Planned Parenthood Protest

The article does not display that much, but officials of Planned Parenthood are initiating a deal to open doors in Fitchburg, however they do not plan to give abortions in the Fitchburg off. Many anti-abortion advocates already have petition against such proposition. A meeting is set on Tuesday in which the officials plan to speak with Fitchburg City Council about their proposition. Abortion is always a touchy topic because people have strong opinions about killing the lives of unborn children. http://http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2010/01/31/planned_parenthood_fitchburg_plan_drawing_protests/

Volunteers canvass East Boston in effort to fight drug abuse

After JohnM.Forbes, one of the mayor thomas Menino coordinators who worked in East Boston was found guilty of dealing in drugs; He fired him. In addition to that move the mayor Menino put into place a personal project to correct drug trafficking in the East Boston neighborhood. Hannah McBride

Quake Victims Dying Without U.S. Airlifts

Several efforts are being made to accommodate the injured Haitians from the horrible earthquake. However, Florida is halting U.S. Airlifts of injured victims into the state because officials are saying that not all the hospitals where victims are being brought are equipped to deal with the kind of injuries that some people have. For example, one burn victim was flown in to a hospital that did not have the proper equipment to deal with burn injuries such as his. Officials are reaching out to other states for help as well. Already 2 people have died from tetanus and one girl is estimated to have approximately 24 hours left to live if she is not airlifted to a U.S. hospital immediately. This girl suffered an enormous gash in her leg which then got infested with tetanus. These incidents are a few among the several that are occurring as a result of insufficient resources in the hospitals and in Haiti itself, to care for the severely injured.

Thursday was busy at State House, too!

According to State House News (email 1/28/10), Thursday's advocacy groups included...

"Massachusetts Family Planning Association Advocacy Day. Family planning providers, counselors, community health educators and teen peer leaders attend. Speakers include Senate President Therese Murray, second Assistant Majority Leader Patricia Haddad, state Public Health Commissioner John Auerbach, and Clare Coleman, president of the National Family Planning and Reproductive Health Association...

Project ABLE will gather for a Lobby Day to advocate for maintenance of HIV/AIDS funding in FY 2011. The speaking part of the program begins at 12:30 and Senate President Therese Murray, John Auerbach, Commissioner of Public Health, Rep. Carl Sciortino, and Se. Chang-Diaz are confirmed speakers. There will also be speakers from Tapestry Health in Springfield and Cambridge Cares About AIDS and two consumers of HIV/AIDS services. Participants will be lobbying their legislators and asking them to maintain funding and oppose any further budget cuts to the HIV/AIDS Line Item (4512-0103) which is currently funded at $35.35 million."

Jan 27 was busy day for advocacy at State House!

According to the State House News (email 1/27/10), loads of advocates were at the State House on Wednesday...

"POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION: Legislation ensuring that pregnant women will be able to receive universal screening and referral to treatment for depression during the perinatal period will be discussed by proponents at a press conference prior to a Financial Services Committee hearing on the bill (H 3897). The bill’s backers include Rep. Ellen Story, health care experts and postpartum depression survivors and clinicians, according to Health Care For All...

LEGAL AID: The Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corporation holds a “Walk to the Hill” in support of increased aid for legal services for low-income residents. Sponsored by the Massachusetts Bar Association, Boston Bar Association and The Equal Justice Coalition, the event will highlight cuts in recent years to the state’s line item for legal aid. The account was reduced to $9.5 million this fiscal year from $11.07 million the previous year. In addition, revenue from the interest on lawyers’ trust accounts, which help bolster legal aid services, has plummeted 63 percent since fiscal 2008, according to MLAC...

CORI RALLY: The Commonwealth CORI coalition holds a rally and lobby day for backers of legislation to further restrict employer and landlord access to criminal records, which critics of the current system say prevents ex-offenders from getting jobs and leads to recidivism. The Senate in November passed a proposal to shorten the window during which records are available for viewing by employers...

HIGHER EDUCATION COMMITTEE – IN-STATE TUITION: The Committee on Higher Education hears six bills, including two proposals (S 603 and H 1175) to offer in-state tuition rates to illegal immigrants who have attended high school in Massachusetts for at least three years and sign an affidavit signaling a commitment to seek legal permanent residence or citizenship. Other proposals would...establish a special commission on TEXTBOOK PRICES [emphasis mine] (H 1176) and require textbooks to be available in BRAILLE [emphasis mine] and electronically for visually impaired students (H 3681)."


And in Framingham...
LAUNCH OF METROWEST REGIONAL NETWORK TO END HOMELESSNESS: "Lieutenant Governor Murray offers remarks at the launch of the Metro West Regional Network to End Homelessness.....46 Park Street, United Way of Tri-County Board Room, Framingham"

House Leader: no new taxes!

