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Old Colony Elder Services Offers Thanksgiving Meal at Brockton COA

OCES logoOld Colony Elder Services (OCES), the non-profit agency proudly serving older adults and individuals with disabilities throughout greater Plymouth County and surrounding communities, will offer a special Thanksgiving meal at the Brockton Council on Aging (COA) Community Dining site on Tuesday, November 22, 2016 at noon. The COA is located at the Mary Cruise Kennedy Senior Center, 10 Father Kenney Way, Brockton, MA 02301.

OCES’ Thanksgiving menu features roast turkey with giblet gravy, whipped potatoes, savory stuffing, cranberry sauce, seasoned peas, carrots and corn medley, wheat roll with butter, and apple pie (or for those with dietary restrictions, diet cinnamon baked apple slices) for dessert.

Reservations are required and may be made by calling the Brockton COA at 508-580-7811.

OCES’ Community Dining sites provide hot, nutritious noontime meals Monday through Friday to adults age 60+ and individuals with disabilities under the age of 60. Meals are planned by a nutritionist and meet one-third of the Recommended Daily Allowance for major nutrients. The meals do not include high sodium foods and no salt is added. Low-fat milk is provided.

“Our Community Dining sites provide older adults with healthy, nutritious and delicious meals on a daily basis, along with the chance to socialize and enjoy fun activities,” said Diana DiGiorgi, Executive Director of OCES. “It is our pleasure to invite seniors to gather together for a very special Thanksgiving meal.”

Community Dining information is published in COA newsletters and on OCES’ new website at www.ocesma.org. A sample menu may be requested by calling OCES at (508) 584-1561.

About OCES

Founded in 1974, OCES proudly serves greater Plymouth County and surrounding communities. OCES is a private, non-profit organization headquartered in Brockton with a second office in Plymouth. OCES is designated as one of 26 Aging Services Access Points (ASAPs) in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. OCES’ mission is to support the independence and dignity of elders and people with disabilities by providing essential information and services that promote healthy and safe living. The agency has 235 employees and operates more than 15 programs serving older adults, individuals with disabilities, their families and caregivers. For more information call 508-584-1561 or visit www.ocesma.org.

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Talking Information Center Appoints New Assistant Executive Director

Anna Dunbar
Anna Dunbar

The award-winning Talking Information Center (TIC), a non-profit reading service based in Marshfield, MA, which broadcasts 24 hours a day to thousands of visually impaired and otherwise disabled listeners, has appointed Anna Dunbar as Assistant Executive Director.

In her new role, Ms. Dunbar will oversee financial operations, development and marketing at TIC. She will work alongside TIC’s Executive Director, Jim Bunnell and the Board of Directors to achieve the organization’s goals for continued financial stability, while enhancing the impact and mission of its program.

Previously, Ms. Dunbar served as the Financial Manager at Gateway Arts, a service of Vinfen, located in Brookline, and as Director of Operations at Galerie d’Orsay of Newbury Street, Boston. Prior to that, Ms. Dunbar worked at Graham Waste Services of Cohasset where she had been promoted to Office Manager for the last two of the seven years she was with the company.

Ms. Dunbar holds a Bachelor’s degree in Art History from Bridgewater State University. In her free time, she volunteers at Rock Steady Boxing, a non-contact boxing fitness program for people suffering with Parkinson’s disease, located in Marshfield.

A native of Scituate, Ms. Dunbar resides in Rockland.

Reaching New Audiences

According to the National Federation of the Blind, 136,500 people of all ages in Massachusetts reported to have a visual disability in 2013. Two out of three aging Americans confront vision loss. Others who experience vision problems are living with AIDS, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, stroke, paralysis and other physical ailments that make it difficult to hold a publication or turn its pages. Approximately 10,000 people turn 65 every day in the U.S. and in Massachusetts, 34 percent of people with disabilities are 65 and older. Military veterans are seeking programs that have a ‘veteran’s voice’.

TIC has thousands of blind/visually impaired listeners statewide, yet there is a broader audience who can benefit. There are a growing number of seniors and veterans seeking informational, entertaining broadcasts that just aren’t available elsewhere, and that’s where TIC comes in.

