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Hundreds participate in March Against Elder Abuse events in Brockton and Plymouth for World Elder Abuse Awareness Day

BROCKTON AND PLYMOUTH, MA… Old Colony Elder Services (OCES), in partnership with Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office, Plymouth County Sheriff’s Department, the Brockton Council on Aging (COA) and Plymouth Center for Active Living (CAL), recently held “March Against Elder Abuse” events in Brockton and Plymouth to raise awareness of elder abuse.

“Last year, the Massachusetts Executive Office of Elder Affairs reported 37,918 reports of elder abuse in the state,” said Teresa Kourtz, LSW, MSG, OCES’ Protective Services Director. “It is estimated that 1 in 10 elders have experienced some form of abuse – physical, mental, emotional or financial. World Elder Abuse Awareness Day is an opportunity to increase awareness about abuse, neglect, and exploitation of older adults. Both of our Marches Against Elder Abuse events were extremely well-attended, and we cannot thank our community enough for coming together to raise awareness of this important issue.  We must continue to work together- if you see something, say something!”

Raising Awareness in Brockton
The Brockton March Against Elder Abuse event, which included a rally at the Brockton Rox Campanelli Stadium and luncheon, held at the Shaw’s Center on June 15, 2023, which is World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. Senator Michael Brady and Representative Rita Mendes were among 150 in attendance.

Special guest speakers during this event included: Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy Cruz; Plymouth County Sheriff Joseph McDonald; Brockton Mayor Robert Sullivan; Janice Fitzgerald, Director at the Brockton Council on Aging; and Teresa Kourtz, Protective Services Director at OCES.

March Against Elder Abuse event in Brockton

The “Pat Foley Advocacy Award” in memory of Pat Foley, a longtime OCES employee, volunteer and advocate, was presented to Janice Fitzgerald, Director of COA, and Dottie Slack Health Education and Outreach Coordinator at the Brockton COA.

Raising Awareness in Plymouth 
Over 100 were in attendance, including Representative Kathleen LaNatra and Representative Mathew Muratore, for the March Against Elder Abuse event along Water Street, in Plymouth on June 21, 2023. A luncheon was held at Tavern on the Wharf following the March.  Special guest speakers included: Plymouth County Sheriff Joseph McDonald; Michelle Bratti, Director of Elder Affairs at the Center for Active Living (CAL); and Teresa Kourtz, Protective Services Director of OCES.

Plymouth Police Chief Dana Flynn presented the “Pat Foley Advocacy Award” to Lt. Reid and Officers Antonson and Lapollo of the Plymouth Police Department and to Lindsay Reik and April Thompson of Plymouth CAL.

OCES would like to thank the event sponsors: Commonwealth of Massachusetts; Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office; Women of the Moose Chapter 2218; HarborOne Bank; Bluestone Bank; Rockland Federal Credit Union; Sevita; Almeida & Carlson Insurance Agency, Anodyne, and Navicare.

Recognizing Elder Abuse
Elder abuse includes physical, emotional, neglect, self-neglect, financial exploitation, and sexual abuse. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Community Living, an estimated five million older adults are victims of elder abuse, neglect, or exploitation every year. One in 10 older adults aged 60 and older have experienced some form of elder abuse. Common risk factors for elder abuse are social isolation, poor physical health, and dementia. Nationally, at least $36.5 billion annually is lost by victims of financial abuse according to the National Council on Aging. 

OCES’ Protective Services Program staff works with older adults or their designees to prevent, eliminate or remedy situations involving elder abuse.  When a report is made to the Centralized Intake Unit (Elder Abuse Hotline) and the elder resides in our catchment area, OCES will receive the report and determine if further investigation by a Protective Services Worker is necessary.

If you have concerns, please contact your local Protective Services Agency. If you want to file a report on elder abuse, please contact the Centralized Intake Unit (Elder Abuse Hotline) at 1-800-922-2275.

About WEAAD
WEAAD was launched by the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse and the World Health Organization at the United Nations in 2006. To learn more about WEAAD, visit https://eldermistreatment.usc.edu/weaad-home/

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

Hundreds participate in March Against Elder Abuse events in Brockton and Plymouth for World Elder Abuse Awareness DayRead More

Massachusetts cannabis entrepreneur who brought focus to unfair “impact fees” charged by municipalities blasts city for unfair collection practices.

