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Old Colony Elder Services Announces A Matter of Balance Program

Old Colony Elder Services’ (OCES), the Brockton based regional elder services agency serving seniors, individuals with disabilities and caregivers throughout greater Brockton and Plymouth County, will be helping residents living in Plymouth Housing Authority sites learn skills to improve their balance. OCES will be holding A Matter of Balance Program at the Plymouth Housing site High Cliff. The first session will be held on Tuesday, July 10, 2012.

A Matter of Balance is an eight-week program that will meet once a week for two hours. The program is designed to train seniors how to exercise for better balance and prevent falls.

Seniors learn how to view falls as controllable, make changes to reduce the risk of falls in their own homes and increase strength and balance through exercises.

This program is ideal for seniors who have previously fallen; are interested in preventing falls while improving balance and strength; and have restricted activities because of falling concerns.

Matter of Balance is offered by OCES. There is no cost to attend. For more information and to register, contact Donna Forand, Outreach and Education Specialist at OCES (508) 584-1561 ext. 237.

A Matter of Balance

A Matter of Balance Volunteer Lay Leader Model and MaineHealth’s Partnership for Healthy Aging are used and adapted by permission of Boston University.

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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Rodman & Rodman’s Kathy Parker Cites Challenges of Tax Incentive Complexities at Massachusetts Solar Summit 2012

(L to R) Massachusetts Solar Summit panelists Craig Huntley, Principal at Solect Energy, a major Massachusetts-based solar developer and Kathy Parker, CPA, MST, Partner at Rodman & Rodman, P.C, and a member of the accounting firm’s “Green Team” Renewable Energy and Cleantech Practice.

“While IRS Section 1603 Tax credits, combined with Solar Renewable Energy Credits (SRECS), created a boom in the Massachusetts Solar Industry, many solar companies are sitting on an inventory of solar panels and other materials for projects that have not begun construction by the end of the 2011 eligibility period,” Kathy Parker, CPA told a standing room only audience at the 2012 Solar Summit in Marlborough, MA, on June 13, 2012. Parker is a Partner at Rodman & Rodman, P.C, and a member of the accounting firm’s “Green Team” Renewable Energy and Cleantech Practice.

“Although the 1603 tax code provides ‘Safe Harbor’ provisions, qualifying for this protection can be a tricky process” said Parker. “Much of the tax code is vague, and qualification will depend on how materials purchases were accounted for and assigned to specific projects,” explained Parker. “Qualification is often based on subjective decisions by IRS examiners”, noted fellow “Financial Side Panel” member Craig Huntley, Principal at Solect Energy, a major Massachusetts-based solar developer.

Parker went on to explain that as 1603 grants expire and solar projects begin to get larger, financing will become more complicated. Where smaller projects were often financed by individuals and S Corporations with passive income that could take advantage of tax credits, it will become a challenge to find investors with enough of a tax appetite to invest in larger projects. Project and partner structuring to take advantage of tax incentives will become increasingly important, noted Parker.

“Commercial lenders are becoming more comfortable evaluating solar projects as reasonable risks, but as projects get bigger they become more complicated as the number of products and participants grows,” noted David Costello, Senior VP – Commercial Lending at Commerce Bank & Trust Company. “Banks will demand full disclosure on all parties involved in a project,” said Costello.

Panel moderator, Vincent Devito, Partner at law firm Bowditch & Dewey, explained that the solar industry in Massachusetts remains vibrant, but the industry will continue to rely on state and federal subsidies to attract investors. “These subsidies provide accelerated payback that can be as short as three years,” said Devito.

Summit keynote speaker, Ann Berwick, Chair – MA Department of Public Utilities, pegged present installed solar power capacity at 110 MW, citing state goals to bring capacity to 250 MW by 2017 and 400 MW by 2020.

About Rodman & Rodman P.C.

Founded in 1961 and listed in the Boston Business Journal’s “Top 50 Firms”, Rodman & Rodman, P.C. provides accounting, tax and business services to small and medium-sized companies. 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 Rodman & Rodman Green Team is a specialized green energy and clean technology accounting and tax services practice within Rodman & Rodman, P.C. that serves “green” clients throughout the U.S. The company is Green Business Certified and in 2010 and 2011 was named one of the “Best Accounting Firms to Work For” in Accounting Today.

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.

Rodman & Rodman, P.C. are located at 3 Newton Executive Park in Newton and 25 Braintree Hill Office Park in Braintree, MA. For more information, email info@rodmancpa.com, visit their website at www.rodmancpa.com or contact (617) 965-5959.