TIC operates with the help of more than 600 volunteers statewide and approximately 200 volunteers in their Marshfield studio alone, broadcasting newspapers, magazines, books, special consumer information, medical and stock market updates, jobs, sports, supermarket specials, voting guides, community newspapers, and television programs. They also offer cultural programming such as old-time radio drama, theater, and poetry. Two of TIC’s newest shows include Veterans Voice Radio and Veterans Voice Story Hour, which are specifically geared toward military veterans and their families.

About TIC

The Talking Information Center (TIC), a non-profit reading service located in Marshfield, MA, broadcasts 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to visually-impaired and print-handicapped listeners including those suffering from AIDS, Cerebral Palsy, Multiple Sclerosis, stroke, paralysis or other physical illness that makes holding a publication or turning pages impossible.

TIC programming may be accessed several ways: via live audio stream at www.ticnetwork.org, by utilizing a specially tuned radio receiver; through AudioNow by calling 712-832-7025 from a home or cell phone; or by smartphone app. Listeners with smartphones may download the free TIC app by typing “Talking Information Center” in Apple or in the Google Play store for Android devices.

TIC is a proud member of the International Association of Audible Information Services (IAAIS), and is also the hub of the Massachusetts Reading Network, broadcasting to all of Massachusetts as well as southern New Hampshire and Connecticut.

In 1977, Ed Perry, the founder of radio station WATD-FM in Marshfield, MA, donated his Subsidiary Carrier Authorization signal for use as the first radio reading service in New England. Operating similarly to other broadcast networks, TIC has affiliates throughout the state of Massachusetts that provide inserts of local news and information that is of interest to listeners in their area. TIC is located at 130 Enterprise Drive, Marshfield, MA 02050. For more information visit www.ticnetwork.org or call (781) 834-4400.

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High five to Plymouth Rock Racing. Plymouth Rock Racing’s Thanksgiving Day runs– Pilgrim Trot 5K, Plymouth Turkey Trot, Plymouth Turkey Trot Second Helping Challenge—make Men’s Journal’s top five

The great outdoors and a sense of fun and holiday spirit have helped Plymouth Thanksgiving Day road races achieve a top 5 ranking in Men’s Journal.
The great outdoors and a sense of fun and holiday spirit have helped Plymouth Thanksgiving Day road races achieve a top 5 ranking in Men’s Journal.

PLYMOUTH, MA…

We know about the Town of Plymouth’s first Thanksgiving tradition. In recent years, it’s newest tradition—Thanksgiving Day road races—have gained in popularity and notoriety. Case in point, Men’s Journal recently named Plymouth’s Thanksgiving Day races as the fifth best Thanksgiving Day road race in the U.S.

The Thanksgiving Day road races, put on by Plymouth, MA-based Plymouth Rock Racing, include: Pilgrim Trot 5K, Plymouth Turkey Trot and Plymouth Turkey Trot Second Helping Challenge. Each run/walk features its own unique qualities and characteristics. Here’s what Men’s Journal had to say:

“Is there any place better to celebrate Thanksgiving than Plymouth, Massachusetts? Choose from the Pilgrim Trot 5K, the Plymouth Turkey Trot, or go big with the Plymouth Turkey Trot Second Helping Challenge. The 5K is run on the oldest public road in America (Old Sandwich Road) — entirely on dirt. The Plymouth Turkey Trot (4.77 miles) starts and finishes at Plymouth Rock and runs to the Forefathers Monument, passing by the Mayflower replica and other historic sites. For ultimate Turkey Day bragging rights, run the Second Helping Challenge (run both races back-to-back) — the Plymouth Turkey Trot starts at 7:30 a.m., and the 5-K race starts at 10:30 a.m., just six miles away.”

The ranking from Men’s Journal is the most recent national ranking Plymouth Rock Racing’s Thanksgiving Day races have received. Runners World (ranked 11 for the second year in a row), Daily Burn (ranked two years in a row), and the Food Network Magazine (ranked 10th in 2015) have all listed the Plymouth Turkey Trots in their rankings of top Thanksgiving Day road races in the United States. Not only have Plymouth Thanksgiving Day races continued to be ranked in these publications, but have moved up. For example, Plymouth Thanksgiving Day races rose from 20th to 10th in Daily Burn.

