number of homeless families living in motels throughout Massachusetts has declined since february, but it is costing the state close to $2 million a month to provide them places to live. State leaders are trying to prominently address homelessness after the death of a baby at a hotel in West Springfield and abuse of two children at a Westfield motel, both families were homeless. A way to address the problem would be to continue the the fight for more affordable housing to give families a new start.

The event Ending Homelessness in Western Massachusetts: A Progress Report, will take place at Holyoke Community College on April 26 from 9:30 to 11 a.m to discuss on the shift from shelter-living to housing in eliminating homelessness in Massachusetts.

Read the full article here.

Sex offender arrested after visit to high school

An unregistered Level 2 sex offender attempted to dismiss a 15 year old girl from Auburn High School and was arrested shortly after. According to police, Mr. Banfill was seeking the early dismissal of a 15-year-old girl and said he was her stepfather. The secretary refused Mr. Banfill’s request because he repeatedly mispronounced the student’s name. When Mr. Banfill left the building, a teacher saw him walking near a gym class that was being held outside, police said.
According to police, the teacher said Mr. Banfill appeared to be sending a text message or taking pictures of the students in the gym class with his cell phone. The teacher alerted the front office, which alerted Officer Kennedy. Police say they do not know if Mr. Banfill did take any photos of the students. Mr. Banfill was arraigned Tuesday in Central District Court in Worcester. Bail was set at $700, according to court documents. The state will seek mandatory lifetime parole if he is convicted. Full story.

Demand Growing for Family Services

As many families continue to suffer through the economic recession, the Massachusetts town of Westboro is finding that the demand for services at their youth and family services department has grown.

Services include counseling to the town's low-income and at-risk population, which many people have been seeking to help them deal with stress in the family, often due to financial reasons. The department has a small budget and strongly relies on donations. This high demand has led them to consider charging a fee, such as $20 per session, but the majority of people who use the services could not afford this and would not be charged anyways.

Teens Charged with Arson

Two Pittsfield teenagers have been charged with arson for allegedly dousing a house in gasoline and settting it on fire on April 12th, 2010. The teens, Liam Culver and Jordan Errichetto, have denied these charges but evidence is working against them. Apparently these two boys have had made several online threats towards a teen residing in the house over an ex-girlfriend and have been known to bully the resident.
As previous articles on this blog have stated bullying has become a serious issue in our society today. Teenagers are taking it to new fars threatening the lives of many, leaving police officers baffled.
To read the full article visit The Berkshire Eagle at http://www.berkshireeagle.com/ci_14886636?source=most_viewed

Lack of Bank Accounts Cost "Gateway Cities" Big Time

Something as seemingly simple as having a bank account would have saved Gateway cities, like Springfield, Worcester, Holyoke and Brockton, an estimated $72 million a year. Recent research shows that these cities are less likely to have traditional bank accounts and more likely to use check cashing services. These services tend to have high fees, which add more financial strain on already struggling communities. Read more.

Witness: Odgren watched violent Internet video before slaying

I decided to blog about an article I found in the Boston Globe. This article is about the 2007 stabbing of a 15 year old male at Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School in Sudbury. New evidence shows that John Odgren watched a violent video on the internet before stabbing his class mate. This article interested me because I think there is a lot of problems with violence on t.v internet and comics especially within the last few years. I believe parents need to monitor what their children are watching reading and listening to even if they are of high school ages. It is important for parents to know what their children are doing so stabbing and shooting in school systems can be prevented.

http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2010/04/odgren_daily.html

Just because it's sunny doesn't mean the storm is over...

The Patriot Ledger featured this article today that reports 17,216 residents in Massachusetts have filed official claims to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The March rainstorms may be over weather-wise, but there are lasting and damaging repercussions. The overwhelming rains caused widespread flooding, wiping out many basements and yards across the state. FEMA employs inspectors to visit the houses and decide how extensive the damage is and the amount of funds available. The article is helpful in providing the website and a phone number to call if people have not contacted FEMA yet. Full article

$20 Million Hike in Budget for Boston

In the new healthy care system Boston will have to increase the budget by $20 million in order to afford the new system. The increase will have to come from tax dollars, a very large lump sum. This has made many people angry because now money that needs to be spent on programs will be going towards the budget for health care coverage. The director of Boston's administration and finance, Lisa Signori, said "It crowds our ability to spend money on other services. Something's got to give". The money that could be spent on programs and services for the greater good of the residents of Boston, now is being put towards one large budget. However, the city is limited on what changes they can impose. The budget increase is a start down a long rocky road that could have an effect on Boston's other programs. For more, read the article from the Boston Globe.

Judge denies insurers' request for injunction

According to a recent article in the Boston Globe, Suffolk County Superior Court Judge Stephen E Neel denied a request for rate increases by some of the largest private health coverage providers in the state. This ruling to deny these rate increases help sure up the recent decision made by the Department of Insurance to block 265 proposed rake hikes for insurance for individuals and small businesses. Governor Deval Patrick backed this decision, stating

I appreciate the court's decision. It's a welcome decision for small businesses and working families who need immediate relief from excessive and unreasonable increases in their health care costs.

This decision will prove to be a great asset to families struggling in today's tough economic climate.

Russia furious over adopted boy sent back from US

An 7 year old adopted boy from Russia was sent back to Russia by his American adopted family with a note that stated he had psychological problems. Russian officials were furious about this mistreatment of a child. When he arrived in Russia, a social worker talked to him and he was sent to a medical center to be medically checked. The boy said that the mom was bad, didn't love him, and used to pull his hair. The American family claims that the boy was psychologically unstable and threatened to burn the house down so they became concerned for their safety. Russian officials and social workers are investigating the case. In the meantime, there is a threat that Russia wants to freeze the process of adoption by American families due to several prior incidents, including the deaths of 3 Russian kids by American adopted families, as well as several abuse cases.

Immigrant students seek meeting with Brown

A coalition of undocumented immigrant students is seeking a meeting with US Senator Scott Brown, saying they hope to better acquaint him with their issues since the loss of one of their strongest advocates and Brown’s predecessor, the late Edward M. Kennedy. Representatives for the groups, Harvard Act on a Dream and the Student Immigrant Movement, said yesterday they believe their online petition and letter-writing campaign eventually could lead to a private meeting between them and Brown before immigration overhaul is debated in Congress. Click the link to read the full article http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2010/04/09/immigrant_students_seek_meeting_with_brown/

Indictment of Conor Reynolds' death

In updated news, Eric Denson, 20, was charge with murder on March 17 for the stabbing of Conor Reynolds. According to police, the attack was petty and could have been prevented.

Denson was arrange in Distric Court and is later going to be held in Superior Court. Along with being charge with murder, he was also charge with two counts of assult and battery with a dangerous weapon.

Denson is accused of stabbing Reynolds in the neck at a party. According to bystanders, Reynolds was trying to break up an arguement when Denson approached him and stabbed him in the neck as well as another victim. Denson then fled the scene.

http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2010/04/grand_jury_indicts_eric_denson.html

Bay State churches help Chile rebuild after quake

When the Rev. Jim Antal realized the scale of the Feb. 27 earthquake in Chile and the havoc it had caused, he decided to help out those devastated by the quake. Members of United Church of Christ congregations in the Massachusetts have been working closely with the Pentecostal Church of Chile since 1990. They have sent dozens of delegations back and forth over the years and when the earthquake hit Chile, Rev. Antal knew that he had to contribute. The Chileans were desperate for new homes to be built because winter will soon be approaching and with it comes rain. So, without hesitation, Rev. Antal pulled out his personal checkbook and wrote a gift of $1,500. That is the cost of one of the emergency houses that church volunteers were pledging to build for the homeless in Curicó, a small city in the Central Valley where the Pentecostal Church of Chile is based, and where some of the worst damage occurred. Antal has challenged the 395 United Church of Christ congregations in Massachusetts to match him and so far, the state’s churches have raised enough funds to build nearly 20 houses, and they are aiming to raise enough money for 150 houses by June. Overall, 300 houses are needed for Pentecostal church members in Chile.


http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2010/04/10/bay_state_churches_help_chile_rebuild_after_quake/

Did she slip through the cracks?