House Speaker DeLeo says the House budget will not include tax increases. He's promoting instead to raise money through expanded gambling in the state. The Governor's budget (released Wed) proposes increased "sin taxes" on candy, soda, and smokeless tobacco products.
Source: State House News email 1/28/10

House approves stalking bill

The House unanimously (153-0) approved a bill yesterday to allow victims to take out restraining orders against stalkers even if they have not had a prior relationship with the stalker. Now it goes to the Senate.
Source: State House News email 1/28/10

House Votes To Ban Soda & Candy In Mass. Schools

On Thursday, the Massachusetts House approved a bill that would allow Massachusetts to ban "high-calorie sodas and salty and sugary snacks from elementary and high schools." Those who backed the bill and agree with this motion feel that removing such snacks is the key to the fight against child obesity. Along with banning certain foods, the bill also pushes schools to serve whole grain foods and low fat dairy products. The bill is now on it's way to the senate.

For the full link, please click here: http://wbztv.com/local/candy.soda.schools.2.1456436.html

State takes custody of 3-year-old boy following death of infant brother

This article goes into detail about an infant boy who was found dead in a hotel room in West Springfield on Sunday. The baby, who was staying at the hotel with his mother and 3-year old brother, was found lying naked covered in water underneath an air conditioner which was turn on full-blast. The mother claims that someone broke into her room and did this while she was in another room talking to a friend and discovered the infant dead when she returned.

The story she is telling is possible, but sounds unlikley and very suspicious. It is odd that she is staying at a hotel and her myspace page gives indication that the childrens father is no longer in the picture. These two scenarios prompt many questions such as what the fathers whereabouts are. People who know this woman personally may also know how she was dealing with the stress of single motherhood. Until the truth comes out, I think it is a smart decision for the Department of Children and Families to have custody of the other child.

UMass Med School Seeks More Diversity

This article in the Worcester Telegram & Gazette on Wednesday describes a combined undergraduate-medical degree program aimed at increasing diversity in the medical population. This is likely to be a very controversial move for the University, as those in opposition express concern that under-represented minorities will be accepted to medical school simply on the basis of race rather than academic merit. On the other hand, supporters of the program provide extensive evidence of the need for a more diverse medical workforce. For example, the article states that research suggests that "minority patients tend to have better health outcomes when they are treated by minority physicians". Given the increased debate over healthcare, and the fact that the vast majority of Massachusetts doctors are white (according to the chart in the article), there are important social implications as a result of this proposed combined degree program.

Police investigate Internet "bullying" video

A story in The Eagle Tribune is drawing attention to a recently growing problem among students. A "bullying incident" capture on video by a North Andover student is under police investigation. The incident involving two seven graders, and captured by another student, occurred off school grounds back in November and just recent brought attention to school officials. The video was posted on Facebook and YouTube, but has now been recently taken off the websites. There is now a possibility that criminal charges - including assault and battery - will be filed, depending on the investigation.
This video is the latest example of internet bullying in Massachusetts, other stories related to this one have been popping up recently - a 15 year old female committing suicide because of bullying at school and online & internet videos of fights involving students in Lowell & Haverhill, MA. Clearly, this is becoming an issue among school systems and the dangers of bullying has grabed the attention of Beacon Hill lawmakers because there is now a push to write legislation that would help prevent it. Cyber bullying (as it has now been termed) is a form of teen abuse and is growing at a fast rate. I feel this type of bullying is occurring so rapidly because of technology. Children and teenagers now have direct access to electronics that can capture videos or photos and be posted to online websites immediately. The term cyber bullying also includes bullying & inflicting harm through text messages, instant messages and other forms of multimedia communication. Since this is not a face to face encounter, children and teenagers might be more apt to bully online because it isn't so personal and they may not realize the consequences can still be as harmful as school yard bullying. Massachusetts school administrators and parents needs to work together to help students understand what the consequences are.

"Perv who prayed on kids set for release"

Why is Robert V. Shell being released from prison when he is a danger to society's most innocent victims, children? This man had been in prison for eighteen years and is now being released back into the Massachusetts community. Has this man undergone intense therapy for his sexual obsession with children? Not even just "children", babies. What deems Shell "safe" to enter back into society? Each time we release a criminal especially sexual criminals who are even more likely to repeat their crime, we are risking the welfare of our citizens. Obviously, we will not know is Shell is "safe" to be reintegrated back into society until he commits another horrible sexual crime.

http://www.bostonherald.com/news/regional/view/20100128perv_who_preyed_on_kids_set_for_release/srvc=news&position=also

latino businessman from Mass. among Obama guests

In an article found in the Boston Globe, it was announed that a businessman whos store was destroyed in a horrible flood is invited to sit side by side with President Obama at the first State of Union address. Despite the flood Juan Yepez has managed to rebuild his business and employ many citizens. Yepez refused to relocate his store, located in Lawrence MA, so he could provide the poverty-stricken city with employment opportunities.
to read more about this article visit: http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2010/01/27/latino_businessman_from_mass_among_obama_guests/

Unemployment Rate Rising in Fall River- 2nd highest in the state

The job market is something that has been impacted during the current recession and many people are feeling the burden. In Fall River, MA the unemployment rate has reached 16.9% the second highest in the state. This shows an increase of 1,552 people over the last month. This is similiar to an increase that the whole country is experiencing. But the Fall River Career Center is taking initiative in order to help residents find jobs as well as training in order to get jobs in new field if necessary. Some residents have been very successful in finding jobs but many others are feeling very let down, sending out hundreds of resumes and only getting two calls and maybe an interview. The Career Center feels they are doing their best during this tough time helping citzens with the appropriate resources to get jobs.