“A lot of time and energy goes into putting on these runs and it’s quite gratifying to receive this type of notoriety from a publication like Men’s Journal is gratifying and humbling,” said Craig V. Brenner, director of Plymouth Rock Racing. “This year’s day of races promises to be the biggest and best we’ve had to date.”

The Turkey Trot features something new this year, with a three- and five-mile course available. After the Trot, runners can sign up for the Second Helping Challenge, which also features two course distances—3.1 miles and five miles.

The Thanksgiving Day Pilgrim 5k Run and Walk starts at 10:30 at from Village Racquet at Pine Hills, 30 Golf Drive, Plymouth at 10:15 a.m. rain or shine, also on Thanksgiving morning. The course includes the oldest road in America, Old Sandwich Road. This race site was the original trail used by Pilgrims and Native Americans in the 1600’s as they traveled from Plymouth to Sandwich, Mass.

Food drives will be held at both race sites, with donated items going to the food pantry at the South Shore Community Council.

Prizes will be awarded to men’s and women’s winners in several age groups. All participants will receive a commemorative finishers’ medal.  T-Shirts, designed by professional graphic artists, will be given to all participants.

For complete race information and registration details on the Plymouth Turkey Trot, Thanksgiving Day 5k and the Second Helping Challenge visit http://plymouthrockracing.wixsite.com/plymouthrockracing. If you or your company is interested in sponsoring either the Plymouth Turkey Trot or the Thanksgiving Day Turkey 5k Run and Walk, please contact Craig Brenner at plymouthrockracing@gmail.com.

High five to Plymouth Rock Racing. Plymouth Rock Racing’s Thanksgiving Day runs– Pilgrim Trot 5K, Plymouth Turkey Trot, Plymouth Turkey Trot Second Helping Challenge—make Men’s Journal’s top fiveRead More

OCES Joins the #GivingTuesday Movement to Raise Money for Emergency Fund

OCES logoFor the second year, Old Colony Elder Services (OCES), the non-profit agency proudly serving older adults and individuals with disabilities throughout greater Plymouth County and surrounding communities, will participate in the #GivingTuesday movement to raise money for their Emergency Fund program.

In the same way that Black Friday and Cyber Monday kick off the holiday shopping season, #GivingTuesday, which is Tuesday, November 29, 2016, kicks off the giving season. A global day dedicated to giving, #GivingTuesday inspires people to collaborate in improving their local communities and to give back in impactful ways to the charities and causes they support.

OCES’ Emergency Fund helps meet the needs of at-risk low-income older adults and individuals with disabilities who are in a crisis or emergency circumstance that threatens their health and/or living situation. All too frequently, these individuals encounter problems that can jeopardize their ability to maintain independence, dignity and well-being.

Each year the OCES fundraising goal is to add to the Emergency Fund’s capacity to make a critical difference in the lives of the consumers that are served. OCES’ Emergency Fund supports dozens of consumers throughout the year faced with unforeseen emergency events, answering urgent needs such as filling an empty fuel tank, repairing a broken furnace, replacing a mattress that has outlived its usefulness, or providing life-sustaining medications.

Online Donation Capability

To help address local challenges and raise money for the Emergency Fund, visit www.ocesma.org and click on #GivingTuesday. Donations may now be made on OCES’ secure online donation page managed by their online partner Network for Good. When making an online donation, simply select the option from the drop down menu to designate it to #GivingTuesday.

Donations may also be made by check or money order and mailed to OCES, 144 Main Street, Brockton, MA 02301.

“By participating in the #GivingTuesday movement and making a donation to OCES, you can help heat a home, purchase food or medicine, or provide emergency assistance when someone faces an unexpected challenge,” said Diana DiGiorgi, OCES’ Executive Director. “#GivingTuesday proves that the holidays can be both giving and giving back, and we ask the community to join OCES’ #GivingTuesday initiative.”