Attorneys are now asking for Phoebe Prince's medical records. They are asking for any medical and psychological records, details of any prior allegations of rape or abuse (two boys are now being charged with statutory rape), and a statement as to whether her gamily had been the subject of a DCF investigation. 

Could it be because the attorneys now think that there was a way to have prevented her suicide to begin with? Maybe there were warning signs that someone didn't see.

Doctor Wanted Teen Institutionalized

This article is about a teenager, Manuel DaVeiga, who recently died in a shootout with police. Since the age of 12, DaVeiga had been institutionalized off and on and in May 2009, a prison psychologist recommened that he should have been kept in a psychiatric hospital. Six weeks after the psychologist gave his recommendation, another, Jennifer Luescher, came forward and disagreed. This second psychologist reported that during his stay, DaVeiga did attack two patients but only because he did not like the way they looked at him, therefore making him "not a substantial risk of harm to himself or others."

Since being committed of stabbing his brother at the age of 13, it was feared that DaVeiga suffered from Capgras syndrome, which causes an individual to believe that their loved ones are imposters. He was on a number of medications such as anti-depressants and mood stabilizers, but Luescher insisted that he did not need to remain in the hospital.

Leslie Walker, a member of the prisoner advocacy group of Massachusetts regarding correctional legal services, stated that this sounds like a case of a patient falling through the cracks. That certainly does seem to be a possible explanation and it will never be known how DaVeiga's fate may have differed had he remained hospitalized and given further proper treatment and attention.

Bullied girl reportedly pleaded for help at school, sent back to class

A young teenage girl took her life away because she was bullied and harrassed by other classmates in her High School. According to the article the young girl brought this issue to the attention of the administrators in her school, but they did nothing to help her. Instead they sent her back to class ignoring her accussations. Because this matter was not taking into consideration the issues escalated and later on resulted in her death. This article was shocking. There are many students out there are being bullied and abused in their schools and may also have thoughts of ending their lives. It is sad to know that school officials have the audacity to ignore these issues that are so common among young adults in schools. A child like this may need a counselor in addition to help from the principal or teacher. This is a form of mental abuse; therefore it lead to her death. I found this article very intesting and it left me astonished. This incident happened in early January, but the charges are still being pressed on the students who allegedly harrased and bullied her.

http://www.telegram.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100409/NEWS/100409703

Elderly feel pinch of state budget

The Boston Globe published an article today about the troubles facing many elderly residents of Massachusetts. According to the article, this year's budget includes $2.5 million to expand a program set in place to provide free counseling to seniors in need of information about nursing home care. This program helps many seniors stay in their own homes rather than being forced into nursing home care. However, the administration has still yet to expand upon this program. As we discuss welfare services in class, it is important to consider not just the potential for a policy to work, but the individual people who are impacted by government actions. It is important that the elderly in particular are able to be informed about the major life decisions they face, such as moving to a nursing home; this should not be dependent on a political agenda!

Special Needs Student Wanders Away from School

A second grader from Lawrence, MA with a learning disability walked out of the school yesterday afternoon. The young boy had been walking towards I-495 when a woman picked him up and dropped him off at a fast food restaurant, the police were notified after employees from T-mobile noticed that the boy had been walking around alone. Lawrence police had a search going for the boy, and the school did not realize the boy was missing until a half hour after he had left the school premises. There were many people at fault in this situation and the school needs to do a much better job at being aware of where the kids, especially kids with disabilities, are at all times.

You can read more in the article from Eagle Tribune.

Friend: Aunt told school Phoebe Prince was ‘susceptible’

This article from the Boston Herald talks about how the aunt of the deceased, Phoebe Prince, had warned the school that Phoebe was bullied in her former school and was very susceptible to it, and had a tough time dealing with it. When questioned about this, the principal of the school, as well as the others who were told about this seemed to have a convenient loss of memory pertaining to this issue and later did not return calls and refused to comment. One official admitted to having been warned about the issue. This article points out the unfortunate way in which bullying has become almost a normal thing in schools. Teachers and school officials see it as a phase that teenagers go through and not something that can be tragic. As we can see, it is.

All of them, survivors

Igot this article from the Boston Globe and I just thought it was a really touching article about breast cancer. Some how or another we have known or come across someone who has known someone that has survived or lost against breast cancer. The article is about David Fox a photographer who lost his wife to breast cancer leaving him with a 4 year old son, a 1 year old daughter, and a business on the rocks of closing. This man took the spirt of his wife and has taken pictures of womens scars from their battle with breast cancer and starting MAY 8TH it will be displayed in Brookline art muesuem.

http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/relationships/articles/2010/04/03/illuminating_the_spirit_of_people_living_with_breast_cancer/

Alleged Teen Bullies Plead Not Guilty: 'What About the Adults?'

Andrea Canning and Katie Escherich posted an article on ABC.com on April 6th regarding the death of 15-yr-old Phoebe Prince. Prince hanged herself at home on January 14, 2010 after being continuously harrassed.The article discusses three out of the nine kids who are connected to the suicide. Sean Mulveyhill (17 years old) and Austin Renaud (18 years old) were charged with statutory rape. Kayla Narey (17 years old) was charged with harassment and civil rights violations. A friend of the family told reporters that school officials should be held accountable for the death because they were aware of the bullying but school officials report that they were oblivious to this information. Prince's family claims that her aunt had spoken to the school in early November about the problem but the superintendent claims that she never heard from the Prince family. For the full article please go to:
http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/TheLaw/students-phoebe-prince-bullying-case-arraigned-massachusetts-family/story?id=10292667

Lawsuit Could Spell Disaster for Angel Flight of New England Inc.

Angel Flight of New England Inc, is a non-profit organization that provides free flights to hundreds of sick patients throughout New England. Angel Flight has been flying sick patients to their appointments throughout New England for man years. The company could be in trouble because of a lawsuit against its founder. The former board of directors for this company is suing the founder for what they claim was wrongful termination and misuse of funds. This lawsuit has the pilots of the company worried that the company will end with major donors threatening to stop their contributions to the company. If the company ends it could mean that many of their patients could go without the care they need.

Read the full article here at Boston.com

Stand for Children - Key Facts About Our Schools

Stand for Children - Key Facts About Our Schools

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Teen Pregnancy Rate Drops in Springfield

While the teen pregnancy rate in Springfield has lowered, it's neighbor, Holyoke still ranks number one in the state of Massachusetts for pregnancy between the ages of 15-19. The Massachusetts Department of Health released an annual report last week which proved the rate in Springfield has severely dropped. Programs in and out of school are considered contributing factors for improvement and Holyoke is considering putting similar curriculum into their own school systems. The program teaches students about safe sex and how to properly use contraceptives such as condoms. Program director Cherylyn S. Hatchett says “It’s moving in the right direction, maybe young people are listening and will have better and brighter futures for themselves.”

Read full article here, at Masslive.com

Some Cities Going Unknown With Flood Issue

In Westport MA, many of those living on the shore of the South Watuppa Pond were hit hard from the bad weather; caused problems for many Western MA residents. The difference with this story is that the disaster in South Watuppa did not gain the amount attention like towns such as Fall River and many are suffereing from the same damages. The damages were said to be from Fall River, and if more water would have made its way into more homes and businesses, then the town would have been in total disater. Many homes were damaged and the amount of money needed to fix the problem is unknown but it is costly. Many said they never seen such things happen. There are assistance available for those who need it.

Special Visas for Foreign Entrepreneurs

Boston, being a huge town for Colleges, hosts more than 30,000 students from other countries. Unfortunately, it's difficult to keep them here when they graduate because many of their home countries offer opportunities when they return.

Massachusetts Senator John Kerry, along with an Indiana Senator, are working to keep talented foreign entrepreneurs here by allocating 10,000 visas a year to foreigners and permanent US citizenship if his/her company makes money. Read More.

