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Rodman & Rodman CPAs Outline 2012 Sales Tax Holiday for Consumers and Retailers

Massachusetts residents will be able to enjoy a Sales Tax Holiday weekend on August 11th and 12th.

“The Commonwealth of Massachusetts will not be collecting the 6.25 percent sales tax on tangible purchases of $2,500 or less that are for personal use,” explains Thomas Astore, CPA, JD, Partner at Rodman & Rodman, P.C. “Business purchases and purchases made by corporations remain taxable. All Massachusetts businesses normally open during this weekend and selling taxable items of tangible personal property are required to participate in this sales tax holiday.”

Rodman & Rodman, P.C., is a CPA firm specializing in tax expertise and business strategy for small and medium sized companies throughout New England and beyond.

According to Rodman, consumers will be able to enjoy tax savings in compliance with the following rules that will be in effect for the weekend:

  • Business purchases are excluded, which also means any purchase made with a business check or business credit card.
  • All services are excluded. Only tangible purchases are eligible. Airline tickets and sporting events are considered services.
  • Motor vehicles (which include ATVs and small motorcycles), motorized boats, telecommunications services (including prepaid calling arrangements and cards), gas, steam, electricity, tobacco products and meals are excluded from the sales tax holiday. But, telecommunications equipment (cell phones and related items for personal use) are eligible.
  • Any single item with a price that is in excess of $2,500 is excluded. If the single item’s price exceeds $2,500, it will be taxed in full. For example a $3,000 plasma TV will be taxed on the entire $3,000 sale price.
  • When more than one item is purchased at the same time, and each item has a price of $2,500 or less, then all of the items may be rung up on one receipt and all the items are tax-free.
  • There is no sales tax on clothing unless the sale price exceeds $175. For an article of clothing exceeding this amount, the $175 will be deducted from the price and the remaining amount will be taxed.
  • If a store coupon or discount provided by a retailer or manufacturer reduces the sales price of the item, the discounted sales price determines whether the sales price is within the sales tax holiday price threshold of $2,500 or less.
  • Prior sales and lay-a-ways do not qualify for the tax-free status under any circumstances.
  • Special order items such as furniture are eligible so long as they are ordered and paid in full on the sales tax holiday weekend, and the cost of each item is $2,500 or less, even if delivery is made at a later date.
  • Internet purchases are exempt from sales tax as long as they do not exceed $2,500 (and meet other criteria) and are made and paid for on August 11 or 12, Eastern Standard Time.

For more information, visit the Massachusetts Department of Revenue at www.mass.gov or for tax questions contact Rodman & Rodman, P.C. At (617) 965-5959.

About Rodman & Rodman P.C.

Founded in 1961, Rodman & Rodman, P.C. provides accounting, tax and business services to small and medium-sized companies throughout New England. With a focus on strategic planning, Rodman & Rodman goes beyond traditional accounting services and takes a proactive approach when serving clients to increase, preserve and sustain clients’ financial net worth. The company has been named one of the “Best Accounting Firms to Work For” in Accounting Today and is listed in the Boston Business Journal’s “Top 50 Firms”.

From business valuations, taxation, audits, fraud detection and prevention services and succession planning to a variety of accounting IT services including software selection, implementation and training, the team at Rodman & Rodman serves as comprehensive advisors to clients. For individual clients, the company offers personal advisory services such as planning for real estate transactions, obtaining financing, estate planning and retirement planning as well as planning for college education. The Rodman & Rodman Green Team is a specialized green energy and clean technology accounting and tax services practice within Rodman & Rodman, P.C.

The company’s offices are located at 3 Newton Executive Park in Newton and 25 Braintree Hill Office Park in Braintree, MA. For more information, visit their website at www.rodmancpa.com or contact (617) 965-5959.

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2012 Franchise Operations Performance Summit (OPS) receives rave reviews from C-level franchise operations execs.