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Old Colony Elder Services Announces Lower Sodium Workshop on July 12th

Old Colony Elder Services (OCES), the Brockton based regional elder services agency serving seniors, individuals with disabilities and caregivers throughout greater Brockton and Plymouth County, is offering a Sodium and Its Effect on Blood Pressure workshop on Thursday, July 12, 2012 at the Plymouth Council on Aging (COA), 10 Cordage Park Circle, Suite #108 in Plymouth.

This free workshop will be held from 10:30 to 11:30 am at the Plymouth COA.

Sodium and Its Effect on Blood Pressure workshops teach individuals:

· About sodium and its effects on blood pressure.

· About high blood pressure, what it is and its causes.

· Which food sources are high in sodium.

· How to understand food labels.

· 20 ways to lower sodium in their diet.

“We held a Sodium and Its Effect on Blood Pressure workshop at the East Bridgewater COA in June and it was very well attended. This is one of our most popular workshops,” noted Donna Forand at OCES.

To learn more about the program, contact Donna Forand at OCES (508) 584-1561. To RSVP for the program, contact the Plymouth COA at (508) 830-4230.

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.

Old Colony Elder Services Announces Lower Sodium Workshop on July 12thRead More

Operating at full capacity. 2012 Franchise Operations Performance Summit (OPS), to be held July 18-19 in Denver, CO, sells out.

Evan Hackel
Evan Hackel of Ingage Consulting will be a featured speaker at Franchise OPS, July 18 & 19 at the Westin Hotel in Denver, CO

DENVER, COLORADO…

The Franchise Operations Performance Summit (OPS), the only franchise executive conference dedicated to performance operations excellence, recently announced the July 18-19 event was a sellout.

“Clearly we’re thrilled with the response to this year’s Franchise OPS in Denver. One of the thoughts in putting together this year’s OPS and the one we held last year in Atlanta is that there is very little out there in terms of conferences for franchise operations executives. The sellout of this session bears that out ,” said Evan Hackel, founder of Ingage Consulting, one of the event’s sponsors. “Fortunately for those who weren’t able to attend this session, we’re planning another session with updated operations material for later in the year.”

To be held at the Westin Hotel in downtown Denver, Franchise OPS includes two days of workshops conducted by a number of franchise operations experts. In addition to Hackel, those franchise operations experts 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.

“The strength of OPS is our roster of speakers. It includes some of the preeminent authorities on franchise operations in the country,” said Hackel. “In addition, we’re going to be covering material that’s critical to franchise operations and attendees will leave with an actual action plan they can begin to implement from Day One of their return to their franchise.”

A sampling of the workshops being held at Franchise OPS includes:

  • 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

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.

Franchise OPS is 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.

 

 

Operating at full capacity. 2012 Franchise Operations Performance Summit (OPS), to be held July 18-19 in Denver, CO, sells out.Read More

Citizen groups joins Union at rally calling on Governor Patrick to ask NRC to close Pilgrim Nuclear during union lock-out

BOSTON AND PLYMOUTH, MA –

Today a statewide coalition of public health, nuclear safety, social justice, and environmental groups joined members of the Utility Workers of America Union Local 369 in a rally at the State House requesting Governor Deval Patrick requesting to ask the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to close the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station because the plant’s owner has locked out its regular workforce from the Union. A letter making a similar request was delivered to the Governor on Friday, June 22, http://www.capecodbaywatch.org/2012/06/supplement-to-2-206-enforcement-petition-regarding-labor-dispute-at-pilgrim/.

“It is unreasonable in this current economic climate for a company like Entergy to continue to demand give backs in the wake of record profits.  The CEO is not being asked for a cut in benefits, why should these workers? Instead he is risking the well being of the entire community by having replacement workers do the job of the experienced people that earned him those profits,” said Jennifer Doe, Organizer, Massachusetts Jobs with Justice.

Entergy Nuclear Generating Corporation of Louisiana, owner of Pilgrim nuclear, locked out the union work force on June 5, and has been using replacement workers. The groups say the replacement workers lack the necessary training and expertise to run Pilgrim safely.

When the labor dispute began in mid-May, local groups Pilgrim Watch and Jones River Watershed Association filed a legal petition asking the NRC to close Pilgrim until the regular workforce is back on the job. Pilgrim Watch has filed five supplemental requests based on new facts and events they say show Entergy is violating its NRC operating license. The groups say Entergy is not providing reasonable protection for the public’s health and safety. This includes cancelling an emergency response and safety drill on June 13 because the replacement workers are not trained in security or general emergency response procedures, and on June 20, failing to complete an emergency response drill.