A Day Dedicated to Giving Back

#GivingTuesday is observed on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving. Fueled by the power of social media and collaboration, #GivingTuesday connects individuals, communities and organizations around the world and provides a platform for them to encourage the donation of time, resources and talents. To learn more, visit www.givingtuesday.org.

About OCES

Founded in 1974, OCES proudly serves greater Plymouth County and surrounding communities. OCES is a private, non-profit organization headquartered in Brockton with a second office in Plymouth. OCES is designated as one of 26 Aging Services Access Points (ASAPs) in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. OCES’ mission is to support the independence and dignity of elders and people with disabilities by providing essential information and services that promote healthy and safe living. The agency has 235 employees and operates more than 15 programs serving older adults, individuals with disabilities, their families and caregivers. For more information call 508-584-1561 or visit www.ocesma.org.

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Google’s free non-profit PPC program on Nov. 15, 8am to 9:30am, Plymouth Chamber, 134 Court St., Plymouth, MA

This free seminar will outline the logistics of the Google Non-Profit “Pay per Click” program that provides qualified non-profits with $10,000 of FREE Pay Per Click advertising per month (equates to $120,000 per year). The advertising can be use to generate volunteers, donations, events or general awareness.

The workshop will inform attendees of:

  • Non-profit organizations that are eligible for the grant;
  • Timing – how long does the process take;
  • Applying for the grant;
  • Researching key words and phrases;
  • Creating landing pages;
  • Writing enticing text advertisements;
  • Measuring the “champion” advertisement vs. the “challenger”; monitoring results through Google Analytics;
  • Maintaining the program monthly to remain within compliance;
  • Outlining a non-profit case study and success story.

Who’s eligible for this program? First, who is not: governmental entities and organizations, hospitals and medical groups, schools, childcare centers, academic institutions and universities are not eligible for Google Ad Grants.

Who is eligible? In order to qualify for the Google for Nonprofits program, an organization must be listed in the Internal Revenue Service’s online searchable database of charitable organizations.

If your company is eligible, please click on the link below to register or RSVP.

RSVP here.

 

Google’s free non-profit PPC program on Nov. 15, 8am to 9:30am, Plymouth Chamber, 134 Court St., Plymouth, MARead More

The Future of Dry Cleaning comes to Somerville. Lapels Dry Cleaning opens at 369 Somerville Avenue, Somerville, MA

SOMERVILLE, MA and HANOVER, MA…

Lapels Dry Cleaning, an innovative, environmentally friendly dry cleaning company headquartered in Hanover, Massachusetts, will open a full-service, environmentally friendly dry cleaning store at 369 Somerville Avenue, Somerville, MA on November 5.

“We’re extremely excited to bring a sustainable, non-toxic way of dry cleaning clothes to Somerville,” said Lily Zhang, the owner of Lapels Dry Cleaning of Somerville. “When we open our doors on November 5, Lapels Dry Cleaning will become the only dry cleaner in town using a 100 percent environmentally non-toxic cleaning solution.”

Lapels has pioneered its eco-friendly dry cleaning experience over the past dozen years. Part of that effort includes a partnership agreement with GreenEarth®, the dry cleaning industry’s only non-toxic cleaning alternative, for its newer locations like Lapels Dry Cleaning of Somerville. Using these kinds of solutions and the latest technology in equipment, Lapels is one of the few dry cleaners able to boast that there is no hazardous waste in their process. Their environmentally-friendly cleaning process has no odor and is gentler on clothes, thus lengthening the life of clothes.

Lapels Dry Cleaning also sets itself apart with its customer service. Lapels customers are greeted to a warm and inviting reception area, with friendly customer service representatives, and alteration services.

Lapels offers it’s customers Automatic Rewards earning them credit towards free dry cleaning for every dollar they spend, Loyalty Programs, a VIP Program which eliminates the need to wait in line, the use of a 24 Hour Drop Off Service and FREE Home Delivery to all its customers. Same day service is also available with pick-up after 5 pm. Lapels also offers a “car hop” service where customers can drop off and pick up their clothing without ever leaving their cars.

Hours at Lapels Dry Cleaning in Somerville are Monday through Friday, 7 am to 7 pm; Saturday 8 am to 5 pm; and Sunday, 12 pm to 3 pm. The grand opening for the new Lapels is scheduled for December 3rd.

