Unleash the Power of The Press

Client News

ELERTS See-Something Say Something mobile app launched for Charlotte Area Transit System.

CATS See Something/Say Something by ELERTS
CATS See Something/Say Something by ELERTS

WEYMOUTH, MA…

ELERTS Corp., the leading provider of See Something, Say Something mobile apps for mass transit systems, has created a Smartphone app for the Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS). The “CATS See Say” app will enable CATS riders to alert transit authorities about safety and security concerns on trains and buses.

Beyond mere notification, the CATS See Say app enables riders to submit reports containing photos, video, and a description the issue, as well as a GPS map, pinpointing the problem area.  A CATS dispatcher will be able to engage in a two-way dialogue with riders.

“CATS serves a metropolitan area of more than 1.2 million and CATS riders log more than 28 million trips on bus or rail each year, in a service area spanning 445 square miles. That’s a lot of people to protect,” said Ed English, CEO of ELERTS. “The ELERTS app provides another layer of security for riders and many thousands of extra sets of eyes and ears for transit and local police.”

A similar ELERTS app is used by major transits, including MARTA in Atlanta, the MBTA in Boston, the NFTA in Buffalo, the VTA in Santa Clara and BART in San Francisco.  By enlisting riders to report security concerns, ELERTS app acts as a force multiplier for transit police. More than 2.5 million riders may use an ELERTS transit app daily.

“Safety is and always will be a primary concern of CATS,” said CATS CEO John Lewis. “Through the use of this mobile app, riders can have a bigger hand in helping our public transit system operate as safely as possible.”

The ELERTS app for CATS transmits rider’s reports over cellular or Wi-Fi signals. The app automatically disables the camera flash when the user takes a photo, so it is discreet. Reports can be sent anonymous, if desired.

Reports from riders are managed by the transit police dispatch center, using ELERTS management console. Two-way communication allows the dispatcher to ask riders for more details or to advise the rider. In addition, alerts can be broadcast to riders using the app. For example, the transit system may enlist the help of riders with BOLO (Be On the Look-Out) alerts for missing persons or persons of interest, and provide information about delays and service interruptions.

The ELERTS app is designed for challenging communication environments. In the event that a cell or Wi-Fi signal is weak or non-existent, the app uses a store and forward model, delivering reports to transit police when signals reach usable levels.

Available for iPhones and Android phones, the ELERTS app may be installed at no cost to riders.

“Riders nationwide have demonstrated a willingness to help keep their transit systems safe and we anticipate that to be the case in Charlotte as well,” said English. “To date, more than 50,000 incidents have been reported to transit police using our app. These include assaults, vandalism, abandoned bags, robberies, suspicious activity, drug and gun dealing, sexual harassment and medical concerns.”

For more information on ELERTS Transit, please call 877-256-1971 or visit www.ELERTS.com.

About ELERTS

ELERTS Corporation, headquartered in Weymouth, MA, develops best-in-class emergency communication software empowered by community-sourced reporting of safety and security concerns. The company’s cloud-based approach leverages Smartphone technologies to provide robust, two-way communication between multiple parties. ELERTS mobile technology integrates with video surveillance, access control and mass-notification systems. The result is actionable information for emergency situations – to help First Responders become faster responders.

For more information, visit www.ELERTS.com or call 877-256-1971.

ELERTS See-Something Say Something mobile app launched for Charlotte Area Transit System.Read More

Celebrate Networking Ninja Awards at St. Patrick’s Week event, March 15, at Mayflower Brewery, Plymouth.

The public is invited to toast My Pinnacle Network’s Networking Awards as part of the St. Patrick’s Week Celebration to be held on Tuesday, March 15, 5 p.m. – 8 p.m. at the Mayflower Brewery, 12 Resnik Road, Plymouth, Mass.Mayflower IPA photo

In addition to the awards and networking, guests can sample some of the brewery’s finest lager. Buffet dinner will also be served.  The event is free. Cash bar will be available.

Networking awards will be given for several categories including Best Connector (helping bring people together); Most Ubiquitous (appears to be at every networking event); Most Altruistic (does most for others) and Brightest Beacon (adds energy to networking events).

“We created The Networking Ninja Awards to recog
nize the contributions of our area’s best connectors and networkers, who continually add to the well of cosmic goodwill, “noted Steven V. Dubin, one of the founders of My Pinnacle Network.  He continued, “This event is a great way to meet other business leaders in a relaxed, fun setting.”

For reservations, contact Steve Dubin, Sdubin@MyPinnacleNetwork, (781) 582-1061 or visit www.MyPinnacleNetwork.com.

