Somerville student earns Honor Roll award in national math competition 

Somerville third grader Jaron Jaspan, a third grade student at the Acera School in Winchester, earned an Honor Roll award in the Spring 2023 Noetic Learning Math Contest. An Honor Roll award designates a top 10% placement nationally. The event drew more than 35,000 students from 46 states. 

In addition to Jaspan, 13 other Acera students placed in the top 10%.

The Noetic Learning Math Contest is a biannual math contest for elementary and middle school students. The contest encourages students’ interest in math, develops their problem solving skills, and inspires them to excel. 

Acera, a nonprofit K-12 STEM school, places its students in math classes based upon start of year assessments that clarify what each student is ready to learn, regardless of age. All math classes occur at the same time, allowing students to be placed in classes based on what they are ready to learn, rather than by age or grade. In the 2022-23 school year, Acera’s 143 students were placed in one of 16 different math classes. Watch a video to see a glimpse of math at Acera.

Viktor Grigoryan, Acera’s Math Curriculum Coordinator, sees real student bonding and support as a result of contests like Noetic. 

“After every math contest we host, the hallways are abuzz with mathematical conversations, and students asking each other and the teachers about certain problems, or continuing to collaborate on some of those problems,” he said. “Math is indeed a bonding activity, and that’s another reason we math-enthusiasts enjoy it so much!”

“Ability-based math classes free students to learn without constraints due to age or curricula,” said Acera founder and director Courtney Dickinson. “We have found that in this type of framework, new possibilities open up for math experiences for all kids. Math class becomes a place where kids get to learn in a way that fits their thinking style and readiness in applied and game-based ways. The satisfaction of figuring out hard problems – and applying a wide array of strategies to get there – enables students to manifest a growth mindset every day.”

Through its Education Innovation Initiative (AceraEI), Acera is working to help more public schools implement this ability-based approach.

Founded in 2010, Acera is a nonprofit K-12th grade STEM school that engages students in individualized, project-based learning that is designed around their passions and aligned with their own abilities. Acera’s Education Innovation Initiative (AceraEI) is partnering with other educators and STEM industry leaders to export its pilot-tested curricula to public schools. In addition to K-12 education, Acera offers daily after-school enrichment programs as well as February, April, and summer vacation camps. For more information, visit aceraschool.org.

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The Middlesex Concert Band will present a “Spring Into Summer” Concert on Sun. June 18th at 3 PM at Galvin Middle School Auditorium in Wakefield, MA.  The local concert band will present an afternoon of “golden nuggets,” pieces sure to appeal to a wide audience. 

Some of the works that will be included in the concert are Variations on a Korean Folk Song, by John Barnes Chance; Symphony No. 3 for Band by Vittorio Giannini; Polka and Fugue by Jaromir Weingerger; and A Mother of a Revolution! by Omar Thomas, a piece commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots.  Also included on the program is the whimsical Rollo Takes a Walk by David Mslanka, the crowd-pleasing Cascading Trumpets by Albert Oliver Davis, and Mendelssohn’s Overture for Winds.

The Middlesex Concert Band is a nonprofit community band based in Wakefield, MA, that regularly performs concerts in Wakefield and surrounding communities. Originally founded in the 1950s as a marching band, the group later evolved into a concert band which gave its first performance in the spring of 1975 at Memorial Hall in Melrose. Since then, it has become one of the area’s outstanding community music organizations, performing in indoor venues from September through June and presenting free outdoor concerts during July.  The Director of the Band is Mark Olson, who also serves as Director of Bands at Harvard University. 

Thanks to a generous gift from an anonymous donor, the MiddlesexConcert Band’s June 18th concert will be free of charge. ___________________________

Statewide Rally and Lobby Day for Rent Control and Foreclosure Prevention 1

WHEN: 10AM-1PM, Thursday, June 1, 2023
Rally and Community Lobby Day schedule: 
Legislative Briefing in Room 428: 10am – 11am
Rally on the State House Steps: 11am – 12pm
Community Lobbying: 12pm – 1pm

WHERE: In Room 428 and on front steps of the Massachusetts State House, 24 Beacon St, Boston, MA 02133

CONTACT:
Gabriela Cartagena, co-Director of Communications at City Life/Vida Urbana, (617-971-6543) gcartagena@clvu.org (English-Spanish press), Grace Holley, co-Director of Communications at City Life/Vida Urbana, (781-844-7431), grace@clvu.org

WHO: Homes For All Massachusetts with housing advocate partners; labor unions; allied community organizations; multi-generational, multilingual tenants and homeowners from neighborhoods across Boston and Massachusetts 

WHAT: Housing justice advocates have been fighting to bring rent control back to Massachusetts since it was banned in 1994, when the real estate industry organized nationally to roll back tenant protections. With rents spiraling out of control, foreclosures accelerating, and displacement decimating working class neighborhoods and communities of color, grassroots housing justice groups are mobilizing to demand an end to the statewide ban on local rent control and implementation of a foreclosure prevention program. On Thursday, June 1 at 10AM, Homes For All Massachusetts, with housing advocates, allies and supporters from across the state, will gather to demand the legislature act NOW and pass two critically important pieces of legislation: 

  • An Act enabling cities and towns to stabilize rents and protect tenants S.1299 (Sen. Jehlen & Sen. Gomez) / H.2103 (Rep. Dave Rogers & Rep. Montaño) would repeal the ban on rent control and enable municipalities to enact local rent control ordinances to stabilize housing costs and prevent no-cause evictions. 
  • An Act establishing a Massachusetts foreclosure prevention program S.653 (Sen. Gomez & Rep. Barber) / H.942 (Rep. Barber & Rep. Capano) would establish a statewide Foreclosure Prevention Program to require servicers to participate in pre-foreclosure mediation with homeowners to explore alternatives to foreclosure.

Massachusetts residents are in a housing affordability and displacement crisis. Someone earning a minimum wage must work 105 hours per week to afford a 2-bedroom apartment at fair market rent. And because of the legacy of historically racist housing policies, Black and Latinx families are even less likely to have access to affordable, stable housing. Homes for All Massachusetts stands with Massachusetts residents who demand legislators act this session to end the ban on local rent control and create a statewide foreclosure prevention program. 

Since 1994, rents and housing costs have spiraled far out of reach for working families and especially for people of color and single-parent households. Homes For All Massachusetts members support a range of legislation to address the issues of displacement and lack of affordable housing, but prioritize rent control – with a 5% cap –  and a foreclosure prevention program as immediate needs to curb displacement. 

Maritza Rodriguez of Lynn is currently facing a no-cause eviction after being unable to pay the rent increase of over $600 per month demanded by the absentee landlord who purchased the building where she lives. “This situation has turned my life inside out,” said Rodriguez. “I’ve lived here for 25 years and now I’m in danger of being forced out. I can’t sleep and I’m living with a knot in my throat. Every time someone knocks on my door I worry that it’s the landlord coming to put pressure on me. If we had rent control this never would have happened.”

As rents continue to rise, foreclosure petitions are also up 100% from 2 years ago in the first quarter, climbing 80% in the first quarter of 2022 and another 20% over last year’s numbers in the first quarter of 2023. Rose Webster-Smith of Springfield No One Leaves notes, “If we had already implemented the foreclosure prevention bill, we would have raised over a million dollars just in the first quarter of this year. Small homeowners are struggling statewide with housing costs, and the foreclosure prevention bill will help them stay in their homes and build their lives in their communities.” 