For complete information on Lapels Dry Cleaning, please visit www.mylapels.com.

Lapels Dry Cleaning – Environmentally Friendly Cleaners
Each Lapels Dry Cleaning store offers a full slate of services, including: same-day dry cleaning; shirt service; tailoring; shoe repair; wedding gown preservation; suede and leather processing; box storage and fur storage. Lapels Dry Cleaning has stores in Arizona (Gilbert, Chandler, Phoenix, Scottsdale), California (Poway), Colorado (Littleton), Connecticut (Cromwell), Florida (Fleming Island, Orange Park, Tampa) Louisiana (Monroe, West Monroe, Delhi, Rayville, Winnsboro), Massachusetts (Abington, Allston, Bedford, Boston, Boston Seaport, South Boston, Braintree, Brighton, Burlington, Cambridge, Canton, Cohasset, Dedham, Easton, Framingham, Hanover, Hingham, Kingston, Malden, Marshfield, Martha’s Vineyard, Natick, Needham, Newtonville, Norton, Quincy, Somerville, Stoughton, Walpole, Waltham, Wakefield, Wellesley, Westford, Westwood and Wilmington), Michigan (Rochester Hills, West Bloomfield), Mississippi (New Albany, Tupelo, Oxford, Pontotoc), Missouri (Wildwood), New Jersey (Brick), Ohio (Liberty Township), Oklahoma (Edmond, Oklahoma City), Pennsylvania (Bloomsburg), South Carolina (Myrtle Beach, Pawleys Island), Texas (Bee Cave, Brownsville). Additional locations are coming soon to Boston, MA and Somerville, NJ.

Lapels Dry Cleaning has received a number of accolades in the franchise world. That includes being ranked as the number one franchise in the Dry Cleaning and Delivery Services category for Entrepreneur’s Annual “Franchise 500” for 2016. Entrepreneur’s “Franchise 500” is the best and most comprehensive rating of franchises in the world and is based on objective, quantifiable measures of a franchise operation. Lapels Dry Cleaning has also been named to Franchise Times Top 200+.

Lapels has also achieved acclaim in the dry cleaning industry. Lapels Dry Cleaning CEO Kevin Dubois is the co-author of Entrepreneurial Insanity in the Dry Cleaning Business, sold on Amazon.com.
Lapels Dry Cleaning corporate offices are located at 962 Washington Street, Hanover, MA 02339.

To learn more about franchise opportunities with Lapels Dry Cleaning, call toll free (866) 695-2735 or email sales@lapelsdrycleaning.com. Additional information and up-to-date company news can also be found on the company’s Web site, www.lapelsdrycleaning.com.

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Rodman CPAs to Hold QuickBooks Online Webinar on November 14th

Rodman CPAs' Advanced QuickBooks ProAdvisors team
Rodman CPAs’ Advanced QuickBooks ProAdvisors team

Rodman CPAs, a full service tax and accounting firm serving small, mid-market, and multi-generational companies throughout the greater Boston area, is offering a “Tips & Tricks for Experienced Users” QuickBooks Online Webinar on Monday, November 14, 2016 from 12 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.

For those looking to enhance their QuickBooks Online skills but who are unable to travel to the firm’s Waltham classroom, the Rodman CPAs team of ProAdvisors is offering a free online webinar. The team will discuss new features of QuickBooks Online and share efficiency tips and tricks.

Rodman CPAs has been a member of the QuickBooks ProAdvisor Program since 1999. Having provided hundreds of small to mid-size companies with training and consulting, Rodman CPAs’ Advanced QuickBooks ProAdvisors team, Kathy Parker CPA, Leah Shanahan CPA, Janine O’Connor EA, Christine McGoldrick and Kayla Luther, provide superior services and expertise to meet the accounting software installation, setup, and training needs of businesses.

To learn more about this free webinar and register, visit www.rodmancpa.com/free-webinar-

Registrants will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar, and a Mac, PC or a mobile device may be used to attend the session.

