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OCES Employees Support Individuals and Families during Holiday Season with Donations to Father Bill’s and My Brother’s Keeper

BROCKTON AND PLYMOUTH… Staff at Old Colony Elder Services (OCES) in Brockton and Plymouth are helping support those in need of assistance by providing gifts, grocery gift cards, and essential items during the holiday season.
 
In December, The OCES Cultural Competency Committee partnered with My Brother’s Keeper in Easton to help families in the community through their Adopt-a-Family program. OCES staff purchased presents, including games, toys, and clothes, for five local families. Staff also volunteered to wrap gifts for families onsite. In addition to presents, each family also received a $50 supermarket gift card to help provide a special holiday meal.   
 
To support individuals and families in need at Father Bill’s & MainSpring, OCES’ Protective Services team led an employee drive for donations of essential items such as personal care products, socks and more which were then delivered to Father Bill’s in Brockton.
 
OCES Team Outreach
With offices in Brockton and Plymouth, OCES is the largest provider of in-home and community-based services for older adults and people living with disabilities in Southeastern Massachusetts.
 
OCES takes pride in giving back to the communities it serves, not only during the holiday season but throughout the year. OCES encourages employee outreach through volunteering, donating or community service.
 
For information about My Brother’s Keeper, visit www.mybrotherskeeper.org and for information about Father Bill’s, visit helpfbms.org
 
About OCES
OCES is recognized as one of the 2023 and 2024 Best Places to Work by Cape & Plymouth Business Marketing. OCES has been certified as a woman non-profit organization (W/NPO) by the Supplier Diversity Office (SDO). For more than 50 years, OCES a private, nonprofit organization with locations in Brockton and Plymouth. OCES is designated as one of 23 Aging Services Access Points (ASAPs) in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and proudly serves Plymouth County and surrounding communities. 
 
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 ocesma.org.

OCES Employees Support Individuals and Families during Holiday Season with Donations to Father Bill’s and My Brother’s KeeperRead More

Brockton Resident Honored with 2024 IMPACT Award

Rick Alvarnaz

BROCKTON, PLYMOUTH AND RAYNHAM, MA… Richard J. (Rick) Alvarnaz recently received the 2024 IMPACT Award. Previously from Raynham, and now a Brockton resident, Alvarnaz has been a staff member of Old Colony Elder Services (OCES) for 25 years.
 
The Old Colony Planning Council (OCPC) Area Agency on Aging presented the 2024 Dan Crane IMPACT Award to Rick Alvarnaz, OCES’ Community Transition Liaison, in a ceremony held on December 4, 2024. The award recognizes an individual who has had a positive impact on the lives of people in our communities.
 
In 1999, Alvarnaz joined OCES, the leading provider of in-home and community-based services for older adults and people with disabilities in Southeastern Massachusetts, as a Care Manager in the Home Care Department. He later became a program supervisor. Although Alvarnaz enjoyed being a part of program management, he realized that he wanted to serve consumers directly. In 2015, Alvarnaz began working in OCES’ Transitions Program where he had an opportunity to assist consumers in long-term care move back into the community. Alvarnaz accepted this challenging task with limited resources available to meet consumers’ significant needs.   
 
In 2023, the Executive Office of Elder Affairs extended the Transitions Program with a new state program called the Community Transition Liaison Program (CTLP), and Alvarnaz joined.
OCPC’s Ombudsman program collaborates regularly with Alvarnaz and CTLP, as they are on-site weekly serving residents in local nursing facilities. Alvarnaz’s dedication to the residents he serves is apparent when you see a resident’s excitement about returning to live in the community. Often, a resident’s return home is only possible because of Alvarnaz’s tireless efforts.
 
“Rick has made a huge positive impact on many lives during his 25 years of service at OCES,” said Nicole Long, CEO. “He is tremendously dedicated to helping residents and this award is well-deserved. Congratulations, Rick!”
 