HAVERILL, June 29, 2023–The Haverhill, Massachusetts cannabis entrepreneur whose lawsuit has shined a spotlight on the state’s controversial law allowing municipalities to collect “impact fees” from cannabis retailers is accusing her host city of unfair collection of the fees.

Caroline Pineau, owner of Stem Haverhill, recently requested that Haverhill Mayor James Fiorentini place the three impact fees paid by Stem since its 2019 opening into an interest-bearing escrow account.  Pineau’s request came after the Lawrence Eagle-Tribune newspaper reported that other cannabis retailers in the city had made one or no payments.

“I find this to be an extraordinary, and indefensible, double standard,” Pineau wrote in her June 26 letter, which requested that her three payments remain in escrow until the city “enacts a consistent and equitable impact fee payment or non-payment policy” applicable to all cannabis businesses.

” I also request that the city refrain from all future impact fee collections until a clear and equitable payment policy is in place.  I find it disturbing that the city is negotiating on a store-by-store basis rather than establishing an across-the-board policy that treats all operators fairly and equally,” Pineau continued.

Stem has made three impact fee payments to the Haverhill, totaling $887,487.91.  The payments were made on May 28, 2021 ($358,942.53), May 31, 2022 ($328,568.35) and June 1, 2023 ($199,977.03).

The June 15 Lawrence Eagle-Tribune story cited city records showing that the city’s other three cannabis retail shops have paid far less than Stem in impact fees.  Full Harvest Moonz has made a single payment of $314,246 and CNA Stores has made a single payment of $176,864.  The third shop, Mello, has made no impact fee payments.

Pineau, who filed suit against Haverhill in 2021 in part to force Haverhill to produce documentation of actual cost impacts to the city by Stem’s cannabis sales, said her efforts have generated significant attention to municipalities collecting impact fees without demonstrating actual impacts.  Since Pineau began her legal battle, several communities have returned the impact fees or have declined to collect any more fees.

“I’m grateful that my legal efforts have benefited many individual operators and the industry in general, but those efforts have come at a great legal cost borne by me alone. To see that other operators in Haverhill are not being forced to pay the fees while I still am discouraging and incredibly unfair,” Pineau said.

Pineau’s suit against Haverhill is still pending. 

Massachusetts cannabis entrepreneur who brought focus to unfair “impact fees” charged by municipalities blasts city for unfair collection practices.Read More

Stuck in the shade?  Plymouth Solar Energy launches Solar Service Division to repair and service solar households.

Your solar panel installation company may have sunsetted. Many solar energy companies did not survive Covid or the complexity and bureaucracy of the solar installation process.  To meet the needs of orphaned customers as well as their own, Plymouth Solar Energy has launched a new Solar Service Division.

The new division will provide monitoring and servicing of all solar installations in Plymouth, Norfolk, Barnstable and Bristol Counties. 

Monitoring service is performed virtually from the company’s headquarters in Downtown Plymouth on 18 Main Street Extension, Plymouth, MA.  Electronic monitoring will red flag malfunctions and reduced output even before it occurs.  Electronic system updates are also installed seamlessly.

Additional solar services include onsite replacement of solar panels and inverters, optimization of solar efficiency and electrical, construction, and tech support as needed.

“Although the solar panels themselves rarely fail, all solar installations need to be tweaked and repaired over time,” noted Fred Paris, CEO of Plymouth Solar Energy.  He added, “Our offsite, offsite virtual monitoring identifies problems before they become critical and our onsite repairs and service ensure solar systems are always working optimally.”

Plymouth Solar Energy (PlymouthSolarEnergy.com ) is a regional leader in the installation and maintenance of commercial and residential solar and battery systems. The company boasts over 20 years of working closely with solar customers and has several installed and on-line monitored solar systems within 50 miles of Plymouth.