About Rodman CPAs

Rodman CPAs provides tax advisory, accounting, and business strategy to small and mid-sized emerging and established businesses. Named one of Accounting Today’s Best Accounting Firms to Work for, and one of the largest accounting firms in Massachusetts by the Boston Business Journal, Rodman CPAs offers an innovative and strategic approach with the personal touch of a smaller regional CPA firm. For more than 50 years, Rodman CPAs has been specializing in customized accounting and tax solutions that improve business performance, processes, financial operations, and information technology.

The firm serves as a true business partner, helping clients perform and succeed during each stage of the business lifecycle. As domain experts in alternative energy, the “Green Team” at Rodman CPAs works with renewable energy producers and businesses throughout the U.S. offering tax advisory, financial, accounting services, and Investment Tax Credit (ITC) studies.

Rodman CPAs is an independent member firm of BDO Alliance USA, which enables them to expand services to clients by accessing the resources of BDO USA, LLP and other Alliance members, ensuring greater flexibility, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness.

For more information, email info@rodmancpa.com, visit their website at http://www.rodmancpa.com or contact (617) 965-5959.

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Talking Information Center and Furnace Brook Middle School Raise Vision Impairment Awareness Through Blindfold Run/Walk

Furnace Brook Middle School Principal, Patrick Sullivan, with his son Cooper at the “I Am...Not Alone. We’re in this Together” Blindfold Run/Walk.
Furnace Brook Middle School Principal, Patrick Sullivan, with his son Cooper at the “I Am…Not Alone. We’re in this Together” Blindfold Run/Walk.

In partnership with the Massachusetts Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired (MABVI) and Team with a Vision, the Talking Information Center (TIC), a non-profit reading service based in Marshfield, MA, which broadcasts 24 hours a day to thousands of visually impaired and otherwise disabled listeners, recently participated in the “I Am…Not Alone. We’re in this Together” Blindfold Run/Walk with Furnace Brook Middle School in Marshfield.

Twenty teams of two participated in the Blindfold Run/Walk held Sunday, October 16th, 2016 at Martinson Elementary School track in Marshfield. The event was geared towards raising awareness of the challenges of blind and visually impaired individuals. Participants included Marshfield sixth, seventh and eighth graders and their family members, TIC and Furnace Brook Middle School staff, and community members.

The runners/walkers took turns being blindfolded while their teammate remained sighted and served as a guide as they ran or walked the Martinson Elementary School track two laps each for one-mile total. The guides held the tether rope of their blindfolded partner and provided verbal direction throughout the entire race.

In addition to the race, participants had an opportunity to try on visual impairment glasses, which simulated low vision (courtesy of Capeway Opticians) and enjoy family friendly games designed to help children empathize with those who have vision issues.

A $10 donation was asked of participants, with all proceeds going to TIC to help fund special assistive radio technologies that benefit thousands who are blind or vision impaired. Tiny & Sons Glass Co., Capeway Opticians, Bond Printing and Marketing, Furnace Brook Middle School, MABVI and Team with a Vision sponsored this event.

“The Blindfold Run raised awareness of the hardships people with vision challenges face and it fit our school’s mission to be Peace Builders in being an event that encouraged empathy and helped others. We are lucky to have the TIC, Tiny and Sons, and St. Christine’s parish peer ministry support our school’s endeavors,” said Teresa DeLuca, Librarian at Furnace Brook Middle School.

“According to the National Federation of the Blind, 136,500 people of all ages in Massachusetts reported to have a visual disability in 2013,” explained Jim Bunnell, TIC’s Executive Director.”Through the Blindfold Run/Walk, we were able to provide a better understanding of the challenges of individuals with visual impairment. We had a very positive response from everyone involved.”

He continued, “We’d like to expand this initiative and continue to raise awareness by holding the Blindfold Run/Walk at other schools throughout the South Shore.”

Schools that are interested in holding a Blindfold Run/Walk event may contact Anna Dunbar of TIC (781) 834-4400.

Reaching New Audiences

Two out of three aging Americans confront vision loss. Others who experience vision problems are living with AIDS, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, stroke, paralysis and other physical ailments that make it difficult to hold a publication or turn its pages. Approximately 10,000 people turn 65 every day in the U.S. and in Massachusetts, 34 percent of people with disabilities are 65 and older.