CTLP supports individuals whose goal is to return to their home from a hospital or nursing facility. To learn more about CTLP, visit https://ocesma.org/programs-services/services-at-home.
 
For more information about Old Colony Planning Council Area Agency on Aging, visit https://oldcolonyplanning.org/aaa/
 
About OCES
OCES was recognized as one of the 2023 and 2024 Best Places to Work by Cape & Plymouth Business Marketing. OCES has been certified as a woman non-profit organization (W/NPO) by the Supplier Diversity Office (SDO). OCES is a private, nonprofit organization with locations in Brockton and Plymouth. OCES is designated as one of 23 Aging Services Access Points (ASAPs) in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and proudly serves Plymouth County and surrounding communities. 
 
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 ocesma.org.

Brockton Resident Honored with 2024 IMPACT AwardRead More

Leadership page and state-of-the-art resources are highlighted in next generation of Emerson Bearing website 

BOSTON, MA… Emerson Bearing, a Boston, MA-based bearing company catering to niche markets globally and the sister company of Action Bearing which serves New England markets locally, has announced the next generation of their website, EmersonBearing.com.
 
Website highlights
Visitors to EmersonBearing.com can now discover the experts behind the company. A new Leadership page introduces Emerson Bearing’s leadership team of dedicated niche market specialists who bring unparalleled expertise in bearings tailored for specific industries. With their extensive knowledge, they ensure that Emerson Bearing provides the best solutions to meet the unique needs of their customers.
 
Emerson Bearing offers a state-of-the-art Bearing Product Selector tool on their website, which is a product recommendation tool that helps streamline design, procurement and maintenance. Any visitor to the site can quickly and easily obtain product recommendations for their application with just a few simple clicks. From production buyers (or the procurement team) responsible for planning purchases in the long term, and plant managers/maintenance buyers responsible for keeping machinery running on a day-to-day basis, to technical designers or design engineers responsible for creating solutions for unique problems – Emerson Bearing takes site visitors through a 5-step prompt, then quickly provides appropriate product recommendations based on the responses provided.
 
For those who are unable to read the numbers on an old bearing or who are not sure which bearing is needed, Emerson Bearing’s intelligent online Bearing Detective program asks all the right questions and then tracks down the bearing that is required.
 
Emerson Bearing also offers an extensive Resource Library on the company’s website which includes bearing product catalogs, case studies, maintenance guides, product guides, eBooks and videos. Emerson Bearing offers more than 20 eBooks and guides including the popular Bearings 101, Bearing Failure Analysis, Conversion Chart, Technical Solutions, Nomenclature guides and many more.
 
According to Steve Katz, president of Emerson Bearing, “In addition to all of the resources found on the latest generation of our website, Emerson Bearing provides 24-hour service, same day delivery, customized kitting and more. Our experts can assist OEM and MRO in determining which bearing technologies would be most suitable. We carry a comprehensive inventory specifically for all of the niche markets we serve, which means faster response times and the ability to deliver precisely what our customers need, when they need it. Learn more about us at EmersonBearing.com”
 
The website was created by ThomasNet RPM.
 
Inventory Matters
As an industry-leading bearing supplier with a sourcing network that spans the globe, Emerson Bearing caters to clients with a wide selection of bearings that include: Ball and roller bearings from GMN, KOYO, and others; Cam followers and yoke rollers from Carter, IKO, and others; Rod ends from Durbal and FK; Oil seals from Garlock, Dichtomatik, and Timkens; Mounted units from AMI, IPTCI, and others; Roller chains from Daido, Hitachi, and Drives; and Bushings from IGUS and Oilite. BOWER, FAG, FERSA, IKO, INA, NACHI, NSK, NTN, RBC, TORRINGTON, URB, and ZNL are also among the leading brands that Emerson Bearing carries.
 
With over four million bearings in stock at multiple price points, Emerson Bearing has the largest inventory of bearings on the East Coast under one roof in their 30,000 square foot warehouse. The company serves 16 major markets and their team of experts can assist with bearings and related products for industrial, manufacturing and other applications.
 