Residents and advocates like Maritza and Rose know first-hand that trickle-down housing policies and the building of luxury market-rate housing will not address the real needs of the majority of Massachusetts residents– only rent control and foreclosure prevention will have the immediate impact needed to protect households and neighborhoods facing the permanent harm of displacement. On June 1, organizations across the state, along with the tenants and homeowners united against displacement and for community stability, will bring their fight for rent control and foreclosure prevention to the State House.

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Rev Clinics Announces Rebranding and Expansion into Recreational Cannabis Market 

The Somerville dispensary has begun welcoming recreational customers 

Rev Clinics, the leading medical cannabis company in Massachusetts, today announced its new rebranding campaign and the long-awaited expansion into the recreational cannabis market. With the appointment of Mindaugas Maciulis as the new CEO, the company is poised to enter the next phase of growth and development.

 Rev Clinics has been providing safe access to high-quality medical cannabis products for patients in Massachusetts since 2018. With the expansion into recreational cannabis, Revolutionary Clinics, now Rev Clinics (Medical), Rev Cannabis (Recreational), aims to provide the same level of quality and care to all cannabis consumers throughout Massachusetts. To coincide, the rebranding campaign includes a new name, logo, and visual identity that reflects the company’s growth and commitment to inclusivity in the local cannabis community. 

“After having gone through various challenges like many in the cannabis industry, we’re thrilled to announce the rebranding of Rev and the expansion of our business to include recreational cannabis,” said CEO Mindaugas Maciulis. “Our goal is to continue providing our patients with the highest quality products and services while also finally welcoming the broader community to experience the benefits of cannabis.”

To help kick things off into this next phase of the company, Rev has renewed their grow with over a dozen new high-quality strains due to be harvested by the end of the month heralding a new era for the company. 

Rev currently has three medical marijuana dispensaries in Cambridge and Somerville. The Somerville dispensary will now welcome recreational customers. The building will have a dedicated storefront for medical cannabis patients (Rev Clinics), and a separate storefront for adult-use customers (Rev Cannabis).

“Our new logo and name represent our dedication to inclusivity,” said Maciulis. “It is a more progressive, optimistic, and compassionate approach to cannabis, and represents our commitment to including and serving all communities.”

Rev Clinics is excited to extend its services to recreational users to maintain its reputation as a go-to destination for cannabis customers. For more information, visit www.revolutionaryclinics.org.

ABOUT REV BRANDS

Founded in 2018, Rev Brands is a leading cannabis manufacturer and wholesale operator exclusive to Massachusetts. Rev Brands is committed to delivering greater reliability from seed through service with a focus on quality and variety in its products lines. Rev Brands is guided by customer feedback to meet the demand for novel products and searches for the most unique and viable strains to deliver high-quality products throughout dispensaries in Massachusetts. Revolutionary Farms, its grow facility in Fitchburg, is the largest and most high-tech in the state with more than thirty-five grow rooms. The facility supplies over 150 retail establishments with sought-after products and flower. Rev Brands employs more than 250 employees across its manufacturing and wholesale operations and proudly supports the local industry by using local vendors and donating time and money to community causes. To learn more, visit https://revbrands.org/

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Voices of Poetry – Back in Cambridge
Sunday, December 11, 2022 at 2:00 pm E.D.T.
Cambridge Public Library
449 Broadway, Cambridge, MA
FREE & open to all. Registration NOT required.
Handicap accessible.

 

Voices of Poetry is pleased to present a FREE program of exceptional poetry & music – on Sunday, December 11, 2022 at 2 pm E.D.T. at Cambridge Public Library. This event will feature five acclaimed contemporary poets: Mary Buchinger, Tom Daley, Chard DeNiord, Paul Nemser & Tzynya Pinchback. Music will be performed by guitarist / composer Sebastien Jean

Mary Buchinger, former President of New England Poetry Club, is the author of three full-length poetry collections – Virology (Lily Poetry Review, 2022); e i n f ü h l u n g / in feeling (Main Street Rag, 2018); and Aerialist (Gold Wake, 2015), shortlisted for the May Swenson Poetry Award, the OSU Press/The Journal Wheeler Prize for Poetry & the Perugia Press Prize – and the chapbook, /klaʊdz/ (Lily Poetry Review, 2021).  Her most recent poetry collection – Navigating the Reach (Salmon Poetry) – is forthcoming.  Mary has worked in Ecuador as a Peace Corps volunteer, and earned a doctorate in linguistics from Boston University. She is a professor of English and communication studies at MCPHS University in Boston.

Tom Daley leads writing workshops in the Boston area and online. Recipient of the Dana Award in Poetry, his poetry has appeared in Harvard Review, Massachusetts Review, Fence, Denver Quarterly, Crazyhorse, Witness, Poetry Ireland Review, museum of americana, and elsewhere. He is the author of two plays, Every Broom and Bridget—Emily Dickinson and Her Irish Servants and In His Ecstasy—The Passion of Gerard Manley Hopkins, which he performs as one-man shows. He is the author of two poetry collections: Far Cry (Ethel Zine & Micro Press, 2022); and House You Cannot Reach—Poems in the Voice of My Mother and Other Poems (FutureCycle Press, 2015).

 

Chard DeNiord – Poet Laureate of Vermont – was co-founder of the New England College MFA program in poetry.  He is the author of several poetry collections, including In My Unknowing (University of Pittsburgh Press, 2020); The Double Truth (University of Pittsburgh Press, 2011); Night Mowing (University of Pittsburgh Press, 2005); Sharp Golden Thorn (Marsh Hawk Press, 2003); and Asleep in the Fire (University of Alabama Press, 1990).  He is also the author of two collections of interviews of American poets, including Robert Bly, Lucille Clifton, Jack Gilbert, Donald Hall, Galway Kinnell, Maxine Kumin & Ruth Stone: I Would Lie to You if I Could (University of Pittsburgh Press, 2018); and Sad Friends, Drowned Lovers, Stapled Songs (Marick Press, 2011). Chard has been a Poetry Fellow at the Sewanee Writers’ Conference and the Allan Collins Scholar in Poetry at the Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference. He is a recipient of a Pushcart Prize, and his poems have been included in the anthologies Pushcart Prize XXII (1998), Best American Poetry (1999), Best of the Prose Poem (2000), American Religious Poems (2006), and American Poetry Now (2007).

Paul Nemser – a practicing attorney at Goodwin Procter in Boston & a former member of the Executive Committee of the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law of the Boston Bar Association – is the author of several poetry collections: A Thousand Curves (Red Mountain Press, 2021), winner of the Editor’s Choice Award; Taurus (New American Press, 2013), which won the 2011 New American Poetry Prize; and the chapbook Tales of the Tetragrammaton (Mayapple Press, 2014). His work has been published in various journals, including AGNI, Beloit Poetry Journal, Kenyon Review, London Review of Books, The Missouri Review and Plume. Paul was co-translator of two books of Ukrainian poetry:  BI Antonych, Square of Angels (Ardis 1977), and I Drach, Orchard Lamps (Sheep Meadow 1978).

Tzynya Pinchback is the author of How to Make Pink Confetti (Dancing Girl Press, 2012), which was nominated for a Pushcart Prize and Best of the Net. Her poetry has been published in various journals, including Deaf Poets Society, Mom Egg Review and Naugatuck River Review.  She has received fellowships from Cordial Eye Gallery in Hyannis, MA, Hurston/Wright Foundation, and was a finalist for 2020 Plymouth Poet Laureate. Tzynya is currently participating in Writing the Land – a project connecting writers to conserved landscapes across the Northeast.