TIC has thousands of blind/visually impaired listeners statewide, yet there is a broader audience who can benefit. There are a growing number of seniors and veterans seeking informational, entertaining broadcasts that just aren’t available elsewhere, and that’s where TIC comes in.

The Hub of the Massachusetts Reading Network

TIC is a proud member of the International Association of Audible Information Services (IAAIS), and is the hub of the Massachusetts Reading Network, broadcasting to all of Massachusetts as well as southern New Hampshire and Connecticut. TIC operates with the help of more than 600 volunteers statewide, broadcasting newspapers, magazines, books, special consumer information, medical and stock market updates, jobs, sports, supermarket specials, voting guides, community newspapers, and television programs. TIC also offers cultural programming such as old-time radio drama, theater, and poetry. Two of TIC’s newest shows include Veterans Voice Radio and Veterans Voice Story Hour, which are specifically geared toward military veterans and their families.

TIC programming may be accessed several ways: via live audio stream at http://www.ticnetwork.org; by utilizing a specially tuned radio receiver; through AudioNow by calling 712-832-7025 from a home or cell phone; or by smartphone app. Listeners with smartphones may download the free TIC app by typing “Talking Information Center” in Apple or in the Google Play store for Android devices.

In 1977, Ed Perry, the founder of radio station WATD-FM in Marshfield, MA, donated his Subsidiary Carrier Authorization signal for use as the first radio reading service in New England. Operating similarly to other broadcast networks, TIC has affiliates throughout the state of Massachusetts that provide inserts of local news and information that is of interest to listeners in their area. The Executive Office of Elder Affairs and the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind oversee TIC, which is located at 130 Enterprise Drive, Marshfield, MA 02050. For more information visit www.ticnetwork.org or call (781) 834-4400.

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Old Colony Elder Services Launches New Website

Old Colony Elder Services (OCES), the non-profit agency proudly serving older adults and individuals with disabilities throughout greater Plymouth County and surrounding communities, has announced the launch of their new website, www.ocesma.org.

The latest generation of OCES’ website was developed by Clearpoint Design of Brookline. The firm used responsive design to ensure that the site is viewable on any device, is easy to navigate and user-friendly. The new site’s design is targeted for seniors, individuals with disabilities and caregivers, as well as donors, volunteers, service providers, families and job seekers. Since it is a WordPress site, OCES will manage its own content to ensure that the site has the most current information available.

New and improved components of this well-organized site include a Home Page highlighting current events, as well as buttons for Community Dining Locations and the monthly Nutrition Menu. An About Us section offers news items, special reports and updates. A How We Can Help section serves as a starting point for site visitors and outlines OCES’ many services. The Opportunities page is tailored to service providers, job seekers, caregivers, volunteers and interns. The What You Can Do page is geared towards those who wish to donate or volunteer.

Online Donation Capability

By selecting the Donate option on OCES’ new website, visitors are now able to access OCES’ secure donation page managed by their online partner Network for Good. When making a donation, there is the option of designating it to a certain program (such as OCES’ Emergency Fund, Nutrition or other program) or of dedicating it in honor of, or in memory of, an individual or organization.

Once again this year, OCES is participating in the #GivingTuesday campaign. The national day dedicated to charitable giving is November 29th; donors are able to go directly to the OCES donations page to make their contributions.

“Our new site is very well thought-out to effectively communicate who we are and how we can help. Visitors to our website will be able to quickly and easily find the information they need,” said Diana DiGiorgi, Executive Director. “Our OCES Website Team and Clearpoint Design did an outstanding job and we’re very pleased with the end product.”

About OCES

Founded in 1974, OCES proudly serves greater Plymouth County and surrounding communities. OCES is a private, non-profit organization headquartered in Brockton with a second office in Plymouth. OCES is designated as one of 26 Aging Services Access Points (ASAPs) in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. OCES’ mission is to support the independence and dignity of elders and people with disabilities by providing essential information and services that promote healthy and safe living. The agency has 245 employees and operates more than 15 programs serving older adults, individuals with disabilities, their families and caregivers. For more information call 508-584-1561 or visit www.ocesma.org.

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