About Emerson Bearing 
For more than six decades, Emerson Bearing offer customers a one-stop shopping experience. With an online product catalog with over 3 million bearings – ranging in size from 3mm to tunnel-boring 15-foot-diameter giants; a vast inventory of bearings; worldwide sourcing; a fixed price program; a knowledgeable staff; same day shipping and 24/7 service, Emerson Bearing Boston has become a leading provider of bearings in the U.S., and its sister company Action Bearing, which serves the New England market, maintains headquarters at 201 Brighton Ave. Boston, MA. For more information, visit EmersonBearing.com and ActionBearing.com in the New England market or call 800-225-4587.

Leadership page and state-of-the-art resources are highlighted in next generation of Emerson Bearing website Read More

Old Colony Elder Services Recognizes Local Caregivers During National Caregiver Month

Shown left to right: Paula Cenac, John McCue, Ana Garcia, Myong Deeter,
Joanna Staples, Delia Ferreira, and Linda Caissie

BRIDGEWATER, BROCKTON, LAKEVILLE, PLYMOUTH, PLYMPTON, ROCKLAND, TAUNTON, WHITMAN, MA… 

Old Colony Elder Services (OCES), the largest provider of in-home and community-based services for older adults and people living with disabilities in Southeastern Massachusetts, honored local caregivers with Caregiver Appreciation Awards at a special luncheon acknowledging National Caregiver Month in November.
 
OCES recognized caregivers who were nominated by their family members and peers, in celebration of their selfless work of caregiving. Caregiver Appreciation Awards were presented to the following:
 
Linda Caissie of Whitman, who has been a caregiver for more than 25 years through OCES’ Adult Family Care program;
 
Paula Cenac of Plymouth, who works full-time and has been a caregiver for six years;
 
Myong Deeter of Bridgewater, who is a full-time caregiver to two adults.
 
Tory Devonshire of Plympton, who works full-time and has been a primary caregiver for more than 10 years.
 
Delia Ferreira of Lakeville, a Personal Care Attendant providing care for several years to a husband and wife.
 
Ana Garcia of Taunton, who has been providing full-time care for 10 years;
 
John McCue of Rockland, a long-time caregiver to a family member; and
 
Joanna Staples of Lakeville, a cancer survivor and caregiver to a family member for many years.
 
“OCES honors the unwavering dedication and service of all caregivers. We also thank those who submitted nominations to recognize caregivers’ selfless work,” said Nicole Long, CEO. “OCES remains committed to supporting caregivers in their vital role of enhancing the lives of others.”
 
Family Caregiver Support Program
Each caregiver’s situation is unique and complex. OCES has a Family Caregiver Support Program (FCSP) that provides caregiver support in the creation of a personalized plan outlining available resources (including OCES programs and other community information) applicable to their caregiving situation. These resources may include caregiver support groups as well as educational workshops or programs that share techniques to help family caregivers with stress reduction, time management, goal setting, problem-solving, relaxation and more. The FCSP works with people of all ages including grandparents raising grandchildren.
 
To learn more about OCES’ Family Caregiver Support Program and to subscribe to OCES’ informative newsletter, visit ocesma.org.
 
About OCES
OCES is recognized as one of the 2023 and 2024 Best Places to Work by Cape & Plymouth Business Marketing. OCES has been certified as a woman non-profit organization (W/NPO) by the Supplier Diversity Office (SDO). OCES is  private, nonprofit organization with locations in Brockton and Plymouth. OCES is designated as one of 23 Aging Services Access Points (ASAPs) in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and proudly serves Plymouth County and surrounding communities. 
 
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 ocesma.org.


 

Old Colony Elder Services Recognizes Local Caregivers During National Caregiver MonthRead More

Sprouting up in Scottsdale, AZ. Family opens new French Florist location.

Stopping to smell the flowers, lifelong Arizona resident and first Arizona franchisee Ronny Record and his wife Nicole recently opened the doors for a new, state-of-the-art French Florist location at 6501 East Greenway Parkway, Ste. 109, Scottsdale, AZ 85254.