Guitarist /composer Sebastien Jean received his BA in music/composition from UMass Boston and received an MFA in musicology from Brandeis University.  He has performed as a lead guitarist with various bands & ensembles playing music ranging from classical to heavy metal.  As a soloist, he specializes in interpreting /arranging classical and jazz standards for electric guitar.

 

Voices of Poetry was formed by Pushcart Prize-nominated poet and poetry activist Neil Silberblatt. Since 2012, VOP has presented more than 400 poetry events in NY, NJ, CT and MA. Those events – which have featured Poets Laureate and Pulitzer Prize winners/nominees, as well as those who have not (yet) published a word – have been presented at numerous venues, including Provincetown Art Association & Museum; The Rubin Museum of Art, McNally Jackson Books, and Jefferson Market Library in NYC; Chesterwood in Stockbridge, MA; and The Mount / Edith Wharton’s home in Lenox, MA.  VOP has been awarded grants by Mass. Cultural Council for several of its events.

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April vacation week is upon us and families are looking for safe, fun things to do! Holiday Inn Boston Bunker Hill, located at 30 Washington St., is the perfect hotel for a staycation in MA; ideal for families who want to be close to the city (less than 2 mi. away) and have access to plenty of family friendly activities. Kids under 18 stay and eat free. In addition to its proximity to the city, HIBBH is also very close to Assembly Row where the parents can shop while the kids play at Legoland! 

April Vacation Week Activities April 16 – April 25, 2021

Available for all guest stays during vacation week.

 DAILY

Dive-In Movies (movies that are shown on a 16FT big screen at the indoor pool) Daily  

Pop Up Beer/Wine Bar 4 – 6 p.m.  DAILY (to-go)  

 Monday/Wednesday/Friday

Pop Up Lego Building Activity 4 – 6 p.m. 

 Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday

Pop Up Rice Krispy Treats – 4 – 6 p.m. 

Tuesday

Pop Up Lemonade Stand

 Thursday

Pop Up Hot Cocoa Station with fun add-ins

 Sunday

Pop Up Craft Station

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Greg Nadeau has announced his candidacy for Ward 7 School Committee in November’s election.  

“I am running for Ward 7’s seat on the Somerville School Committee to address the inequities laid bare by this pandemic in an education system that too often neglects out-of-school-time programming and social learning,” said Nadeau.

Nadeau has dedicated his life to public education. In addition to his professional career in educational systems, he has been active with Somerville schools.  

“As our two boys grew up, I helped establish local after-school programs and plan future playgrounds,” Nadeau said.  Since 2017, Nadeau has served as a founding board member of the Somerville Education Foundation, a partnership with the City, school district, and community partners. It has raised and distributed over $300,000 to support equitable access to out-of-school-time programming, child care, and STEM innovations.

Nadeau said, “If elected, I would seek to:

  • Ensure the School Committee progresses in its role  as an effective policy board that will  set priorities and hold the district administration accountable for specific measurable results
  • Establish a West Somerville, youth-led, decentralized, autonomous organization as a model for citywide engagement and restorative justice
  • Work with Somerville educators to accelerate the adoption of more personalized, competency-based assessments, grading, and communication about learning”

Any Ward 7 voters interested in meeting to share ideas about working together to better support Somerville young people, should register their interest at PeopleWorkingWithGregNadeau.org.  Three Zoom meetings are scheduled at:

  • Monday, April 5, 7-8 PM
  • Sunday, April 10, 4-5 PM
  • Wednesday, April 14, 5-6 PM

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MassMutual Consumer Spending & Saving Index: Americans believe COVID-19 caused the Worst Economic Downturn but are Optimistic about their Finances

As the one-year anniversary of the COVID-19 pandemic reached the United States, surprisingly, nearly seven-in-ten (69%) Americans revealed that they are optimistic about their current financial outlook and nearly one-third (30%) are more optimistic compared to previous economic downturns according to the MassMutual Consumer Spending & Saving Index, released today. This is despite the vast majority (77%) agreeing that the health crisis caused the worst economic downtown in their lifetimes.

“While the pandemic continues to have major impacts on our lives, it’s encouraging that many are optimistic about their financial future as we prepare for better days ahead,” said Mike Fanning, head of MassMutual US. “For nearly 170 years, we have been here to help people prepare for difficult, unforeseen circumstances and take steps to help them secure their future and protect the ones they love.”

 Saving in a pandemic economy 

Saving has been difficult with almost half of survey respondents (49%) saying they have saved less than $500 in the past three months, and 40% of those who saved less than $500 were directly impacted by job loss or a salary decrease. Other key findings:

  • More than half of Americans (51%) had to dip into their savings over the last three months, and more than one-quarter (27%) had to withdraw $1,000 or more from savings accounts, including 21% of Boomers and 30% of Gen Z/Millennials.

 

  • Of those who dipped into savings, nearly one-third (32%) did so to help friends and family, the second most common reason after paying bills (55%), while more than a quarter used the funds to pay their mortgage/rent (28%).

 

  • Gen Z/Millennials’ primary reason for saving under $500 is job loss (33%) and one-quarter of Gen Z/Millennials are having trouble covering day-to-day expenses.

 

  • Among those who have been able to save, a rainy-day fund (46%) and retirement (39%) top the list of savings priorities. A quarter (24%) are also saving for a new home and/or home renovations. 

 

Boomers taking a cue from past downturns 

Despite having lived through other economic declines such as the dot-com burst and 2008 recession, a majority (72%) of Boomers agree this is the worst economic downturn they have seen. However, the Index found that Boomers, drawing from lessons of the past, were far more likely than younger generations to have adopted positive financial habits to prepare and say the financial advice they would impart on younger generations is to save as early as possible for retirement. Other key findings:

  • Two-thirds of Boomers pay their bills on time (vs. only 52% Gen X and 49% Gen Z/Millennials).
  • Half (50%) have eliminated spending on non-essential things (vs. 43% Gen X and 39% Gen Z/Millennials).
  • More than a quarter (27%) have built a larger emergency fund in case of severe downturns and nearly half (46%) are currently saving for an emergency fund.

 

Pocketbooks reopening?

The majority (68%) of respondents reported that they did not make any unanticipated big purchases and 37% reported spending less during the pandemic. As we look ahead to a “return to normal,” many plan to adjust savings and spending behaviors accordingly:

  • Nearly one-third (31%) say they’re saving more now to prepare for increased spending in the spring and 29% are saving up to take a vacation.

 

  • Millennials/Gen Z are preparing most for “life as usual” to resume, with 41% saving more for future spending and 30% saving for a vacation.

 

“No one has ever regretted being too prepared or having saved too much for when times got tough or for when an opportunity surfaced, which has proven out this past year,” added Fanning. “Building a financial cushion for emergencies and the future, and constantly assessing your financial plans and preparedness against changing circumstances, are key to both navigating current challenges and building financial security for a lifetime.”  

Methodology 

 The MassMutual Consumer Spending & Saving Index tracks financial outlooks and behaviors in a changing economic environment. It offers an in-depth snapshot of people’s saving and spending behaviors and examines outlooks and attitudes being tapped to navigate the financial impacts of the pandemic and the changing state of the economy.  The MassMutual Consumer Spending & Saving Index was conducted online from February 19 to March 1, 2021 by PSB Insights using a nationally representative sample of 1,000 Americans and an oversample of 500 American Boomers. Results are nationally representative of age, gender, race, ethnicity and education. For full research results, visit massmutual.com/2021SpringIndex. (For prior research results, visit our research center.)

