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OCES Joins the #GivingTuesday Movement

image006Old Colony Elder Services (OCES), a private, non-profit agency that serves older adults and people with disabilities throughout the greater Brockton and Plymouth county area, has joined the #GivingTuesday movement to raise money for their Emergency Fund program. The fund helps meet needs of low income older adults and people with disabilities who are at-risk, in a crisis or emergency circumstance that threatens their health and/or living situation.

In the same way that Black Friday and Cyber Monday kick off the holiday shopping season, #GivingTuesday (December 1, 2015) kicks off the giving season. #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 is intended to meet the needs of low-income older adults and people with disabilities. All too often, these individuals encounter problems that can jeopardize their ability to maintain independence, dignity and well-being. The emergency fund is OCES’ primary resource used to assist with fuel, utilities, short-term emergency shelter, medical transport, medications, hot water heaters, food and other needs.

“The number of older adults and people with disabilities in our communities continues increasing. Their needs cannot be addressed through the use of any other resource, which is why our emergency fund is critical,” explained Diana DiGiorgi, Executive Director of OCES. “Your help will provide such things as heat, food, and life sustaining medications to older adults and people with disabilities. #GivingTuesday proves that the holidays can be both giving and giving back. We ask the community to join OCES’ #GivingTuesday initiative.”

To help address local challenges and raise money for the Emergency Fund, visit www.ocesma.org and click on #GivingTuesday. Help spread the word, tell a neighbor, friend or family member how they can support people in need right in their community.

A Day Dedicated to Giving Back

#GivingTuesday is observed on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving and is now in its fourth year. 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 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 27 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 225 employees and operates more than 15 programs serving older adults, people with disabilities, their families and caregivers. For more information call 508-584-1561 or visit www.ocesma.org.

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Powerhead LLC donates homes for Norfolk FD fire drill

Norfolk Fire Department
The Norfolk Fire Department holds a fire drill at 108 Main Street in Norfolk. The property was donated by Powerhead LLC, developer for the proposed Boyde’s Crossing project.

NORFOLK, MA and SOUTH EASTON, MA …

Sure, practice makes perfect. For some occupations—for example, fire departments—that’s easier said than done as it can be difficult to simulate real life conditions. A recent exception to that is the Norfolk Fire Department, which recently received a “donation” of two homes for use for practice drills and demolition.

The two homes, 106 and 108 Main Street in Norfolk, were donated by Powerhead LLC, a developer based in South Easton, MA. The two homes were due to be demolished as part of the proposed Boyde’s Crossing project, a Powerhead development to be managed by Stonebridge Homes, Inc. Instead, Powerhead donated the houses to the Norfolk Fire Department for drilling purposes.

The structure at 106 Main Street has been used by the department since June. Some of the training evolutions included search and rescue, ground ladder work and simulated fire attack. The structure at 108 Main Street was used for “live fire” training, where the Norfolk Fire Department prepared the building for eight fire scenarios.  Nearly all career and call staffs participated along with staffs from Foxboro and Plainville fire departments.

“Live fire training is the most beneficial given the need for skill retention–developing skill and confidence working under conditions encountered at actual fires,” Norfolk Fire Chief Coleman Bushnell. “We would like to thank Powerhead LLC for donating the two homes, especially since both are so close to headquarters.”

Said Eoghan Kelley, manager for Powerhead LLC, “Boyde’s Crossing will be a sustainable, pocket neighborhood community. For those who don’t know, pocket neighborhoods place a premium on community. That means lots of green, communal space, with homes in close proximity to your neighbors. We thought putting the demolition of these two homes for the good of the community fit right in with the spirit of the pocket neighborhood philosophy.”

According to Pocket-Neighborhoods.net, Pocket neighborhoods are clustered groups of neighboring houses or apartments around a shared open space—a garden courtyard, a pedestrian street, a series of joined yards or a reclaimed alley.” In addition to homes being closer together, ideas being discussed for the Boyde’s Crossing pocket neighborhood includes: homes with porches facing a common green area; walking trails; common garages with solar power; publicly shared bicycles; energy efficient homes; and more.

