Cambridge News Weekly

Parenting Speaker Series Final Program Dec. 10

 

Thursday, December 10, Noon – 1:30 p.m.

Cambridge City Hall Annex, 344 Broadway, 2nd Fl. Conf. Rm.

The last of four parenting speaker series affords the opportunity to hear from Dr. Richard Weissbourd, a lecturer at Harvard’s Graduate School of Education and Kennedy School of Government and the author, most recently, of the book “The Parents We Mean to Be: How Well-Intentioned Adults Undermine Children’s Moral and Emotional Development.” You will hear Dr. Weissbourd discuss how parents and communities raise moral children, followed by a question and answer session on the joys and challenges of modern parenting.

New Report: Salem Harbor Plant in Is Dirtiest in Massachusetts

(press release)

 

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Salem, MA—The Salem Harbor power plant in Salem is the 3rd dirtiest power plant in Massachusetts based on carbon dioxide (CO₂) pollution for 2007, according to a new analysis of government data released today by Environment Massachusetts.

“It's time for the oldest and dirtiest power plants to clean up their act,” said Environment Massachusetts Citizen Outreach Director Risa Pedzewick. “Fossil fuel-fired giants have dominated our electricity for decades and have been allowed to pollute without license.  In order to stop global warming and reap all the benefits of clean energy, we must require old clunker power plants to meet modern standards for global warming pollution.”

 

Power plants currently do not have to meet any global warming pollution standard, meaning that they are an unchecked contributor to global warming.  In fact, power plants are the nation’s single largest source of global warming pollution.  

 

The growing impacts of global warming will impose threats to our safety and immense financial cost on our society, and most notably for Massachusetts, -eg. sea levels rise inundating our coast. To avoid the worst effects of global warming, the science shows that the United States must cut its global warming pollution by 35 percent by 2020.

 

The new report from Environment Massachusetts, “America's Biggest Polluters: Carbon Dioxide Emissions from Power Plants in 2007,” looks at carbon dioxide emissions from power plants across the country using 2007 data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; 2007 is the most recent year for which final data is available.  The report examines both age of and pollution from power plants to document the fact that we are reliant on an energy infrastructure that is both old and polluting.  The key findings include the following:

 

• The oldest operating power plant in Massachusetts is the Kendall Square plant in Cambridge. The Salem Harbor plant is a close second. The Kendall Square plant has been operating for 50 years, built within just two decades of the television first becoming commercially available.  Many of the plants in Massachusetts are decades-old.  In fact, 10 of Massachusetts 20 plants were built before 1969.

Nationally, the report shows that America's power is dominated by old and polluting plants, and that the oldest and dirtiest plants often go hand-in-hand.  Power plants built three decades ago or more produced 73 percent of the total global warming pollution from power plants in 2007.  Older power plants on average are dirtier per unit of energy than newer ones.

“America's power is both decades-old and dangerously polluting.  We’re reliant on technology that’s as old as the very first commercially available televisions.  Televisions have gone from black-and-white clunkers to super high-definition flat screens, but they’re still powered by the same dirty electricity,” Pedzewick said.

“Clean energy holds the future of America—to make our nation energy independent, create millions of new jobs, and stop the worst effects of global warming.  In order to realize this clean energy future, power plants must stop polluting with impunity,” Pedzewick said.

 

The U.S. Senate is slated to consider legislation in the next few months to establish the first-ever federal limits on global warming pollution and standards and incentives for clean energy.  In addition, EPA has proposed a rule to require power plants and other large smokestack industries to use available technology to cut their global warming pollution when new facilities are constructed or existing facilities are significantly modified. 

However, fossil fuel industries are fighting the transition to clean energy.  The American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity, a coal industry lobby group, spent at least $40 million dollars in 2008 alone – more than $100,000 a day – on lobbyists and advertising on energy.  Earlier this year, they hired lobbyists who forged phony constituent letters to Congress opposing action on clean energy.

We urge Senators Kerry and Kirk to vote for a strong clean energy bill that will cut global warming pollution and create clean energy jobs.”