Aaron Fatato

Pastors call to stem youth violence

Pastors in Dorchester and surrounding areas are urging colleagues to join them in the fight against neighborhood violence. The homicide rate continues to climb above last years rates. The article lists multiple shootings that have happened as of recently and I was shocked at the amount mentioned. A local church pastor wants to start projects aimed at reaching the youth, who may be prone to violence. Probably a reason the pastor is concerned specifically for teenagers is the problem with gangs in urban areas. The Reverend Jeffery Brown, head of the Boston TenPoint Coalition, a group of clergy working to curb youth violence is hosting a conference for area clergy in April at Umass Boston to discuss strategies for preventing violence; it will be interesting to hear about what ideas the group comes up with to help with this issue. Ministers have been recently troubled by a shooting at a local church during Holy Week.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/02/health/policy/02land.html?scp=1&sq=Massachusettssocialwork&st=cse

Domestic abuse at forefront in Westford

A town meeting in Westford revealed a shocking presence of domestic abuse within the town. One in four women have, at some point suffered from domestic abuse, but domestic violence has become so prevalent in Westford that the town took part in it's first Domestic Violence Forum.
"Most people don't think this is happening in the suburbs"...Last year, there were over ninety 911 calls made, with over 1oo arrests, and three deaths. This staggering rise in violence has lead to a community-wide effort to educate it's citizens (in hopes of preventing further violence), as well as to offer support to victims. While many citizens have stepped forward to the cause, they have also expressed challenges. Many people believe the stereotype that things like domestic violence just don't happen in affluent, wealthy towns. This has hindered efforts, because many feel donations aren't really needed, or that the issue isn't really important.
Despite the challenges, Westford will continue to work against violence, focusing on their belief that "every person lives a life free of violence".

Cambridge School Committee Examines Achievement Gap

This article from the Boston Globe describes a meeting of the Cambridge Public School Committee, which met to discuss the problems affecting its schools, and to brainstorm ways to potentially remedy these issues. I believe that this article highlights a step in the right direction for the public schools; the achievement gap in the city is huge and unavoidable. For the school committee to meet informally and put emphasis on this issue shows initiative to begin solving problems in the schools. While it remains to be seen what comes out of this meeting and others that will inevitably follow as administrators plan for the upcoming school year, this article helps to make the achievement gap known so that people will be able to come up with ways to bring quality education to all of Boston's students.

Equity firm set to buy Caritas

Caritas Christi Health Care, the state's second-largest hospital group, is set to disclose today that it has agreed to be acquired by New York private equity firm Cerberus Capital Management in an $830 million deal that hospital officials say will allow the chain to shed debt and make major improvements. Under the agreement, Cerberus's first investment in hospitals, Caritas Christi's management in Boston will continue running the Catholic community hospitals. In addition, Cerberus has pledged to keep the system's 12,000 employees and won't sell the hospitals or take them public for at least three years.
Click here to read the full article http://bulletin.aarp.org/states/ma/2010/12/articles/equity_firm_set_buy_caritas.html

Inmate Suicide

In this Boston Globe article, John M. Guilfoil discusses the issue of mental health care in prisons. Much like we saw in 'The New Asylums" Frontline episode, a large number of inmates require serious medical attention for mental illness. Cuts to these 'services' (in my opinion, necessities) have seriously impacted the lives of many. Today, Michael Caputo, 59, committed suicide in his private cellat Old Colony Correctional Center in Bridgewater. He was serving life without parole. He is the "second inmate in less than two weeks" to take his own life in a Massachusetts prison. According to Leslie Walker, executive director of Prisoners' Legal Services, "the rate of inmate suicide in Massachusetts is more than three times higher than the national average".

Man found shot to death in church parking lot

A man was found shot to death in the parking lot of Grace Church of All Nations in Dorchester. He was pronounced dead from only a single gun shot wound. The shooting was said to be part of a trend that has been going on in the neighborhood lately. The victim was not a parishoner of the church. But the church has been known for providing programs and outreach for the at risk youth of the neighborhood. They also work with prisoners as a part of a program to decrease the amount of black men who end up in prison. This shooting is especially sad since the church is highly involved in working to stop violence in the neighborhood. It shows that more programs may need to be offered even if it was just a random act. Violence prevention needs to continue to be a priority for the church in hopes of decreasing not only the violence in the neighborhood but reaching out to all the parishoners who can spread the message to their family and friends as well.

DA: School knew of brutal bullying of Phoebe Prince

According to a recent article by the Boston Herald, nine South Hadley High students have been charged in connection with the January 14th suicide death of bullying victim Phoebe Prince. The students were charged with crimes varying from statutory rape, to assault, to assault with a deadly weapon. Despite attempts by Prince's mother to alert school officials of the frequency and depth of bullying her daughter was experiencing, officials did little to nothing to stop it. The passing of this young girl has prompted demands by residents for the resignation of Superintendent Gus Sayer after he refused to explain why the bullies had not been punished weeks after Prince's suicide. In the wake of this young girl's suicide, on March 11th, the senate approved legislation for an anti-bullying curriculum. South Hadley High School has since developed an anti-bullying task force which met March 29th.

9 charged in death of South Hadley teen, who took life after bullying

I had blogged about the subject of bullying a few times before and I found this article relevant to my other posts. 9 students were charged with the death of Phoebe Prince of South Hadley, Massachusetts who took her life this past January due to extreme bullying. The charges include statutory rape, violation of civil rights, criminal harassment, and disturbing a school assembly. The investigation has been on going since Prince's death. The article says, "Prince's death and the 2009 death of 11-year-old Carl Joseph Walker-Hoover, 11, of Springfield, helped motivate both the Senate and the House to push through new antibullying measures." These new measures will help prevent future bullying in our local school systems.

http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2010/03/holding_for_pho.html

Brockton's Good Samaritan Hospital to get new ER under new owner

Good Samaritan Medical Center plans to open a new $30.1 million emergency wing by next summer under new ownership by an investment firm. The doctors, nurses and staff are all thrilled for the new addition to the hospital because it is said that the new deal will modernize and improve the ER. It will also be beneficial to the patients because of the new technology being brought into the hospital. The 32,000-square-foot emergency wing would triple the size of the current department which was built in 1968 and only meant to serve 25,000 patients a year. The unit is now cramped and crowded, serving 54,000 patients a year. The new emergency department would increase the number of rooms from 26 to 42, allowing patients to get a room more quickly, hospital officials have said.

http://www.enterprisenews.com/news/state_news/x1336919288/Brockton-s-Good-Samaritan-hospital-to-get-new-ER-under-new-owner

Immigrant-friendly Police Chief Starts New Job in Stoughton, Mass.

Paul Shastany of Framingham, Massachusetts has recently been elected to run the Stoughton Police Department as chief. As a former member of the Framingham Police Department, Shastany has worked with immigrants to try and encourage proper relationships between these immigrants and the police officers of the surrounding towns. He believes that their relationship should be one of trust and cooperation rather than fear and force. Shastany truly believes that in order for this to happen there needs to be more domestic police officers and a better understanding of the daily struggles many immigrants face. To read more about this story visit New England Ethnic News at http://www.ethnicnewz.org/en/immigrant-friendly-police-chief-starts-new-job-stoughton-mass

Cape Cod NPO Touched By Angels Exposed

This video describes the problems families have faced with Cape Cod based "non-profit organization" Touched By Angels. According to the video, many families in the community have had similar experiences with the organization, feeling as if they have been taken advantage of and wronged.