Plans for Boyde’s Crossing are still in the proposal stage. For more information about pocket neighborhoods, you can visit www.pocket-neighborhood.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 Maplewood Estates (www.newhomesatmaplewood.com) in Rockland, Mass. More recently, Stonebridge Homes has been focusing on building and managing construction in towns of southeastern Massachusetts, including Dighton, Easton, Foxboro, Lakeville, Norfolk, Norwell, Norton, Pembroke, Rockland and Westport. The styles of these communities have varied from imaginative condominiums to custom single‐family homes designed by its award‐winning architects whose specialty is customizing dream homes that provide space and luxury to households of all sizes. Each development is built with the same commitment for quality and satisfaction.

For more information, please visit www.stonebridgehomesinc.com or call 508.230.2300.

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OCES Announces Special Thanksgiving Meals at Congregate Meal Sites

OCES logoOld Colony Elder Services (OCES), the regional agency that serves older adults and individuals with disabilities throughout the greater Brockton and Plymouth county area, will offer special Thanksgiving meals at partnering Council on Aging (COA) congregate meal sites on Wednesday, November 18, 2015 at noon.

OCES’ Thanksgiving menu features roast turkey with gravy, mashed potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce, baby carrots, and whole-wheat rolls, with pumpkin mousse for dessert. Reservations are required and can be made by calling your local COA.

In addition to serving this Thanksgiving feast on the 18th, the COAs of Brockton, East Bridgewater and Kingston will be serving Thanksgiving meals with slightly different menus on additional days. Please call these COAs for more information.

OCES’ congregate meal 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 feature high sodium foods and no salt is added. Low-fat milk is provided.

“Our congregate meal 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.

Congregate meal menus are published in local newspapers and in COA newsletters. A sample menu may be requested by calling OCES at (508) 584-1561 or visiting the website at www.ocesma.org.

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 27 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 225 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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Hanson resident Sean Cahill joins South Coast Improvement Company

photo of Sean Cahill
Sean Cahill

MARION, MA…

South Coast Improvement Company (SCI), a design-build general contractor serving New England and the Mid-Atlantic states, recently hired Sean Cahill as a construction site supervisor. Cahill comes to the Marion, Mass.-based contractor after serving as a sales manager at Cape Cod Lumber.

In his role as supervisor, will manage construction crews on SCI new construction and renovations projects. Since being hired in July, Cahill has worked on SCI projects for New Hope Village in Walpole, MA and Brookdale River Bay Club in Quincy.

“With his background in building materials, sales and management, Sean brings an invaluable set of skills to the table and he’s a fine example of the talent we have on staff at South Coast Improvement,” said Tom Quinlan, president of South Coast Improvement, Inc.

Cahill began in the building materials sales in 1993. In addition to Cape Cod Lumber, he worked at Harvey Industries and Norandex.

“Making a bit of career change like this is a little unnerving but it’s gone very well so far. Everyone at SCI is very easy to work with,” said Cahill. “Our business may be construction, but we really are in the service industry and that’s where my background in sales management really comes in handy. At the end of the day, it’s really about managing personalities and working with people.”

Cahill earned an associate’s degree from Massasoit Community College. He resides in Hanson, Massachusetts with his wife Carol and their two young children.

For more information South Coast Improvement, please call 508-748-6545 or visit www.southcoastimprovement.com.

About South Coast Improvement Company

South Coast Improvement offers a range of design, construction and management services across a variety of sectors—interiors as well as exteriors—including office buildings, health care facilities, educational institutions, commercial properties, assisted living facilities, and residential communities.  South Coast Improvement’s services include: Preconstruction analysis; Construction management; General contracting; Design/build services;  Capital improvement; Building envelope improvements; and Interior renovations.

For more information, visit www.southcoastimprovement.com or call 508-748-6545.

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Regina Izmaylova Appointed CFO at OCES

Regina Izmaylova
Regina Izmaylova

Old Colony Elder Services (OCES), the regional agency that serves older adults and individuals with disabilities throughout the greater Brockton and Plymouth county area, has appointed Regina Izmaylova as Chief Financial Officer.

In her new role, Ms. Izmaylova will oversee the Finance Department including all contracts and budgets. She will also be responsible for overseeing funding sources and communications with the Executive Office of Elder Affairs.

Previous to OCES, Ms. Izmaylova was the Director of Finance for two years at a non-profit health center in Dorchester, MA. For seven years prior to that, Ms. Izmaylova worked primarily in the private sector. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Finance from University of Massachusetts Boston and an MBA from New England College of Business and Finance in Boston.