Eric Stites
Eric Stites of Franchise Business Review

WOBURN, MA and DENVER, COLORADO…

What makes a successful conference? From the organizer’s perspective, a sellout is a good start. In fact, it’s a great start. Yet as organizers of the recently held Franchise Operations Performance Summit (OPS), the only franchise executive conference dedicated to operations performance excellence, will tell you, it’s what attendees take away from the event that matters.

“We sold out the OPS in Denver, which is great,” said Evan Hackel, founder of Ingage Consulting and a keynote speaker at Franchise OPS, which took place on July 18 and 19. “What really made this event special is that every single attendee—with the help of franchise operations experts–left with a written out list, which they created, of action items they can implement right away to improve their organization’s operations.”

Said Nancy France, president and CEO of Fast Track Kids, “This was our first Franchise OPS, and we left with several key ideas that we can immediately implement in order to improve our operations. It was a great way to interact with other franchisors as well as knowledgeable speakers.”

Topics covered at Franchise OPS included:

  • Real World Franchise Compliance
  • Impactful, Substantive and Effective Conventions/Conferences 
  • Turning a Survey into a Powerful Management Tool
  • Maximizing the Benefits of an Online University 
  • Supercharging Operational Excellence with Web 2.0 Technology
  • Making the Most of Franchise System Buying Services

While attendees benefitted from all the workshops, “Turning a Survey into a Powerful Management Tool”, hosted by Eric Stites of Franchise Business Review, drew particular interest.

“Surveys can be a great tool to improve communication with the franchisees and show the franchisees the organization is truly listening,” said Stites. “In the workshop at Franchise OPS, we provided attendees some innovative ideas on how to better utilize surveys and give them the tools to put a survey strategy together for their company.”

Stites’ company, Franchise Business Review (FBR), is a market research and consulting company that specializes in franchisee satisfaction and engagement. Stites created the Franchisee Satisfaction Index (FSI), which has quickly become the industry standard for measuring and benchmarking franchisee satisfaction and engagement. FBR has worked with more than 500 leading franchise systems including Action Coaching, Snap-on Tools, FastSigns, Budget Blinds, Church’s Chicken, Firehouse Subs, Home Instead Senior Care, ValPak and many other leading brands.

Other franchise operations experts who conducted workshops at Franchise OPS include: Deb Binder of Ingage Consulting, Stacey Ruth of Actio Marketing, Eric Stites of Franchise Business Review, Keith Gerson of FranConnect, Rupert M. Barkoff of Kilpatrick, Townsend and Stockton, Barth Getto of BizUnite and Bill Gauthier of CCA Global Partners.

“If you want to improve your knowledge about trends in franchise operations, this session is the place. You will learn from experts, and you will learn from your peers,” said Bill Sherman, Chief of People and Processes, ConciER FSED Franchising.

In addition to the educational benefits, roundtable discussions and networking opportunities with C-level franchise executives, the Franchise OPS offers the added bonus of being approved for 300 CFE credits by the International Franchise Association. A future Franchise OPS session is being scheduled for __ in Atlanta, Georgia.

Franchise OPS was sponsored by Franchise Business Review, Kilpatrick Townsend, Actio Marketing, BizUnite and Ingage Consulting. For complete information on Franchise OPS, including announcements on future Franchise OPS conferences, please visit http://www.franchiseoperationssummit.com.

About Ingage Consulting

Ingage Consulting is a management consulting firm that works with cooperatives and cooperative councils and leadership to improve the organization’s culture which in turn increases sales and satisfaction; improves growth and retention and boosts loyalty and profits.

Ingage Consulting provides solutions that drive the cooperation, commitment, passion and loyalty of cooperative members.  They offer unique services that help solve the problems of cooperatives in a number of ways.  Working closely with clients, the Ingage Consulting team quickly and thoughtfully assesses, understands and devises solutions to a cooperative organization’s challenges.  Leaders come away with ideas for improvement, including methods for maximizing collaboration among co-op members and a clear strategy and execution plan for change, customized to meet organizational objectives.  Ingage Consulting’s proven techniques to increase collaboration brings about greater productivity and success on many levels. In short, Ingage Consulting makes cooperatives more successful.