“We are so grateful for the strong support we are already receiving from our Scottsdale area neighbors,” commented Ronny Record. He added, “We’re experiencing a constant stream of new customers visiting us at our location, ordering bouquets online and via phone. Our opening has been truly grand.”

The new Scottsdale 1200 square footlocation creates four jobs from the start. For those who wish to work as a floral designer, customer service representative or driver, contact the store at (480) 573-0396, northscottsdale@frenchflorist.com.

French Florist, a Los  Angeles-based franchise, boasts vibrant, handcrafted arrangements including fresher flowers purchased directly from major farms in Ecuador, Holland, Columbia, Mexico, Canada, United States, and more.

The new concept offers in-person or online customer service and ordering to ensure the wow factor that each recipient of hand selected flowers deserves.

Winner of L.A. Weekly’s award for Best Florist, French Florist has been family-owned and caring about customers since 1978. Seven days a week, including every holiday, French Florist offers same-day delivery.

“We are thrilled to open our first Arizona store,” notes Michael Jacobson, CEO of French Florist, second generation in the floral business. He adds, “Ronny and Nicole Record are the prototypes of the energetic, thoughtful, and ambitious franchisee partner we are looking for. With the help of capable and driven people like Ronny and Nicole, we will continue to grow contiguously location to location.”

Jacobson concluded, “Flowers are the music of nature. French Florist is the melody. We look forward to sharing the chorus.”

In addition to the new Scottsdale, Arizona location, French Florist has locations in Los Angeles, CA; Westlake Village, CA; Costa Mesa, CA; and soon to open Tustin, CA.

For more information, contact French Florist at https://frenchflorist.com. For more insight into the business opportunity in other territories, visit https://frenchfloristfranchise.com/ or call (310) 659-7700.

Sprouting up in Scottsdale, AZ. Family opens new French Florist location.Read More

Dickensian Christmas Celebration comes to Kingston. December 20-24 at the Beal House.

True Repertory Theatre will celebrate this holiday season with its original adaptation of A Christmas Carol, by locals James Sullivan of Braintree and Donald Sheehan of Hanover.  The production runs December 13 and 20 at 7:30PM, December 14, 15, & 22 at 3:00PM, and Dec. 21 at 2:00PM at the Beal House, 222 Main St. in Kingston.

This production takes a fresh look at the beloved character, Ebenezer Scrooge, in this hour long play with music.  In typical True Rep fashion, the focus of this production is on the storytelling. 

“It is our tradition to reinterpret this Christmas classic every year.  Returning audiences find a reinvented version of A Christmas Carol that honors tradition, while keeping it new and exciting,” said Donald Sheehan, Artistic Director of True Rep. 

James Sullivan, a playwright whose original, award-winning work, Ellen’s Boy’s, has delighted True Rep audiences, will be playing Ebenezer Scrooge.  “I am thrilled to be back on the stage with such a talented group who give life to a story that will ignite the holiday spirit in the most hard-hearted among us.”

“This isn’t just a production, it is an event for families to enjoy,” says Victoria Bond, Assoc. Artistic Director.  She added, “At all matinee performances Mrs. Claus will make cookies for the children to decorate before the show, and Santa will join us after the show, for a visit and a sing-along.  We will also be auctioning off some Christmas gift baskets.”

The show will perform at The Beal House, 222 Main St. in Kingston, on December 13 and 20 at 7:30PM, December 14, 15, & 22 at 3:00PM, and Dec. 21 at 2:00PM.   December 21 is also the date of the Luminaries, for those who would like to have a full day of holiday celebration in Kingston. 

As True Rep does every year, the theatre group is collecting canned goods for the Vineyard Resource Center in Kingston, and working with the Kingston Fire Department collecting new, unwrapped toys for the charity, Toys for Tots. Please bring these items with you to the show, if possible.

