Unleash the Power of The Press

Newsroom

Woof! Pet Adoption Day — Quincy Animal Shelter, Polkadog and TLC Supply Host Pet Adoption Event

Quincy Animal Shelter and TLC Supply invite the public to Pet Adoption Day on Saturday, June 13, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The event will take place at the TLC Supply showroom and superstore, 48 Arnold Street, Braintree, MA. The family-friendly event will  feature adoptable animals from Quincy Animal Shelter, special treats from Polkadog Bakery, and friendly staff on hand to help families find their new companion.

Event details

Come and meet adoptable dogs and cats from Quincy Animal Shelter. Adoption counseling and on-site support will be available.

About Quincy Animal Shelter

Quincy Animal Shelter cares for and rehomes dogs and cats from the Quincy area and surrounding communities. The Shelter is located at  99 Quarry Street, Quincy, MA 02169 or can be found online at www.quincyanimalshelter.org for adoption requirements, hours, and available animals.

About Polkadog

Polkadog was founded in 2002 to make treats for a beloved, one-eyed rescue dog, Pearl. She was a part of the family and the family wanted her to have the best treats possible. That meant finding the finest ingredients around and adding a little bit of love into every bite. You feel the same way about your pets, so we still make every treat like we did back then: for family. Polkadog packages all of their treats at our Boston Fish Pier kitchen. The company works with local artists to develop our packaging. Local stores include Cranston, Canton, Chestnut Hill, Dedham, Hingham, Lynnfield, Jamacia Plain, Newbury Street, North End, Seaport, and the  South End.

ABOUT TLC Supply

TLC Supply is a family-owned hardscape and masonry supplier serving Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Southern New Hampshire. TLC offers industry-leading brands and products including pavers, retaining walls, natural stone, masonry materials, bagged cements, repair mortars, chimney products, sealers, aggregates, and sand. With custom fabrication services and a full fleet of delivery trucks, TLC Supply provides fast, reliable service from their Braintree location.

For more information about the event, contact TLC Supply, 48 Arnold Street, Braintree, MA, visit www.tlcsupply.com or call 617-773-0055.

Sensory-Friendly Open House and Summer Carnival on May 28th at BCI’s new Sturbridge Learning Center

STURBRIDGE, MA… Behavioral Concepts (BCI), a provider of LEARN Behavioral, will hold a sensory-friendly Open House and Summer Carnival at their new Sturbridge Learning Center, 179 Main Street, Suite 2, Sturbridge, MA 01566. 

BCI is celebrating the arrival of summer with an Open House and Summer Carnival event for the whole family on May 28, 2026, from 4:30 – 6:30 p.m. Children will have the opportunity to participate in sensory-friendly carnival-themed activities, face painting with Creative Chica, and more!

This event is free and open to the public.

BCI provides contemporary applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy for children with autism and Down syndrome. Serving children ages 1-12 years, the Sturbridge Learning Center provides center-based ABA therapy, parent education, diagnostics, Early Intervention, and Social Skills Programs. Outside of the center, the Sturbridge team offers in-home ABA therapy.

The Sturbridge Learning Center offers after-school treatment hours to accommodate busy family schedules. There is no waitlist. The center is conveniently located near Old Sturbridge Village, I-84, and US-20, and easily accessible for families in the region.

For more information or to enroll a child at the Sturbridge Learning Center, call 508-363-0200 or visit https://bciaba.com/locations/sturbridge

About BCI

BCI, part of the LEARN Behavioral network, is one of the nation’s leading providers of compassionate autism care. For more than 20 years, BCI has been delivering evidence-based services, helping children with autism find success and reach their unique potential.

About LEARN Behavioral

LEARN Behavioral is a national leader in autism treatment, offering comprehensive diagnostic services and contemporary applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). With a nationwide network of ABA providers and more than 100 Learning Centers across the country, LEARN delivers the highest standard of evidence-based care—customized to meet the unique needs and interests of each child and family. For more information, visit learnbehavioral.com.

Priorities ABA Celebrates 25th Anniversary

CARY, FAYETTEVILLE, AND JACKSONVILLE, NC… Priorities ABA, North Carolina’s premiere contemporary applied behavior analysis (ABA) provider of center-based, in-home, and school-based autism services for children, celebrates its 25th anniversary this year.