Ingage Consulting is located at 400 Trade Center, Suite 5900 in Woburn, MA.  For more information, contact (781) 569-5900 or visit the website www.ingage.net.

2012 Franchise Operations Performance Summit (OPS) receives rave reviews from C-level franchise operations execs.Read More

Strollin’, strollin’ strollin’…Second annual Run for Faith 4-mile run introduces Stroller Division.

Run for Faith Stroller DivisionPLYMOUTH, MA…

For many, it’s difficult to consider a four-mile run a “stroll”. Yet for the many parents who are runners with infants and toddlers, running with a stroller is second nature. Recognizing this large demographic of runners, The Run for Faith is introducing a Stroller Division for its second annual race, taking place on Sunday, August 19 at 9am at historic Plimouth Plantation.

“As the daughter of a Methodist minister from the Midwest, my mother was all about family and she would absolutely love the idea of fathers and mothers pushing their children in a race devoted to her memory,” said Matthew Romboldi, Run for Faith race director and son of Faith “Marcy” Romboldi. Mrs. Romboldi, in whose memory the race is held, died from ovarian cancer in 2010.

For safety reasons, Stroller Division runners will start behind other runners. Prizes will be awarded to both male and female winners (kids, too).

“When you run and you’re pushing a child in front of you, there’s a certain empowerment and level of strength that you learn to appreciate. It’s one thing to carry yourself to the limit, but its even more special and note worthy to push someone else in front of you,” said Nicole Hayes, wife of Matthew Romboldi and mother to a two-year-old son, Charlie. “I’ve seen people at many races push people in wheel chairs and I always make sure to congratulate them on their accomplishments. As a mother who runs frequently with a running stroller, I think it’s important to have a special category where these runners are recognized and commended for their efforts.”

To participate in the Stroller Division, you must register on Active.com. You can link to the site from the Run for Faith website, http://www.runforfaithplymouth.org. Registration is $25 and you must check the box for Stroller Division if you will be running with your child and a carriage.

The Run for Faith is organized by Run for Faith, Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and the proceeds from the race help raise money for several Plymouth non-profits and charitable organizations. The first Run for Faith raised enough for a $5,000 donation to Dana Farber’s  Yawkey Center for Cancer Care and ovarian cancer research. The Run for Faith also contributed two $2500 scholarships for two Plymouth high school students: Graham Allen from Plymouth South High School and Nathan Fuller from Plymouth North High School.

The 2012 Run for Faith has attracted a number of local sponsors, including Nolan Schelle Insurance, Marty’s GMC, Liddell Brothers Traffic Safety Systems, 99.1 WPLM, Powderhorn Press, Plimoth Plantation, Girls on the Go, Newfield House, Mayflower Food and Spirits, Cold Spring Club, Unity Club, and Mama Mia’s.

Businesses looking to sponsor the second annual Run for Faith can e-mail info@runforfaithplymouth.org or call 508-400-0751.

About The Run for Faith

The Run for Faith 4Miler is a gold member in the Bayside Runner Racing Series. The four mile race starts at Plimouth Plantation at 9am on Sunday August 19. The 4 mile race loop captures spectacular views of Cape Cod Bay, the Eel River and scenic horse farms. The course features rolling hills and unmatched history.  The event will be professionally timed by Spitler Racing Systems.  You can view the course online at: http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/42074524.

The entry fee for The Run for Faith is $25. Every dollar of fee will be donated to local charities.

There’s a registration link on www.runforfaithplymouth.org or you can go directly to www.active.com. For more information and to register for the race, please visit www.runforfaithplymouth.org  or email info@runforfaithplymouth.org.