Tickets are $25 for general admission, $22 for seniors and students, and $20 for groups larger than 10.  Tickets may be purchased at the door or online at www.truereptheatre.com.

Dickensian Christmas Celebration comes to Kingston. December 20-24 at the Beal House.Read More

Old Colony Elder Services Receives Women Non-Profit Organization Certification

BROCKTON AND PLYMOUTH, MA… Old Colony Elder Services (OCES), the largest provider of in-home and community-based services for older adults and people living with disabilities in Southeastern Massachusetts, is proud to announce that they have recently been certified as a Women Non-profit Organization (WNPO) by the Massachusetts’ Supplier Diversity Office (SDO). 

SDO certification can enhance an organization’s ability to increase business with public and private entities. Certification can also be a competitive edge in securing governmental contracts.

“We are honored to be recognized as a Women Non-profit Organization and look forward to new opportunities as a certified business,” said Anna M. Dee, Chief Operating Officer at OCES.

For more information about the Supplier Diversity Office, please visit www.mass.gov/sdo.

About OCES
Celebrating 50 Years of Care and Collaboration and recognized as one of the 2023 and 2024 Best Places to Work by Cape & Plymouth Business Marketing. OCES has been certified as a woman non-profit organization (W/NPO) by the Supplier Diversity Office (SDO). OCES is a private, nonprofit organization with locations in Brockton and Plymouth. OCES is designated as one of 23 Aging Services Access Points (ASAPs) in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and proudly serves Plymouth County and surrounding communities. 

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 ocesma.org.
 

Old Colony Elder Services Receives Women Non-Profit Organization CertificationRead More

OCES Kicks Off #GivingTuesday Campaign to Raise Funds for Behavioral Health and Wellness Programs

BROCKTON AND PLYMOUTH, MA… Old Colony Elder Services (OCES), a nonprofit organization that is the largest provider of in-home and community-based services for older adults and people living with disabilities in Southeastern Massachusetts, has kicked off its #GivingTuesday campaign to raise $10,000 to support their Behavioral Health and Wellness programs. 
 
OCES’ Behavioral Health and Wellness programs help older adults (ages 60 and over) and individuals with disabilities who may be isolated or encounter barriers that limit access to behavioral health care, and who may benefit from long-term case management or counseling due to behavioral health issues, chronic illnesses, substance abuse, or crisis situations. 
 
OCES’ Behavioral Health Outreach For Aging Population (BHOAP) Program offers in-home, one-on-one counseling, support, referrals, and resources on a case-by-case basis. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, approximately one in every five adults in the United States live with a mental illness. 

“Given the urgent need for mental health services, it is critical that OCES extends our services throughout local communities,” said Nicole Long, CEO. “This year, OCES’ GivingTuesday campaign will benefit the Behavioral Health and Wellness programs.”
 
Tuesday, December 3, 2024, is #GivingTuesday.
 
OCES’ goal is to raise $10,000 for Behavioral Health and Wellness programs. 

To donate online to OCES’ #GivingTuesday campaign, visit https://ocesma.org/get-involved/donate.
 
Donations may also be made by check or money order and mailed to OCES, 144 Main Street, Brockton, MA 02301. 
 
GivingTuesday donations to OCES may be made through the end of the calendar year. OCES is recognized as a tax-exempt charitable corporation under section 501c3 of the IRS tax code.
 
Consider sharing this message about supporting OCES in its goal to help older adults and individuals with disabilities in our community on social media and include the hashtag #MakeAnImpactGiveBack.
 
To learn more about GivingTuesday, visit www.givingtuesday.org.
 
About OCES
Celebrating 50 Years of Care and Collaboration and recognized as one of the 2023 and 2024 Best Places to Work by Cape & Plymouth Business Marketing, OCES is a private, nonprofit organization with locations in Brockton and Plymouth. OCES is designated as one of 23 Aging Services Access Points (ASAPs) in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and proudly serves Plymouth County and surrounding communities. 
 
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 ocesma.org.