Hood Cleaning & Inspection

 

Hood Cleaning & Inspection $250 Boston Metro Boston 1(888)625-2706 www.Ventcleaners.com

Thanksgiving, the sitcom

Jimmy Del Ponte On The Silly Side (The opinions and views expressed in the commentaries of the Cambridge News Weekly belong solely to the authors of those commentaries and do not reflect the views or opinions of the Cambridge News Weekly its staff or publishers.) Thanksgiving is a day that always goes as planned. The meal is prepared and the family sits down and eats, engages in cheerful banter and everyone goes home fulfilled. Each family member gets along with one another and everything is wonderful. Not always. For some reason, Thanksgiving is the perfect time for the unexpected, the un-scheduled and the unbelievable to happen. Thanksgiving is the stuff (or stuffing) television shows are made of. Here is "Season 1 of Thanksgiving, the sitcom." All of these stories are true, and happened to some of my Somerville friends. - I remember growing up with a thawing turkey in the tub. I would go to brush my teeth only to find a giant frozen turkey in the tub! This went on every year, and I was always oddly amused by it. - Back in the day, because your refrigerator only held so much, you would store some of the Thanksgiving items in the back hall or on the back porch. One year we had an unseasonably warm week, causing the neighbors' apple cider to turn. - We bought a fresh turkey from a specialty store - well at about 3 o'clock on Thanksgiving morning, we got a phone call from the store that the turkeys were bad. I asked how we could tell, and they said when you open it, it will smell like rotten eggs. So we went to the kitchen and opened it and the STENCH could have knocked you out. Luckily this store opened up on Thanksgiving morning and replaced the turkeys for all its customers and our dinner was saved. - One year we had a house full of dinner guests and my husband had sharpened the knives before carving because he wanted to look like the TV shows where you see the husband carve perfectly even pieces at the beautiful dining room table...well the knife was certainly very sharp when it slipped and sliced his finger. Embarrassed and intent on not ruining everyone's else's day, he wrapped his finger in paper towels and went to the emergency room. When he got there were five other men sitting there with their fingers wrapped in paper towels. - My folks didn't know the turkey was still frozen until they went to put it in the oven. All hell broke loose between my mother and father. The grocery stores were all closed and we couldn't even find a pound of hamburger. We searched through all the kitchen shelves only to come up with a canned ham. Moral of the story: always keep a canned ham on hand as a backup plan. - My family has a few horror stories. The exploding chestnuts is my favorite. - I remember more than a few Thanksgivings at my house where you (Jimmy) would fall asleep on the couch for an hour with a full glass of beer and never spill a drop! - One year at my in-laws we all sat down for this great meal that my father in-law made. First he carved the bird in the kitchen and started to bring the rest of the food into the dining room. He stopped to talk to us and we heard a crash. Running into the kitchen we found that the dog had pulled the turkey off the table and was eating it! - We were at my in-laws house for a few hours getting things ready when someone mentioned there was no turkey smell. Mom-in-law forgot to turn on the oven. Dinner was served around 8-9pm. - How about having to dress up like a bleeping Pilgrim to twirl a baton at the Thanksgiving Day game? Complete with pilgrim hat? Doesn't get much more humiliating than that. - Living in an apartment in Somerville many years ago, we didn't know the oven had a timer, as I had never cooked anything in the oven longer than 1 hour. About 3 hours after putting turkey in oven, I went to check on it, only to find the timer had shut the oven off...good thing us Italians always have a pasta meal along with turkey. We had lasagna for Thanksgiving dinner with mashed potatoes, squash, sweet potatoes, peas and cranberry sauce. File that one under "Ciao down!" - We had ham and turkey one year. My brother cooked the ham and brought it with him. As the day wore on and the ham grew smaller and smaller we discovered a few tree leaves on the bottom. Turns out dear brother placed the ham in the pan on the railing on his porch. It fell into a bed of leaves. He picked it up, put it back in the pan and obviously did NOT check to see if there were any leaves on it. We joked and said the maple leaves flavored the ham. - We had an old tomcat named Sam who liked to hunt sparrows. Well, one Thanksgiving Sam decided to join us. The back door was open to let some of the heat out of the kitchen, and in comes Sam through a hole in the screen door with his own bird! I can still remember my mother yelling: "Get that G.D. cat out of the kitchen!" - A friend of mine told me that her uncle got mad and tossed the turkey off the third floor porch. Let's hope nothing like that happens this year. Alcoholic beverages + waiting for food to be served + in-laws + being in a hot, noisy, crowded house for hours = a dampening of some people's festive mood. Let's hope everyone's feast can be a happy episode of Thanksgiving, the sitcom. Thanks to those of you who shared your Thanksgiving memories with me. So this Thanksgiving, we will loosen our belts, watch football and fall asleep in front of the TV - creating a chorus of snoring. Some of us men will probably also do that! If I was one of those guys, I would usually wake up grumpy and thirsty, but still thankful. I am thankful for the memories of those Thanksgiving Days gone by, and grateful for the ones we are lucky enough to enjoying this year. I will return to Amelia's kitchen in Teele Square on Thursday, Dec 3rd for music, macaroni and mayhem. Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!