Although times are tough this type of work is something that is very helpful to the community. Many people are without jobs and unemployment is increasing in many states, in order to help people find new jobs goverment programs can provide the tools some people may need. This type of help comes at an appropriate time where Obama plans on providing more jobs for citizens. With this happening on a national level these programs will be of service to even more communities and residents in hopes of finding a new job and lowering the unemployment rates.

Social Welfare & Budget Concerns

In an article today in the Boston Herald talks about the $28 billion dollar budget put through by Governor Patrick that will reduce human services, and boost taxes on candy, soda, and smokeless tobacco products. These tax slashes come at a time where he is in a re-election year and people throughout Massachusetts are criticizing his every move to see if he is worthy of re-election.

For our concerns in social welfare policy, the reduction of human services comes at a time when many people need them more than ever. In the article it stated, "The budget includes $797 million in cuts, including $56 million in adult dental services under MassHealth, $5 million for a program paying police officers for earning a college degree, and a $3.2 million cut to state parks". It is always important when these budgets come out, to see what they are targeting and where the cuts will come from.

Doctor says mother gave child double dose at times

A 4 year old girl died in Brockton due to overdose; questions the mothers failure to seek support (wraparound services), and the doctor's prescriptions without further investigation of the child's school and home environments.


"Kifuji acknowledged that she did not seek input from Rebecca’s preschool teachers or social workers, many of whom described her as sweet and cuddly but sometimes overmedicated; and she rarely spoke to Rebecca’s father or other doctors."

21% Less Crime on MBTA in 2009

Last year the MBTA recorded a drop in crimes on the transportation, despite the estimate 1.2 Million daily riders. MBTA officials cite improved Transit Police activity, public awareness campaigns, cameras and "fare-jumper" prevention. Read more at the Boston Globe

Brighton prayer vigil marks Human Trafficking Awareness Day

This article appeared on January fifteenth. It is a little old but I find it interesting to learn about some initiatives which are being taken in order to stop human trafficking that is affecting our society today. There could be somebody nearby who was trafficked and who need our help. In order to commemorate the third annual Human Trafficking Awareness Day, over 130 sisters, associates, co-workers, friends, and family joined in a prayer vigil for an end to the evil of modern-day slavery.
Please click on the link to read the whole article: http://www.thebostonpilot.com/article.asp?ID11340

‘Hope for the Children of Haiti’

This article talks about a family from Rochester, MA who adopted three children from Haiti within the last year. It goes on to discuss the orphanage from which they got the children and how it was damaged during the earthquake. This article also touches on the issues regarding the large amount of orphans in Haiti and the families experiences with the adoption process.

Father sought closure in Haiti

This article is about a Massachusetts' father who visited Haiti to mourn the loss of his daughter who has yet to be found.Leonard Genge said, "“We needed closure. We needed to come here. We needed to see with our own eyes". He also talks about all the devastion he has seen.

To read more go to : http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2010/01/25/father_sought_closure_in_haiti/


Boston Globe

Temporary protected status for Haitians in the US

I found this article on the New England Ethnic News website. It tells how our own John Kerry was one of fifteen senators around the country who wrote and signed a letter to President Obama detailing their desire to "grant temporary protected status" to Haitian nationals currently living in the US. Basically, allowing them to stay in this country rather than deporting them to their ravaged nation is benefical to them and the relief efforts going on in Haiti. This letter, based on "common sense," was written just one day after the horrible earthquake, which shows that these senators were very quick-thinking.

http://www.ethnicnewz.org/en/sen-kerrys-statement-tps-temporary-protective-status-granted-haitians-today

With a click, Mass. team aiding Haiti

Stephanie Kinlay said...

This article focuses on the work of Christopher Schmidt and his team from Boston who are working to create better road maps to help survivors locate hospitals and refugee camps, their findings have been documented on OpenStreetMap. They also have been planning aerial food drops from the data they have collected. The article goes on to describe other ways that technology is now being used to help Haitian Refugees.

Article found in the Boston Globe.

3 Questions: Lawrence Vale on rebuilding Haiti

This article focuses on an interview conducted with MIT's Ford Professor of Urban Design and Planning, Lawrence Vale. MIT News interviews Vale on the tasks involved in rebuilding Haiti and the transition from the past when ruined cities ("Lost Cities") were left and to the present when they are almost always rebuilt. Vale describes the rebuilding process in three seapart parts: the physical rebuilding phase, socio-economic rebuilding, and emotional rebuilding. Specifically for Haiti, Vale comments on the necessary rebuilding of churches and other "houses of worship." Lastly, Vale answers a question regarding the political climate of Haiti and its part in the reconstruction. The full article can be seen by clicking on the following link: http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2010/3q-vale-haiti-0120.html

Transgender Equality Lobby Day

Bay Windows reports that yesterday was Transgender Equality Lobby Day at the State House. I haven't seen reports yet of how many attended or how folks were received, but the National Organization for Women and the Mass Transgender Political Coalition were there to promote bills that would add gender identity to the protected classes in MA non-discrimination laws. According to yesterday's State House News, "Opponents of the legislation have derided it as the 'bathroom bill,' saying it would enable transgender men to use women’s bathrooms." [no link b/c in email for subscribers]

MA has 3rd largest Haitian population in the country

And Haitians account for almost 9% of immigrants in Boston, the second largest immigrant group in Boston, according to massnonprofit.org.