 About MassMutual

MassMutual is a leading mutual life insurance company that is run for the benefit of its members and participating policyowners. Founded in 1851, the company has been continually guided by one consistent purpose: we help people secure their future and protect the ones they love. With a focus on delivering long-term value, MassMutual offers a wide range of protection, accumulation, wealth management and retirement products and services. For more information, visit www.massmutual.com.

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THE FOOD LENS DEBUTS DIGITAL COOKBOOK, DINING IN BOSTON, TO BENEFIT LOCAL RESTAURANT RELIEF

Dining Resource’s First Cookbook Highlights Cuisine from Greater Boston and Beyond

 The Food Lens, an online dining resource that helps readers discover the best food, drink, and happenings in Boston, will debut its first digital cookbook, Dining in Boston, this week. Founders Molly Ford and Sarah Jesup compiled more than 40 recipes from the area’s best chefs and restaurants in an effort to bring their readers a new way to experience local dining at home during Covid-19. A portion of proceeds from Dining in Boston will benefit Massachusetts Restaurants United (MRU) to help strengthen and support the industry after a challenging year.

A continuation of their mission to help readers to find the area’s best eats, The Food Lens’ digital cookbook highlights the many chefs and restaurants that make Boston’s food scene so special. From tiny, six-table eateries like Angela’s Cafe in East Boston, to transportive Somalian food at Tawakal in Cambridge, and award-winning bites like Craigie on Main’s legendary Craigie Burger, the cookbook offers a true taste of Boston’s broad dining culture.

Recipe highlights include:

  • Ceviche de Pescado from Celeste in Union Square
  • Roast Beef 1000 from Cutty’s in Brookline
  • Broccoli Alla Griglia Caesar from Fox & the Knife in South Boston
  • Kara-age Fried Chicken from Little Big Diner in Newton
  • Double Awesome from Mei Mei in Fenway
  • Focaccia from Mida in the South End
  • Chickpea and Spinach Stew from Tawakal Halal Cafe in East Boston
  • Ethel’s Creamy Lobster Roll from Row 34 in Fort Point
  • And more than 30 other local favorites.

“We find purpose in our work to showcase the area’s many talented chefs every day, but this effort feels particularly meaningful as we look back on a year of Covid-19 and the devastating toll it has taken on the city’s hospitality industry,” said The Food Lens Co-Founder, Molly Ford. “Our hope is to not only offer our readers with another fun and dynamic way to experience their favorite spots, but also to give back to the restaurant community that we love so deeply,” added Co-Founder Sarah Jesup.

A portion of every copy of Dining in Boston sold will be donated directly to Massachusetts Restaurants United, a grassroots coalition of independent restaurant professionals created to advocate for the industry and to plan solutions to survive, repair and rebuild in the time of COVID-19 and beyond. The Food Lens’ digital cookbook, Dining in Boston is available for purchase at thefoodlens.com/shop for $14.00, with 10% of every sale contributing to MRU’s mission to not only help local restaurants survive the pandemic, but to keep them open and thriving long after the spread of Covid-19.

For additional information about Dining in Boston and The Food Lens, please contact Mary DiLeo of All Heart PR at (978) 998-0240 or mary@allheartpr.com.

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Massachusetts AFL-CIO, Laborer’s International Union, others  Endorse Erika Uyterhoeven for State Representative

Over the past few weeks, Erika Uyterhoeven, candidate for Massachusetts State Representative for the 27th Middlesex District in Somerville, has received endorsements from ten labor unions in Massachusetts. 

“I am honored to have the support of so many union members. The heart of our democracy is democracy in the workplace. I stand–and will continue to stand–with workers fighting for fair wages and respect and dignity in the workplace every day,” said Uyterhoeven. “I am who I am today because of organized labor. Having been raised by a single mom, who was a flight attendant and member of a union, I intimately understand how strong unions change people’s lives for generations, and I will do everything I can for other people to receive the same benefits my family did.”

To date, Erika has received endorsements from the following labor unions:

  • Massachusetts AFL-CIO

  • Laborer’s International Union of North America, Massachusetts & Northern New England Laborers’ District Council

  • American Federation of Teachers – Massachusetts

  • Massachusetts Nurses Association 

  • Massachusetts Building Trades Council

  • Service Employees International Union 1199

  • Elevator Constructors Local 4

  • International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Works 

  • Heat & Frost Insulators and Allied Workers Local 6

  • International Union of Operating Engineers Local 4

 

 

Erika Uyterhoeven is running for State Representative in the 27th Middlesex District in the Democratic Party primary on September 1st. To learn more about the campaign, visit www.electerika.com, Facebook: fb.me/electerika, Twitter: @erika4rep.

 

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The Salvation Army of Massachusetts Honors Coats for Kids™ and its Corporate Partners with Prestigious ‘Others Award’

Nonprofit organization and its three corporate partners recognized for their service at the Salvation Army Annual Luncheon

The Salvation Army Massachusetts Division honored Coats for Kids™ and its corporate partners Arthur C. Anton, Jr., COO of Anton’s Cleaners, Inc.; Eliot Tatelman, President of Jordan’s Furniture; and Jack Clancy, CEO of Enterprise Bank with the prestigious Others Award for their many years of service and dedication to the organization.

The mission of Coats for Kids is simple, yet powerful – “anyone who needs a coat will have one.” More than 250 schools, 300 companies, clubs and organizations, and thousands of individuals donate quality coats, which the organization then distributes free of charge to quality social service agencies, including The Salvation Army Massachusetts Division.

There are 73 Coats for Kids corporate partner locations in addition to hundreds of additional drop-off locations in schools and company offices throughout the state.

The Salvation Army’s Others Award is presented to individuals and organizations who exemplify an extraordinary spirit of service to others. Over the 25 years, Coats for Kids has cleaned and distributed over 60,000 coats for children and adults in Massachusetts each year. Coats for Kids has also sponsored The Salvation Army’s largest Boston area coat drive event – the Christmas Castle – for over 10 years, distributing coats to over 4,000 households in need.

“Coats for Kids and its corporate partners have played an integral role in providing coats to thousands of Massachusetts children and families who otherwise might not be able to stay warm during the winter months,” said Major Marcus Jugenheimer, General Secretary of The Massachusetts Salvation Army. “The support and dedication of Coats for Kids, Mr. Anton Jr., Mr. Tatelman and Mr. Clancy has been tremendous, and their commitment continues to help The Salvation Army fulfills its mission of serving all those in need. We’re honored to recognized them with the Others Award.”

In addition to work with Coats for Kids, Anton, Jr. has also been serving on The Salvation Army’s Greater Boston Advisory Board since 2014, after a history of working with the Army through the ongoing efforts of Coats for Kids.

About The Others Award

Founder William Booth wanted to encapsulate the Salvation Army mission and ministry to his officers worldwide, when the time came he chose one word to send in a global telegram: “others.” The Others Award is bestowed on an individual exemplifying extraordinary service to others.

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TREASURER GOLDBERG WARNS OF LOTTERY SCAM TEXT MESSAGES

 Illegitimate text messages are being sent claiming to be from the Massachusetts State Lottery. The texts say, “Hi this is Kim with the MA Lottery. Please reply when you get a chance. I have some great news.” According to Treasurer Deborah Goldberg, these texts are a scam and have not been sent by the Lottery.

“It has come to our attention that text messages claiming to be from the Massachusetts State Lottery have been sent to residents across the state,” said State Treasurer Deborah Goldberg. “Our goal is to ensure that no Massachusetts citizen is taken advantage of as part of this scam.”

 If you have any questions, please contact the Treasurer’s office at (617) 367-6900.