Meals-On-Wheels brings on the Thanksgiving turkey

Volunteers unloading the meals on Thanksgiving Day last year. This year 350 SCES’s clients will have their Thanksgiving dinner delivered. ~Photo courtesy of Somerville-Cambridge Elder Services. By Cathleen Twardzik This Thanksgiving, 35 volunteers for the Somerville-Cambridge Elder Services Meals-On-Wheels program will home-deliver meals, which are protected by insulated food carriers, to 350 Somerville and Cambridge residents, altogether --- until approximately 12 p.m., according to Mary Ann Dalton, Assistant Executive Director of Somerville-Cambridge Elder Services (SCES). Each Thanksgiving, volunteers are sought because the program's regular drivers have that day off. Normally, about 700 meals are normally delivered on a daily basis. Included in the organization's Thanksgiving meal, one will find the contents of a "traditional" holiday dinner --- complete with turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, squash, a roll, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie --- although, should an individual require a specific diet, he or she will be accommodated. For the most part, SCES's clients are, at least, 60 years of age, although, the number of younger individuals who are receiving services, is on the rise. More than 2,500 people, in various programs and 4,400 callers, were assisted last year. "All of our clients have challenges that require assistance so they can live independently," said Dalton. Currently, "a number of meals that address specific medical and dietary needs" are available, through SCES. Such options include: diabetic, cardiac, low renal, high renal, low lactose, as well as "meals for people who need their food to be a certain consistency, such as chopped, ground [or] pureed," she said. At present, a vegetarian dietary option is non-existent because the organization, "There is not a very big demand. However, we anticipate that the demand will increase in the future, at which time, we would probably add that option, as well," said Dalton. Beginning in the early 1970s, SCES has operated akin programs in Somerville and Cambridge. A private, non-profit organization, SCES is a state-designated, Aging Services Access Point (ASAP) --- as well as a federally-designated Area Agency on Aging (AAA). Moreover, several SCES programs are available in Greater Boston. The organization "strives to enable older adults and younger people with disabilities to remain living in their own or their families' homes, for as long as they choose to do so, through services such as homemaking, personal care, transportation, personal emergency response systems, shopping and meal delivery," said Dalton. Also available are "opportunities for people to improve their health and well-being, by participating in evidence-based, disease prevention programs." In the future, "We would like to enhance our capacity to address our client's mental health needs, by providing in home mental health services," said Dalton. Interested individuals may contact SCES at (617)-628-2601 or eldercare.org.

Shopping at a local, family business will boost the local economy, your shopping experience