Head Start: Individual Svcs & Big Picture

The State House News describes a breakfast for legislators this past Wednesday at the Head Start in Jamaica Plain. Two State Representatives and a City Councilor were there for a "dynamic neighborhood needs assessment & planning process" focusing on economic rights. [no link b/c in an email for subscribers only]

ON A MISSION: St. Anne's Hospital employees head to Haiti

According to a recent report in the Herald News, a team of 12 health care professionals, including a doctor and a nurse from St. Anne's Hospital in Fall River, MA packed up and headed to Haiti on Wednesday January 20th to aid in the relief effort after the devastating earthquake that shook the poor Caribbean nation on January 12th. The team of 12 is comprised of clinicians from Caritas Christi, New England's largest community based hospital network. This group will be spending 7-10 days at the Sacre Coeur hospital, helping the understaffed hospital with it's overwhelming number of patients. Once this group returns to New England, a relief team will be sent down to "replace the existing team." Along with the 12 team members, Caritas Christi will also be sending wound care materials such as sutures and bandages donated by Covidien Healthcare and nearly $1 million in medical equipment, donated by Phillips Healthcare. This equipment includes "OR and vital sign monitors, defibrillators, fetal monitors, ultrasound
equipment, ventilators, and other supplies." Team members are being sent with important communication devices such as blackberries,





Article can be found at: http://www.heraldnews.com/news/x867957183/ON-A-MISSION-St-Annes-Hospital-employees-head-to-Haiti

"Ganging up on street gangs"

In Pittsfield Ron "Cook" Barrett visits a local middle school to raise gang awareness. As he held up two bandanas, one black, one yellow and asked what these colors represent about 20 students answered, "Latin Kings". An even more significant number recognized the Crip's black and red color affiliation. Are gangs really that big of a problem? Even in suburban and rural areas? Barrett argues that with online social networks like Myspace and Facebook it makes it easier for suburban kids to connect with teens in urban areas were gangs are more prevalent. He also talks briefly about the absence of family due to tough work schedules and how gangs provide that sense of family for teens who feel as though they do not get at home.

http://www.berkshireeagle.com/ci_14234941?source=most_viewed

Martin Luther King Influences Change in Mass Public Schools

Martin Luther King Jr.’s lessons defy time and with Haiti as a huge issue in the world Deval Patrick, governor of Massachusetts, urged for a new law in which will improve Massachusetts urban schools. Patrick joined top legislative leaders at Boston Children’s Museum to sign an education bill that allows more charter schools in struggling districts and gives superintendents more latitude in overhauling low-performing schools. The bill, in hopes, will allow all students, no matter what their background, to have a good education. Massachusetts wants its residents to resonate King’s belief that one’s service to others should never die. Boston held many memorials for King all over the state at places such as Hynes Convention Center, Faneuil Hall, Dorchester and The Children’s Museum. Most of these gatherings around the state were used to urge youth to live by King’s lessons. One girl from Dorchester said. “Teens need to understand that they have the power to make King’s legacy real today.” Equality is still an issue that needs to be dealt with in all aspects of our country today. To read more on this article in the Boston Globe, click here.

'MY WHOLE FAMILY DIED': Haitian family's pain inspires Tewksbury school to help relief effort

While trying to teach her students vocabulary, a local teacher discovered the unimaginable loss suffered by one of her six year-old students. Using the destruction in Haiti to illustrate the meaning of the word extraordinary, the teacher sat in shock as Ethan Exilhomme explained to the class how he lost ten aunts, uncles, and cousins in the destructive earthquake.

Ethan's father Emmanuel is a social worker, and the founder of a non-profit organization that offers aid to Haitian immigrants. While struggling to cope with the loss of so many family members, he is also grateful to his community and their support for him and his family. Ethan's school donated money, toys, and first-ad supplies to the family, to help Emmanuel as he prepares to travel to Haiti and bury his family members.

"This is one of the greatest communities I've lived in in the U.S.," said Exilhomme, who came to America at the age of 18. "The love I've found from this community is different. They come together and help each other...I'm shocked how much support has been given to us...".

Aftershock Terrifies Desperate Haitians Anew

Despite the fact that the death count in Haiti is already up to 200,000 and the homeless count is up to 2 million, an aftershock earthquake, measuring 5.9 proceeded to shake the country yet again this morning a little after 6 am. People are now terrified to stay in their surviving homes out of fear that they will collapse, or that another aftershock will hit. Looting is on the rise and nothing seems to be looking better for the country already in ruins. The U.S. Navy hospital ship is now in use and is actively helping victims, particularly those that are severely injured and in need of immediate assistance. According to this article, several other warships carrying crucial medical supplies and personnel is slowly trickling into Haiti. There were 2000 more peacekeepers sent by the U.N. to add to the already existing 7000 that are there. There is some appearance of normalcy persevering through all of this though. Some vendors have found flowers to sell to those who want to honor their dead, banks are said to reopen so that money can be wired into Haiti from those that are abroad. Unfortunately, things don't seem to be changing all too fast for the better and as a result, many Haitians are losing hope.