Strollin’, strollin’ strollin’…Second annual Run for Faith 4-mile run introduces Stroller Division.Read More

Renowned Physical Therapist Shares Tips for Avoiding Injury this Summer

Brendan Carman, MPT, ATC

For many individuals and businesses, summer is a time when things slow down. Not so for the physical therapy staff at Mass Bay Spine & Sport Physical Therapy (MBSSPT) of Marshfield.

According to Brendan Carman, MPT, ATC, who is the orthopedic outpatient physical therapy practice’s founder – summer is their busiest time.

“In the summertime, people want to enjoy the great outdoors and they take on projects and activities that put a stress on muscles and tendons that may not have been used the rest of the year. Even summer footwear can cause a strain,” Carman explained.

Golfing, playing tennis, doing strenuous yard work and other “weekend warrior“ activities can cause neck, shoulder and back problems. Although it sounds like simple common sense, don’t do too much all at once. If you golf or play another sport in the summer, but not during the rest of the year, be aware of signs of muscle fatigue and pain that lasts longer than 48 hours. If you’re a weekend warrior, be sure to space out the work and take on reasonable loads. For example, don’t build a brick or stone wall in a day or spread three yards of mulch in a matter of hours.

Walkers wearing non-supportive footwear and people wearing flip flops, unsupportive sandals or no shoes at all may experience foot and ankle problems. Shoes offering little or no support can strain the plantar fasciia and Achilles tendon, and many people begin to exhibit symptoms mid-summer. A few symptoms of foot issues include pain at the back of heel or under bottom of heel. Key symptoms are pain in the bottom of your foot first thing in the morning (as you get out of bed) or when you are walking without shoes.

Note that normal muscle soreness is usually a 48 hour cycle of aching muscles. When soreness lasts more than two days, it is an indication that there’s more to it. Pain that is closer to joints and tendons, pain that is constant at rest, swelling/heat/redness that is associated with the pain, and pain that is not resolving within 72 hours is something to be concerned about. If you have pain in the knee, shoulder and ankle joint itself, it’s a red flag of strain.

“When you suffer from aches and pains, it’s best to deal with it sooner than later. If caught early, one to two days of rest is usually all that is needed. But, aches and pains that are ignored can become more significant. The tissues break down and can become an injury if not addressed promptly. Then, it can take weeks to resolve the issue,” explained Carman.

About MBSSPT

Mass Bay Spine & Sport Physical Therapy (MBSSPT) is an orthopedic outpatient physical therapy practice. MBSSPT, a state-of-the-art facility owned and operated by a physical therapist, has earned a reputation for superior clinical care and delivery of services to South Shore community members as well as physicians from Boston to Plymouth.

The practice’s highly trained staff is committed to providing clients with an experience that will ensure their condition is resolved effectively and efficiently, while empowering them with the necessary tools and knowledge to prevent future problems and maintain optimal health. All of the practice’s physical therapists are trained to rehabilitate a variety of conditions utilizing treatment techniques that include soft tissue massage/mobilization, therapeutic and strengthening exercises, neuromuscular reeducation, gait training, patient education, and lumbar stabilization, to name a few. MBSSPT accepts Medicare, Workers’ Compensation, auto insurance, and most private insurance plans.

Mass Bay Spine & Sport Physical Therapy is located at 506 Plain Street in Marshfield. For more information, visit www.massbayspineandsport.com or call (781) 319-0024.

Renowned Physical Therapist Shares Tips for Avoiding Injury this SummerRead More

South Weymouth dental practice honored for donating dental services to elderly and vulnerable patients.

The Toothboss, Dr. Richard Wolfert, with David Masci

SOUTH WEYMOUTH, MA

As a dentist, Richard Wolfert, DMD, thought he had seen enough plaque. That was until he received a plaque of a different kind—an award–from Donated Dental Services (DDS).

DDS is a national non-profit organization comprised of nearly 20,000 dental professionals who donate dental services for people with disabilities or who are elderly or medically at-risk. The South Weymouth dentist is one of those providers.