A lifelong environmentalist and recognized solar energy expert, Paris launched the Wind Sun Institute – the predecessor of Plymouth Solar Energy – to serve as a technical trainer to solar manufacturers. This evolved to teaching solar energy commercially across the U. S. including at Babson College. Paris taught Strategic Planning at Northeastern University and national certification ‘NABCEP’ classes at Massasoit Community College. Paris started Plymouth Solar Energy with Massasoit students. For more info, visit www.PlymouthSolarEnergy.com or call (508) 746-5430 or email info@plymouthsolarenergy.com.       

Stuck in the shade?  Plymouth Solar Energy launches Solar Service Division to repair and service solar households.Read More

Networking Ninja Award nominations sought. My Pinnacle Network sponsors 9th annual recognition of the region’s best connectors.

You’ve heard it before – “I know a guy.”  Or “She knows everyone.” 

Business networkers and connectors are the catalyst for new clients, new opportunities, news business.

Nominations are sought for the following categories – Best Connector (helping bring people together); Most Ubiquitous (appears to be at every networking event); Most Altruistic (does most for others); Brightest Beacon (adds energy to networking events); Rookie of the Year (new to the networking scene); and Lifetime Achievement (an appreciation award for long-time networkers).

The public and business communities are encouraged to visit the My Pinnacle Network website to nominate friends and colleagues.  Deadline is October 31, 2023.  Winners will be announced in November. Nominations are NOT limited to My Pinnacle Network members, but open to the entire business community.

My Pinnacle Network is a business-to-business networking organization with once a month meetings in Mansfield, Marshfield, Newton, and Westborough, MA recently announced the Ninth Annual Networking Ninja Awards. 

“Networking is the straw that stirs the drink for many businesses,” said Steven V. Dubin, one of the founders of My Pinnacle Network.  “This year’s Networking Ninja Awards will recognize the efforts of our area’s best networkers, who have continued to connect, and pass leads and referrals during a very trying year.”

For information about the Networking Ninja Awards, please visit https://www.mypinnaclenetwork.com/award/, or contact Steven V. Dubin at SDubin@MyPinnacleNetwork.com or 781-582-1061.

Networking Ninja Award nominations sought. My Pinnacle Network sponsors 9th annual recognition of the region’s best connectors.Read More

WCVB’s Doug Meehan visits PR Works Client Murdick’s Fudge of Martha’s Vineyard

PR Works recently secured coverage for Murdick’s Fudge of Martha’s Vineyard. Murdick’s had previously been a PR Works client back in 2017 and 2018. After the Pandemic, Murdick’s was looking to increase foot traffic and get more visitors to their online store. PR is one of the tools they are using to achieve that objective.

As part of the effort, PR Works has issued multiple releases and conducted outreach to local media outlets. One of those outlets was WCVB-Ch. 5. The outreach resulted in Doug Meehan of Ch. 5’s Eye Opener visiting Murdick’s Fudge for a “Made in Massachusetts” piece. Check it out.

WCVB’s Doug Meehan visits PR Works Client Murdick’s Fudge of Martha’s VineyardRead More

Fudging great media coverage

PR Works recently secured broadcast coverage on WCVB for our client Murdick’s Fudge of Martha’s Vineyard. Doug Meehan visited Murdick’s Fudge at their Edgartown location. The piece ran on June 19 on WCVB’s Eye Opener broadcast and later in the day on their early news. Here’s the piece:

For more information on Murdick’s Fudge and their mouth-watering fudge, brittle and other goodies, check out their website.

Fudging great media coverageRead More

Chamber Networking Event & Benefit for Boys & Girls Club of Marshfield on June 22nd. Spectators Invited to Marshfield & Plymouth Chamber Pickleball Challenge 

MARSHFIELD, MA … Chamber members and the general public are invited to the Boys & Girls Club of Marshfield at 37 Proprietor’s Drive to cheer on the Marshfield Chamber of Commerce and the Plymouth Chamber of Commerce in a networking event and Pickleball match on Thursday, June 22, 2023 from 5-7:30 p.m.  
 
The multi-Chamber event benefits the Boys and Girls Club of Marshfield’s Summer Camp Transportation. 
 
Ann Gillespie, Citizen of the Year and Marshfield’s Pickleball Ambassador taught clinics to get many of the Pickleball players ready for this special event. 
 