Communities coming together for Haiti

After such a horrible disaster hit Haiti many people have been affected by this tragedy, even those who may not have family members in Haiti. In the small town of Holbrook, Massachusettes there have been several Haitian families who have spoken up about how how this tragedy has affected them as well as their familiy members who have been directly hit. Having people in the community who have been directly touched by the earthquake local churches as well as the local junior senior high school have banned together to set up a fundraiser for victims of the earthquake. The grade that collects the most money will win a social get together. The kids are reaching out to local businesses who are willing to match the amount of money the students collect and add that to the donation. This shows how people in a small town can come together to help others even if they are not the ones who have been directly hit. This is a compelling story because it shows that young students do care about others as well as their own peers and their families who have been affected.
Local churches who have a fair amount of Haitian members are also holding prayer services and adding to the fundraiser in hopes of making a large dontation and contribution to the people of Haiti. This shows how even a small town can get together in hopes of making a difference in the lives of the people of Haiti.

Communities South of Boston Face Dramatic Increase in Senior Population, Demand For Elder Services

As a new generation of elderly men and women continue to live in many suburbs south of Boston, it will bring with it the demand for more elder services. Cities and towns such as Dedham, Hanson, Hingham, Holbrook, Mansfield, Pembroke, Plympton, Sharon, and Whitman are seeing more elderly folks in their neighborhoods than they did 10 years ago. It seems elders in these communities are staying put in hometowns and aren't looking to retire in Florida.

As populations grow older, there becomes a higher need for things like senior housing, and many more elders needing transportation, which has been one of the key issues for the Metropolitan Area Planning Council. Unfortunately, the constantly tightening budget may take a toll on the preparedness of Massachusetts. But, in towns such as Sharon, fitness and exercise classes are being offered to elders as well as a virtual bowling league played in Nintendo Wii. For many of the seniors, simply living in their hometown will be their biggest challenge.

To read more on this article click here

Nurse from Westwood answers the call for Haiti

With all of the devastation following the aftermath of the earthquake that shook Haiti, there have been many agencies and other outlets all over the world that have been trying to answer the call for aid that those in Haiti so desperately need at this time. Over the past couple days we have heard countless stories about the different ways local people have stepped up, and have answered Haiti's call for help.

Today in the Boston Globe was an article, Nurse practitioner answers the call for Haiti. In the article, it is described what she is packing to plan for her two week trip to Haiti, where she will be working alongside a team of nurses and doctors treating victims who seek emergency medical treatment. For two weeks, Annie O'Connor is uprooting her life here in Boston, where she works at Brigham in Women's Hospital, and is a mother to two 10-year old twin boys and an older daughter.

Annie O'Connor is a part of a group of 50 doctors and nurses being sent from several Boston area hospitals - Mass General and Brigham & Women's. O'Connor hopes to make a difference and be able to use her skills to help those. O'Connor said,"I think this is a good lesson for my kids. I think they'll learn that our community is larger than we think, and that anytime we have an opportunity to help, we should."

I think this is an incredible story of a local mother with young children who is willing to stop her life for 2 weeks to help out those who are suffering in Haiti.

Boost in Homeslessness in the Greater Boston Area

Recently featured in The Salem Evening News has been stories drawing attention to the boost in homeless families in the greater Boston area. This spike in homeless families has been the largest the state has seen in some time because of the overwhelming number of unemployment rates and the growing number of foreclosure and evicted families. Stated in the article "3,507 families in Massachusetts were homeless, according to the Department of Housing and Community Development. The number of families living in motels in 28 communities peaked in October at 1,077." Recent data, as of January 6th, showed that 963 homeless families were living in hotels or motels.

An issue for many families moved to hotels and motels is where to sent their children to school. Will families enroll their children in the towns and cities school systems were they are currently housed at motels or hotels? Or another option under federal law is to bus these children to their home district?

Since these families are being housed in suburban areas, such as Danvers and Beverly, MA, I feel a lot of attention is being brought on the subject. The state has to guarantee housing to every eligible family; Massachusetts is the only state that provides this. "To qualify a homeless family must earn 115 percent of the federal poverty level or less, or a maximum of $25,368 for a family of four. They must have children or be expecting a child, and they must have been evicted and lack alternative feasible housing." While the state provides services to these families, such as signing up for food stamps, getting access to health care, etc., the problem of finding families low-income housing has been a problem.

Another area for concern is the cost the state pays to house all these families and the school expenses add up. The article lists some money set aside for the 2010 year for sheltering and homeless families in Massachusetts; the numbers are staggering!