Celebrate Networking Ninja Awards at St. Patrick’s Week event, March 15, at Mayflower Brewery, Plymouth.Read More

TIC to Broadcast Live at NFBMA Annual State Convention on February 27th

TIC imageThe award-winning Talking Information Center (TIC), a non-profit reading service located in Marshfield, MA which broadcasts 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to thousands of print and visually impaired listeners, will broadcast live at the Sixty-Third Annual State Convention of the National Federation of the Blind of Massachusetts, Inc. (NFBMA) on Saturday, February 27, 2016 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The convention will be held at Embassy Suites Hotel in Boston.

TIC will be broadcasting the convention via the Massachusetts Radio Reading Service. The stream may also be accessed at http://ticnetwork.com. TIC’s newly appointed Executive Director Jim Bunnell will share remarks at 9:10 a.m.

The line-up of events on Saturday includes the National Report presented by NFB National Representative, Kevan Worley at 9:20 a.m.

The Leadership Roundtable: Serving The Blind in The 21st Century with Paul Saner, Commissioner, Massachusetts Commission for the Blind, Barbara Salisbury, President, MAB Community Services, Brian MacDonald, President, National Braille Press, David Power, President, Perkins School, and Joe Abely, President, Carroll Center will be broadcast at 1:35 p.m.

At 2:15 p.m., the NFBMA Presidential Report will be presented by Amy Ruell, NFBMA President, followed by the Washington Seminar and Legislative Report with Derek Manners, Massachusetts Association of Blind Students, First Vice-President. At 2:50 p.m., a Legal Update will be presented by Albert Elia, Disability Rights Fellow, Brown Goldstein and Levy LLP.

The Sixty-Third Annual Banquet of the NFB of Massachusetts will be held in the evening along with the Third Annual Auction and Scholarship Presentations.

“We are honored to be able to broadcast live from the NFBMA Convention and make that important connection so that our blind and visually impaired listeners may experience the conference and stay informed,” explained Bunnell.

To learn more and tune-in to the convention, visit ticnetwork.com.

About NFBMA

The National Federation of the Blind of Massachusetts has thriving chapters in Cambridge (metro Boston) and Springfield, and members from across the state working together to support each other and improve the lives of blind people all over the commonwealth. For more information, visit http://www.nfbma.org.

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. TIC programming may be accessed by specially tuned radio receivers; through AudioNow by calling 712-832-7025; or via live audio stream on the TIC website, www.ticnetwork.org.

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. Now reaching 25,000 listeners, TIC broadcasts newspapers, magazines, books, and special consumer information on subjects including medical and stock market updates, jobs, sports, supermarket specials, voting guides, community newspapers, and television programs. TIC also broadcasts cultural programming including old-time radio drama, theater, and poetry.

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. 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, (P.O. Box 519), in Marshfield, MA 02050. For more information visit www.ticnetwork.org or call 800-696-9505.

TIC to Broadcast Live at NFBMA Annual State Convention on February 27thRead More

Dighton, MA subdivision, Stoney Ridge Estates, completes first model home

photo of Fairfield-Stoney RIdge
Fairfield-Stoney RIdge

DIGHTON, MA and SOUTH EASTON, MA …

Stoney Ridge Estates, LLC and Stonebridge Homes, the builder/developer and construction manager respectively for Stoney Ridge Estates, recently announced the opening of the new sales office at the 60-lot subdivision in Dighton, MA. The new office is located at 2 Waterford Circle (GPS 1590 Pine Street, Dighton, MA) and will be used as both a sales office and for open house tours for those interested in the Fairfield model.

Stoney Ridge Estates offers convenience and affordable luxury living. Located just minutes from Route 24, right off Pine Street in Dighton, Stoney Ridge Estates is commutable to both Providence and Boston.

Offering five different home styles ranging from 1,762 square feet to 2,384 square feet, Stoney Ridge Estates’ stylish colonial homes and beautiful ranches cater to many types of households—families, empty nesters, first-time home buyers looking to start a family, etc.

Each home in Stoney Ridge Estates utilizes gas heat and is certified energy efficient. Features of every home in the subdivision include: two-car garage; a designer kitchen with granite countertops and ceramic tile flooring; recessed lighting.

Stoney Ridge Estates offers 60 luxurious home sites that are enveloped with glorious woodlands. In addition, residents will admire the splendid curb appeal at the subdivision’s entrance, which is decorated with plentiful flowering shrubs and perennials. There’s also a recreational park for residents to enjoy on warm, sunny days and sidewalks to stroll.