Boy, 2, Discovered at Underage Party

In Lawerence, Massachusetts, a 2 year old boy was found at an apartment where minors were having a party. The police came to the party in search of a suspect with a gun, but they then found the baby on the 2nd floor of the apartment, crying. The baby had kidney failure and it was placed on a feeding tube. As a result, the police arrested the baby's mother and her brother who is a 17 year old minor. The mother said that she had put her brother in charge of the baby. for more: http://www1.whdh.com/news/articles/local/BO138757/

More Local Colleges Lift Costs over $50,000

An interesting article that was featured today in the Boston globe today, "More Local Colleges Lift Costs over $50,000" talks about the number of colleges that have reached tuition costs of $50,000 for the 2010-2011 school year and also local schools that are very close to the $50k mark. For those who can afford to go to college or have the means to apply for financial aid, the costs of attending a school in Boston like BU or BC is very much attainable. However, this price tag for many low-income families is not at all attainable. Many students from low income families are the first in their families to attend college, and their parents are not familiar with the financial aid process. Bob Giannino-Racine, director of ACCESS, a Boston nonprofit organization that helps students find ways to afford going to college, says that "They just look at the price tag and are automatically scared off" They say "Wow, how can I ever imagine sending my child to college when it will cost me twice what I make in a given year?
"

To read the full article click here ;»

A way to conserve ENERGY

On Saturday at 8:30 pm, Boston along with 4,000 other cities, shut off their lights for an hour in efforts to focus on environment and dangers to climate change. Once started in Sydney, Austrilia and has now become a world wide fenemon with its fourth year going strong. In Boston, lights such as " the famous Citgo sign, the Prudential Center, the Zakim Bridge and the John Hancock Tower. Homes, too, went dark as residents shut off their lights in order to illuminate the issue". It is said that more than 120 countries participated in this event, and hopefully next year that number can double. Many people are not aware of how the smallest things we do in this world can actually be a big impact.


To read full story http://www.bostonherald.com/news/regional/view/20100328world_goes_dark_to_shed_light_on_earth_hour/http://www.bostonherald.com/news/regional/view/20100328world_goes_dark_to_shed_light_on_earth_hour/

At Tufts, fundraiser for Boston Area Rape Crisis Center

At Tufts University, in Medford, the Panhellenic Council (which oversees on-campus sororities and fraternities) has taken the initiative to raise money for the Boston Area Rape Crisis Center (BARCC). The Walk for Change is being held in two weeks, on April 11, to "raise awareness about sexual violence." The article says how April is Sexual Awareness Month, and how its really important that all-female sororities spread the word about a somewhat taboo but incredible important topic. The BARCC offers free help to women who have been victims of sexual assault, and I think it's really important that all young women in such a college-rich city like Boston know of its existence. You can watch Law and Order: SVU for hours and still never think it can happen to you, so it's beneficial for knowledge about this important service to be out there.

Full article from the Tufts Daily here

Statistics Show Foreclosures Hitting Western Mass Hard

Jennifer Kinsman, the program manager for Western Massachusetts Foreclosure Prevention Center in Springfield, thinks that the Pioneer Valley communities are headed for another spike in foreclosures. This time loss of jobs or cut pay is the reason behind the foreclosures as opposed to the mortgage crises of a few years ago. Barry Crosby, president and CEO of Freedom Credit Union believes that we have hit the bottom of the local cycle and that numbers have gotten better in the last few months.

Read the full article at Masslive.com

Somerville going dark for Earth Hour

This article, written by town correspondent Alix Roy, was posted on March 25th. It discusses Somerville's plan to turn off all "non-essential lighting at city locations" from 8:30-9:30p.m. this Saturday, March 27th. The lights are being cut in support of the third annual Earth Hour. The purpose of Earth Hour is to hopefully remind the public about the "negative effects of climate change." Earth Hour is a worldwide event that encourages organizations, businesses, and residents to turn off electricity for just one hour to support action against the excessive energy consumption. A recap shows that Somerville was one of 4,000 cities in 87 countries in 2009 that participated in Earth Day. Along with joining in to support Earth Day, Somerville has installed energy-efficient lights and solar panels in its municipal buildings. The city also uses hybrid vehicles in fire departments and police stations.

The full article can be found at the following website: http://www.boston.com/yourtown/news/somerville/2010/03/somerville_turns_off_the_light.html

Massachusetts Children Excel in Reading

In this article from the Boston Globe, children from Massachusetts have excelled in reading according to Governor Deval Patrick. However, claims are being made that there has been a stall in readings scores nationwide because of the No Child Left Behind law that was put in place in 2002. The reading scores are based on a scale of 500, most states do not reach half of this. Massachusetts however has the highest ranking in the nation, around 15 points above the average. Teachers want more funding to help with the problem, however with the new health care bill this may put education on the back burner for a while.

Senate OKs health care fix-it bill

After 13 hours of "relentless voting," the Senate approved the fix-it bill for the Health Care reform this morning. The legislation will drastically change the Health Care Reform Bill, making it so that more low-income people can afford Health Care by increasing tax subsidies and federal Medicaid payments to states. The bill passed also affected the student loans process by having the government issue loans directly in order to cut down on federal costs

Obama signs order blocking abortion funding

President Obama signed an executive order yesterday designed to ensure that no federal money can be used for elective abortions under the nation’s new health care law.

Chelsea students receive Massachusetts state school financial help

According to the Boston Globe, the FUEL program (Families United in Educational Leadership) is alive in Chelsea, Massachusetts. This is a program that matches the amount of money saved by families for their child's higher education. The families make monthly deposits, go to meetings about saving money, and the students attend sponsored after school programs. Each year "as many as 20 FUEL students . . . with the greatest commitment and potential will be eligible for the Chelsea Chancellor's Award, which essentially covers the major costs of attending UMass. . ." Tuition, fees and room and board at UMass Amherst will be free for 20 Chelsea students participating in the FUEL program this year.

Young Boy Witnesses Death of Mother

This article in the Lowell Sun tells the tragic story of a 4-year-old boy who witnessed the murder of his mother at the hands of his father. It was at Children's Hospital Boston when Kelley Wicker, a child life specialist met the young boy after a car accident. Wicker testifies that the boy cried for his mother numerous times; when she told him that his mother was on the way, he said to her, "Daddy killed Mommy". His mother's body was found at his father's apartment, choked and fatally stabbed. Aside from the obvious concern about bringing this man to justice, there is major social concern for this young boy. He is currently living with his maternal grandparents; making sure he receives the proper care after witnessing such a heinous crime should be top priority for his current caretakers.

Sex Offender Imprisoned After Failure to Register

A local Salem man pledged guilty to two counts of failing to register as a sex offender. He will serve 5 years in prison and a lifetime of parole. The man was a level 3 sex offender and worked at a supermarket for almost a month and did not inform police in the town he was employed in like the law requires. While I know it must be hard for someone who is trying to get their life back on track and finding employment is probably difficult when you have to let the police know that you'll be in the town and it may jeopardize the chances of you getting hired, it is necessary for the safety of everyone in the neighborhood. Level 3 sex offenders are deemed likely to offend again and a substantial public safety interest is served by active dissemination. His record includes many serious charges, a 1987 conviction in Oklahoma for attempted rape, assault with attempt to rape, dangerous weapon, and possessing a firearm during commissions of a felony, as well as a 2003 conviction in Lynn, MA for unnatural acts. He has also been convicted of failing to register as a sex offender in Lynn. This man has been serving a 3 year sentence for threatening to kill his girlfriends mother in Salem, MA. Under the terms of the 5 year prison sentence, the man will be sent directly to jail, wiping out that sentence for the threats. I was surprised to read that this man's girlfriend was in court in support of him.

Next Big Issue? Social Security Pops Up Again

After the healthcare issue, rumor has it that the Obama Administration plans on tackling the issue of Social Security next. Rumors have been flying for a while now that the young generation will be out of luck when it comes to being supported by Social Security in their old age. However, the Obama Administration plans to take on this effort. Speakers for administration, however, say that it won't be happening so soon after the healthcare bill due to the controversial nature of the issue.

Healthcare worries for the poor

This article is from one year ago but is no less relevant than any newly written article as it poses the question of healthcare reform and helping the poor. The authors of this article focus on BMC hospital in Boston and their concerns that riembursment must be payed to hospitals for medicaid relief. At the time the article was written BMC was promised to be reimbursed only 64 cents to every dollar they spent which raises the fear that hospitals might start turning away patients or denying them expensive but necessary treatment for others that may be less effective and less costly. They called for Governer Patrick to recognize that quality healthcare must also include complete coverage for medicaid reimbursement to the hospitals to prevent patients from being denied treatment inorder for Massachusetts to be an appropriate model for healthcare reform.