“We’re thrilled to celebrate our 25th anniversary of helping children and families grow, learn, and thrive,” said Emily Cogdell, LPA, LBA, BCBA, Regional Clinical Director.

Priorities ABA, a provider of LEARN Behavioral, is proud to announce its 25-year milestone. The organization is celebrating in a unique way by holding themed activities for children and families at their Cary, Fayetteville, and Jacksonville Learning Centers each month throughout the year. For example, in April, Priorities ABA celebrated Earth Day with a fun Scavenger Hunt at each of their Learning Centers. 

“Families are excited about all the different themed activities, and the children particularly enjoy the themed activities where they may wear costumes or dress up for the day,” noted Cogdell.

In addition to themed activities for children and families, Priorities ABA staff is celebrating the 25th anniversary by giving back through monthly employee outreach initiatives that support various local community nonprofit organizations. Each month, staff hold a different drive to support the community – from a clothing drive, to a book drive to promote reading awareness, to a food drive for Second Harvest Food Bank in Fayetteville.

Growing & Expanding Services

Priorities ABA was founded in 2001 and primarily served the Greenville area. As one of the earliest team members, Cogdell began working with Priorities ABA in 2004, delivering one-on-one ABA therapy to children on the autism spectrum. 

“In the beginning, Priorities ABA had a team of four Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs), and services provided to children were limited to home-based,” Cogdell explained. “This meant that the BCBAs were only able to provide ABA therapy to children a couple of times per week.”

“Fast forward 25 years, Priorities ABA has branched out and is able to help many more families as we’re able to provide services where the children are – whether that’s at one of our Learning Centers, or at home or school,” explained Cogdell, whose team currently works in home, community, and school settings, tailoring ABA programs around the strengths and weaknesses of children with autism. 

Priorities ABA is committed to focusing on each child’s unique needs, providing personalized, child-centered care to help them succeed, while also supporting the family.

Priorities ABA provides in-home, center-based, and school-based ABA services at three state-of-the-art Learning Centers located in Cary, Fayetteville, and Jacksonville, NC. In addition to a team of 13 BCBAs, Priorities ABA now employs more than 100 Behavior Technicians (BTs) who provide ABA services to children and families each day.

Cogdell continued, “Many of our BCBAs have been with us for 7 to 15 years. This longevity speaks to the culture we have created. What we do and how we do it is important – we believe in both.”

About Priorities ABA

Priorities ABA, part of the LEARN Behavioral network, is one of the nation’s leading providers of compassionate autism care. Now celebrating 25 years, Priorities ABA has been delivering evidence-based services, helping children and adolescents with autism find success and reach their unique potential.

Priorities ABA has locations in Cary, Fayetteville, and Jacksonville, NC. For more information or to enroll a child, call (252) 341-4192 or visit prioritiesaba.com

About LEARN Behavioral

LEARN Behavioral is a national leader in autism treatment, offering comprehensive diagnostic services and contemporary applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy for children with autism spectrum disorder. With a nationwide network of ABA providers and more than 100 Learning Centers across the country, LEARN delivers the highest standard of research-based care—customized to meet the unique needs and interests of each child and family. For more information, visit learnbehavioral.com

SPARKS ABA Learning Center Now Open in Woodbridge, VA

No Waitlist and Expanded Year-Round Services for Prince William County Area Families

WOODBRIDGE, VA… SPARKS ABA, a provider of LEARN Behavioral, has recently opened the doors of its new Learning Center at 14059 Crown Court, Woodbridge, VA 22193. 

SPARKS ABA is Virginia’s premiere contemporary applied behavior analysis (ABA) provider of center-based autism services for children and adolescents ages 2-15 years. The Woodbridge Learning Center provides center-based ABA therapy, diagnostic services, speech, and occupational therapy. Saturday Social Skills groups are also offered. Outside of the Learning Center, the Woodbridge team offers in-home and community-based ABA therapy.

“We are thrilled to open our doors and bring compassionate, contemporary ABA therapy for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) to families in Woodbridge and the surrounding areas,” said Merlyn Nair, Center Director. “Through highly personalized support, we aim to empower each child and adolescent to gain independence to succeed in school and life and reach their highest potential.” 