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*** HOW TO PROPERLY LINK TO OTHERS' STORIES ***

Hi all - I've realized that many of you do not have much experience reading or posting to blogs. You are to follow the same rules for avoiding plagiarism that you do for your other writing assignments. This link to Purdue's Online Writing Lab has some helpful guidelines. Among them:

Mark the quote with quotation marks, or set it off from your text in its own block, per the style guide your paper follows; Quote no more material than is necessary; if a short phrase from a source will suffice, don't quote an entire paragraph

To link to outside sources, click on the little button at the top of the text window that looks like a globe with a figure-eight and then paste the web address for that specific story into that pop-up window. That website then will be highlighted in your text for readers to use to explore the original source.

Local Fundraisers held for Haiti

Area fundraisers are under way to help Haiti, which has been devastated by this week's earthquake.Catholic churches throughout the Fall River Diocese will conduct special collections later this month to support relief efforts.Bishop George W. Coleman has asked that parishes take up the collection either the weekend of Jan. 23-24 or Jan. 30-31.A similar appeal is under way in the Boston Archdiocese.Proceeds from the diocesan collection will support the efforts of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and Catholic Relief Services, the official international humanitarian agency of the U.S. Catholic Church, as they respond to immediate emergency needs for such necessities as water, food, shelter, and medical care, as well as to the long term need to rebuild after widespread destruction, and to the pastoral and reconstruction needs of the church in Haiti.
Catholic Relief Services has worked in Haiti for more than 50 years and has offices and programs already in place.Donations to the collection can also be sent directly to the Fall River Diocese at P.O. Box 2577, Fall River, MA 02722. Mark "Haiti Relief" in the memo section of the check.Also, HarborOne Credit Union in Rhode Island has set up a fund that will go toward assisting the American Red Cross in aiding the earthquake victims.In addition, it will contribute $5,000 to the American Red Cross and will match dollar-for-dollar any donation made by its more than 350 employees.Branch locations can be found at www.harborone.com. Checks should be made payable to the American Red Cross with a notation in the memo line: Haiti.James W. Blake, president and CEO of HarborOne, said: "The scope and magnitude of the Haitian earthquake is unfathomable. Hospitals and schools have collapsed and the death toll cannot be estimated. We appeal to our customers, friends and neighbors to come to the aid of the Haitian population."

http://www.thesunchronicle.com/articles/2010/01/15/news/6779761.txt
( The Sun Chronicle)

Massachusetts medical team on site at last

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti - About 40 members of a Massachusetts medical brigade arrived in the devastated heart of this city late last night to begin erecting a field hospital.

The Massachusetts-1 Disaster Medical Assistance Team pulled in about 10 p.m. to establish a tent hospital in a school courtyard. Just beyond the school, hundreds of people huddled in a tent city. As the medical workers’ convoy of white dumptrucks laden with supplies pulled into a parking lot, the displaced throngs looked on passively.

The medical workers arrived after a five-hour odyssey that began at the US Embassy. Over the course of the day they encountered a series of delays, much as they have since landing in Haiti on Friday. The team spent Saturday at the airport in Port-au-Prince expecting to be dispatched with supplies that appeared that morning. Instead, delays in arranging a security escort forced them to head to the embassy.

Yesterday, with six trucks filled with medical supplies and equipment sitting in a dusty parking lot, the disaster response squad again whiled away the day as they waited, and again security was the issue. It was not until almost 5 p.m. that they got word that the 82d Airborne would provide protection for them.

Last night, as they prepared to assemble the hospital, they were watched over by 30 soldiers.


(Boston Globe)

South Hadley High School may form anti-bullying task force in wake of death of Phoebe Prince

SOUTH HADLEY – South Hadley High School Principal Daniel T. Smith said Monday he hopes to create a task force to look into the issue of bullying at the school as well as conduct an internal investigation of circumstances related to the recent death of 15-year-old Phoebe Prince.

“We have already done a lot of things in the school district, but clearly not enough,” Smith said about the problem of bullying.

Prince, who enrolled in the school last fall after arriving here from Ireland, is suspected of having committed suicide Thursday because of bullying by other students.

Among the school district’s efforts to discourage bullying have been the tightening up of policies at the high school and presentations by nationally recognized expert on bullying Barbara Colorosa.

South Hadley Police Department detectives are working with investigators with the Northwestern District Attorney’s office to determine if bullying was involved. Police were summoned about 4:40 p.m. Thursday to Prince’s 356 Newton St. home, where they discovered a teen-age girl who had apparently taken her town life, Police Chief David J. LaBrie has said.

Determining the cause and manner of the first-year student’s death has been left to the state medical examiner’s office.

Friday night about 200 South Hadley High School students held a candlelight vigil for Prince at the school’s softball field, just blocks away from Prince’s home. Students gathered in a circle so that people could come to the center to speak about their memories of Prince. Sophomore Kyle R. Whelihan sang several songs, including “You Raise Me Up” by Josh Groban.

Smith said he will send out letters Tuesday to parents, students, teachers and administrators outlining goals for the task force such as coming up with ways to eradicate the problem.

Meanwhile, a spokeswoman for Beers & Story South Hadley Funeral Home, which is handling arrangements, would say only, “Everything is private.”

High school Student Assistance Counselor Karen Walsh Pio said she is working with Everywoman’s Center at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst to bring The Clothesline Project to the school. The exhibit features a line of T-shirts written on by people advocating against violence and bullying.