Retrieved from: http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2009/03/28/defining_funding_quality_healthcare_for_the_poor/

State sets up 24-hour hot line for reporting flood damage

After last weeks rain storm there have been many reports of basement floodings and damages due to the severe weather. The state has set up a 24 hour hot line for owners of homes and businesses to report the damages that they have suffered. The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency wants people to call and report even minor damages in order to assess how much damage was really done so that the state can get federal funding for repairs. LastiMonday, Govenor Deval Patrick had declared a state of emergency following the storm and in order for the state to recieve funding from The Federal Emergency Management Agency the state must reach 8.2 million dollars in damages. The state plans to put any money that they may recieve from the federal government towards repairing roads, bridges and other infrastructures. There isn't any guaruntee though that homeowners and businesses without flood insurance will actually be able to get funding for repairs, but in previous storms in 2005 and 2007 the state did work with FEMA to get repairs for individuals who reported damages.
The money is not guarunteed until all the damages have been assessed but this hotline is beneficial in order to possibly secure funding for the state. Although, it would be even better program if the homeowners and businesses who did suffer exstensive flood damage could recieve some of this money for repair.

Cohousing Boom in the Boston Area

This article from the Boston Globe describes a way of living that is not only practical but also good for the environment. The article describes why cohousing is a great option for people who live on a tight budget and want to be "socially sustainable". Cohousing cuts down on living expenses and leads to a greener lifestyle. Advocates hope that the trend will catch on and people will see that it is a better way to live in urban areas.

How Haiti Saved America

The United States has been leading the response to the Haitian earthquake for all of the reasons that we would expect: our geographical proximity, our competence at emergency response, and our innate generosity. That fits the narrative most of us hold in our heads, for we typically think of Haiti and America as a basket case and a basket, joined only by their contradictions, and the beneficence of one to the other.

Click here to read thew whole story http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/ideas/articles/2010/03/21/how_haiti_saved_america/

Foxboro Vow: Never Forget

Residents of Foxboro, Massachusetts have taken it upon themselves to set up a group called Foxboro Never Forgets, striving to ensure that the terrorist attack on September 11th, 2001 is never forgotten. Chris Mitchell and his wife Paula found it very important to remember the lives that were lost on that day, and honor those who are risking their lives to fight for our country. Foxboro Never Forgets has proposed the idea that each September 11th should be dedicated to a day of service as a way to give back to our country. Each participating team will have a team captain and over a hundred people are expected to take part in this day. To read more about this story visit the Sun Chronicle at http://sunchronicle.com/articles/2010/03/22/news/7119580.txt

Dem leaders sign health bill, send it to Obama

In a formality to finalize the decision The House made late Sunday night, committee chairmen and speaker of the house Nancy Pelosi signed in a massive new healthcare overhaul, which now only needs the approval of president Obama before it becomes law. This new legislation will extend coverage to 32 million uninsured Americans and ban unfair charges brought on by private insurance companies. The passing of this bill comes after nearly a year of attempts to overhaul the American healthcare system, and it has seen protest from many, both politicians and citizens.

For more, click here

Bay State reacts with cheers, anger

This article is about the effects of the health care bill in our state. Our state seems to be split with reactions for yesterdays historical vote on health care. The chief executive of Tufts Health Plan James Roosevelt Jr. said “This is really a historic moment in terms of giving people in the rest of the United States the protections that health plan members have in Massachusetts,’’but others like Charles D. Baker Jr., a former chief executive of Harvard Pilgrim Health Care said, "“This is a bad deal for Massachusetts, and I think it’s a bad deal for the country. I think the math in this thing is appalling. . . . We’re basically going to be dumping an onerous burden onto our children and grandchildren.’’ Both opinions are very strong and have me up in the air on my thoughts about healthcare but i thought by blogging others could see where they stand.




http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2010/03/22/massachusetts_split_on_health_care_bill_along_party_lines/

MIT’s levered wheelchair extends freedom to Third World

An MIT student, Amos Winter, is trying to revolutionize the wheelchair. Not only is he trying to improve this vital form of transportation for the disabled, but he wants to make it available for those living in third world countries where wheelchairs are crucially needed but not necessarily affordable or made for the bad roads. The invention has been given the name the Leveraged Freedom Chair. Why that name? Because the chair is powered by hand levers.

Testing the prototype of the Leveraged Freedom Chair since last August, Abdullah Munish of Tanzania is one of six users of the chair in his home country, Kenya and Uganda. Munish lost the use of his legs after a car crash years ago and has since had difficulties navigating his wheelchair along the bumpy and hilly roads of his area. It became so hard that he often stayed inside, losing touch with many family members and friends. With Winter's invention, Munish can now get himself up a hill with ease.

Within the next two years, Winter hopes to get his wheelchair patented and begin producing it in substantial numbers at about $200 each. He also plans to test 30 more in Guatemala this coming summer.

Congress Clears Historic Health Care Bill

Tonight was a historic night, as Congress passed the health care bill that was two months ago thought dead with the election of Republican Scott Brown. The health care bill passed on a very small margin - 219-212 vote. The new health care bill would extend health care to the 32 million Americans currently uninsured. This health care bill would also provide subsidies to families with low incomes, small businesses, and would allow parents to keep their children on their health insurance until age 26, which is three years longer than it is now.

To read the rest of this article click here »

Dangerousness hearing for child rape suspect

A Kingston man was accused of raping a 3 year old, while on bail for allegedly raping a 5 year old. Prosecutors are trying to convince the jury that "he is a danger to society." He did plead not guilty to two counts of forcible child rape and two counts of intimidating a witness. For more information go to:

Haitian Relief in Boston

The repercussions of the tragedy in Haiti is, for the average Boston resident, something we see on TV, but don't experience. We see vast amounts of money going into towards Haiti's rehabilitation, but don't really know what happens to it. Regardless of this, the Haitian community in Boston, who do feel the ramifications of the disaster in Haiti, are receiving recognition and relief from the state. Boston Haitian Reporter reports on how Haitian relief is being carried out in Massachusetts. It details how the state plans on using $550,000 in relief. Read more.

Dracut Housing Authority elections focus on contentious issue: affordable living for seniors

This article, from the Lowell Sun, interviews the two candidates running for the five-year seat on the Dracut Housing Authority. Opponents Phil Thibault and Russ Taylor agree that the town needs more affordable housing options for seniors because the baby-boomer generation is now reaching that age.

It will be interesting to see how this election plays out; depending on who wins, infrastructure will be built from the ground up or existing buildings will be purchased and transformed into senior housing. I can only imagine that it will take a long time for all this to fully form, so this is really just the beginning.

Read the full article here

From Haiti’s ruins to Mass. schools

Several Massachusetts' schools are taking victims of Haiti's January earthquake so that they can receive an education despite the horrible circumstances they are in. So far, 99 children have enrolled in schools and more are expected in the coming months. In order to make this a successful endeavor, the schools are seeking Haitian-Creole speaking teachers and interpreters to assist these new students in their transition. The immigration status of the students is not being checked; as long as their current parent/guardian can provide a valid license or a document that shows that they are living in the district. Unfortunately, there is not a lot of money to provide for all students but cities are coming together and trying to give these kids a second chance.

Mass. Mom's Medicine-Withholding Case to Proceed

This article was found on ABCnew.com on March 19th. A Massachusetts judge denied a motion to dismiss charges against 37-yearh-old Kristen LaBrie who was accused of not filling the prescriptions needed for her autistic sons' cancer . Her son, Jeremy Fraser, was diagnosed in 2006 with lymphoma that went into remission but returned in 2008 as leukemia. In 2009 he died at the age of 9. Salem Superior Court Judge John Lu's decision to deny the motion was released on Thursday, according to the Salem News. Lu says that evidence against LaBrie is enough to establish a "probable cause that she committed crimes including attempted murder and assault and battery on a disabled person." The argument being presented by LaBrie's layer is that there is no evidence of her intent. For the full article, click here: http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=10146181

High School Sells Prom Dresses to Support Homeless Students

Westfield High School will be selling gently used prom dresses at the school on Friday, March 19th and Saturday, March, 20th. The proceeds from this event will be used to help the school's Kinship Fund who's purpose is to help homeless students at the school. The school's adjustment counselor has been able to identify over thirty homeless students in the past two years.The Kinship Fund also helps pay for insurance needs as well as gas and food payments.