Both Somerville and Cambridge Local First will hold a press conference Friday at 10:30 a.m. in front of 253 Washington Street in Union Square. By Julia Fairclough When you ask someone what is missing from their life, they will rarely say, "a big box store to shop in," Michael Kanter said. Instead, what people really want is a true sense of community. That's why Somerville Local First and Cambridge Local First launched the "Shift Your Shopping" holiday campaign, asking people to make the 10 percent shift by shopping at local, independently-owned businesses from November 29 to December 31. "This is an opportunity to get people to think about their shopping, and to make it a purposeful attempt to buy from local independents," said Kanter, the owner of Cambridge Naturals and a Cambridge Local First executive committee member. "People need to better understand that doing so can build strong, local economies." Both the Somerville and the Cambridge Local First will hold a press conference this Friday at 10:30 a.m. in front of 253 Washington Street in Union Square (the former Hope & Glory shop) to officially divulge more details. As for a sense of community, spending time with local business owners gives people more of an awareness of the people around them, he said. One will probably conduct a more meaningful conversation with a business owner and experience better customer service, rather than trying to find help at a mall super store. "People appreciate the more thoughtful gifts that local shops can create, rather than just mass-produced items," Kanter said. "The appeal of the local movement means that at the end of the day, what people really need are other people and to have others support them and to not feel alone." The month-long Shift Your Shopping effort is an extension of the annual buy local week that occurs the first week of December, said Joe Grafton, the executive director of Somerville Local First. Somerville and Cambridge, as well as Portsmouth, NH and Portland, ME are trying out the month-long movement, to capitalize on the shopping focus that the holiday seasons bring. Somerville and Cambridge Local Firsts will hold a series of events during the Shift Your Shopping month. On Monday, Dec. 7 at 7:30 p.m. at the Somerville Theater, there will be a panel discussion and talk about the New Orleans study, "Thinking Outside the Box," by Civic Economics that shows that local retailers have twice the local economic impact of big box stores, while taking up a fraction of the land area. WBUR's Robin Young will be the moderator and the panelists include Kanter, Alderman Rebekah Gewirtz, and Grafton. The businesses that sponsor Somerville and Cambridge Local Firsts will hold special sales and events throughout the season, including casual photos with Santa, sing-alongs and tastings, Grafton said. Shift Your Shopping sponsors include Ball Square Fine Wines and Spirits, Downtown Wine and Spirits, GRAND, Kickass Cupcakes, and Poor Little Rich Girl. Sponsors A complete list of Shift Your Shopping events and participants can be found at www.shiftyourshopping.org Rachel Solem, the owner of Irving House and Harding House in Cambridge, and an executive committee member of the Cambridge Local First, is excited about the Shift Your Shopping program. She added it will be a long, slow process to get people to think about buying at local, independent businesses as it's about a shift in thinking. Many busy people prefer the ease of the Internet or dashing to a department store for something like lingerie, for example. Chances are they will find something in their size. At a smaller, local store they may not. But, often times they can order something, and they will also receive a more personalized and quality shopping experience. "The main reason to do this is that you are in an independent shop dealing with the person in charge who makes the decisions, so that you as a customer are not part of the random world of shopping," Solem said. "You have a better quality experience, which is what we want people to know."

Getting Harvard Square in the Holiday Spirit!

By William Tauro

 

Joseph DiBlasi from the City of Cambridge Department of Public Works gets into the holiday spirit wearing a Santa's cap while hanging Christmas wreaths along Mt Auburn Street on utility poles in Harvard Square!

Cows on Cambridge Street

By William Tauro

 

A curious looking cow catches the attention of passing motorist as it stands guard behind a tree in front of the Mid West Grill located at 1124 Cambridge Street.

Cambridge Firefighters join with Marines in “Toys-for-Tots” Drive

 

FOR INFORMATION CONTACT:Deputy Chief Gerry Mahoney, Cambridge Fire Dept., 617-349-4944

Cambridge Firefighters will once again partner with the United States Marine Corps Reserve in collecting toys in the annual "Toys-for-Tots" drive.  Now in its' 62nd year, the program was started in Los Angeles, CA when a handful of marine Reservists distributed 5,000 toys to needy children on Christmas Eve, 1947.

Since its inception, over 188,000,000 needy children throughout the United States have benefited from the donation of almost 400,000,000 toys.

Toys-for-Tots is a program that brings all elements of a community together for a common cause for a few months each year, dedicated to helping in the development of our children. Toys-for-Tots delivers a message of hope to children who have little reason to have hope for the future.

The Cambridge Fire Department is once again proud to work with the Marines in this great endeavor. New, unwrapped toys may be dropped off at any Cambridge Fire Station beginning Wednesday November 11, 2009 until Friday December 11, 2009.

Monetary donations can also be made via the Toys-For-Tots Website; www.toysfortots.org

For further information, contact Deputy Chief Gerry Mahoney at 617-349-4944 or visit the Cambridge Fire Department web site at www.cambridgefire.org

A Season for Health and Wealth

By Grace-Marie Turner

(The opinions and views expressed in the commentaries of the Cambridge News Weekly belong solely to the authors of those commentaries and do not reflect the views or opinions of the Cambridge News Weekly, its staff or publishers.)

From now through the end of the year, seniors have a chance to enroll in a Medicare prescription drug plan, and those who already are enrolled can switch plans.

With Congress debating many changes to the Medicare program, seniors should try to get the most out of this year's open-enrollment period.

The Medicare prescription drug benefit is different from most government programs because seniors have a choice of private drug plans which receive subsidies from the Federal government to provide their drug coverage. This gives seniors a wide range of options in premiums, copayments, and drug choices.