On June 20, 2012, Local 369 voted by a two-thirds margin to reject Entergy’s latest contract offer, and the groups say Entergy’s failure to reach an agreement with the union jeopardizes the safety of the region.

The groups asking the Governor to take action are Pilgrim Watch, Jones River Watershed Association, Massachusetts Jobs With Justice, Clean Water Action, Cape Codders for Peace and Justice, Pilgrim: Make Us Safe Today, Cape Downwinders, and Toxics Action Center Campaigns, Suffolk University Center for Women’s Health and Human Rights, Union of Minority Neighborhoods, New England Jewish Labor Committee, LaCommunidad of Everett, and Environmental Massachusetts.

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Local groups call on state and federal agencies to require Entergy to stop Cape Cod Bay pollution at Pilgrim

PLYMOUTH, MA

Jones River Watershed Association (JRWA) and Pilgrim Watch (PW) today renewed their request for government agencies to address issues relating to Entergy-Louisiana’s destruction and pollution of Cape Cod Bay from its operations at the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station in Plymouth.  Pilgrim takes in and heats 510 million gallons a day of sea water to make steam for its electric turbines and cool the reactor. This process kills plankton, fish and other sea life.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Pilgrim’s operations have created a four-square mile thermal plume of pollution in Cape Cod Bay. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and Entergy data shows that in the past 40 years, Pilgrim has used an amount of water equivalent to the entire volume of Cape Cod Bay for its cooling water system.  On June 15, 2012, the two groups delivered a letter to the state office of Energy and Envrionmental Affairs asking the office to revoke its 2006 approval for Energy’s relicensing under the Coastal Zone Management Act,  http://www.capecodbaywatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/06.15.12-JRWA-to-CZM-reconsider-final-1-1.pdf.

“It is clear that the state has authority to stop the destruction of Cape Cod Bay from Entergy’s pollution.  The state Supreme Judicial Court in 2011 ruled that the harmful environmental impact of cooling water intake systems like Entergy’s is “staggering.”  Yet, the state agencies are standing by and letting this destruction continue,” said Pine duBois, executive director of JRWA.

On June 18, 2012, the NRC’s Atomic Safety Licensing Board issued an order saying that the NRC staff apparently violated its own rules under the Endangered Species Act for the Roseate Tern. The three judge panel said, “There is no evidence that the FEIS (final environmental impact statement) was ever submitted” to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (US FWS) as required by the ESA regulations.  The judges said that the information presented by JRWA and PW presents “extensive additional information and considerations” that may warrant future attention by the NRC staff.”

JRWA and PW on June 28, 2012 sent a letter to US FWS asking for a reevaluation of the impacts of Pilgrim relicensing on the endangered tern and its main food supply, the sand lance, which is regularly killed by Pilgrim’s cooling water system, http://www.capecodbaywatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/ESA-Tern-Reinitiate-1.pdf.

On June 28, 2012, the groups also asked the National Marine Fisheries Service to reinitiate Endangered Species Act consultation for whales, sea turtles, and sturgeon, claiming that the agency’s May 17, 2012 decision that the relicensing is “not likely to adversely affect” the endangered species or their habitat was arbitary, capricious, an abuse of discretion, or not otherwise in accordance with law, http://www.capecodbaywatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/06.28.12-Final-NMFS-Req-Reinitiate-1.pdf.

“There are many concerns about the future impacts of Pilgrim’s relicensing that still have not been answered, and the NRC should not have issued a new operating license until these were resolved,” said Lampert. “We will continue to press the state and federal agencies to do their jobs or protecting the public health, safety and the environment.”

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Wood Products Division Launched at Emerson Bearing Boston

Lee Holt

From logs to finished cabinetry, Emerson Bearing Boston caters to the forestry and wood manufacturing/processing industries through their new Wood Products Division.

Emerson Bearing Boston, a leading bearing distributor/dealer catering to OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturers) and MRO (Maintenance, Repair and Operations) markets around the world, has recently established a Wood Products Division, which will be overseen by Lee Holt, Marketing Specialist. With more than four decades of experience in the bearings industry, Mr. Holt will advise clients of bearing technologies that are most suitable, by taking into consideration the specifications, recommendations, maintenance strategies, fatigue life and wear resistance of the bearing in relation to the application.

The forestry and wood processing industry spans a variety of bearing requirements. At the logging level, heavy duty mounted units and roller chain are essential as the logs are delimbed and rough processed at the sawmill. The finishing phases requires saws, planers and finishing equipment that use high speed spindles that work under great stress while maintaining critical tolerances.