To view floor plans, please visit Stoney Ridge Estates’ website, www.stoneyridgedighton.com. For more information, including open house hours, or to make an appointment for a tour of Stoney Ridge Estates, please call JoAnn Drabble of ABR, at 508-930-1711 or joannedrabble@comcast.net.

About Stonebridge Homes, Inc.:

For more than 25 years, Stonebridge Homes and its team, based in South Easton, Massachusetts, have built and managed the construction of many residential communities throughout Massachusetts, including Tanglewood Estates in Easton, Mass; Stoney Ridge Estates in Dighton, Mass (www.stoneyridgedighton.com); The Pines in Dighton, Mass (www.thepinesdighton.com); and Briggs Landing in Westport, Mass. More recently, Stonebridge Homes has focused on building and managing construction in towns in southeastern Massachusetts, including Dighton, Easton, Foxboro, Lakeville, Norfolk, Norwell, Norton, Pembroke, Rockland, West Bridgewater and Westport. The styles of these communities have varied from imaginative condominiums to custom single‐family homes designed by its in-house architect whose specialty is customizing dream homes that provide space and luxury to households of all sizes. Each development is built with the same commitment to quality and customer satisfaction.

Stonebridge Homes, Inc. is an active member of the Builders and Remodelers Association of Greater Boston and the National Association of Home Builders.
For more information, please visit www.stonebridgehomesinc.com or call 508.230.2300.

Dighton, MA subdivision, Stoney Ridge Estates, completes first model homeRead More

OCES Receives over $5K in Donations to Emergency Fund during #GivingTuesday campaign

OCES logoOld Colony Elder Services (OCES), the non-profit agency serving older adults and people with disabilities throughout the greater Brockton and Plymouth county area, received a total of $5,145 in donations to their Emergency Fund during their #GivingTuesday campaign.

In an effort to raise money for their Emergency Fund, OCES ran a #GivingTuesday campaign from December 1st through December 31, 2015. This fund helps low-income older adults and people with disabilities with needed support that cannot be addressed through the use of any other resources.

“The success of this campaign to raise money for OCES’ Emergency Fund demonstrates the power we all have to change the world around us,” explained Diana DiGiorgi, Executive Director. “Through the generosity of our supporters, we are able to help provide such things as heat, food, and life-sustaining medications to older adults and people with disabilities who are most in need in our communities.”

We thank everyone who gave during this campaign! All too often, low-income older adults and people with disabilities encounter problems that can jeopardize their ability to maintain independence, dignity and well-being. OCES’ Emergency Fund is used to assist with fuel, utilities, short-term emergency shelter, medical transport, medications, hot water heaters, food and other needs.

Through OCES’ Emergency Fund, several hundred low-income older adults and people with disabilities have received assistance, including a 79-year-old widow, living in her own home with her disabled daughter, who had run out of oil; OCES helped purchase heating oil for them.

If you were unable to donate during December, don’t worry, you can give at any time. Visit www.ocesma.org and help us to continue providing assistance to older adults and people with disabilities so they can remain safe and at home.

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. Visit www.givingtuesday.org to learn more.

About OCES

Founded in 1974, OCES serves 20 communities in Plymouth County as well as Avon, Easton and Stoughton. OCES is a private, non-profit organization headquartered in Brockton and 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.

OCES Receives over $5K in Donations to Emergency Fund during #GivingTuesday campaignRead More

Networking is a necessity – Tips on making it less painful. Free seminars in Braintree and Plymouth.

Nervous about networking?  Frustrated about your networking results? Uncertain about how to follow up?  Going to a lot of networking events or participating in referral networking groups and wondering if it’s a waste of time?  Most people are not comfortable with networking, yet theystevewsj understand that networking can be the straightest line to their next client.

The “Networking is a necessity” seminar will provide actionable, practical tips of how to effectively work a room, network strategically, and build relationships that lead to new business.  Business professionals can choose from two dates and two locations for this presentation.  The seminar is free.

The seminar will be held Wednesday, March 16, 8 a.m. – 9:30 a.m., at the Plymouth Chamber of Commerce, 134 Court Street, Route 3A, Plymouth, MA  02360.  The second option is the following Wednesday, March 23, 8 a.m. – 9:30 a.m., 25 Braintree Hill Park, Suite 200, Braintree, MA  02184.

Panelists include Steve Dubin, founder of My Pinnacle Network, a grou
p of six business to business networks and PR Works, a full service marketing firm based in Plymouth, MA and Ken Cheo, President of Our Sales Coach based in Braintree, MA, helping small business owners and select salespeople double or triple their sales faster.