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Treasurer Goldberg Kicks Off BabySteps Press Tour

Statewide Educational Savings Program Provides $50 Deposit to all Newborns

State Treasurer Deborah B. Goldberg kicked off her press tour at UMass Memorial Medical Center for the BabySteps Savings Plan, which launched on January 1st. The Treasurer will be visiting hospitals across the Commonwealth in 2020 to raise awareness for this groundbreaking program, which encourages families to plan and save for their children’s future. Through the BabySteps Savings Plan, every child born or adopted in Massachusetts is eligible for a free $50 seed deposit into a post-secondary education or vocational training savings account.

“BabySteps began with a pilot in Worcester and helped hundreds of families begin saving for their children’s future,” said Treasurer Goldberg. “We learned so many important lessons from working with such a diverse and innovative city. And now we are excited to roll out our BabySteps Savings Plan statewide.”

Treasurer Goldberg met with new parents to discuss BabySteps and how this program can help families start saving for their children’s future. All new parents/guardians in Massachusetts will have one year after the child is born or adopted to open a U.Fund 529 college savings account in order to receive the $50 deposit. This program also provides free financial education resources and tools to any family, regardless of their participation in BabySteps.

 “We are honored that the Treasurer selected UMass Memorial Medical Center to help highlight this very important program,” said Douglas brown, President of Community Hospitals and Chief Administrative Officer for UMass Memorial Health Care. “Here in Worcester our Medical Center delivers about 4,400 babies annually so the contribution to our patient families alone will be about $220,000. This is a significant investment in the future of our tiniest patients and it is a great reminder to new parents that it is never too early to start planning for the future of their newborns.”

 “BabySteps Savings Plan expands on the amazing opportunity SeedMA provided to the Worcester community. A college education is a game changer,” said State Senator Harriette L. Chandler (D-Worcester). “I am so pleased that families across the Commonwealth will now receive access to the tools and support they need to help their children reach college.”

“I was honored to attend the launch of the BabySteps Savings Plan with Treasurer Goldberg,” said Senator Michael O. Moore (D-Millbury). “Amidst all our efforts to eliminate barriers to college access, ensuring students have college savings accounts is proven to have radical success. By implementing this program for all of the Commonwealth’s youngest residents, we can give future students and their families the time and information to start their journey towards a great education.”

 “Seeing the impact a college education can have on students who grew up in poverty inspired me to seed fund the BabySteps program,” said Bob Hildreth, Founder of Inversant and the Hildreth Institute. “This initial deposit is not just my commitment to making college more accessible for Massachusetts students. It’s also a challenge to foundations and philanthropists: Join me in pledging additional resources and motivating families to open savings accounts and save for their children’s future!”

 “Saving for college can help every child reach his or her dream, and starting to save as soon as a child is born will give families a head start. Through MEFA’s U.Fund 529 plan, recognized as ‘best-in-class’ among savings plans across the country, aspirations for a college education have become a reality for 20 years,” said Tom Graf, Executive Director of MEFA. “Planning early will provide children and families more options when it comes time to pursue that college dream.”

 The Department of Public Health has helped make this a seamless process. By adding the sign up to their official birth certificate forms, all parents have to do is check off the box to get the process going. For more information on the BabySteps Savings Plan, please visit BabyStepsSavingsPlan.org.

The BabySteps Savings Plan is offered by the MA State Treasurer’s Office of Economic Empowerment (OEE). On her first day in office, Treasurer Goldberg created OEE, led by a deputy treasurer, with the deliberate goal of implementing a range of economic empowerment initiatives that include closing the gender wage gap, increasing access to financial education, improving college affordability, and investing in STEM careers and education.

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The FBI Boston Violent Crimes Task Force is announcing a reward up to $10,000 and is seeking the public’s assistance in identifying the individual allegedly responsible for at least seven convenience store robberies and two attempted holdups at gas stations and convenience stores around the greater Boston area from August 2018 through March 2019.

We consider the ‘Inconvenient Crook’ to be armed and dangerous.

Photos and video of the suspect can be downloaded from the FBI’s seeking information poster which can be found here: https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/seeking-info/unknown-suspect—commercial-robberies

Anyone with information should call 857-386-2000. Tips can also be electronically submitted at tips.fbi.gov.

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Somerville Entrepreneur, Adaias Souza, Takes Top Honors for Providing Outstanding Customer Service

Allstate honors local agency owner for outstanding business performance

Allstate agency owners provide guidance to the customers in their communities, helping them to ensure they have the insurance coverage and financial services they need to protect them from the unthinkable. As an involved citizen and business leader, Somerville Allstate agency owner Adaias Souza and the Souza Agency are being recognized for their outstanding service and business results.

Allstate exclusive agency owner Adaias Souza has been awarded the distinctive Circle of Champions and Leaders Forum awards, as well as the Premier Agency designation. These awards are Allstate’s symbol of exceptional business. Honorees are proven to be champions in growing their agencies and delivering an excellent customer experience.

“It’s a tremendous honor to earn these prestigious awards from Allstate,” said Souza. “My agency is fully committed to helping Allstate’s customers better understand the risks they may face in their household and provide solutions that help meet those needs. We are extremely proud of this recognition and proud that so many customers trust us to help them with their insurance needs.”

Souza has nearly four years of experience with Allstate, having 10 years of industry experience before opening his Allstate agency in 2014. In addition to helping customers with their insurance needs, Souza is passionate about giving back to the community. He volunteers with Union Square Main Streets as a Board Member.

The Souza Agency is located at 53 Union Square in Somerville and can be reached at (617)623-7966 or brasilinsurance@allstate.com.

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MIDDLESEX FEDERAL OFFERS ASSISTANCE TO HOMEBUYERS THROUGH FHLB BOSTON PROGRAM
 

Middlesex Federal has been selected to participate in the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston’s Equity Builder Program, which assists local homebuyers with down-payment and closing costs as well as homebuyer counseling and rehabilitation assistance.The $3.1 million program provides grants to financial institutions to assist households at or below 80 percent of the area median income. Borrowers are eligible to receive up to $11,000 in assistance on a first come first serve basis. Buyers must also complete a homebuyer counseling program.“We are pleased to be able to offer this assistance to help ease some of the challenges associated with a home purchase. Homeownership is key to building wealth and creating financial stability, and programs that assist homebuyers are a critical component in ensuring that our communities continue to thrive,” said Michelle Gately, Middlesex Federal’s Vice President of Residential Lending.

Middlesex Federal is eligible to receive up to $110,000 in 2018 through the Equity Builder Program depending on availability of funds.Since 2003, the Equity Builder Program has awarded more than $35 million in EBP funds assisting 3,150 income-eligible households to purchase a home. To learn more about applying for assistance, please contact Michael McWilliams, Assistant Vice President – Loan Officer at 617-315-1562 (direct) or 617-688-2750 (cell) or by email at mfm@MiddlesexFederal.com.

About Middlesex Federal Savings
Middlesex Federal Savings is a full-service community bank located in Davis Square, Somerville with branch offices in Teele Square, Somerville and Medford Square, Medford, and a Walk-In Loan Center located on Highland Avenue in Davis Square. Middlesex Federal offers residential loans for the purchase or refinancing of one to four family units, including condominiums. For more than 125 years Middlesex Federal has understood the importance of local decision making.  The Bank remains committed to building strong, long-term personal and business relationships with neighbors throughout the greater Boston community.

About FHLB Boston
The Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston is a cooperatively owned wholesale bank for housing finance in the six New England states. Its mission is to provide highly reliable wholesale funding and liquidity to its member financial institutions in New England. The Bank also develops and delivers competitively priced financial products, services, and expertise that support housing finance, community development, and economic growth, including programs targeted to lower-income households.