“We’ve been involved with DDS over the past few years. The patients we’ve treated have needed everything from a full set of dentures to major dental work like root canals and crowns,” said Wolfert. “I believe that my treatment makes these patients healthier, makes them feel better about themselves, and makes me feel great to be able to provide these services to such a deserving people.”

One of the patients Dr. Wolfert has recently treated is David Masci of Lexington, Mass. Masci is awaiting transplants for both his pancreas and kidney and undergoes dialysis treatments three times a week, three to four hours per visit. So while some might consider sitting in a dentist’s chair for several hours for major dental work to be a nightmare, for Masci it’s a blessing.

“It’s a pleasure to be able to smile again,” said Masci.

DDS provides an invaluable resource to so many who need dental care. In fact, since 1985, when DDS launched, 109,843 vulnerable people have received more than $215 million worth of dental services for seriously neglected dental diseases. Dr. Wolfert is the sole provider of DDS services on the South Shore.

“The patients we treat have some serious problems but they usually leave here smiling and making me smile,” said Wolfert.

If you or somebody you know is a vulnerable person in need of dental care, please visit DDS’s Dental Lifeline at http://www.dentallifeline.org or by calling 888.471.6334.

Dr. Wolfert’s practice, Smiles by the Toothboss, is located at 1121 Main Street in South Weymouth, Massachusetts. He offers a offers a wide range of dental services, including comprehensive examinations, sedation dentistry, cosmetics, tooth-colored restorations, partial and full dentures; dental implants, periodontics (early cases treated) and emergency services (24-hour emergency phone number available). For more information, you can visit Dr. Wolfert’s website at www.toothboss.com or call 781-335-0604 to schedule a consultation.

About Smiles by the Toothboss

Smiles by the Toothboss offers: comprehensive examinations (written treatment and treatment plan provided); cosmetics; crowns, bridges and tooth-colored restorations; partial and full dentures; periodontics (early cases treated); oral surgery; restoration of conventional and small diameter implants; and emergency services (24-hour emergency phone number available).

Smiles by the Toothboss accepts most insurance plans. They also accept payment from most PPO and indemnity plans, including Blue Cross/Blue Shield and Delta Dental. They also accept all major credit cards and have arranged payment plans through CareCredit.

To schedule an initial consultation, please call 781-335-0604. For more information, visit www.toothboss.com.

South Weymouth dental practice honored for donating dental services to elderly and vulnerable patients.Read More

Charity run/walk makes a run for new sponsors. Second annual Run for Faith 4-mile run welcomes new sponsors

PLYMOUTH, MA…

The Run for Faith recently welcomed several Plymouth businesses as corporate sponsors for the second-year event, which will take place on Sunday, August 19 at 9am at historic Plimouth Plantation.  Those sponsors include Newfield House, Mayflower Food and Spirits, Cold Spring Club, Unity Club, and Mama Mia’s.

“As a girl from the Midwest and the daughter of a Methodist minister, my mother’s faith was a huge part of who she was—even though she preferred to be called Marcy over her given name of Faith,” said Matthew Romboldi, Run for Faith race director and son of Faith “Marcy” Romboldi, for whom the race is held. “We certainly appreciate the faith our sponsors have shown in us, especially those supporting the Run for Faith for a second year and what happened with the weather last year.”

Last year’s took place the morning of Hurricane Irene. The race went off as scheduled with all runners completing the course just before the bad weather started. Adds Romboldi, “I think Mom was watching over us, doing her part to make sure we got the race in. Let’s hope we don’t need that kind of divine intervention this year.”

In addition to the four-mile course that starts at Plimouth Plantation, the Run for Faith will include a special Stroller division. Other family-friendly features include a jumpy house at the end of the race and free sno-cones.