The event provides an opportunity for Marshfield and Plymouth Chamber members to expand their reach and network with other business owners while raising funds for the Club’s Summer Camp transportation program. South Shore Cocktails will be on-site with beer and wine options along with Dog Sled which will be offering hot dogs, chili, and snacks. There will be two Ultimate Chamber Give-A-Way Baskets, 50/50 raffles, music and more. 
 
There is no cost to attend this event.  
 
To sign up to attend, visit  https://web.southshorechamber.org/events/FREE-NETWORKING-EVENT-Boys-Girls-Club-Marshfield-Plymouth-Chambers–20524/details 
 
This event is sponsored by Quirk Cars, Tiny & Sons Glass, Marshfield Chamber of Commerce and Plymouth Chamber of Commerce. 
 
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. 

Chamber Networking Event & Benefit for Boys & Girls Club of Marshfield on June 22nd. Spectators Invited to Marshfield & Plymouth Chamber Pickleball Challenge Read More

Know someone in the Greater Plymouth area who has a Sunny Disposition? 

Better yet, perhaps they have recently performed some random or intended act of kindness?

Could be something as simple as taking out the trash for an elderly neighbor.  Or helping with heavy lifting of a new couch.  Or sharing an extra plate of homemade brownies.

Plymouth Solar Energy is recognizing Sunny Disposition winners monthly.  The winner will receive dinner for two at one of Greater Plymouth’s leading restaurants and a spiffy pair of sunglasses.

Enter brief nomination at https://www.plymouthsolarenergy.com/sunny-disposition-plymouth

Know someone in the Greater Plymouth area who has a Sunny Disposition? Read More

Retirement Dreams or Nightmares.

 ‘What do you want to be when you grow up?’

Transition counselor offers a free roundtable workshop for the first 10 seniors to respond.  Starting…

…NOW!

By Steven V. Dubin

What do you want to be when you grow up? So, you still haven’t figured it out.  Don’t worry neither have I.

Are you nearing or at retirement age? 

You are in luck. Help is on the way!

Transition Counselor Beth Davis, a Plymouth, MA resident, is offering a free three-session roundtable discussion group to help you figure it out.  Specifics of the facilitated, self-discovery group are being finalized, but the general format is to meet once a month for three months for an hour and a half, late afternoon, 4 p.m. or so, at a comfortable Plymouth location.  The Plymouth Center for Active Living and the Plymouth Public Library are leading venue candidates.

Beth has over 25 years of experience as a professionally trained coach, facilitator, business leader and entrepreneur. Additionally, she is a real estate agent and home renovator with her husband Steve Feldman; they are agents with the Plymouth office of Keller Williams Realty. Beth has helped many seniors to transition from a “life of success to a life of significance.”

After selling the business she founded and nurtured for close to a decade, she re-focused her career on coaching and developing others through the stages of lifecycles. Her coaching clients place a high value on learning, life planning and design, and creating positive change.

Don’t expect a heavy load of homework or pop quizzes.  Beth will suggest numerous books and exercises that will be helpful in the quest for self-discovery, but there will be no official syllabus. Among the titles on the recommended reading list will be “Flourish” by Martin D.P. Seligman, “The Retirement Life” by Matthew Kelly, and “Transitions” by William Bridges.

Some questions to be pondered during the self-discovery workshops are What scares me?  What holds me back? 

Contact Beth Davis directly to reserve your seat.  She can be reached at beth@planningwhatsnext.com.

Additionally, if you know of a senior who is doing something interesting with their retirement, I look forward to hearing from you! Please email me at SDubin@PRWorkZone.com

Steven V. Dubin is the founder of PR Works, a lightly used Public Relations firm based in Plymouth, MA, which helps small to mid-sized nonprofit organizations and for-profit companies navigate the overwhelming options of advertising. Steve lives in Plymouth with his wife Wendy.  He is a contributing author to “Get Slightly Famous” and “Tricks of the Trade,” the complete guide to succeeding in the advice business. He recently authored “PR 101,” an E-book.

Retirement Dreams or Nightmares.Read More