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Former Boston City Councilor Tito Jackson Named Parenting Journey’s
First Social and Family Justice Fellow
 
Parenting Journey announced today that former Boston City Councilor Tito Jackson has been named its inaugural Social and Family Justice Fellow. Jackson will focus on public policy and civic engagement, building partnerships and developing a robust agenda to help lift families out of poverty.  
 
The three-month fellowship was created to help empower families through the intersection of economic justice and parenting, addressing three core challenges facing communities of color: reliable jobs with living wages, access to affordable housing, and workplace policies and protections that reflect the diverse needs of families. These inequities in our city perpetuate the cycles of poverty and trauma, add to the everyday stressors of parenting, and prevent parents from planning the futures they, and their families, deserve.
 
“Tito is a champion for the families of Boston and has demonstrated a commitment to social justice, communities of color, and empowering people to be their own champions. This commitment is aligned with Parenting Journey’s belief that parents have the power to build resilient families.  His expertise in public policy, advocacy and public service will help us shape a vibrant future for families,” said Executive Director Imari Paris Jeffries. 
 
“It’s a tremendous honor to be the inaugural Parenting Journey Fellow and this opportunity is a continuation of the issues that I advocated for as City Councilor. All too often poor and working parents and communities of color face barriers beyond the everyday trials and tribulations of parenting. My work with Parenting Journey will help empower parents to break down obstacles and enable parents and caregivers to build strong, resilient families and communities,” said Jackson. 
 
As City Councilor, Jackson chaired the Committee on Education and the Special Committee on the Status of Black and Latino Men and Boys. He was also the Vice Chair of the Committee on Healthy Women, Families and Communities.  He also served on six other committees, including City Neighborhood Services and Veteran Affairs; Homelessness, Mental Health and Recovery; Housing and Community Development, Jobs, Wages and Workforce Development; Public Safety and Criminal Justice.
 
“Since joining Parenting Journey last spring, I’ve taken the opportunity to leverage our expertise to play a more active civic role in the community,” said Paris Jeffries. “This Fellowship program is a natural extension of our existing engagement, relationships and commitment to social justice. We’ll be adding additional Fellows later this year, representing a variety of backgrounds and communities.” 
 
ABOUT PARENTING JOURNEY
Parenting Journey is a national nonprofit committed to breaking the systemic cycle of parenting in poverty. We recognize that systemic injustices related to poverty and race prevent many parents from realizing the futures they, and their families, deserve. Our work is inspired by the belief that strong families are the foundation of vibrant healthy communities and the catalyst to ignite social change. We provide programs that empower parents and caregivers and strengthen families and communities, advocate for equitable family policies, and disrupt the social narrative around parenting in poverty.
 
Parenting Journey envisions a world where all parents and caregivers have access to the resources they need to build resilient families and succeed, no matter their race or socioeconomic background.

For more information, visit https://parentingjourney.org/bofc/.

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GROSSMAN MARKETING GROUP FUELS ITS GROWTH WITH FOURTH ACQUISITION IN THE PAST 4 YEARS

Grossman’s acquisition of a New York promotional products distributor expands the company’s growing market penetration in the Northeast region

Grossman Marketing Group, a 108-year-old, fourth-generation, promotional products and print company, has acquired Logos in Print, a promotional products distributor headquartered in New York. The new acquisition is the fourth in the past four years, fueling Grossman’s full-service marketing operations and client base in the Northeast.

The acquisition of Logos in Print comes on the heels of three other recent acquisitions: ASAP, a Norwalk, CT promotional products firm; Fleet Business Products of East Hartford, CT; and Premier Marketing Group of Manchester, ME.

Grossman Marketing Group, with headquarters just outside Boston and a client base that boasts a “who’s who” list of sports teams, hospitals, educational institutions and business entities, now has major operations in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York and Washington, D.C.

Some of Grossman’s more prominent clients include The Boston Bruins and The Boston Celtics; Brigham & Women’s Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital, athenahealth and Novocure; Columbia University, Harvard University and Tufts University; Hewlett-Packard, John Hancock, L.L. Bean and Zipcar; and The International Academy of Arts and Sciences (Emmy Awards).

Ben Grossman, co-president of Grossman Marketing Group, said the acquisition of Logos in Print will enhance the company’s growing presence in health care and education, particularly in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. He noted that Logos in Print, a member of the Advertising Specialty Institute, has won many prestigious awards, including Promotional Products Association International’s Golden Pyramid Awards for creativity and excellence.

Said Grossman: “Logos in Print is a great fit for us and will complement our existing products and services, which include full-service graphic design, a network of company-owned warehouses and production facilities, multi-media solutions, and a dedicated technology team building best-in-class e-commerce programs for our clients.”

As a premier promotional products distributor, Logos in Print has working relationships with more than 3,000 suppliers, offering hundreds of thousands of promotional items — from apparel, bags and drinkware to writing instruments, golf and fitness products, and high tech accessories.

Since 1972, Cecile and Michael McBride, the owners of Logos in Print, have been providing promotional products to major hospitals, universities and businesses in the New York Tri-State Area. Referring to Grossman Marketing Group, the McBrides said they are thrilled that their business has been acquired by “such a prestigious, well-established, growth-oriented company.”   Said Michael McBride: “We share the same mission which is to help businesses create long-lasting relationships with their clients through the power of promotional products, which has become a $21 billion industry. With so many ad specialties available, there is a huge opportunity for businesses to boost ROI (Return on investment) and leave a lasting impression on customers at a far better cost per impression than almost every major marketing vehicle.”

For more information on Grossman Marketing Group’s unparalleled project management and top-notch creative and fulfillment capabilities, visit www.grossmanmarketing.com.

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Parenting Journey – Backgrounder

 Parenting Journey is a national nonprofit organization headquartered in Somerville, Mass. with a chapter office in New York City. For 35 years, the organization has been serving families by providing access to resources and programs and ensuring that policies are in place to support parents no matter race, socio economic background, country of origin or past experiences. Led by Executive Director and nonprofit veteran Imari Paris Jeffries, Parenting Journey is committed to breaking the systemic cycle of parenting in poverty by strengthening and empowering parents – a mission fueled by the belief that families are the foundation of a vibrant and healthy community and the key to social change.

Parenting Journey serves families by:

  • advocating for equitable policies that benefit all families such as a comprehensive immigration reform that keeps families together, and policies that improve economic security and minimize housing displacement;
  • fostering community-connectedness through the creation of social networks of parents and caregivers (when parents are strong and confident, their communities thrive); and
  • partnering with agencies to bring the Parenting Journey Curricula to more communities of color.

 Parenting Journey Curricula

Research shows that parents who participate in Parenting Journey thrive when provided the tools and resources they need to adapt to stress, decrease anxiety and foster healthy interactions and social connectedness with others – qualities known to reduce the incidence of child abuse and neglect and promote family wellbeing.

Parenting Journey Curricula offers five guided, peer support groups that reduce the impact of everyday stressors of parenting, as well as systemic barriers of parenting in poverty: Parenting Journey I, Parenting Journey II, Parenting in America, Sober Parenting Journey and Parenting Journey for Fathers. The curricula provides strategies and resources for coping with substance use, trauma, domestic violence, immigration and poverty. Programs run two hours weekly for 12-14 weeks and include a family meal and childcare. There is no cost to participate.

Parenting Journey’s programs have been replicated at nearly 500 locations across the country.

 Additional information about Parenting Journey can found online at https://parentingjourney.org/.