The Run for Faith is organized by Run for Faith, Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization created to commemorate the special life of Faith “Marcy” Romboldi.  Last year’s race helped raise money for several Plymouth non-profits and charitable organizations, including a $5,000 donation to the Yawkey Center for Cancer Care and ovarian cancer research. The Run for Faith also contributed two $2500 scholarships for two Plymouth high school students: Graham Allen from Plymouth South High School and Nathan Fuller from Plymouth North High School.

Besides the latest additions, the second annual Run for Faith is being sponsored by a number of other Plymouth businesses, including: Nolan Schelle Insurance, Marty’s GMC, Liddell Brothers Traffic Safety Systems, 99.1 WPLM, Powderhorn Press, Plimoth Plantation and Girls on the Go.

“We’re grateful for the tremendous support for Run for Faith so far. Like any fundraising effort, there’s always room for additional sponsors and participants,” added Romboldi. “This is a Plymouth race supporting Plymouth causes and we welcome the support of area businesses.”

Businesses looking to sponsor the second annual Run for Faith can e-mail  info@runforfaithplymouth.org or call 508-400-0751.

About The Run for Faith

The Run for Faith 4Miler is a gold member in the Bayside Runner Racing Series. The four mile race starts at Plimouth Plantation at 9am on Sunday August 19. The 4 mile race loop captures spectacular views of Cape Cod Bay, the Eel River and scenic horse farms. The course features rolling hills and unmatched history.  The event will be professionally timed by Spitler Racing Systems.  You can view the course online at: http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/42074524.

The entry fee for The Run for Faith is $25. Every dollar of fee will be donated to local charities.

There’s a registration link on www.runforfaithplymouth.org or you can go directly to www.active.com. For more information and to register for the race, please visit www.runforfaithplymouth.org  or email info@runforfaithplymouth.org.

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South Coast Improvement Adopts ICRA Matrix in Construction and Renovation of Care Facilities

South Coast Improvement, one of the largest design, construction and management companies in the Northeast has adopted and implemented the Infection Control Risk Assessment (ICRA) Matrix of Precautions for Construction and Renovation of long-and short-term care and senior care facilities.

The ICRA Matrix was developed primarily for the hospital setting however South Coast Improvement owner Tom Quinlan believes that the implementation of this formal set of precautions is extremely beneficial in the long term care, short term care and senior living setting as they share many similar characteristics as the traditional hospital.

It is a multidisciplinary, organizational documented process for construction and renovation that takes into consideration a facility’s patient population and program.

The program takes into consideration the following:

Impact of disrupting essential services to patients and employees.
Determination of the specific hazards and protection levels for each.
Assessment of external as well as internal construction activities.
Locations and handling of known hazards.
According to Quinlan, “The matrix looks at the scope of work being done, where in the facility it is being done and clearly defines the precautions to be taken based on the nature of the work to be done. Essentially, it calls for more precautions and better clean up practices depending on what work is being done, where in the facility it is being done and who is affected.”

By utilizing the ICRA Matrix in long and short term care and senior living environments, South Coast Improvement provides the maximum protection against infection to sensitive clientele.

Occupied and Operational Environments are SCI’s Niche

When it comes to complex renovation projects within occupied and operational environments, South Coast Improvement are the experts. The company provides new construction, full renovations, capital improvements, building envelope improvements and interior renovations.

The company has successfully completed significant projects for healthcare facilities, educational institutions, commercial properties, assisted living facilities, senior living and residential communities throughout New England, New York and New Jersey. Their portfolio of healthcare and senior occupied renovation projects includes numerous projects for Atria, Benchmark and Welch Health Care & Retirement Group, to name a few. They have just completed their 23rd major renovation for Revera Health.

South Coast Improvement utilizes Special Building Practices to ensure the comfort and safety of special needs residents and patients who occupy the spaces that are being renovated. Their experience, high standards of compliance, overall quality and their ability to complete projects on time and on budget, sets them apart from their competitors.