Key Features of the Woodbridge Learning Center:

– ABA therapy, which includes a learning-rich environment, unique play-based learning spaces, and one-on-one support.

– Experienced clinical team and a family partnership approach.

– Diagnostic services and speech and occupational therapy provided on-site.

– No waitlist and flexible treatment hours – including part-day schedules and evening hours – to accommodate busy family schedules.

– Serving children 2-15 years old with personalized therapy plans.

– Conveniently located near I-95. Just 35 minutes away from Washington D.C. and easily accessible via public transportation for families in the region.

About SPARKS ABA

SPARKS ABA, part of LEARN Behavioral, a national leader in compassionate autism treatment, has been a leading provider of evidence-based autism services for 15 years. SPARKS ABA is dedicated to personalized, high-quality ABA therapy. In addition to the Woodbridge location, SPARKS ABA has Learning Centers in Fairfax, Manassas, and Springfield, VA, and Landover and Waldorf, MD.

The Woodbridge Learning Center is now enrolling new clients in Dale City, Dumfries, Fredericksburg, Lake Ridge, Montclair, Occoquan, Triangle, Woodbridge, and surrounding areas with no waitlist and flexible treatment hours.

For more information or to enroll a child, call (571) 229-5300 or visit https://www.sparksaba.com

About LEARN Behavioral

LEARN Behavioral is a national leader in autism treatment, offering comprehensive diagnostic services and contemporary applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). With a nationwide network of ABA providers and more than 100 Learning Centers across the country, LEARN delivers the highest standard of evidence-based care—customized to meet the unique needs and interests of each child and family. For more information, visit learnbehavioral.com.

Autism Learning Center Opens New Location in Chicago, IL. Total Spectrum Relocates to South Wabash Ave.

CHICAGO, IL… Total Spectrum, a provider of LEARN Behavioral, has relocated its Learning Center from the campus of National Louis University (NLU) to 228 South Wabash Avenue, Suite 1000, in Chicago, IL.

Total Spectrum is Illinois’ premiere contemporary applied behavior analysis (ABA) provider of center-based autism services for daytime, after-school, and weekend hours for children and young adults ages 2-16 years.

Total Spectrum relocated to South Wabash Avenue after having outgrown its three classrooms at its Learning Center on the NLU campus. The new, expansive location is 4600 sq. ft. and will support current client families and help Total Spectrum meet the growing demand for ABA services. 

Special Partnership with NLU

The Learning Center on South Wabash Avenue will also continue to support Total Spectrum’s Accelerate U Partnership with NLU, which gives NLU students the opportunity to earn their Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) certification and work with Total Spectrum. The partnership has three cohorts of 10–15 students per year. 

“We are excited to continue to serve families in the Greater Chicago area at our larger South Wabash Avenue location,” said Blair Monfre, MS, BCBA, Regional Clinical Director. “We value being a part of the community and look forward to helping find success for every child in our care.” 

Key Features of the new Chicago Learning Center on South Wabash Avenue:

  • Large facility, which includes a gross motor room for physical and social development.
  • ABA therapy, which includes a learning-rich environment, unique play-based learning spaces, and one-on-one support.
  • No waitlist, after-school sessions, and Saturday treatment hours to accommodate busy family schedules.
  • Serving children ages 2-16 years with personalized therapy plans.
  • Easily accessible via public transportation for families in the region.

Total Spectrum Chicago accepts most private insurance in addition to Medicaid. The center is now enrolling clients with no waitlist and scheduling based on each family’s unique needs. 

Access to Exceptional Care

Dedicated to providing access for all and delivering exceptional care, the Total Spectrum Learning Center is part of the LEARN Behavioral network, one of the nation’s leading providers of contemporary ABA therapy. Total Spectrum has been delivering evidence-based services for more than 10 years, helping children and young adults with autism find success and reach their unique potential.

Total Spectrum has five Learning Centers in northern Illinois: Arlington Heights, Aurora, and Lombard, and two locations in Chicago: on Elston Avenue in the northwest area of Chicago, and their newest location on South Wabash Avenue.