“It is a very strong statement against interpersonal violence,” Walsh Pio said. The project, which had been in the works before Prince’s death, will be displayed at the school Jan. 28 such that students will be able to add T-shirts to it, according to Walsh Pio.

http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2009/07/worker_at_friends_of_the_homel.html

Mass. Haitians Mobilize To Help Victims

BOSTON -- Members of the large Haitian community in Massachusetts geared up to help their homeland as they struggle to get word about loved ones, WCVB in Boston reported.
Boston will open a crisis center Thursday for the city's Haitian population. The city is home to an estimated 50,000 to 60,000 Haitian-Americans.
Translators and crisis counselors will be on hand, providing phone lines for families who need help contacting loved ones.
Hundreds of Boston's Haitians gathered at the city's Cathedral of the Holy Cross Wednesday night, filled with uncertainty.
"No contact at all, so it's kind of nerve-wracking. We're just waiting, hoping." Edna Laurent-Tellus said.
"One of my nephews, OK, gone. And I got a nephew, a niece, with no place to stay," said a man sitting in one of the packed pews.
Many at the service had cell phones pressed to their ears, anxiously waiting for word.
"You are frightened for your families, you are worried. I am here to tell you: You are not alone. You are not alone," Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick told them.
Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry spoke to the gathering in both English and French, telling them that one of the obstacles in the way of delivering aid to Haiti has been the loss of communications. He said several U.S. Navy ships were on the way to the Caribbean nation with search and rescue and medical crews.
State Rep. Linda Dorcena Forry reminded the gathering to make sure if they're donating funds to help to make sure they're giving to credible charities.
"It is important that we support organizations that are going to get the funds, the clothes and the food to Haiti and to the people," she said.
In the wake of the devastation, however, many members of the community were also turning their fears into action. Boston's Cardinal Sean O'Malley called for local parishes to collect relief funds for Catholic Relief Services during next weekend's services. Many state charities are still trying to determine how they can best help.
"People who are experts are on the ground trying to do assessments and find out what's going on, so it's very hard, right now, to start mobilizing supplies and those sorts of things, to send to Haiti," said Deborah Jackson of Boston's Red Cross.
Haitian business owners in the city's Mattapan neighborhood were organizing a Haitian relief task force and are creating teams to collect supplies and counsel local families.
"This one is a young kid they are trying to pull from his school," said Jacques Jean, a Haitian who has been glued to Internet pictures on his computer at the small technical school he runs in Mattapan since the quake shook his homeland Tuesday night.
He was relieved to get word that his father and eight brothers and sisters are OK.
"I don't trust any news that I'm getting until I can talk to them. I can hear their voices," Jean said.
He said he knows his neighbors feel the same anguish as they see the grim photos of the devastation in Haiti.
"We may have half a million people die in Haiti," he said.
He has put together a plan to learn the fate of the missing, with members of his school sending four volunteers to Haiti to try to get information.
"They going to have somebody go to that address and find the person, whether they dead or whether they're still alive. They will call me or send an e-mail to me, telling me, 'This is what happened to the family,' and I will call that family here," Jean said.
In less than a day, he put together a database of 300 names of local residents who are trying to get news of loved ones. His entire family is helping with the effort.
"I just hope that the people who have a breath out there can get some kind of help, because this is my country, too," his daughter, Nadine Jean, said.
Jean said no news is worse than bad news.
"I think everybody is ready for the bad news, because what we see in the news, we know we're going to have a lot of loss," he said.
A Massachusetts woman was among 14 students enrolled at a Florida university who was in Haiti during the earthquake. Her elated parents received word Thursday morning that she had been found alive.
Britney Gengel, 19, of Rutland, is a social work major at Lynn University in Boca Raton. Her group had been staying at the Hotel Montana in Port-au-Prince, working on a public service project with Food for the Poor, a non-profit organization.
She was not listed in initial reports of those who had been found alive, but her father Len said she was located and en route to Port-Au-Prince.
"There is such positive energy around here. We are just thrilled. We can't wait to go to Florida and bring her home," Britney's mother, Cheryl Ann, said.
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Mass. restores funding for veterans clinics

Gov. Deval Patrick says two outpatient veterans clinics in Massachusetts that had been closed because of the state's budget crisis will reopen.

The state cut $1.89 million from the clinics at the state soldiers' homes in Chelsea and Holyoke, prompting both to end outpatient services and sparking outrage from veterans and their advocates statewide. The clinics provide free outpatient care, including vision and dental care, physical therapy and a pharmacy.

The administration said veterans could get the same medical care at other facilities.

Patrick said Tuesday that funding for both would be restored "because of improving state revenues and the compelling needs of our veterans."

Veterans advocates say they are still concerned about the long-term viability of the clinics.

After surviving outside for decades, one Revere character dies when taken inside for help

In Revere, there are regular people you get to know - your friends and neighbors, co-workers and acquaintances - and then there are the characters in the city that no one really knows but everyone knows of.

One of those characters - Roger Dipesa, a long-time local homeless man who suffered from mental illness - passed away on Christmas Eve at a hospital in Salem after some possible mysterious circumstances took place in a Salem homeless shelter.