The drug benefit program is designed to keep prices low by forcing private plans to compete against one another. This has resulted in greater choice and flexibility. And because seniors are smart shoppers, the drug benefit has proven to be among the most cost-effective government programs in history.

When the program was created in 2003, lawmakers predicted seniors would pay about $44 per month for drug coverage in 2009. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, the average monthly premium in 2009 was only $35. Further, the program is saving taxpayers money, coming in nearly 40 percent under budget so far.

Some lawmakers, though, want to change the program because they don't like involvement by private plans, despite the fact that the program is highly popular with seniors.  This could mean that seniors with low incomes would have access to fewer drugs while others wind up paying higher premiums.

The health reform bill that recently was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives allows the federal government to negotiate prices directly with pharmaceutical companies. This might sound desirable, but the government doesn't negotiate. With the rest of Medicare, it dictates prices and imposes benefit restrictions rather than relying on competition and consumer choice to contain costs.

The legislation also would force lower-income seniors to get their drug coverage through Medicaid rather than Medicare, giving them no choice of private plans and forcing them into a program where the government determines what drugs will and will not be available to them.

This could save the Federal government money, but other changes in the legislation would result in higher drug costs for other seniors. According to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, these changes could result in a 20 percent increase in prescription drug premium costs for Medicare beneficiaries over the next decade.  

Government price manipulation also poses an enormous threat to the future of drug innovation. If drug companies are forced to sell their products at below-market prices, they'll look less attractive to investors, and thus have less capital for research and development of new medicines.

For now, though, the Medicare drug benefit is a good deal for seniors - all the more reason to take advantage of this open-enrollment period.  Many plans have lowered their co-payments and eliminated deductibles. Others now provide coverage in the infamous "donut hole."

Those who are internet-savvy can sign up or switch plans by visiting www.Medicare.gov. Using the "Medicare Plan Finder," seniors can compare how different drug plans stack up against one another. Those without web access can call 1-800-Medicare and speak to a customer service representative.

Just remember to act before the end the year, since the open-enrollment period ends on December 31. And pay close attention to what Congress is doing that might change options, and premiums, for seniors in the future.

Cambridge Health Alliance Chief of Surgery Steven D. Schwaitzberg, MD, Named President-Elect of National Surgical Society

 

Cambridge, MA…The Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES) recently elected Steven D. Schwaitzberg, MD, Chief of Surgery at Cambridge Health Alliance (CHA), to serve as President for the 2011-2012 year. 

SAGES is the largest professional organization of gastrointestinal surgeons in the United States and the leading international society for modern minimally invasive and endoscopic surgery. As president of SAGES, Schwaitzberg will guide the association in fulfilling its mission, including increasing training in laparoscopy and therapeutic endoscopy, evaluating emerging technologies, continuing to set the standards of practice in laparoscopy, fostering clinical and basic science research, and expanding educational activities in laparoscopy across the globe.

With a clinical background in critical care and infectious diseases and an acute interest in technology, Schwaitzberg is well-versed in the intersection of surgery and technology. During his 23-year career, he has focused on minimally invasive device development and evaluation, clinical and laboratory prevention of intra-abdominal adhesions, skill acquisition in minimally invasive surgery, clinical evaluation of antibiotics, and retrospective clinical reviews.

Schwaitzberg’s arrival at CHA in 2005 coincided with significant investments in patient care. In addition to bringing cutting-edge surgical techniques to a community hospital setting, he has recruited new surgeons who are leaders in their respective fields. A prodigious researcher and medical educator, Schwaitzberg is an associate professor of surgery at Harvard Medical School and an adjunct professor at Tufts University. He has authored and contributed to more than 120 peer-reviewed papers, book chapters, and videos, and he serves on the editorial boards of three surgical journals.

Schwaitzberg has been a member of SAGES Board since 2002 and has previously served as Vice President of the Society. He was Program Chairman for the 2007 SAGES Annual Meeting in Las Vegas and serves on the Technology, Development, and Finance Committees. He has conducted minimally invasive surgery training courses locally, regionally, and in three different countries.

More than two decades ago a group of pioneering surgeons formed a new surgical society to address the need for education, guidelines, and research in endoscopy. They embraced emerging technology and new techniques on behalf of their patients. That group of 50 surgeons known as SAGES held their first meeting in 1986 with 110 attendees and 11 exhibitors. SAGES now boasts more than 6,000 members and 3,000+ total meeting attendees. For more information, please visit www.sages.org.