OCES Kicks Off #GivingTuesday Campaign to Raise Funds for Behavioral Health and Wellness ProgramsRead More

New bagel packaging equipment fuels Between Rounds wholesale expansion

Between Rounds’ signature bagels packaged in new, brightly colored bags. The 4-packs feature the following flavors: Plain, Sesame, Poppy, Everything, Asiago, and Cheddar bagels.

MANCHESTER, EAST WINDSOR, SOUTH WINDSOR, TOLLAND AND VERNON, CT… 
A significant investment in new packaging machinery has Between Rounds Bakery Sandwich Café positioned for further expansion and growth.
 
Between Rounds Bakery Sandwich Café, the unique bagel shop and bakery café with five locations in Connecticut, is also a wholesale bagel supplier to more than 100 grocery stores.
 
The company recently invested in new packaging equipment that enables them to have their logo and full label information printed onto bagel bags, thus eliminating the paper labels which had required additional labor of adhering them to the plastic bags.
 
Between Rounds’ new equipment means that their locally-made bagels are packaged at Between Rounds and delivered to grocery stores or to a central drop location ready for sale.
 
As a result of the new packaging, interest has spiked and new retailers have become wholesale partners. Between Rounds newest partnership is with Price Chopper/Market 32.
 
According to Jerry Puiia, co-founder of Between Rounds, “Our wholesale business has grown significantly from independent, family-owned stores to multi-location grocery retailers. With Big Y, we had started with just a handful of stores and now we provide our bagels to all Big Y stores in Connecticut and Massachusetts. Our new packaging equipment enables us to meet greater demand from grocery retailers in Connecticut and beyond.” 
 
Puiia continued, “With the new packaging system, we’ve already had an increase in orders and will likely increase our production to two shifts and expand staff. At some point, we may build another building. It also puts us in a position to expand into the Frozen food market.”
 
Between Rounds has also invested in a new, larger delivery truck.
 
Wholesale Bagels
The family-owned Between Rounds has been in business for more than three decades and is the brainchild of brothers Jerry and Joseph Puiia, who are Staten Island, NY natives. The Puiia hallmark is manufacturing and selling their own bagels, which sets Between Rounds apart from other cafés.
 
Between Rounds signature bagels are consistent (and made from the same family recipe for over 30 years now) and meet their wholesale partners’ high-quality standards. All the bagels are locally-produced at Between Rounds state-of-the-art South Windsor, CT headquarters and are delivered fully baked to their wholesale partners.
 
Wholesale Partners
Between Rounds has wholesale partnerships with independent, family-owned and multi-location grocery retailers including Highland Park Market, Geissler’s Supermarket, Fitzgerald’s Foods, Ted’s IGA, ShopRite, Big Y and most recently Price Chopper/Market 32.
 
Their wholesale partnerships include innovative dairy delivery services such as The Modern Milkman based in Ellington, along with Dondero Orchards based in S. Glastonbury, and hospitality groups in Connecticut and Massachusetts. 
 
For a listing of wholesale partner store locations, visit betweenroundsbagels.com/grocery-retailers/
 
Retailers interested in becoming a wholesale partner and offering fresh-baked, local products are encouraged to contact Jerry Puiia at (860) 291-8780.
 
About Between Rounds Bakery Sandwich Café
Founded in 1990, Between Rounds Bakery Sandwich Café is a unique bakery café and bagel shop renowned for their fresh, baked-onsite bagels and baked goods as well sandwiches, wraps, salads, soups, specialty coffees and a unique line of giftware. Between Rounds offers patrons an upscale, fast-casual dining experience.
 
Between Rounds locations include East Windsor, South Windsor, Vernon, Manchester and Tolland, CT. Franchise and wholesale opportunities are available. Corporate headquarters are located at 19A John Fitch Blvd, Route 5 in South Windsor, CT. For more information about their unique franchise and wholesale opportunities, contact (860) 291-0323 or visit https://betweenroundsbagels.com

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