Haitians here need support, too

The Executive Director of Catholic Charities in Boston was quoted on the WBUR webpage today:

Residents like [woman profiled] will need support for a long time, according to Tiziana Dearing. She heads Catholic Charities in Boston, and expects Haitians here will send “every penny they can” to help family in Haiti. “We are talking about months and years of sustained need,” she says. “Both on the ground in Haiti, and for Haitian families in the United States who will have a whole range of new responsibilities, economic burdens and needs as a result of this.”

MLK State of the Dream 2010: Drained

Boston-based United for a Fair Economy has released its annual report looking at the extent to which MLK's dream for equal economic opportunity has been realized. The first statistic: "As of December 2009, 16.2% of African Americans and 12.9% of Latinos are unemployed, compared to 9% of whites" (p. 5).

Find new ways to operate, nonprofits!

That was the message yesterday at a Boston forum sponsored by the Associated Grant Makers. According to massnonprofit.org's "Wednesday Report," three key lessons were: get involved in legislative advocacy, get better at communicating what you accomplish, and become more efficient.

Boston Gang Outreach Worker's Shooter on Trial

Public radio station WBUR broadcast a sympathetic story today about a gang outreach worker who was shot last summer. He had one troubled young man in his car when a rival gang member came over to the car and tried to shoot the young man. Instead, the gang member shot the outreach worker. The shooter was charged with the crime in December. The radio piece asks what the training and support should be for workers like William Harvey who is out on disability with vastly less compensation than a police officer or firefighter would be after a job-related injury.

Westford man charged with killing wife

The Worcester Telegram reports that Frederick Leduc is being charged with first-degree murder now that his wife has died. Frederick allegedly shot his 43-year-old wife Karen before shooting himself in the chin.

Low-income moms losing access to child care help

The Mass Budget and Policy Center reported today that the state has been decreasing funds allotted for child care subsidies over the past year. In order to maintain their subsidies, parents must work at least 30 hours per week but many of the moms coming to the YMCA in Springfield have seen their hours cut because of the downturn in the economy. It's tough because if they lose their subsidies, the moms will struggle to find a safe place for their kids while the moms try to keep their diminished jobs.

DYS clients assault staff members in Brewster

Five teenagers in juvenile detention at the Department of Youth Services program on the Cape are reported to have assaulted three staff members on Saturday night. The Cape Cod Times in its efforts to understand how the disturbance could have occurred asked about staff training, which is reported as 40 hours in the classroom and 40 hours shadowing senior staff members, followed by yearly recertification.

OpEd: charging residents of mobile homes in Chelmsford

An interesting OpEd describes a political battle over whether the homes in a Chelmsford Mobile Home Park are truly mobile. By law, trailers have been charged a sales tax at purchase and are not required to pay property tax. Chelmsford has been trying to come up with additional revenue sources and drastically increased the property value of the land at the park, based on the argument that the mobile homes are permanently located there and adding value to the property. As a result, the landowner's taxes went up, so he passed along the cost to the residents - at a rate of $40/month. The author writes that $40 is a substantial amount for the many families at the park who are living on the edge. It sure is!

What teamwork!

The Cape Cod Times has a heartwarming story about amazing cross-organization teamwork that kept an elderly woman in her house. After 82-year-old Suzanne McKeown fell at home and broke her neck, she went into a nursing home and the six month stay ran through all her savings. She almost lost her house and turned to the Cape Organization for the Rights of the Disabled. One of their independent-living advocates is Kristin Jung:

"Jung, whose job is to help people in institutions regain their independence, set about advising the McKeowns of their legal rights. She helped them get an equity loan to pay the nursing facility. She began seeking grant money to make the McKeown home handicapped accessible. She negotiated with the Bourne Manor lawyers. She called state legislators to ask advice on how to stall a sheriff's auction until the McKeowns equity loan came in....Before the end of 2009, the home had been renovated and financing was in place. The final Christmas present came in mid-December, when the Barnstable County Sheriff's Community Service Crew — the inmate work crew — constructed a wheelchair ramp outside the home."

Renters: get renters insurance!

After one in a series of house fires in Northampton, an insurance agent urges renters to buy a policy that could cost about $200/year. Fewer than half of renters get a policy, which is the only thing that would cover the loss of furniture, computers, etc. in their unit - the landlord's policy doesn't cover that. This is a huge issue! In many cases, people are renting because they can't afford to buy a condo or house. And moderate-income families are going to have an awfully hard time buying new living room furniture, electronics (toaster, microwave), clothing, etc., at the same time that they have to move while repairs are made to their unit.

Fall River company lays off 66 workers

Cardinal Health Systems is closing its Fall River plant by early March and laying off 66 people.

Fall River HS & middle schools lose resource officers

Fall River had police officers at the schools until Jan. The school department has been paying for resource officers at one of the high schools, but these particular positions lost had been paid out of the police department.

Teens volunteering to paint Youth Center in Lee

Teenage participants are working through their winter break to paint the youth center in Lee, MA, that doubles as a preschool center, youth breakfast site, and after-school center.