For more information or to enroll a child at one of the Chicago Learning Centers, contact 844-263-1613 or visit https://totalspectrumcare.com/locations/chicago

About LEARN Behavioral

LEARN Behavioral is a national leader in autism treatment, offering comprehensive diagnostic services and contemporary applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). With a nationwide network of ABA providers and more than 100 Learning Centers across the country, LEARN delivers the highest standard of evidence-based care—customized to meet the unique needs and interests of each child and family. For more information, visit learnbehavioral.com.

Would you let your daughter drive this car?

Massachusetts Auto Body Association urges consumers to ask 10 critical questions before choosing a repair shop

photo of a teenage girl behind the wheel of a car

“Would you let your daughter drive this car?”

The question was posed at a hearing of insurance executives discussing modern collision repair practices. The response: silence.

For the Massachusetts Auto Body Association (MABA), that silence highlights a growing concern for consumers—whether their vehicle is truly safe after a collision repair.

“Today’s vehicles are more complex than ever. Advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), cameras, sensors, and specialized materials mean that even minor accidents require precise, manufacturer-approved repairs,” said Evangelos “Lucky” Papageorg, executive director of MABA. “When those repairs are done correctly, vehicles are restored to their intended safety performance. When they’re not, the consequences may not be visible—until the next accident. It may even be the cause of the next accident.”

Added Brian Bernard, an MABA member and owner of Total Care Accident Repair in Raynham, MA, “A vehicle can look perfectly repaired on the surface but if critical steps are skipped—like calibrating safety systems—it may not protect you the way it was designed to.”

MABA leaders say many consumers don’t realize they have a choice in where and how their vehicle is repaired. In many cases, drivers follow insurance company recommendations without understanding how those relationships may influence repair decisions.

“Consumers have the right to choose their repair shop,” said Matthew Ciaschini, president of MABA’s board of directors. “It independently for you—or operating within the limits of an insurance company referral program.”

According to MABA, the issue is not what repair shops charge. It’s what insurance companies are willing to reimburse. When reimbursement falls short of the true cost of modern repairs, some shops may feel pressure to cut corners, skip procedures, or substitute parts to meet insurer pricing.

That can leave consumers with a vehicle that appears fine but may not perform safely in a future collision.

MABA has seen cases where repairs were incomplete, safety steps missed, or vehicle values inaccurately assessed. This left consumers with either unexpected costs,  compromised safety, or both.

To help drivers protect themselves, MABA is encouraging consumers to ask the right questions before authorizing any body shop repair.

10 Questions Every Consumer Should Ask Before Choosing an Auto Body Shop

  1. Will you repair my vehicle according to OEM (manufacturer) procedures—even if insurance doesn’t fully cover it?
  2. Are you an independent shop, or do you have a direct repair relationship with an insurance company?
  3. Do you have OEM certifications or I-CAR Gold Class status?
  4. Will you use OEM parts, aftermarket parts, or recycled parts—and why?
  5. Do you perform required calibrations for safety systems like ADAS (cameras, sensors, braking)?
  6. Will you provide a detailed written repair plan and explain it to me?
  7. Do you have the proper equipment to repair today’s advanced materials (aluminum, high-strength steel, EVs)?
  8. Will you provide a written warranty on your repairs—and what does it cover?
  9. What happens if additional damage is found during the repair?
  10. Will you review the completed repairs with me before I take the vehicle home?

“Too often, consumers feel they have little control in the repair process,” Papageorg added. “But asking these questions puts that control back where it belongs—with the vehicle owner.”

MABA also encourages drivers to identify a trusted repair shop before they ever need one, so they are not making a rushed decision after an accident.

“As vehicles become more advanced, the margin for error gets smaller,” Ciaschini said. “Choosing the right repair shop isn’t about cost or convenience—it’s about safety. Honestly, consumers should find a trusted repair shop today and put them on their phone’s speed dial TODAY!”

“Safe repairs are not optional,” Papageorg said. “They’re essential.”

About the Massachusetts Auto Body Association (MABA)

The Massachusetts Auto Body Association (MABA) represents independent auto body repair facilities across the Commonwealth. MABA advocates for consumer safety, fair insurance practices, and a well-trained automotive repair workforce. For more information, visit https://massautobody.org.