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College Admissions 101 Workshop for high school students and their families offered at Torigian Family YMCA Peabody on March 1st

PEABODY AND RAYNHAM, MA… A free, in-person “College Admissions 101” workshop led by Attorney Honoria DaSilva-Kilgore, founder of Personal College Counseling, Inc. (PCCI) of Raynham, MA will be held Wednesday, March 1, 2023 from 6:30-7:30 p.m. at Torigian Family YMCA, 259 Lynnfield Street, Peabody, MA 01960.

Overwhelmed by the enormity of the college admissions task? Attorney DaSilva-Kilgore offers helpful insight and will cover topics including:

•    Choosing a college/university that is a good match for the student’s interests, lifestyle and budget
•    Getting the best financial package and maximizing merit scholarship dollars 

Attorney DaSilva-Kilgore helps focus effort on colleges that academically, socially and financially are most appropriate, which puts the student in the best position to succeed in school itself as well as beyond in their career. 

Attorney Honoria DaSilva-Kilgore

The workshop is geared towards high school Freshmen, Sophomores and Juniors and their families. 

Registration is required. RSVP by February 28, 2023 to https://conta.cc/3XmrEIo

High school students and parents who are unable to attend the workshop may arrange for a complimentary consultation by emailing nod@personalcollegecounseling.com.

About PCCI
Founded by Honoria DaSilva-Kilgore, Esq. who has been practicing law for more than 29 years, Personal College Counseling, Inc. (PCCI) provides high school students (and parents/guardians) with one-on-one guidance throughout the entire college preparation process. PCCI’s college planning includes research and recommendations that are specifically targeted and provide the best fit to the student’s abilities, interests, finances, and family circumstances. PCCI takes into consideration university and campus life; programs, internships and study abroad; athletics (Division I, II, and III) and clubs and intramurals. PCCI manages all important deadlines for testing, applications and forms, and assists with merit-based scholarships and financial aid. 

PCCI’s services are available to students in all 50 states via video conferencing or via telephone. 
Virtual services as well as in-person services are available. PCCI is based in Raynham, MA. For more information or to arrange for a complimentary Parent/Student Personal College Consultation, contact (508) 622-5250, email nod@personalcollegecounseling.com or visit the website at https://www.personalcollegecounseling.com.

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OCES Offers Building Better Caregivers Virtual Workshop Beginning March 7th.
Registration Now Open

Old Colony Elder Services (OCES), the non-profit agency proudly serving older adults and individuals with disabilities throughout greater Plymouth County and surrounding towns is offering a free, six-week Building Better Caregivers™ virtual workshop which will be held March 7 through April 18, 2023, from 1-3 p.m.

OCES’ Healthy Living Program presents the Building Better Caregivers (BBC) workshop for caregivers who are caring for someone with serious injury or illness, dementia, memory problems, post-traumatic stress disorder or a serious brain injury. The workshop will be held via Zoom, which is more convenient for many caregivers. 

This highly interactive, small group workshop is led by two trained facilitators, one or both of whom are or have been a caregiver.

The Building Better Caregivers™ workshop helps caregivers in a number of ways, such as:
– Managing challenging situations
– Communicating more effectively
– Dealing with difficult emotions and stress
– Feeling more confident
– Setting long and short-term goals

“Caregiving can be an extremely demanding job, and caregivers may experience significant stress, as well as isolation and burnout,” explained Nicole Long, MSW, LICSW, Chief Executive Officer of OCES. “This informative workshop offers training in how to provide better care, while also helping caregivers learn how to manage their own emotions, stress and physical health.”

To register, call Pat Livie, OCES’ Outreach Education Specialist at 508-584-1561 ext. 373 or Donna Forand, OCES’ Healthy Living Program Coordinator at 508-584-1561 ext. 237.

To learn more about OCES’ extensive programs and services, visit www.ocesma.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 23 Aging Services Access Points (ASAPs) in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. 

Through the talent of an experienced and diverse workforce, OCES supports the independence and dignity of older adults and individuals with disabilities by providing essential information and services that promote healthy, safe living which positively impacts our community.  The agency offers several programs to serve older adults, individuals with disabilities, their families and caregivers. For more information call 508-584-1561 or visit www.ocesma.org. 
 

OCES Offers Building Better Caregivers Virtual Workshop Beginning March 7th.<br>Registration Now OpenRead More

Shedding light on Solar energy for your home.

Educational seminar offers answers.

Scheduled for Thursday, March 2nd, 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. at the Jones River Landing.

Considering solar energy for your home to reduce cost and minimize your environmental imprint?