About South Coast Improvement

South Coast Improvement offers an extensive range of design, construction and construction management services regionally in the Northeast and across the U.S. With decades of experience, the company is renowned for high quality, efficiency and high standards of compliance which sets them apart from their competitors. They are are engaged in projects across sectors that include healthcare, institutional, commercial, hospitality and planned communities/residential. The company offers pre-construction analysis, construction management, general contracting, design/build services, capital improvement, building envelope improvements and interior renovations.

South Coast Improvement maintains memberships and professional affiliations with the

Assisted Living Facility Association, the American Society of Interior Designers, the International Facility Managers Association, the Community Associations Institute, as well as International Real Estate Managers and the Greater New Bedford Chamber of Commerce.

South Coast Improvement is headquartered at 208 Wareham Road in Marion, MA 02738.

For more information, contact (508) 748-6545; email Information@southcoastimprovement.com or visit the website at www.southcoastimprovement.com

South Coast Improvement Adopts ICRA Matrix in Construction and Renovation of Care FacilitiesRead More

How your garden and plants can beat the heat.

Master Grower George Chapman of Concord Nurseries
Master Grower George Chapman of Concord Nurseries

CONCORD and ROCHESTER, MASSACHUSETTS…

If you are like many avid gardeners, the heat wave of the past few weeks has had you more than a bit concerned about your flower and plant gardens. Before you break out into your own version of a rain dance, there are some steps you can take to ensure your plants stand up to the stress of the dog days of summer.

“People put a lot of effort into their plants and gardens in the spring and early summer and it’s a shame when a hot spell jeopardizes all that work,” said George Chapman, master grower at Concord Nurseries in Rochester and Concord, MA. “Obviously, you need to water your plants, but how much is too much? Can you overdo it?”

For annuals and perennials, Chapman recommends:

  • Regular watering – Water hanging plants and plants in containers on a daily basis. For in-ground plants, deep water those plants twice a week.
  • Use liquid feed fertilizer – Time release fertilizer is a good practice in spring and early summer, but at this late date you should only be feeding with a liquid fertilizer. Any general purpose plant food will do. In the heat of summer, it is a good practice to cut the recommended dosage in half, and feed twice as often.
  • Deadhead – Remove past blooms by pinching or cutting off the old flowers at the base of the stem. Even the “self cleaning” varieties will benefit from a little deadheading. Most plants have a higher than usual amount of past bloom this year because of the intense heat.

“Sadly, the heat can sometimes be too much for some plants. That doesn’t mean you have to wait until next year,” said Chapman. “There are a number of annuals and perennials that can be planted in midsummer and give your garden plenty of wow factor. Hardy Hibiscus is one in particular that can really make the colors in your garden pop.”

Concord Nurseries offers a full selection of six-inch annuals ready for summer planting. In addition, they carry five varieties of the aforementioned Hardy Hibiscus, including one with variegated foliage foliage. This is a perennial loaded with dinner plate-sized flowers that last from midsummer to autumn.

To check out their inventory of summer annuals and perennials, you can visit their Rochester–22 Cranberry Highway (Route 28)—or Concord location (874 Barretts Mill Road, near the Route 2 Traffic Circle). Both farm stand’s hours are Tuesday through Thursday, 9am to 5pm, Fridays and Saturday, 9am to 6pm, and Sundays, 10am to 5pm.

For complete information on Concord Nurseries, visit www.ConcordNurseriesCSA.com.

Concord Nurseries

Concord Nurseries s a local greenhouse grower of vegetables, vegetable plants flowers and ornamental plants with locations at 874 Barretts Mill Road in Concord, Massachusetts and 22 Cranberry Highway (Route 28) in Rochester, Massachusetts. Concord Nurseries offers a retail farm stand at both locations for consumers, as well as a wholesale division for commercial businesses.

The farm stand’s spring hours are Tuesday through Thursday, 9am to 5pm, Fridays and Saturday, 9am to 6pm, and Sundays, 10am to 5pm.