Read the full article here.

Anti-bullying Bill

As we know, the Massachusetts senate approved the anti- bullying legislation. As a follow up to that, it has come to my attention that people are unhappy with this legislation because they feel as though it is watered down. The version that was passed today is a watered down version of a bill that the senate approved last week. This version does not require teachers and staff members of school to report suspected bullying. People believe that that aspect of the bill could save children's lives.

State Unemployment Rate Holds Steady

The Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development reported today that the Massachusetts unemployment rate of 9.5 percent has continued through February since it was last looked at in January. The good news is the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ establishment survey estimated there were 3,139,100 jobs in the Commonwealth in February. Unfortunately, the unemployment rate remains level and claims for the regular unemployment insurance program continue to trend below last year’s levels.




http://www.tauntongazette.com/news/briefs/x313370998/State-unemployment-rate-holds-steady

Mass. Senate approves anti-bullying legislation

This article was found in the boston globe on 3/11/10. It is about the Massachusetts'Senate backing the new bill to band bullying. This bill was past after two more school age children committed suicide due to bullying in school and through cyber bullying which includes online networks and texting. I personally believe this is a good move by the Senate although many people may disagree and say bullying is a part of growing up.I disagree and think it would be a better learning enviorment for children if bullying was punished. I think it will change students ways of aggression and will make the school systems stronger. Children should enjoy going to school not dread it and this bill will make that a priority.

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2010/03/11/mass_senate_to_debate_anti_bullying_legislation/

$63 Million Push to Help With Public Housing

This lump sum of $63 million, the largest amount to be exact, will be used for public housing in Massachusetts. It will go towards the renovation and restoration of buildings, along with the appliances inside them such as new toilets and LED lights. This will help make the buildings not only safer, but much more energy efficient. "It is the nations' largest public housing energy performance contract, right here in Boston" says Mayor Menino.

I think this is such a great opportunity for those who live in public housing. They will recieve much more adequate living conditions, and I feel this is a fair way to allow those a safe and clean place to live. The only problem that I feel comes from this is the massive amount of tax dollars we may need to pay for this, and the city of Boston will be repaying this debt for 20 years.

U.S. Plans New Measure for Poverty

At the beginning of March, the federal government announced that it would begin producing an experimental measurement of poverty next year. Typically poverty is measured by the cash income collected by a family or individual. That will remain the official statistical measure for eligibility and distribution of federal assistance for the time being; however according to Rebecca Blank (the under secretary of commerce for economic affairs), “the new supplemental poverty measure will provide an alternative lens to understand poverty and measure the effects of antipoverty policies.” Some advocates for the poor argue that this current measurement of poverty which dates back to the Johnson administration is somewhat archaic. It was based on the Agriculture Department’s cheapest meal plan, on the assumption that the average family spent a third of its income on food at the time. The formula has largely remained the same except for inflation adjustments. Ms. Blank noted that despite any opposition the old measurement would stay in place for purposes of consistency and simplicity.

** Poverty is a war we have been fighting for years. These are peoples lives that we are dealing with. How can one simply settle for a solution that has proven to be flawed simply because its consistent and simple? We have waited to long to impose a new plan and this plan does not even appear to be rigorous as it is only "supplemental" for now**

The new supplemental measure will be released for the first time in the fall of next year. Federal officials noted that the supplemental measure is experimental and a work in progress. 'It establishes a poverty threshold that depends on the cost of food, shelter, clothing and utilities “plus a little more” for “a population that is not poor but is somewhat below the median.”'

The only good thing about the new plan is that it covers one adult and two children whereas the old measure figured costs for two adults and two children. Today more and more single parents are raising their children. Its about time someone got realistic and factored that crucial piece of information.

What are your thoughts!?

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/03/us/03poverty.html

Guest commentary: Path to resolving middle grades is a familiar one

The Cambridge Public Schools are at a crossroads on improving the middle grades. The community anxiously awaits direction from superintendent and School Committee. The shortfalls and weakenesses of grades 6-8 provide an extraordinary opportunity to improve all elementary schools.

http//www.wickedlocal.com/cambridge/homepage/x867963432/Guest-commentary-Path-to-resolving-middle-grades-is-a-familiar-one

Health Care "Reform" ... Who Will it Benefit?

In this article in the Worcester Telegram, members of the group known as the 'Tea Party' picketed outside of U.S. Rep James McGovern's office. The 'Tea Party' has made a big splash in 2009/2010 receiving much publicity for their grassroots movement and intense activism. Big name politicians such as Sarah Palin have endorsed the Tea Party which has members across the United States. The 'Tea Party' claims that the health care bill currently in legislation would take away much needed state and local power. Their signs read anti-Obama slogans such as 'Obamacare makes me sick" which attracted much attention. Desperate times do call for desperate measures, but at what expense asks the 'Tea Party'? Members claim that this bill will plague future generations with irreconcilable debt which is simply, unacceptable.

Local Mass. Man Visits Haiti

An article in the Lowell Sun told of a local youth pastor's recent trip to Haiti. Bob Bancroft has had led two previous mission trips to Haiti and understands the struggles the nation has been through. Bob and 20 other volunteers made the trip to Haiti on February 8 and got right to work. He was quoted in the article by saying that Haiti is "so decimated by not just the earthquake, but political upheaval that just stripped it down to one of the poorest nations." Bob addresses a group at a local community center and stated the heartbreaking news that the conditions are going to get much worse before they get better. Most of the volunteers time was spent digging people out from the rubble. While at the community center Bob explained that the entire area needs to be evacuated and dozed and built back up block by block; there is nothing salvageable. Bob's statement puts into perspective what shape the nation and cities are in. He also feels that the recovery for Haiti could take decades. Bob felt that this trip to Haiti created a "sense of responsibility" and he wants to translate that sense of responsibility to something good. Many Americans are getting involved in the relief efforts for Haiti. While many American's cannot imagine a similar situation to the one in Haiti it is important for us to have empathy to people in other countries.

Massachusetts vows to prevent bullying

The Massachusetts senate passed a bill in which requires both public and charter schools to come up with ways to prevent bullying. There has been a recent push for a better system in dealing with all forms of bullying. The bill passed after several suicides by young children happened due to getting harassed at school. The new bill that was passed requires principals to report certain cases of bullying to the police. The bill even includes rules about electronic and over the phone bullying, earning up to 3 months jail or a $500 fine for doing so.

Students Sing for Haiti

This article from Waltham's Daily News Tribune highlights the upcoming Heralds for Hope concert that will take place this Saturday at Emmerson Umbrella Center for the Arts in Concord. Students from Marion and Lincoln-Sudbury Regional high schools have come together to plan a benefit concert to raise money for Haiti and hope to do so with the power of music. Along with a great mixture of music the event will host a silent auction, a raffle, and students will be selling Haiti aid T-shirts. Hopefully thier goal of raising between 2,000 and 3,000 dollars will be reached.

Brockton editor charged with third drunk driving offense and child endangerment

The editor of the Brockton Enterprise, 40 year old Don Seiffert was pulled over in Braintree for drunk driving while his 6 year old son was in the back seat eating a burger. This is said to be Seiffert's third drunk driving offense. After, his second incident in 2002 his liscense was taken away for 2 years. A witness called 911 after seeing Seiffert parked facing oncoming traffic with his son in the backseat. When police arrived they stated that Seiffert was so intoxicated that he didn't even know where he was. Seiffert was also charged with child endangerment for driving while clearly intoxicated with a .30 BAC level which is four times the legal limit.
In a situation like this it clear that outside forces need to step in when someone is charged with drunk driving 3 times over a course of 13 years there is clearly an issue and he needs to be helped. What is worse is that his child had to be involved and he is lucky that the child was unharmed. Seiffert has been released on $500 bail but I believe that he needs to get some type of treatment for the alcohol issue that he has in order to keep him from making mistakes in the future that can endanger his child.