Ms. Izmaylova is a resident of Stoughton, MA.

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 27 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 225 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.

Regina Izmaylova Appointed CFO at OCESRead More

Lapels Dry Cleaning Opens in Rochester Hills and West Bloomfield.

ROCHESTER HILLS, MI, WEST BLOOMFIELD, MI and HANOVER, MA…

On October 31, Lapels Dry Cleaning, an innovative, environmentally friendly dry cleaning company headquartered in Hanover, Massachusetts, will open its first locations in Michigan. The first will be a store and plant at 3038 S Rochester Road in Rochester Hills. The second will be a satellite location at 6552 Orchard Lake Road in West Bloomfield.

“We’re extremely excited to bring an environmentally friendly way of dry cleaning clothes to the greater Detroit area,” said a spokesperson for Shambho, LLC, a Detroit-based development firm. “Lapels Dry Cleaning has been very well received in 70-plus communities nationwide. We’re confident that the people of both Rochester Hills and West Bloomfield will enjoy the high quality cleaning and service Lapels provides, too.”

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 Rochester Hills and Lapels Dry Cleaning of West Bloomfield. 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.

Hours for both locations will be Monday through Friday, 7 am to 8 pm; Saturday 8 am to 6 pm; and Sunday, 10 am to 5 pm. The grand opening for the new Lapels will be held on November 21, 2015.

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) Louisiana (Monroe, West Monroe, Delhi, Rayville, Winnsboro), Massachusetts (Abington, Allston, Bedford, Boston, Boston Seaport, Brighton, Cambridge, Cohasset, Dedham, Easton, Framingham, Hanover, Hingham, Kingston, Marshfield, Martha’s Vineyard, Natick, Needham, Newtonville, Norton, Quincy, Walpole, Waltham, Wellesley, Westford, Westwood and Wilmington), Michigan (Rochester Hills, West Bloomfield), Mississippi (New Albany, Tupelo, Pontotoc), Missouri (Wildwood), New Jersey (Brick), Ohio (Liberty Township), Oklahoma (Edmond, Oklahoma City), Pennsylvania (Bloomsburg), Rhode Island (Lincoln); South Carolina (Myrtle Beach, Pawleys Island), Texas (Bee Cave, Brownsville). Additional locations are coming soon to Tampa, FL, Wakefield, MA, and Oxford, MS.

Lapels Dry Cleaning has received a number of accolades in the franchise world. That includes being ranked in Entrepreneur’s 26th Annual “Franchise 500” as well as Entrepreneur’s “Top 50 New Franchises,” as one of today’s top franchise opportunities. 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 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.

Lapels Dry Cleaning Opens in Rochester Hills and West Bloomfield.Read More

OCES Awarded the George E. Curtis Charitable Trust Grant

Old Colony Elder Services (OCES), the regional agency that serves older adults and individuals with disabilities throughout the greater Brockton and Plymouth county area, has received a $25,000 grant from the George E. Curtis Charitable Trust (Curtis Trust) for their Emergency Fund.

This Fund is specifically intended to meet the needs of older adults and individuals with disabilities who are in crisis or emergency situations that threaten their health or living status. The emergency fund is OCES’ primary resource available to assist with these needs. Funding from the Curtis Trust will enable OCES to provide fuel assistance, medication dispensers, hearing aid assistance and more. Last year, OCES was able to help 40 people in need with these funds. This year, OCES expects the number of people needing fuel as well as hearing aid assistance to increase.

“The Emergency Fund enables us to provide assistance for fuel, utilities, short-term emergency shelter, medical transport, medications, hot water heaters, food and more. We are very grateful to the Curtis Trust for this award so we may continue to help people in crisis situations who would have no other means of assistance,” noted Diana DiGiorgi, OCES’ Executive Director.

The George E. Curtis Charitable Trust

The mission of the Curtis Trust is to assist low-income elderly persons to remain in their homes and to experience an improved quality of life. To learn more about the Trust, visit http://www.curtistrust.org.