Cambridge Health Alliance is an innovative, award-winning health system that provides high quality care in Cambridge, Somerville, and Boston’s metro-north communities. It includes three hospital campuses, a network of primary care and specialty practices, the Cambridge Public Health Dept., and the Network Health plan. CHA is a Harvard Medical School teaching affiliate and is also affiliated with Harvard School of Public Health, Harvard School of Dental Medicine, and Tufts University School of Medicine. Visit us online at www.challiance.org.

Celebrate the Season the Constitution Way!

This holiday season, give thanks to those who have given of themselves in service to our nation by making an ornament to decorate USS CONSTITUTION's Christmas tree. Each year, Old Ironsides' crew marks the start of the holiday season with their traditional tree lighting ceremony. This year, Commander Timothy Cooper, the USS Constitution Museum and the National Park Service invite you to come to historic Charlestown Navy Yard to make an ornament of your own for CONSTITUTION's tree. Start your day in the USS Constitution Museum, where visitors of all ages can learn about life on board our nation's beloved ship in engaging, hands on exhibits. Furl a sail, fire a cannon, swing in a hammock and step into the shoes of the sailors who served in years past. Next, stop by the Museum's ornament craft station where kids of every age - from one to one hundred - are encouraged to make an ornament to hang on CONSTITUTION's tree, supplies generously provided by our partner, Boston National Historical Park. Finally, gather together your crew and head across the Navy Yard where you will be allowed to board Old Ironsides to hang your ornament on the tree. The ornament station will be open in the USS Constitution Museum 10 am - 5 pm, Thursday - Sunday, from December 5 - 23. Admission to the Museum is free of charge with donations encouraged. Please note that USS CONSTITUTION is open to the public Thursday through Sunday, from 10 am until just before sunset. For more information on visiting the Museum and Boston National Historical Park, please call 617-426-1812 or log onto www.ussconstitutionmuseum.org or www.nps.gov/bost. The official tree lighting will take place on Sunday, December 6 at 4:10 pm, with the traditional evening colors or sunset gun salute leading the event.

A statement from Senator Galluccio

"With the end of the Legislative session, I will be taking time to confront a number of personal issues. As I have stated before, there is no excuse for my actions and I deeply regret them. There is an ongoing legal process. Out of respect for the parties involved, I will have more to say when the process is concluded." From the office of Senator Anthony D. Galluccio

Governor attends National Adoption Day ceremony in Cambridge

By William Tauro  

  
Governor Patrick was Middlesex Registrar Tara DeCristaforo's special guest, he spoke in front of a crowd of over a hundred attendees at today's "National Adoption Day" ceremonies at the Middlesex Probate and Family Court in Cambridge.
The event honored and celebrated the adoption of over 200 Massachusetts children.

Site of the Old Fort Putnam gets a face lift

By William Tauro

 

The Putnam School Apartments located at 86 Otis Street in East Cambridge is going under quite a few updated structural improvements. The Calhess Restoration Weatherproofing Corp of Boston is the hired contractor that is re-pointing the bricks and repairing any cracks in the cement and other needed repairs on the 235 year old building. The building was the site of Fort Putnam that was erected in December of 1775 during the siege of Boston. Years later it became the Putnam School which was 1 of 3 in neighborhood schools in East Cambridge which serviced East Cambridge's  school children kindergarten-grade 8 for nearly a hundred years then later transformed into what is now the Putnam School Apartments.

Crossing people with passion

By William Tauro

Cambridge Police Traffic Supervisor Donna Jarvis helps long time East Cambridge resident Gerry Gomes cross the very busy intersection of Cambridge and Sixth Street in East Cambridge. Donna has been doing her job with passion for many years in the city and loves every minute of it!

Local Youth Come Together at Barefoot Books to Support Jane Goodall's Roots & Shoots

The Sprouts of Hope Roots & Shoots youth group, local members of Jane Goodall’s Roots & Shoots, will host a celebration to support the Roots & Shoots New England “Sprouts of Hope Fund” at Barefoot Books in Cambridge on November 21 from 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

 

The Sprouts of Hope Fund was established in 2008 by the Sprouts of Hope group to support local Roots & Shoots members from low-income, minority or previously underserved populations in their work on environmental and humanitarian service projects. Barefoot Books will be donating 25% of all in-store purchases on November 21 to the Fund.