Emerson Bearing Boston offers the most comprehensive selection of bearings and related products for these industries including Ball Bearings, Roller Bearings, Super Precision Bearings, Mounted Units, Linear Motion, Oil Seals and Spherical Bushings. They also offer special solutions of Radial ball bearings with the P53 designation. The Abec 5 precision accommodates high speeds and controlled runout while the C3 internal clearance allows for the stress and heat buildup of high radial loads.

For more information, contact Lee Holt, Marketing Specialist at 866-995-8763 or visit the website www.EmersonBearing.com.

The Emerson Bearing Difference

In a proud tradition, the same families that started the company in 1957 keep Emerson Bearing rolling by specializing in bearings for OEM and MRO markets throughout the world. Emerson Bearing’s highly knowledgeable staff housed in their 23,000 square foot facility provide bearings ranging in size from 3mm to tunnel-boring 15-foot-diameter giants.

Emerson Bearing provides solutions to a variety of industries including: aggregate, concrete, mining, machine tools, electric motor repair, marine, material handling, metal processing, packaging, food processing, paper converting, printing, wind/power generation, recreation, heavy construction, robotics, automation, transportation, wood products, wastewater treatment, pump, compressor and oil field.

Emerson Bearing offers customers a one-stop shopping experience. With an online product catalog with over 3 million bearings; a vast inventory of bearings; worldwide sourcing; a fixed price program; a knowledgeable staff dedicated to delivering; same day shipping and 24/7 service, Emerson Bearing has become the leading provider of bearings to OEM and MRO markets in the U.S. and is the sister company of Action Bearing. Emerson Bearing maintains headquarters at 201 Brighton Ave. Boston, MA. For more information, contact 617-782-1400 or toll free, 800-225-4587, email info@emersonbearing.com or visit www.emersonbearing.com.

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Local RE market ‘builds’ momentum. Stonebridge Homes begins construction of 17th home in Maplewood Estates in Rockland, MA

ROCKLAND AND SOUTH EASTON, MASSACHUSETTS

Stonebridge Homes, Inc., local home builder and developer, announced the start of construction for the 17th home built in Maplewood Estates, a single home community located off Webster Street in Rockland, Massachusetts.

“We’re quite pleased to start another home in the Maplewood Estates development,” said Rami Itani, business manager for Stonebridge Homes. “The response from the current residents has been quite favorable and I’m sure that’s piqued interest in other buyers considering moving to Rockland.”

Maplewood Estates is set on 30 acres of natural wooded land and is located in the town of Rockland, Massachusetts. All of these beautiful homes offer many amenities and options to satisfy the savvy buyer looking to build a new home that comes with quality construction, quality living, and quality investment. Prices start at $348,000 and the size of homes range from just under 1700-square feet (the three-bed, Newbury) to the Gloucester (2740-square-feet and four bedrooms).

Maplewood Estates is zoned for 72 homes. The complete list of models available includes:

  • The Arlington (1704 square feet)
  • The Arlington II (2064 square feet and four bedrooms)
  • The Berkeley (1826 square feet)
  • The Clarendon (1812 square feet with first floor master bedroom)
  • The Dartmouth (2177 square feet)
  • The Exeter (2372 square feet)
  • The Fairfield (2382 square feet)
  • The Gloucester (2740 square feet)
  • The Redwood (2054 square feet with first floor master bedroom)
  • The Newbury (1674 square feet)

Model homes at Maplewood Estates are open daily for tours by appointment. Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in Norwell is the official realtor for Maplewood Estates. You can schedule a tour or request more information by contacting:

Interested parties can also get more information, including plans, by visiting www.newhomesatmaplewood.com.

About Stonebridge Homes, Inc.:

For more than 20 years, Stonebridge Homes and its team, now based in South Easton, Massachusetts, have built many residential communities throughout the northeastern United States. More recently, Stonebridge has been focusing on building in towns of southeastern Massachusetts, including Abington, Easton, Raynham, Taunton, Franklin, West Bridgewater, Pembroke, Rockland, Whitman and Norwell. The styles of these communities have varied from imaginative condominiums to custom single‐family homes designed by its award‐winning in‐house architect, whose specialty is customizing dream homes for individuals, couples and families. Each development is built with the same commitment for quality and satisfaction.

Open house hours for Maplewood Estates are Thursday 4:00 to 6:00pm, Saturday 12:00 to 3:00pm, and Sunday 12:00 to 3:00pm. For more information visit www.newhomesatmaplewood.com, or call 508.230.2300.

Local RE market ‘builds’ momentum. Stonebridge Homes begins construction of 17th home in Maplewood Estates in Rockland, MARead More