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 27 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 225 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 Awarded the George E. Curtis Charitable Trust GrantRead More

The Future of Dry Cleaning comes to Waltham. Lapels Dry Cleaning Opens at 1036 Main Street in Waltham, MA

Lapels Dry Cleaning of Waltham
Lapels Dry Cleaning of Waltham

WALTHAM, MA and HANOVER, MA…

Lapels Dry Cleaning, an innovative, environmentally friendly dry cleaning company headquartered in Hanover, Massachusetts, will open a plant and store at 1036 Main Street in Waltham on November 7.

“We’re extremely excited to bring an environmentally friendly way of dry cleaning clothes to Waltham,” said Chan Park, owner of Lapels Dry Cleaning of Waltham and Lapels Dry Cleaning of Wellesley. “Lapels Dry Cleaning has been very well received in neighboring communities in Newton and Wellesley. With all the foot and auto traffic on that section of Main Street, we’re confident that people who live and work in Waltham will enjoy the high quality cleaning and service Lapels provides, too.”

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 Waltham. 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.

Hours for the new Lapels Dry Cleaning of Waltham will be 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 will be held on December 5, 2015.

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) Louisiana (Monroe, West Monroe, Delhi, Rayville, Winnsboro), Massachusetts (Abington, Allston, Bedford, Boston, Boston Seaport, Brighton, Cambridge, Cohasset, Dedham, Easton, Framingham, Hanover, Hingham, Kingston, Marshfield, Martha’s Vineyard, Natick, Needham, Newtonville, Norton, Quincy, Walpole, Waltham, Wellesley, Westford, Westwood and Wilmington), Michigan (Rochester Hills, West Bloomfield), Mississippi (New Albany, Tupelo, Pontotoc), Missouri (Wildwood), New Jersey (Brick), Ohio (Liberty Township), Oklahoma (Edmond, Oklahoma City), Pennsylvania (Bloomsburg), Rhode Island (Lincoln); South Carolina (Myrtle Beach, Pawleys Island), Texas (Bee Cave, Brownsville). Additional locations are coming soon to Tampa, FL, Wakefield, MA, and Oxford, MS.

Lapels Dry Cleaning has received a number of accolades in the franchise world. That includes being ranked in Entrepreneur’s 26th Annual “Franchise 500” as well as Entrepreneur’s “Top 50 New Franchises,” as one of today’s top franchise opportunities. 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 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.

The Future of Dry Cleaning comes to Waltham. Lapels Dry Cleaning Opens at 1036 Main Street in Waltham, MARead More

Action Bearing’s MFG Day Event a Success

Bearings image 10 23 15Action Bearing, one of the largest independent distributors in the U.S. specializing in bearings for Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) and Maintenance, Repair and Operations (MRO) markets, recently hosted an Open House in celebration of Manufacturing (MFG) Day.

MFG Day, which occurs on the first Friday in October, is a national event that opens the manufacturing industry to the public through educational programs, tours, digital presentations, open houses and more – to inspire the next generation. Action Bearing celebrated MFG Day with an Open House on October 2nd, which provided a forum for discussion regarding current trends and innovations in the bearings industry, and also addressed the challenges faced by manufacturers.

“Bearings are fundamental to most machines and span many industries from robotics, transportation, food packaging and processing, to heavy construction, power generation, steel mills and more,” explained Steve Katz, the company’s president. “We have nearly 60 years’ experience providing solutions to diverse OEM and MRO clients and we were thrilled to host this open house and show visitors what we do.”

Visitors were able to tour Action Bearing’s advanced facilities and attend educational presentations where the company’s bearings experts shared their knowledge of materials, managing load and speed, clearances, specialty bearings, the overall process and more. They were also able to see examples of bearing applications, from robotics to steel mills, and anything in between. Future engineers, designers and other visitors interested in a manufacturing career were able to obtain valuable insight about the bearings industry.

About Action Bearing

A New England staple, Action Bearing has supplied bearings and technical parts to the region and niche markets across the country for over fifty years. Specializing in bearings for Original Equipment Manufacturers and Maintenance, Repair Operations markets, Action Bearing has 25,000 square feet of inventory, an online product catalog with over 3 million bearings, a fixed price program, and bearing experts on hand at all times.

Action Bearing is the sister company of Emerson Bearing of Boston, MA. To learn more about their services, products and immediate shipping opportunities, contact 800-225-4587 or visit www.actionbearing.com.

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