For additional information, including sales and event info, please visit www.concordnurseriescsa.com or visit the Facebook pages for each location, www.Facebook.com/ConcordNurseriesCSA  for Concord and www.Facebook.com/ConcordNurseriesRochester for Rochester.

How your garden and plants can beat the heat.Read More

Old Colony Elder Services Concerned Over Soaring Home Care Wait List

With only days left in the formal legislative session on Beacon Hill, Old Colony Elder Services’ (OCES), the regional elder services agency serving seniors and individuals with disabilities throughout Brockton and the 22 surrounding communities, say lawmakers have not addressed the home care needs of many seniors and people with disabilities.

According to Mass Home Care Executive Director Al Norman, the state’s home care program had nearly 2,000 elders on a waiting list as the new fiscal year began July 1st.

“We are hoping that members of the General Court will not accept home care waiting lists as a fact of life,” Norman said. “We’ve asked the Ways & Means Committees not to break for reelection campaigns until they address the growing problem of home care shortfalls.”

If no additional funds are forthcoming, Norman predicted the waiting list of 2,000 elders today could reach 4,000 or 5,000 by next June.

“This is a serious concern. Old Colony Elder Services currently has 80 people on its wait list for home care services and we expect this number to reach 200 by next June,” said Diana DiGiorgi, Executive Director of OCES.

Per Mass Home Care approximately $6.7 million is needed in FY 2013 to eliminate the current waiting list. Norman said that many of these elders are eligible for nursing facility care. “It’s easier to place someone in a nursing facility in Massachusetts than it is to keep them at home. Instead of being a ‘community first’ state, we continue to push ‘institutions first’ on our aging and disabled populations.”

Governor Deval Patrick recently filed a supplemental budget that could have been the vehicle for home care funding, Norman noted, but the Governor asked for no relief for these programs.

Mass Home Care is also pushing a one sentence piece of legislation, H4186, that would allow disabled people with Alzheimer’s or other cognitive deficits to get a personal care attendant (PCA). Currently, only people who need physical assistance with care are allowed into the PCA program. H4186 would allow people with cueing and supervision needs to receive care, and avoid costly nursing facility placement. A person suffering from Alzheimer’s would be able to get PCA services at home under the bill.

“People should not be penalized because they have the ‘wrong’ disease,” Norman explained. “If our goal is to keep people at home, then this bill should have passed months ago.”

According to Mass Home Care, 70 percent of states that have a PCA program allow people with cueing and supervision needs to receive care at home. H4186 is currently in the House Third Reading along with 600 other bills.

“Somewhere in between discussions on criminal sentencing and health care reform,” Norman concluded, “we hope that lawmakers will remember than nearly one in five people in the Commonwealth are over the age of 60—-and their greatest wish is to simply live out their lives at home, with dignity and independence. We continue to waste millions of taxpayers’ dollars annually on unnecessary institutional care.”

About OCES
Incorporated in 1974, Old Colony Elder Services is a private, non-profit corporation designated as one of 27 Aging Services Access Points (ASAPs) in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. OCES offers a number of programs to serve seniors, individuals with disabilities, their families and caregivers such as Family Caregiver Support; Adult Family Care; Supportive Housing; Nutrition; Money Management; Protective Services and Home Care.

OCES serves elders, individuals with disabilities, their families and caregivers in 23 communities in Southeastern Massachusetts: Abington, Avon, Bridgewater, Brockton, Carver, Duxbury, East Bridgewater, Easton, Halifax, Hanover, Hanson, Kingston, Lakeville, Marshfield, Middleboro, Pembroke, Plymouth, Plympton, Rockland, Stoughton, Wareham, West Bridgewater and Whitman.

The organization’s mission is to provide services that support the dignity and independence of elders by helping them maximize their quality of life; live safely and in good health; and, prevent unnecessary or premature institutionalization. For more information call (508) 584-1561 or visit the website at www.oldcolonyelderservices.org.

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