Fred Paris of the Wind Sun Institute and owner of Plymouth Solar Energy is offering a free educational presentation and discussion about Residential Solar Energy on Thursday, March 2nd, 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. at the Jones River Landing, 55 Landing Road, Kingston MA.

Topics to be addressed include –

  • 3 Variables of Solar Design: roof space, budget, and electric bill 
  • Types of Systems: Beyond the rooftop, Ground mounts, Trackers, Poles
  • Batteries: Beyond blackout protection
  • Residential Financial Model (template)*
  • Financial (Leasing vs Owning) 
  • Tax credits and Incentives
  • Calculating Payback

*Participants may bring their utility bill, calculator, and pencil to participate in design template.

As a technical business instructor, Paris has taught Strategic Business Planning at Northeastern University, Business Values and Renewable Energy sessions at Babson College, and private technical lessons for organizations across the United States. Paris holds BA and MBA degrees. Locally, he designed and developed the solar energy curriculum at Massasoit Community College and is the owner of Plymouth Solar Energy.

Seating is limited. Please RSVP to – https://tinyurl.com/2s493d24.

Plymouth Solar Energy is located at 18 Main Street Extension, Plymouth, MA. For more info visit www.PlymouthSolarEnergy.com . For a complimentary Solar Feasibility Study or questions, call (508) 746-5430 or email info@plymouthsolarenergy.com.

<strong>Shedding light on Solar energy for your home.</strong>Read More

College Admissions Insights. Workshop for high school students and their families offered at South Shore YMCA Emilson on January 25th

HANOVER AND RAYNHAM, MA… A free, in-person “College Admissions Insights” workshop led by Attorney Honoria DaSilva-Kilgore, founder of Personal College Counseling, Inc. (PCCI) of Raynham, MA will be held on Wednesday, January 25, 2023 from 6-7 p.m. at the South Shore YMCA Emilson, 75 Mill Street, Hanover, MA 02339.

Overwhelmed by the enormity of the college admissions task? Attorney Honoria DaSilva-Kilgore offers helpful insight and will cover topics including:

•Choosing a college/university that is a good match for the student’s interests, lifestyle and budget
•Getting the best financial package and maximizing merit scholarship dollars 

Attorney DaSilva-Kilgore helps focus effort on colleges that academically, socially and financially are most appropriate, which puts the student in the best position to succeed in school itself as well as beyond in their career. 

Attorney Honoria DaSilva-Kilgore

The workshop is geared towards Freshman, Sophomore and Junior students and their families. 

Registration is required. RSVP by January 24, 2023 to https://conta.cc/3GnkYDb

High school students and parents who are unable to attend the workshop may arrange for a complimentary consultation by emailing nod@personalcollegecounseling.com.

About PCCI
Founded by Honoria DaSilva-Kilgore, Esq. who has been practicing law for more than 29 years, Personal College Counseling, Inc. (PCCI) provides high school students (and parents/guardians) with one-on-one guidance throughout the entire college preparation process. PCCI’s college planning includes research and recommendations that are specifically targeted and provide the best fit to the student’s abilities, interests, finances, and family circumstances. PCCI takes into consideration university and campus life; programs, internships and study abroad; athletics (Division I, II, and III) and clubs and intramurals. PCCI manages all important deadlines for testing, applications and forms, and assists with merit-based scholarships and financial aid. 

PCCI’s services are available to students in all 50 states via video conferencing or via telephone. 
Virtual services as well as in-person services are available. PCCI is based in Raynham, MA. For more information or to arrange for a complimentary Parent/Student Personal College Consultation, contact (508) 622-5250, email nod@personalcollegecounseling.com or visit the website at https://www.personalcollegecounseling.com

College Admissions Insights. Workshop for high school students and their families offered at South Shore YMCA Emilson on January 25thRead More

The underrated and underutilized benefit of Zoom

People are now used to appearing on camera.

That’s it.

How is that a benefit? Well, if you’re looking to get testimonials for your business it adds a new wrinkle.

First, a video testimonial will usually provide more options than simple text. You can use it on several different social media channels, your blog and even on the home page of your website—what better way to introduce people to your business than a satisfied customer/client?

Now, the person giving the testimonial may not like how they look or sound. No problem if you record the session. Microsoft Word has a transcribing function that enables you to get a fairly accurate transcript of the interview. Then, it’s just a matter of cleaning it up and utilizing the best quotes. Here’s an example of that below:

Now, the person giving the testimonial may not like how they look or sound. No problem if you record the session. Microsoft Word has a transcribing function that enables you to get a fairly accurate transcript of the interview. Then, it’s just a matter of cleaning it up and utilizing the best quotes. Here’s an example of that below:

There is some finesse involved in getting a decent testimonial. Particularly if the person is not necessarily a comfortable speaker. A few ways to get your interviewee comfortable is send a few questions in advance of the call so they can prepare. You will also want to have a little friendly chit-chat prior to getting into the questions as a warm up.