 

The Sprouts of Hope members will also be running educational art projects and games for children during the celebration. Learn more about the Sprouts of Hope Roots & Shoots group and the Sprouts of Hope Fund at http://sproutsofhopekids.blogspot.com.

 

Throughout the holiday season, shoppers can continue to support Jane Goodall’s Roots & Shoots by shopping at Barefoot Books online—just visit http://www.barefootbooks.com/shop and enter the Ambassador Code 000-06uo.

WHO:             Jane Goodall’s Roots & Shoots, the Jane Goodall Institute’s global environmental and humanitarian youth program,

                        The Sprouts of Hope Roots & Shoots group, a youth group from Cambridge, Mass., and

Barefoot Books, the award-winning, independent children’s publisher and bookstore in Cambridge, Mass.

 

WHAT:          Jane Goodall’s Roots & Shoots Day at Barefoot Books

                        25% of All In-Store Sales on November 21 go to The Sprouts of Hope Fund for Jane Goodall’s Roots & Shoots

                        Youth-led Art Projects and Educational Games for Children

 

WHERE:       Barefoot Books

            1771 Massachusetts Avenue

            Cambridge, Mass. 02140

            Located between Porter and Harvard Squares

 

WHEN:          Saturday, November 21, 2009

1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

 

 

About Jane Goodall’s Roots & Shoots

Founded in 1991 by Dr. Jane Goodall and a group of Tanzanian students, the Roots & Shoots program is about making positive change happen—for our communities, for animals and for the environment. With tens of thousands of young people in 111 countries, the Roots & Shoots network connects youth of all ages who share a desire to create a better world. Young people identify problems in their communities and take action. Through service projects, youth-led campaigns and an interactive website, Roots & Shoots members are making a difference across the globe. For more information, please visit www.rootsandshoots.org and www.rootsandshoots.org/regional_offices/new_england.

 

About Barefoot Books

Barefoot Books is an independent publisher, with offices in Cambridge, USA and Bath, England. We specialize in carefully crafted books, gifts and digital content that help children on their journey to becoming happy, engaged members of the global community. Since 1992, Barefoot Books has published more than 400 titles that use timeless stories and captivating illustrations to tap into the wisdom of many cultures, while never forgetting that childhood is a time for fun. For more information on the company visit www.barefootbooks.com.

 

About the Jane Goodall Institute

Founded in 1977, the Jane Goodall Institute continues Dr. Goodall’s pioneering research on chimpanzee behavior—research that transformed scientific perceptions of the relationship between humans and animals. Today, the Institute is a global leader in the effort to protect chimpanzees and their habitats. It also is widely recognized for establishing innovative community-centered conservation and development programs in Africa, and the Roots & Shoots global environmental and humanitarian youth program, which has groups in 111 countries. For more information, please visit www.janegoodall.org.

 

Former alderman receives 2 ½ years for theft

By Tom Nash John Buonomo, a former Somerville alderman, was sentenced to 2 ½ years in prison earlier this afternoon for stealing more than $100,000 from his campaign account and breaking into copying machines to steal money. Buonomo, 57, plead guilty in October to 39 charges relating to both misuse of campaign funds and stealing from the coin operated copy machines in the Registry of Deeds basement, where he worked as the Middlesex County register of probate. Buonomo had served in the position since 2000, and while prosecutors saying it is unknown how much he may have stolen security cameras filmed him breaking into the Cambridge building's machines in 2008. At the 2 p.m. sentencing Judge Bruce Henry said he had considered appeals made by Buonomo's friends for leniency, his admission of guilt and his lack of a criminal record. "They are serious offenses," Henry said. "They are offenses which undermine the faith citizens have in their government." "Somewhat to his credit, perhaps late in the game, he's taken responsibility for what he's done," Henry added. In addition to the prison term, Henry also ordered Buonomo to remain on probation for 10 years and pay a fine of $102,792.15. Henry said the "public humiliation" Buonomo faced from the ordeal was also a factor in his decision. Buonomo, who sat by himself before the sentencing, displayed little emotion as he faced the judge and did not speak. Immediately after the sentence was read, Buonomo was led away in handcuffs. Michael Natola, Buonomo's attorney, said outside the courtroom Buonomo will likely be eligible for parole in 15 months. Buonomo is appealing a recent decision by the Somerville Retirement Board to repeal his $3,228.07 per month pension.