Indicators point to off-Nantucket migration

According to a recent article in the Cape Cod Times, more and more families are moving off of the island of Nantucket and onto the mainland. On the island, the cost of living is high and jobs are tough to come by, which is forcing many young families to leave in search of greener pastures. Many of these families just can't afford to live on Nantucket anymore, and without the availability of jobs, many of them are left looking off-island. Former Nantucket resident Amy Wiggin points out

...the biggest obstacle living on Nantucket was your whole life is dictated by the boat schedule, and the cost of living. We have four children, and if my son had to go off(island) for a hockey game or swim meet, it was the cost of the whole family going off-island.

With winter wrapping up, it will be interesting to see if the summer vacation season brings some of these people, or even some outsiders, onto Nantucket.

Another Sensless Action

On Saturday, March 13, 2010, 17-year old Conor Reynolds died at Baystate Medical Center. He, a Cathedral High School Student, died after being stabbed in the neck while attending a party at Blue Fusion Bar and Grill. The Restaurant & Lounge was rented out for a Cathedral High School Student. There were more than 250 attendants and although no alcohol was permitted to be served, many of the students were drinking before their admission in the facility. Surprisingly there was no security or police attendees, in which could have prevented such senseless crime. The act was seen to be "another senseless act of violence on another Springfield youth, committed by a coward who stabbed an unarmed victim with little to no provocation." Another unidentified Cathedral student was stabbed in the forearm, but survived with non-life threatening injuries.

The importance of this article is to show how underage drinking can lead to serious negative outcomes. Parents need to teach their children the cons about drinking and it way of making children do things they are not aware of doing. There needs to be more regulations put in society that can create a decrease in assaults and death that surrounds this issue of overage drinking. There should also be some sort of law in place that makes it mandatory for some sort of safety patrol to be on site at facilities where underage parties are being held; this could have prevented the stabbings and deaths of the lives of many. The question is how many deaths or assaults are going to happen before a change takes place.

www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2010/03/cathedral_high_school_student.html

GREAT program is great!

Gerry Leone, the Middlesex County District Attorney, spoke out last week about how wonderful and effective he believes the Gang Resistance Education and Training (GREAT) program is. Police officers lead and teach through GREAT, and they are thoroughly trained to preach good decision-making and prevention of risky behavior, like drug use, violence, and gang membership. I think this program is being taught at a very appropriate time (in 8th grade). These kids (specifically in this article, they referred to Ashland) are about to enter high school, which is a time of tremendous change, both socially and mentally. They need to have a strong sense of knowing what's right and wrong, and what's going to keep them from behavior that will only harm others. I think this program should definitely be extended to city schools, where youth violence is much more prevalent.

Full article from the Metro West Daily News here

Mean Girl Behavior Begins at Early Ages

I found this article, entitled "Mean girl behavior begins at early ages" in the Boston Globe today to be very interesting. With the anti-bullying legislation a huge topic lately many people have begun to really talk about the importance of this bullying and certain aspects of bullying that may not be as well known as others. In this article it discusses how normally bullying among girls is seen in the teengage and pre-teen years. However, more recently bullying between girls has started even earlier - as early as 7 years old. It is important to understand and know when bullying starts to target the right ages and have the legislation and programs that it may bring about be useful. If the legislation just focused on teen and pre-teens it would leave out those who are learning this "mean girl" behavior earlier, and bringing it with them and having those behaviors just worsen as they get to the pre-teen, teenage years.

To read the full article click here »

$1 Million State Loan Boosts Cape Housing

The Falmouth Housing Corporation has received a $1 million loan from the state. This Affordable Housing Trust Fund will be used to create 39 new affordable homes, some of which will be placed aside for families who's annual income is 30% below the average income for the area. This loan will not have to be repaid.

Catholic school boots student with gay parents

In a Catholic school in Colorado a preschooler is being kicked out of school because the child's parents are lesbians. Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic School will not allow the child to enroll in the school the next year. The school says that the parents of the students that attend the institution must abide to the rules of the church and the school. The justification given was that students at Catholic schools with gay parents would become confused. I believe this is very ubfair for this child who is innocent of it all. Because of the beliefs of the church and school a child is neglected and not offered an equal education. I personally grew up in a Catholic household and I was always told that God will except you no matter what; therefore, I don't understand why the school had to make such an extreme decision. There is no need for a child to put their education in risk becuase of the sexual preferences if his or her parents. More info about this article at:
http://www.masslive.com/newsflash/index.ssf?/base/national-37/1267830144266090.xml&storylist=new_topstories

Parole Granted to Woman Who Killed Daughter

An article titled, "Board Grants parole to woman who killed sleeping daughter" was featured on boston.com today. The parole board was voting whether or not to grant parole to Susan Biancardi, now 61, who killed her daughter who was then 16 years old in 1990. That same day back in 1990, she also tried unsuccessfully to kill her other daughter. The parole board agreed with Biancardi when she claimed that the murder of her 16 year old daughter, and the attempted murder of her other daughter was due to an undiagnosed mental disorder. To read the rest of the article click here »

Falmouth 7-year-old avoids assault charges

This article from today's Cape Cod Times is about a first grader who allegedly attacked two of his teachers. According to local police, the boy grabbed one of his teachers by the hair, pulling her to the ground, and punched another in the face. He will not face criminal charges, however; his parents say that he has been diagnosed as autistic (school officials refuse to acknowledge this diagnosis). The debate now is where to send the boy for school, since it is obvious that he needs special attention with regards to his behavioral and emotional issues -- whether or not he is indeed diagnosed autistic. Another "big picture" issue that this article brings up is how to handle issues of this kind with children. Is it really appropriate to charge a 7-year-old with assault and battery?

Massachusetts Man Accused of Trying to Sell Fake Lotto Ticket

This is a a news story reported by Fox News.com about a man in Lowell, Massachusetts who was accused of attempting to cash in on a $400 lottery ticket. The man's name is Rigoberto Vega and he pleaded not guilty in the Lowell District Court this week to the charges against him that he distributed the false scratch dicket. The 29-yr-opld Vega tried to cash the ticket in on Saturday at a convenience store. The store clerk realzied that the ticket was fake, but Vega said that he would sell the ticket for $200 because he had what he called "an emergency." Vega eventually sold the ticket for $80 and a pack of cigarettes and was arrested shortly afterward. At his arraignment on Monday, Vega was released on "personal recognizance." His pretrial is scheduled for April 21, 2010.


For complete story please visit: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,588055,00.html

Detrioation of state housing for disabled cited

State-subsidized public housing units for people with special needs have been underfunded in Massachusetts for years, resulting in a lack of safe housing for these citizens. Local housing authorities have been found in serious health violations putting the residents safety at risk. These houses are suppossed to be managed by human service providers under contract with state agencies, and due to the recent exposure of the house living conditions these agencies are doing what they can to improve the state of living. The recession our economy is facing has made it difficult to create the funds necessary to maintain these houses, but the state is now doing all it can to ensure the saftey of the citizens residing in these state-subsidized public housing units. To read more about this story, visithttp://www.boston.com/yourtown/hingham/articles/2010/03/04/deterioration_of_state_housing_for_disabled_cited/

Obama Makes Final Push for Healthcare Reform

Obama is making, what is supposedly, his last attempt at changing the minds of the senate about his universal healthcare plan. The Republicans are currently not budging and told him that he should scrap his idea and work with them to create a new one. His attempt to win them over was that he incorporated Republican ideas into his plan and is hoping that it will go through. His universal healthcare plan can be summarized by the following quote: "Obama has already made the basics of his plan clear. He would extend health coverage to about 30 million uninsured Americans, leash the insurance industry by banning practices like denying coverage for the ill, expand drug benefits for the elderly and give lower-income people subsidies to help them afford coverage. It would be paid for by raising taxes on upper-income Americans and culling savings from a government health care plan for the elderly." The United States is currently the only major industrialized country that does not have universal health care.