You really don’t need to many questions. It can be as simple as:

  • What was the situation that necessitated you hiring my company?
  • What did my company do?
  • What was the end result?
  • If you had to pick only one aspect of the service you received what would it be?

The answers to these questions typically provide enough material for at least one short testimonial. Usually more than one.

One caveat to using Zoom for testimonials. As stated above, people are now comfortable using Zoom. Too comfortable. They may not show up as dressed up as you would like a testimonial to be. They may not be logging on from a quiet, well lit place. So you really have to emphasize that you will be recording and possibly using the testimonial in promotional materials. This may take several reminders.

If this sounds like something you would like to do for your business but you don’t have the bandwidth or background to take this on, drop a line and we can discuss a testimonial strategy.

The underrated and underutilized benefit of ZoomRead More

Solar energy curious?  Seminar offers answers.

Solar Energy – The Financial Perspective.

Solar energy curious?  This is an opportunity to get objective, straight-forward answers. 

Fred Paris of the Wind Sun Institute and owner of Plymouth Solar Energy is offering a free presentation and discussion of Commercial Solar Energy, with emphasis on financial models that consider tax credits and depreciation methods for 2023 projects. The free, public event is set for Thursday, January 26, 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. at the Jones River Landing, 51 Landing Road, Kingston MA.

The commercial solar energy market is stimulated with government tax credits, accelerated depreciation, and new methods for non-profit and municipal entities to receive cash in place of tax credits they cannot use.

As utilities upgrade the grid to accommodate commercial solar projects, the upgrades are focused on energy input to the grid rather than upgrading for additional electrical load. The customers installing solar of any significance pay the utility for these upgrades.

Topics will include –

• Key financial variables for commercial and residential solar

• Investment Tax Credits: who gets them it and how much                        

• 2023 Applying the 80% Bonus depreciation for Solar Investments                                  

• Determining the IRS basis for 5-year solar                                     

• Applying Accelerated Depreciation for 2023

• Understanding REC incentives and SMART payments

• Non-Profit strategies for financial incentives

As a technical business instructor, Paris has taught Strategic Business Planning at Northeastern University, Business Values and Renewable Energy sessions at Babson College, and private technical lessons for organizations across the United States. Paris holds BA and MBA degrees. Locally, he designed and developed the solar energy curriculum at Massasoit Community College and is the owner of Plymouth Solar Energy.

Seating is limited. Please RSVP to – https://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/eventReg?oeidk=a07ejlbnewkea6cdb4f&oseq=&c=&ch=

Plymouth Solar Energy is located at 18 Main Street Extension, Plymouth, MA. For more info visit www.PlymouthSolarEnergy.com . For a complimentary Solar Feasibility Study or questions, call (508) 746-5430 or email info@plymouthsolarenergy.com.

<strong>Solar energy curious?  Seminar offers answers.</strong>Read More

Hot Shots Mixes Dance, Art, and Music with Soccer in New Creativity Club for Girls. Program begins Jan. 22

MARSHFIELD, MA… South Shore parents and their daughters ages 2-7 will learn how to dance, sing, play instruments, draw, paint, do Irish Step Dancing, and play soccer on 10 Sunday mornings this winter as part of a new Hot Shots “Creativity Club” program at the Boys & Girls Club of Marshfield.

The Creativity Club will run for 10 Sunday mornings from January 22 through March 26, 2023 at the Boys & Girls Club, 37 Proprietors Drive in Marshfield. The sessions are held at 9, 10, and 11 a.m. and are open to all girls ages 2-7 on the South Shore. 

Each of the Creativity Club’s 10 weeks will have a special theme with the full hour dedicated to either art, dance, music or soccer. And on the Sunday before St. Patrick’s Day, the girls will learn Irish Step Dancing.

The instructors are all artists, dancers, or musicians with years of experience working with very young children at some of the very best Boston-area arts organizations: the South Shore Conservatory in Hingham and Duxbury, The South Shore Arts Center in Cohasset, and the Pembroke School of Performing Arts.

Incorporating the arts will be another way to achieve the Hot Shots five-part mission of having fun while building the girls’ self-esteem, parental bonds, skill sets, and love of reading (Hot Shots holds a story time every week and sends the girls home with five books every Sunday). 

“Over the last 26 years, thousands of parents and their daughters have had so much fun playing soccer with one another that we thought it would be even more fun to add dance, art, and music this winter,” said John Wilpers, founder and director of Hot Shots Soccer for Girls, a program of the Boys & Girls Club of Marshfield. 