7th Annual Massachusetts National Adoption Day

Honoring and celebrating the adoption of over 200 Massachusetts Children Friday, November 20, 2009 Middlesex Juvenile Court and Probate & Family Court It is important to note that this event is 100% funded from corporate donations, personal donations and funds from the Massachusetts Court Improvement Program, a federally-funded program administered by the Supreme Judicial Court. The National Adoption Day Committee & Middlesex County would like to express our heartfelt appreciation and a special thank you to the following participants for their time, support and generous donations. Schedule of Events 8:15 am Check-In Registration - Lower Level Family photos are available at this time - 1st floor 8:15-Continental Breakfast is served in the 1st floor courtroom 11:00-Lunch is served in the 1st floor courtroom Entertainment available throughout the courthouse 9:00 am Opening Ceremony - Press Conference Greetings from Paul Hartnett, Clerk Magistrate of Middlesex Juvenile Court, Tara DeCristofaro, Register of Probate & Family Court Entrance of Color Guard National Anthem Sung by Attorney Kristin Snyer Master of Ceremonies Honorable Jay D. Blitzman, First Justice of the Middlesex Juvenile Court Guest Speakers Honorable Michael Edgerton, Chief Justice of the Juvenile Court Department Honorable Paula M. Carey, Chief Justice of the Probate and Family Court Angelo McClain, Commissioner of Department of Children and Families Dr. JudyAnn Bigby, Secretary of Health & Human Services Honorable Deval Patrick, Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Sheppard Family Adopting Family Eliot Tatelman CEO, Jordan's Furniture Closing Song "WE ARE FAMILY" Sung by Breanna Hewson & Jaclyn Casey Legacy of an Adopted Child Not flesh of my flesh, nor bone of my bone. But still miraculously... My Own. Never forget, for a single minute: You didn't grow under my heart... but in it. ~Anonymous National Adoption Day is a collaborative event organized by: Massachusetts Adoption Resource Exchange (MARE) Massachusetts Department of Children & Families Juvenile Court Department of the Massachusetts Trial Court Probate & Family Court of the Massachusetts Trial Court National Adoption Day is sponsored by the Massachusetts Court Improvement Program, a federally-funded program administered by the Supreme Judicial Court

 

Senator Galluccio addresses colleagues on dropout rate

Raises issue as part of Education Reform debate

Boston -- Senator Anthony Galluccio spoke on the floor of the Senate today in favor of an amendment he sponsored to the Education Reform bill which would increase the dropout age from 16 to 18 in schools across the Commonwealth. The amendment, which was not adopted, would have gone into effect one year from January.

“In Massachusetts, over 10,000 students drop out every year. The dropout percentages for students of color is horrific: Latinos and African Americans face up to five percent higher dropout rates than other students,” said Senator Galluccio. “I believe that raising the dropout age is not only the intelligent and educational choice, but it is also the right economic choice. The money we save by requiring students to stay in school and get a diploma, which on average allows them to earn close $500,000 dollars more than non-high school graduates, makes this bill an economic priority.”

Increasing the dropout age is also cited as a financial benefit by helping to avoid spending more money on recovery programs, criminal justice programs, and public supports that are necessary to allow students to recover from their decision to drop out.

“It is also important to recognize that we need to improve supports at the high school level to deal with students that are inclined to drop out. The recent Dropout Commission, which I served on as the Senate representative, identifies these supports as critical to effectuating this increase in age,” said Galluccio. “I also believe we need to recognize the cultural and economic factors that exist in making decisions to drop out, and I have suggested a strong return to a federal work study program that allows students to stay in school and earn a small paycheck to create an incentive to stay in school and to address the reality that these students have to help out at home.”

While the Education Reform bill focused primarily on innovation schools and charter schools, Senator Galluccio filed the amendment so that independent legislation that is currently being considered to make this change is viewed more favorably and is acted on quickly.

Speaker Pelosi endorses Rep. Capuano

~Photo by Tom Nash By Tom Nash U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi endorsed Senate candidate Michael Capuano at a press conference in Boston this afternoon. The former Somerville mayor and current U.S. House member is in a heated race to fill the seat vacated by the late Sen. Edward Kennedy.