Networking tips and tactics will include how to work a room, how to stand out in a crowd, how to manage the exchange of business cards, how to select someone to talk with, how to get a prospect to open up, how to disengage, how to pick the right events, planning ahead, and how to follow up and take effective next steps.

Although the seminars are free, seating is limited to 20.  Please RSVP to Steve Dubin, SDubin@MyPinnacleNetwork.com, 781-582-1061.

 

Networking is a necessity – Tips on making it less painful. Free seminars in Braintree and Plymouth.Read More

Paxton dental practice celebrates National Tooth Fairy Day with ice cream?

: Family Dental Group of Paxton’s Charleen Astle (right) with Friendly’s Manager Janet Lauziere.
: Family Dental Group of Paxton’s Charleen Astle (right) with Friendly’s Manager Janet Lauziere.

PAXTON, MA and HOLDEN, MA…

For most children and their parents, the celebration for losing a tooth involves a visit from the Tooth Fairy and some monetary reward. Left out of the equation is the person who cares for your children’s teeth: your dentist. That’s why the Family Dental Group of Paxton will celebrate National Tooth Fairy Day, February 28, with the Friendly’s restaurants of Holden, Mass.

Family Dental Group of Paxton, located at 581 Pleasant Street in Paxton, will donate 100 toothbrushes and assorted dental goodies to Friendly’s customers under the age of 12 who visit the 1060 Main Street location for dinner on February 28.

“It may seem kind of an unusual alliance, but an occasional sweet like ice cream isn’t the end of the world as long as you are consistently taking care of your teeth,” said Dr. Nikhil Lavana, DMD, who owns and operates Family Dental Group of Paxton with his wife, Dr. Archana Karkhanis-Lavana, DMD. “That means brushing, flossing and regular checkups at the dentist.”

In addition to toothbrushes, the gift bags given will include Care to Share Card, which entitles patients to a $1.00 Exam and bite-wing x-ray with a dental cleaning. The Care to Share Card can be used by any member of the family, not just the kids.

“On behalf of our younger customers, we’d like to thank Family Dental Group of Paxton for their generous donation of the toothbrushes and the coupon for the exam. It’s a great reminder for kids and their families to brush their teeth and get regular checkups at the dentist,” said Janet Lauziere, manager Friendly’s in Holden.

As part of his Tooth Fairy Day, Family Dental Group of Paxton will also hand out Friendly’s coupons to younger patients the week of February 28. There is, however, one stipulation for children taking coupons: you must brush after every meal.

“You are never too young to start taking proper care of your teeth,” said Dr. Lavana. “With all the studies linking dental hygiene or lack thereof to serious conditions, it’s critical for everybody to take better care of their teeth.”

For more information on Family Dental Group of Paxton, visit www.paxtondentist.com or call 508-755-2905 to schedule a consultation.

About Family Dental Group of Paxton

Located at 581 Pleasant Street in Paxton, The Family Dental Group of Paxton offers: comprehensive examinations; cosmetics; crowns (in just one visit with no messy impressions); teeth whitening with ZOOM; laser dentistry (no needles!); partial and full dentures; root canals; inlays/onlays; extractions; crown lengthening; and emergency services (24-hour emergency phone number available).

The Family Dental Group of Paxton accepts most insurance plans. They also accept payment from most PPO and indemnity plans, including Blue Cross/Blue Shield and Delta Dental. Family Dental Group of Paxton accepts all major credit cards and offers credit card financing plans.

To schedule an initial consultation, please call 508-755-2905. For more information, visit www.paxtondentist.com.

Paxton dental practice celebrates National Tooth Fairy Day with ice cream?Read More

Westport, MA subdivision, Briggs Landing, opens new sales office

photo of briggs landing sales office
The new sales office as Briggs Landing in Westport, MA.

WESTPORT, MA…

Stonebridge Homes, the builder for Briggs Landing, recently announced the completion of a new model home at the 90-lot subdivision located off Tickle Road in Westport, Massachusetts. The new model home, the Compton, is located at 35 Devol Avenue and will be used as the Briggs Landing sales office. The new home has also been staged for use during open house tours.

“The Compton is a very popular one-level model at several of our other subdivisions. It offers significant space and luxurious amenities. We’re delighted to showcase this model both during tours and as our sales office,” said Stonebridge Homes Site Manager Joe Chaves.

The Compton, a 1900-square-foot home with a two-car garage, is one of several models available at Briggs Landing. The others include: The Beacon, The Clarendon, The Dartmouth, The Fairfield, The Hudson Grand, the Marion and The Westport.