“Instead of the typical youth program experience where the grown-ups are just taxi drivers and observers at a distance, we have 100 percent parent participation,” Wilpers said. “The moms, dads, and caregivers do everything with their daughters. This winter, they will dance, paint, make music, and play soccer together. As a result, they will have tons of fun and build special memories and strong bonds with their daughters.”

Parents and caregivers of the nearly 5,000 girls who have graduated Hot Shots over the last 26 years love what the experience has meant for their girls and themselves.

Anastasia Segalla points to her soccer drawing last fall at Hot Shots
(photo by John Wilpers)

“The impact Hot Shots has had on my daughter is astounding,” said Meaghan Segalla. “She is very shy by nature, and Hot Shots has helped her come out of her shell. She has become confident in her soccer and artistic abilities. She is proud of what she’s accomplished and believes in herself more than ever.”

The fee is $195 (need-based scholarships and reduced rates are available). Registration is online at https://www.bgcmarshfield.org/hot-shots-create

For more information, email john@bgcmarshfield.org or text/call 617-688-0137.

About Hot Shots 
The Boys & Girls Club of Marshfield is a partner and the “home base” of Hot Shots, the popular sports programs for girls ages 2 to 6 years old with the mission to build girls’ self-esteem, parental bonds, skills, love of reading and fun.

Since 1996, nearly 5,000 girls have graduated from Hot Shots. Most girls return year after year, and many come back to coach after they’re too old to play. For more information about Hot Shots, visit https://hotshotssoccer.org

About the Boys & Girls Club of Marshfield
The Boys & Girls Club of Marshfield’s mission is to enable and inspire all young people to realize their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens as well as become tomorrow’s capable leaders. The Club provides programming opportunities in the Boys & Girls Club of America’s (BGCA) five core areas including leadership, education, health, arts, and fitness.  The Club serves families with children ranging in age from 5 to 18 years old, and provides critical services the community needs to support children and families over the short- and long-term. For more information, visit their website www.bgcmarshfield.org or call 781-834-2582.

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Boutique HR firm launches in Easton, MA to help businesses with HR strategy, talent acquisition, training, compliance and more

EASTON, MA… Helping businesses achieve the next level of success through onboarding, retention strategies, performance management programs, training, compliance and other areas of human resources (HR), Ross Insight Solutions offers comprehensive outsourced HR services to small and medium-sized businesses across all industries.

Carolyn Ross, J.D., Founder, HR Consultant, Mediator & Coach

Based in Easton and serving Massachusetts, Rhode Island and beyond, the recently launched Ross Insight Solutions is an HR firm founded by Carolyn Ross, J.D., an HR expert with nearly 25 years of leadership experience in all aspects of human resources management across diverse industries. 

A Tailor-Made Approach 
Ross Insight Solutions enables businesses to solve their people needs through better HR practices. They work with business owners and/or management to provide a customized approach in areas that include: HR strategy and alignment with business goals and objectives to facilitate success; talent acquisition programs for better hiring and onboarding of employees; compliance with employment-related legal and regulatory requirements; employee relations and effective performance management programs; tailored training, development and coaching for management and staff; total rewards (compensation and benefits) programs; and creating a workplace culture that not only increases employee retention, but also maximizes employee engagement.

Standing Out 
Prior to her extensive career in human resources, Ross practiced law in a general practice and owned one of the first mediation businesses in the northeast.  Ross Insight Solutions’ legal expertise and extensive experience in all aspects of HR management across diverse industries is what differentiates the firm from others. The firm is uniquely qualified to assess and ensure that companies remain in legal and regulatory compliance and have the necessary policies and procedures in place to mitigate risk.

Ross holds a Bachelor of Arts in psychology/business from Skidmore College along with a Juris Doctor degree from Suffolk University Law School. She holds certificates in HR Management from Bentley University; Coaching for HR Professionals from Center for Creative Leadership (CCL); Leadership Development for HR Professionals from CCL; is a certified mediator by Coast-to-Coast Mediation; and was formerly a certified Personal Renewal Group facilitator through Renee Trudeau & Associates.

Ross is a member of Northeast Human Resources Association (NEHRA), Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), Senior Human Resources Network (SHRN), Vistage, and Spahk Network. She is a resident of Easton, MA.

“Lack of time and resources is a challenge for many businesses experiencing significant growth and demand,” said Carolyn Ross, founder. “When the focus is entirely on day-to-day operations, it means the only HR tasks that are completed are the absolute basics. That’s where we can help.”