Man Found In Back Bay House Of Squalor

Police were called on Monday to investigate a report of a strong odor of home heating oil coming from an apartment in Boston's Back Bay. When they arrived, they found a man living in complete squalor. Along with ten cats, the man was living amongst eight foot high piles of debris that were blocking all entries and exits to the apartment. The ceiling of the second floor had collapsed and the yard was filled with bottles, trash bins, cat cages, and numerous construction materials.

This automatically sounds like a man who is in serious need of help and human interaction, but Boston Inspectional Services are calling it a severe case of hoarding, meaning that this man believes everything that he owns is of great value and therefore saves it all rather than discarding it. I can understand the collection of bottles and construction materials as being considered hoarding, but I'm not too sure about the debris piles so high that they were blocking entries and exits. It makes me wonder if there was a reason he didn't want anyone coming or going. I'm sure something much deeper than hoarding will be uncovered as the investigation continues and the man is observed in the hospital.

HEALTH CAMPAIGN HELPS UNINSURED YOUTH

The non profit organization Health Care of All is launching a new campaign to help the estimated 32,ooo children in Massachusetts that are without health insurance. This program is a part of a national effort that is a part of a law that President Obama signed, the Children's Health Insurance Reauthorization Act of 2009. This organization reported that many families that are without health insurance in Massachusetts are immigrant families. The reported that these children and families are not aware of the rights that they have for health insurance. Through this program they are helping to provide services to these families and direct them to the proper agencies such as Mass Health that offers health insurance to low income families. This program provides translators as well as people who are able to help fill out any paperwork that can help families gain insurance. Since health insurance is a big issue today in our society, it is beneficial that we have these types of programs in our area to provide people with the appropriate resources in order to provide them with insurance.

"NB teen charged with making computer threat against DHS students"

In this article, a New Bedford teen distraught over a recent breakup makes a threat over the internet to arrive at Dartmouth High School, shoot several people, then commit suicide. The internet is offering many "alternative" ways for teens to deal with their problems. I would argue that these electronic avenues are not healthy. It is easier for teens to type, post, comment or tweet their irrational and impulsive thoughts without considering the implications. The 17 year old male is being arraigned in court in the next couple days.

Task force seeks input on under drinking issues

I decided to blog about an under age drinking article.I thought this article was revelent because of just attending an AA meeting.The article is about a local town looking to take more actions against underage drinking involving the adults who allow this in their houses. Burlington Drug & Alcohol Task Force's Marilyn Belmonte said postponing teens’ access to alcohol for a longer period decreases the chances the youngster will develop an alcohol problem. I agree with Belmonte's approach for stronger punishments for the parents who are allowing the drinking to take place in their homes. If the children have a better idea on what is right from wrong about drinking then they will be more likely to have a less abusive relationship with alcohol and drugs.I think it is really important for cities and towns to review their previous laws and decide what is best for their youth.


http://www.homenewshere.com/articles/2010/02/22/daily_times_chronicle/news/burlington/doc4b7e9e093469b327153349.txt

State Seeks Federal Money to Aid Hospitals

In the article the state of Massachusetts seeks federal aid from the Obama administration, for the specific amount of $216 million, to go towards the Cambridge Health Alliance. They are also asking for $115 million for six other hospitals which include Boston Medical Center as well as Caritas Carney, which take in many Medicaid patients. It states in the article " A total of $135 million would go to private hospitals that care for patients covered by MassHealth, the state's Medicaid program, or Commonwealth Care which subsidizes insurance provided by private carriers". This is a significant amount of money that would be given to each hospital and Insurance programs. There are many flaws within this request, such as those whom are not covered by insurance but meet the requirements for it.

AIDS nonprofits merge together in Boston

Two organizations, AIDS Action of Massachusetts and Cambridge Cares About AIDS, each who are dedicated to fighting the prevention and finding a cure for AIDS have decided to merge together due to a push for financial reasons. Each of these organizations are strong on their own and together will form an unnamed super organization that will benefit. Each group has superb leaders and together will hopefully help more people who are affected with HIV/AIDS in the Boston and Cambridge areas.

Massachusetts High School Dropout Rate

This article from the Boston Globe states that the rate of high school students dropping out of in Massachusetts has fallen below 3%. "The rate is half a percentage point lower than the previous year." Also, that the dropout rate for the Latino ethnic group has shown the greatest improvement over the year.

Waltham Schools Care

Mayor McCarthy of the city of Waltham decided last week that outside help was needed to bring an end to bullying that was taking place at the Fitzgerald Elementary School. She informed the police of the matter after it was not able to be resolved otherwise. The mayor is encouraging students and parents to report cases of bullying as soon as they start so that the problem does not get worse. Since this incident a bullying hotline has been been started so parents can report incidents faster. Read more in this article from the Waltham News Tribune.

Newton picks new schools chief

"Young served as Newton’s superintendent for more than a decade, and in his last full year earned $248,000 in salary and other direct compensation."

Identity Theft Regulations are in Effect

According to a recent article in the Worcester Telegram, new regulations are being put forth in the state of Massachusetts aimed to help improve security over personal identities. According to the article, any Massachusetts business that will be storing or transmitting personal information must have a written security plan. Lawmakers across the state has now spoken to over 1,500 business owners across Massachusetts, and held over 30 seminars to help inform businesses small and large of the new policies.

Immigrants sue state over exclusion from health care

Legal immigrants have the right to egal protection according to the state and federal constitutions but this right was denial to them in Massachusetts since last year because of the shotage of fund. This act is against the constitution, That is why immigrant organized to sue the state, wishing to get back their right. I consider this article as a good example of working on a macro level that we learned in class.
the ful article can be find on:http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2010/02/26/immigrants_sue_state_over_exclusion_from_health_care/

Forever Paws Fundraiser

http://www.heraldnews.com/features/x267283705/Forever-Paws-in-Fall-River-to-host-Spring-Fling-fundraiserIn Fall River, Forever Paws, a non-profit animal shelter holds their annual fundraiser in which helps the company financially. Because Forever Paws is a non-profit organiztion, they do not recieve any funding from the government and heavily rely on donations and fundraisers. They also look forward to obtaining help from volunteers to play with the animals as well as helping company in other ways.



On March 21st at the Fall River Country Club, the fundraiser will be held with a Madi Gras theme. The funds raised from the event will pay for food, supplies, and other expenses. At this point, Forever Paws are in care for nearly 100 cats and up to 40 dogs. During thr event, there will be vendors selling thinds as well as providing other well-being services such as mini-manicures or massages. Forever Paws is a good organiztion because its ability to offer services to animals without gaining any help from the government. In today's society, it is hard for many companies especially for non-profit organizations. Because Forever Paws provide locals with a place to go to if interested in buying animals who are in need of homes, many feel the need to contribute to such event.

Staples donates school supplies to youth in need

Staples, which is based in Framingham, recently donated $220,000 worth of school supplies to Cradles to Crayons, a non-profit organization that assists children who don't have access to basic tangible items necessary for learning. What struck me as most interesting about this scenario was that executives and businesspeople from Staples, The Boys and Girls Club, and Cradles to Crayons had an active role in putting together the backpacks that would be distributed to the children. To me, this shows an interest and compassion from people higher up on the socioeconomic ladder, as well as a business' social responsibility to give back.

Brief writeup from the MetroWest Daily News here

Springfield Library Budget Cuts

This article on masslive.com describes the numerous budget cuts facing the Library Department in Springfield, MA. The library is not a department we typically think of when discussing the funding issues that face so many public programs, but it is certainly an essential part of a community. As discussed in class, the library is an important resource for parents struggling to take care of their children on a tight budget. Cuts in library funding mean more limited offerings, which take a toll on parents and children. Something many people don't know that that certain library programs are often funded by grants from private sources. An unfortunate consequence of funding cuts in the library is that the library may no longer be able to meet the minimum requirements to qualify for the grants, therefore also losing grant funding.