All home styles available at Briggs Landing feature energy-efficient, quality construction and luxurious amenities, such as hardwood floors and granite countertops. All models are equipped for natural gas heating.

In addition to the comfort of luxury living, Briggs Landing offers convenience. A short commute to Providence, Rhode Island (within 30 minutes to the capital building), New Bedford and Fall River, the Tickle Road location is within close proximity to the beaches of Westport and walking distance to South Watuppa Pond.

“The luxury home models available at Briggs Landing are well suited to a variety of lifestyles and households of all sizes, including but not limited to: empty nesters, newlyweds, single parents and blended families. Briggs Landing also offers an alternative for those who may have grown tired of the limited inventory of existing homes in today’s real estate market,” said Rami Itani, business manager for Stonebridge Homes.

To view floor plans, please visit Stonebridge Homes’ website, www.stonebridgehomesinc.com, and click on the home page link for Briggs Landing.

For more information or to make an appointment for a tour of Briggs Landing, please call Mel Antonio at 508‐728‐2656.

About Stonebridge Homes, Inc.:

For more than 25 years, Stonebridge Homes and its team, based in South Easton, Massachusetts, have built and managed the construction of many residential communities throughout Massachusetts, including Tanglewood Estates in Easton, Mass; Stoney Ridge Estates in Dighton, Mass (www.stoneyridgedighton.com); The Pines in Dighton, Mass (www.thepinesdighton.com); and Briggs Landing in Westport, Mass. More recently, Stonebridge Homes has focused on building and managing construction in towns in southeastern Massachusetts, including Dighton, Easton, Foxboro, Lakeville, Norfolk, Norwell, Norton, Pembroke, Rockland, West Bridgewater and Westport. The styles of these communities have varied from imaginative condominiums to custom single‐family homes designed by its in-house architect whose specialty is customizing dream homes that provide space and luxury to households of all sizes. Each development is built with the same commitment to quality and customer satisfaction.

Stonebridge Homes, Inc. is an active member of the Builders and Remodelers Association of Greater Boston and the National Association of Home Builders.
For more information, please visit www.stonebridgehomesinc.com or call 508.230.2300.

Westport, MA subdivision, Briggs Landing, opens new sales officeRead More

Rodman CPAs “Green Team” to Showcase Renewable Energy Practice At Solar Power PV Conference and Expo

Rodman CPAs Green Team
Rodman CPAs Green Team

Rodman CPAs, a full service tax and accounting firm with a specialized renewable energy and clean technology practice serving “green” clients throughout the U.S., is set to engage attendees at the Solar Power PV Conference and Expo, February 24-25, 2016, at the Westin Boston Waterfront in Boston.

Steve Rodman CPA MST, president, along with partners Kathy Parker CPA MST and Thomas Astore CPA JD, Mark Vitello, supervisor and Katherine Bautze, marketing director will be on hand at booth number 214 to speak with attendees. Rodman CPAs provide solar energy producers and other businesses that pursue energy efficiency initiatives with expert counsel and services in renewable energy tax accounting and business strategy. Rodman, Parker and Astore are recognized experts in renewable energy accounting and have been guest speakers at numerous Cleantech industry conferences and forums.

Cleantech companies involved in solar, wind, biomass, waste-to-energy, and energy efficiency projects rely on Rodman CPAs to provide them with a sustainable financial roadmap through expert partnership/corporate structuring for optimal tax benefit; grant qualification assistance and auditing; ongoing advisory services for federal, state and local tax incentives; and specialized strategic financial planning and management.

Rodman CPAs is a charter member of the Mass Solar Coalition, as well as members of Northeast Sustainable Energy Association (NESEA), New England Clean Energy Council (NECEC) and Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA).

For more information about the expo, visit www.events.solar/pvconferenceexpo/.

About Rodman CPAs

Founded in 1961 and named one of Accounting Today’s Best Accounting Firms to Work for, Rodman CPAs provides accounting, tax and business services to small and medium-sized companies throughout New England and beyond. The team specializes in improving business performance, business processes, operations, information technology, finance, and change navigation. Rodman CPAs provides companies with a sustainable financial roadmap through expert partnership/ corporate structuring for optimal tax benefit; grant qualification assistance and auditing; ongoing advisory services for federal, state and local tax incentives; and strategic financial planning and management.

The firm has a specialized renewable energy and clean technology accounting and tax services practice, known as the “Green Team” which serves renewable energy clients throughout the U.S. The company is Green Business Certified. For more information, visit their website at www.rodmancpa.com or contact (617) 965-5959.

Rodman CPAs “Green Team” to Showcase Renewable Energy Practice At Solar Power PV Conference and ExpoRead More