Ross Insight Solutions provides expert HR services to companies that do not have a dedicated in-house HR person or department, or that need temporary augmentation of their existing HR team in order to:
•    Create HR processes, programs and policies
•    Recruit and onboard new staff
•    Train and develop management and staff 
•    Ensure legal and regulatory compliance 
•    Improve employee retention and engagement

The firm also provides interim HR leadership when companies are recruiting for an HR leader or their regular HR leader is on a leave of absence.

To schedule a complimentary HR consultation and to learn more about Ross Insight Solutions, visit https://rossinsightsolutions.com.

About Ross Insight Solutions
Ross Insight Solutions is enabling small and medium-sized companies to transform their business through their people. As a human resources (HR) consulting firm, Ross Insight Solutions’ legal expertise and extensive experience in all aspects of HR management, across diverse industries, differentiates them from other firms. Ross Insight Solutions offers a tailor-made approach to HR management, support and strategies to help organizations and their people achieve the next level of success. Services include talent acquisition/onboarding, training/development/coaching, performance management, total rewards, compliance, retention/engagement/culture, strategic planning and more. To arrange a complimentary HR consultation or for more information, contact 774-250-5005 or visit https://rossinsightsolutions.com.

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Green Goddess Supply Launches Elite, Curated Seed Bank

Green Goddess Supply, a Massachusetts-based producer of personal home grow systems, today announced the launch of TheAutoflowerStore.com, an ecommerce website dedicated to offering a line of elite, curated, Autoflower cannabis seeds. “Like many aspects of the cannabis industry, the seed scene is a bit of a mess,” said Eric Robichaud, CEO of Green Goddess Supply. “We work with folks who want to grow Autoflower strains, and many of them are beginners. There are certainly a bunch of seed banks online, but the experience for the uninitiated can be fraught with peril, in many ways.” 

First, according to Robichaud, the quality of the genetics can be all over the road, ranging anywhere from unstable first-generation seeds, up through very high quality, stable genetics, with everything in-between. The company used to make recommendations, pointing people towards the quality breeders, but that didn’t really solve the problem – they still needed to find a place to buy them, which cascaded into the second problem: confusion within the buying experience.

“Our customers want feminized [aka female] Autoflower seeds. But we find that pretty much every seed bank carries either only photoperiod seeds, or both traditional photoperiod seeds AND Autoflower seeds. They also typically carry mixtures of “regular” and feminized varieties. We’ve seen beginners get lost and accidentally end up buying the wrong thing – photoperiod instead of Autoflower, and/or “regular” seeds instead of feminized, and so forth,” said Robichaud.   

Additionally, most of the seed banks have inconvenient purchasing options – they’re either overseas, which introduces import / customs issues as well as potential issues trying to process credit card transactions out of the country, or they can’t take normal credit cards and use a combination of crypto currencies and obscure third-party wallet systems.

“We sorted that all out,” said Robichaud, “and have curated a line of quality genetics from trusted breeders. Most of the breeders we work with are more “craft” breeders with deep levels of expertise, as opposed to beginners and/or “seed factories.” All of our seeds are specifically feminized Autoflower seeds so that consumers won’t be confused buying the wrong product.”  And, Robichaud adds, the website is an otherwise “normal” site that can accept credit cards. 

The DEA recently ruled that since there’s no THC in the seeds, all seeds are classified as “hemp seeds” and thus are not regulated by the U.S. government.  This has opened up the ability for seeds banks to work with these products more easily. Mr. Robichaud remarked “The home grow industry is evolving rapidly, as evidenced by the quality genetics coming from craft Autoflower breeders.”  He continued, “In addition, the recent DEA classification of seeds and the Biden Administration’s recent announcements about new cannabis prison release program seem to indicate the tides may be turning to the benefit of all home growers, and anyone with investment in this exciting space.”

Autoflower plants are hybrids that retain the cannabinoid and terpene profile of the original “traditional” cannabis parent, crossed with a subspecies called “Ruderalis” to acquire the “Autoflower” characteristics (fast growing, small and compact, with an automatic flowering cycle).

About Green Goddess Supply: Green Goddess Supply, is a “Cultivation to Consumption” cannabis technology lifestyle brand offering a line of high-quality products to grow, store, prep and consume hemp flower and cannabis products. The company sells direct to consumers at MSRP through its website, and also offers wholesale and distributor accounts to brick and mortar storefronts and industry distributors. Green Goddess Supply is a privately held company headquartered in Hopedale, MA with a satellite office in California. For more information about Green Goddess Supply, visit the website at https://www.GreenGoddessSupply.com/  or visit The Autoflower Store at https://TheAutoflowerStore.com

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