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Second Chances was recognized on Wednesday by Webster Bank for its outstanding impact on the Greater Boston community. The organization, which runs a local donation program that provides free clothing to homeless and low-income people in Cambridge and Somerville, received $2,500 through the bank’s Community Reinvestment Act program. The grant will help Second Chances serve even more people in need in the future. Webster Bank donated a total of $40,000 to 11 organizations in Greater Boston.

Second Chances founder and CEO, Andrea Shapiro (center), was presented a check for $2,500 by Webster Bank executives, Debra Drapalla, regional president – Boston, and Peter Mosbacher, senior vice president, community development, at an event celebrating the bank’s 2017 Community Reinvestment Act program recipients on Wednesday, Oct. 11, in Boston, Mass.

 “Thank you to Webster Bank for supporting our work and being part of the community. Because of Webster, more people in need will be able to access free, esteem-building clothing as they move forward in their lives,” said Andrea Shapiro, founder and CEO, Second Chances.

Webster Bank  presented $40,000 in Community Reinvestment Act-Community Development Grants to 11 Boston-area nonprofit community organizations. The organizations represented run programs serving low-and moderate-income residents, develop affordable housing or support small business development throughout Boston and its suburbs.

Webster, through its Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) program, is committed to building strong communities by supporting economic and community development organizations, especially those that focus on affordable and supportive housing, said Peter Mosbacher, senior vice president, Community Development.

“Webster has firmly established itself as a leader in community development and reinvestment in all the communities we do business in,” Mosbacher said, adding that the bank’s commitment to aiding organizations that reach out to low- and moderate-income residents does not stop with the annual CRA grant program.

“These awards provide the foundation for broader, more far-reaching relationships with these nonprofits and the people they serve,” Mosbacher said.

Webster, for instance, also provides construction loans, tax credit investments, and technical assistance to community organizations, while Webster employees serve as board members and volunteers for many nonprofit groups within the bank’s footprint, he said.

“Webster is living up to the communities we serve by supporting these organizations that are helping to give Boston-area residents the tools they need to improve individual and family financial health

and sustainability,” said Debra Drapalla, regional president-Boston, Webster Bank. “We are pleased to partner with these Boston-area nonprofits tohelp execute their vision for the community.”

Among the 11 community organizations receiving grants today were:

  • Southwest Boston Community Development Corp., which works to build and sustain an economically diverse community in Hyde Park and Roslindale by developing and preserving affordable housing for low- and moderate-income people, preventing displacement of neighborhood residents and strengthening the neighborhoods’ commercial base. Webster Bank provided a $6.7 million construction loan and $6.6 million in low-income housing tax credit equity for the Residences at Fairmount Station developed by the CDC and Traggorth Companies.
  • The Women’s Institute for Housing and Economic Development, which promotes economic opportunity and seeks to build strong communities by developing safe, affordable housing for individuals and families.

Southwest Boston CDC received a $5,000 grant today, while the Women’s Institute received a $7,500 grant.

The other organizations receiving grants were: Urban Edge, $2,500; Fenway Community Development, $2,500; NOAH, $3,500; LISC-Boston, $2,500; Asian Community Development Corp., $3,500; Second Chances, $2,500; Housing Solutions for Eastern Massachusetts, $3,000; Irish International Immigration Center, $2,500; and, Just a Start, $5,000.

Webster Bank is a leading regional bank living up to consumers, businesses, and the community since 1935.

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Allstate agency owners to earn grant for Somerville’s RESPOND, Inc.

The Allstate Foundation grant to support nonprofit’s work to help end domestic violence and financial abuse

Allstate agency owners from the Somerville area will come together to host a supply drive and secure an Allstate Foundation Helping Hands® grant to benefit RESPOND, Inc. The grant will support the nonprofit organization’s mission to help end domestic violence and financial abuse.

The agency owners will each earn $1,000 for RESPOND, Inc. by collecting much-needed items during a supply drive. The public can participate by donating household items, toiletries, clothing and gift cards. More information on the most-needed supplies can be found at RESPONDinc.org/donate/wish-list/. RESPOND, Inc. will use the grant to further its work in the community.

The participating Allstate volunteers are among thousands of agency owners around the country working to strengthen communities by volunteering their time to support the causes they care about most.

“I’ve personally seen how providing needed items and teaching domestic violence survivors how to financially empower themselves helps them break free of their situation,” said Allstate agency owner Adaias Souza. “Being able to help people in my community is important to me – and it’s a big part of who my fellow Allstate agency owners and I are as local residents and business owners. We’re proud to have been able to come together for RESPOND, Inc. and the people the organization serves across our community.”

In recognition of his longstanding efforts to combat domestic violence and support those affected by abuse, Souza will receive the RESPOND, Inc. Marie Siraco Community Activism Award. The award is given to an individual who has made outstanding contributions in activism or community service, in local communities and beyond, in the field of domestic violence.

“Adaias has been a key ally in our work to end domestic violence, dedicating his time and talent year after year, said Jessica Brayden, Executive Director, RESPOND, Inc. “From raising funds to building awareness and connecting clients to critical resources, Adaias, along with his fellow volunteers and The Allstate Foundation, have been exceptional supporters of our mission.”

RESPOND, Inc. is one of thousands of organizations this year to receive Allstate Foundation Helping Hands grants secured by agency owners on behalf of the nonprofits where they volunteer. The grants support organizations addressing domestic violence, youth empowerment, disaster preparedness, hunger and other causes.

The Allstate Foundation Helping Hands grants are one example of The Allstate Foundation’s legacy of empowering individuals and communities in need:

  • Since 2005, The Allstate Foundation has invested $55 million to help more than 1 million women break free of domestic violence through life-changing financial education resources.
  • Each October, domestic violence nonprofits across the country participate in the Purple Purse Challenge to raise funds for financial empowerment programs for domestic violence survivors. This year, more than 220 domestic violence nonprofits are competing for funds. Last year’s Challenge included nearly 200 nonprofits and raised nearly $4 million. To learn more and donate, visit PurplePurse.com.

 

The public can donate supplies at the following Allstate agency locations:

53 Union Square, Somerville, MA

195 E. Main St., Unit 2, Milford, MA

665 Main St., Waltham, MA

34 Main St. Ext, Plymouth, MA

74 State Rd., North Dartmouth, MA

432 Main St., Fitchburg, MA

160 Summer St., Ste. K1, Kingston, MA

About The Allstate Foundation

Established in 1952, The Allstate Foundation is an independent, charitable organization made possible by subsidiaries of The Allstate Corporation (NYSE: ALL). Through partnerships with nonprofit organizations across the country, The Allstate Foundation brings the relationships, reputation and resources of Allstate to support innovative and lasting solutions that enhance people’s well-being and prosperity. With a focus on building financial independence for domestic violence survivors, empowering youth and celebrating the charitable community involvement of Allstate agency owners and employees, The Allstate Foundation works to bring out the good in people’s lives. For more information, visitwww.AllstateFoundation.org.

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Rubber Duckies Race to Raise Money for Science Education
Family Friendly Festival to Support the “e” inc. Museum

On Saturday, Oct. 14, 3,000 rubber ducks will be released into the Boston Harbor to race in the inaugural “e” inc. Duck Dash. Funds raised through the family friendly festival, which will include music, food, fair games and science activities, will go to support the second rotating exhibit, “Our House: Rethinking Home in a Changing Climate,” at the newly opened “e” inc. Environment Science Discovery & Action Museum.

“e” inc. is the leading nonprofit bringing science and civics to youth and families in Metro Boston. The nonprofit’s Museum teaches visitors of all ages about the beings, biomes, resources and systems of our planet through a combination of hands-on experiences and traveling exhibits. “Our House” will offer children inspiration and ideas about how they can make changes to combat the challenges posed by climate change within their own homes and neighborhoods. The exhibit is slated to open in January, 2018.

How it works: Rubber ducks are $5 each and must be purchased in advance. Each duck will have a corresponding number for participants to monitor their progress during the race. The first place winner will receive a $350 cash award. Other Duck Dashers will have the opportunity to win prizes donated from local and Boston-based businesses. 

 “e” inc. will have fun fair games, science activities, and kite-making from recyclables. Amy Kucharik and the Second String Band will provide the music. Middle Eastern cuisine from the Chubby Chickpea food truck will be available for purchase. The event goal is to raise $20,000.

 The inaugural “e” inc. Duck Dash will take place on Saturday, Oct. 14 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. along the Little Mystic Channel in the Charlestown Navy Yard, located at 114 116thstreet in Charlestown. The event will take place rain or shine (ducks love water)! For more information about the event and to purchase your lucky ducky, visit:http://www.eincmuseumtkts.org/duck-dash.

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LEGOLAND® DISCOVERY CENTER BOSTON HOSTS BRICK OR TREAT EVERY WEEKEND IN OCTOBER AND ON HALLOWEEN

LEGOLAND® Discovery Center Boston will celebrate Halloween in spooky style with their annual Brick or Treat events. Held every weekend in October beginning Oct. 7th and on Halloween day, Tuesday, October 31st.

Brick or Treat will feature a costume contest, Monster Mash Scavenger Hunt through MINILAND®, a Spooky Creations building challenge and more. Guests are encouraged to show their Halloween spirit to win fun LEGO® prizes.

LEGOLAND Discovery Center Boston is open daily at 10 am. Advance tickets are suggested to guarantee admission and can be purchased online at www.legolanddiscoverycenter.com/boston

Location:

LEGOLAND Discovery Center Boston

598 Assembly Row

Somerville

Boston. MA 02145

(866) 228-6439

Boston@legolanddiscoverycenter.com

 

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FARMERS TO YOU ADDS NEW PICKUP LOCATION IN SOMERVILLE 

Online Farm-to-Table Grocer Brings Vermont-Fresh Food to the Community

Farmers To You – the only way to get fresh-from-the-field, Vermont-grown ingredients delivered throughout Greater Boston every week, all year long – has expanded to include a new pickup site in Somerville.

Now Somerville residents can place a weekly order from the online, farm-to-table grocer and pick up their groceries every Wednesday at 191 Highland Avenue in Somerville from 5:00-6:30 p.m.

With the addition of seven new sites including Somerville, Farmers To You now offers 24 sites from which to pick up groceries, in addition to a convenient home delivery option.

Every week, each Farmers To You customer – known as a partner family – fills their online basket with their choice of what’s in season. They choose what they want and how much, and Farmers To You gathers the ingredients from carefully selected farmers and producers in Vermont. Then, they bring the groceries directly to the customer’s home, office or neighborhood pickup site, where it takes only a few minutes to pick up an order.

“We are so excited about opening our new Somerville site and welcoming new partner families,” said Farmers To You Founder Greg Georgaklis. “Now, more people throughout Greater Boston can easily get healthy food from Vermont farmers and artisans and know exactly where it came from. Together, we are working on building a regional food system based on deeper relationships between families, the food they eat and the farmers who grow it.”

Farmers To You selects farmers and producers based on clearly defined standards. The company requires complete transparency on production methods, as well as how farmers treat their land, their staff and partners, their animals and soil. Items sold are chosen based on flavor, safety, cleanliness, and the Farmers To You team’s relationship with the farmers who produce them.

Farmers To You offers a wide array of fresh, seasonal products 52 weeks a year, including meat, fish, produce, milk, eggs, bread and a variety of pantry items, such as oils, vinegars, nuts, seeds and sauces.

The expansion of Farmers To You pickup sites in the Greater Boston area is ongoing. The company opens each new site after 25 families enroll at a given location. In addition to Somerville, other new pickup sites include Watertown, Wellesley, Rowley, Acton, Lexington and Manchester-by-the-Sea. Sites are set to open soon in Georgetown, Newburyport and Newton.

There is no membership fee to join. Farmers To You suggests a minimum purchase of $40 per week in order to support partnering farmers and producers.

About Farmers To You

Farmers To You is the only online, farm-to-table grocer that delivers fresh-from-the-field ingredients from Vermont straight to your home, office or neighborhood pickup site, all-year long, throughout Greater Boston. Fostering partnership between families and farmers, the company’s mission is to build a better food system that supports the health of families, the local economy and farmers. Learn more and sign up at farmerstoyou.com. Follow Farmers To You on Facebook @FarmersToYou and Instagram @farmerstoyou.

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Somerville Resident & Longtime Salter HealthCare Team Member Awarded

Salter HealthCare nurse, Lena Avery, received a special 15-year team member award on March 7th as part of a special ceremony held at Salter’s Winchester Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. Pictured from left to right is Anne Pelrine, Executive Director for Winchester Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Avery and Robert Salter, Owner of Salter HealthCare.

Salter HealthCare (http://www.salterhealthcare.com), one of Massachusetts’s most trusted leaders in rehabilitation and skilled nursing care, today announced the recipients of their employee recognition awards for tenure. Seventeen team members who have been with the company for 5 years or more were recognized at a special ceremony held on March 7, 2017 at Winchester Rehabilitation & Nursing Center.

The star of the day was Certified Nurse Aide (C.N.A.), Judy Enos, who has been with Salter HealthCare for 44 years. Massachusetts Senator Jason Lewis presented Enos with a special citation from the Massachusetts Senate and from Governor Charlie Baker. “It’s not every day that I get to recognize someone who has worked for a company for over 40 years and that says a lot about the Salter organization,” said Lewis. Fellow staff members applauded Enos for setting the tone, attitude and work ethic for everyone around her before presenting her individually with a rose to the song, Simply the Best.

The complete list of award recipients includes the following.

5 Years of Service

·       Chelsea O’Brien of Medford, C.N.A.

·       Mimose Renois of Everett, C.N.A.

·       Marie Beaubrun of Chelsea, C.N.A.

·       Yvonne Melanson of Burlington, Receptionist

·       Julia Robertson of Woburn, Licensed Practical Nurse (L.P.N.)

10 Years of Service

·       Patty DeFrancesco of Tewksbury, Physical Therapist

·       Bonnie Burke of Malden, Activities

 

15 Years of Service

·       Tom Cannon of Woburn, Environmental Services Supervisor

·       Gabriel Mutagubya of Dracut, L.P.N.

·       Lena Avery of Somerville, Registered Nurse (R.N.)

·       Danie Jeudy of Malden, C.N.A.

·       Edy Lopez of Chelsea, Cook

·       Rio Ito of Marlborough, Patient Accounts Representative

20 Years of Service

·       Natasha Auguste of Fitchburg, C.N.A.

·       Jane White of Reading, C.N.A.

·       Pat Shea of Winchester, Physical Therapy Director

40 Years of Service

·       Judy Enos of Burlington, C.N.A.

“We are proud to have such a tenured staff and that’s a big part of what sets us apart,” said Bob Driscoll, Chief Executive Officer of Salter HealthCare. “A key part of this is the team-oriented, family environment the entire staff fosters. We’re a heart-first organization, and our employees support each other and are committed to improving the quality of life for our patients.”

 

 
 

 

 

 

 
 
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