中華頤養院慶三十週年 迎兩名新董事 表揚優秀員工

中華頤養院康復中心五月十九日晚在昆市龍鳳酒樓舉行年會，慶祝成立三十週年，歡迎兩名新董事，頒發獎學金，丁大文領導獎，另以服務獎表揚廿六名服務滿五年到廿五年不等的員工。

            昆士市長柯奇（Tom Koch）也特地親自出席致賀，坦言當天是他結婚廿五週年紀念的大日子，但服務成績之佳，社區有目共睹的中華頤養院慶祝成立三十週年，他當然還是要出席恭喜。

            甫獲美國總統奧巴馬延攬入亞美顧問委員會的保羅渡邊（Paul Watanabe）也應邀出席致賀。

            中華頤養院董事長雷偉志，執行長陳逢想，院長陳力，董事會監管委員會陳秀英當晚分別做報告，盛讚該院員工盡心盡力，感謝社區熱心人士大方支持。

            雷偉志表示，2014年是該院的里程碑，最顯然易見的成就是該院位於昆市華盛頓街288號，佔地約八萬七千平方呎的嶄新院址竣工，不但地方寬敞，還設計美觀，房間床位增加至141，容許該院為更多院民服務。

            比較不那麼顯而易見的成就是該院擴大了服務項目，不但有短期及長期的護理，醫療服務，還增加了復健部門，提供物理治療，職業治療，語言治療，無論是因為生病或意外而住院，需要有人廿四小時持續照顧的人，都可以在該院獲得所需要的護理服務。

            陳秀英介紹該院新添兩名新董事，Sherin及Lodgen律師樓合夥人陳奕文（Edward S. Cheng），花崗岩(Granite)公司員工關係主任梅綺華（Lisa L. Mui），指新血加入，將為該院的永續經營帶來更多活力。

            中華頤養院董事會副主席陳余美貞當晚頒發史立德（Schlichte）學習中心/中華頤養院護理設備基金會獎學金給持牌護士謝呈環，醫院助理林玉燕。丁大文頒發丁大文/穆加（Mugar）傑出領導獎給已在該院工作了廿八年的護士Marylou Falletti。

            中華頤養院院長陳力本人在該院服務已逾廿年。她指出，該院員工品質好，態度佳，能力強，流動率低是該院經營三十年來一直備受好評的主要原因之一。當晚獲服務獎的廿六名員工中，有三人服務滿廿五年，四人滿廿年，五人滿十五年，滿十年及五年的也各有七人。

買下中華頤養院位於南端舊址的波士頓華人佈道會，當晚有牧師陳卓明出席。他在會議結束前應邀致詞時透露，該會已從波士頓市政府那兒取得中華頤養院舊址入住權，日前為賑濟遠方需要，第一次舉辦活動。

中華頤養院的董事成員，包括主席雷偉志，副主席陳余美貞，財政陳遇均，書記Hemmie Chang，以及董事梅綺華，陳奕文，Stanley D. Elkerton，Leonard S. Lai，陳秀英，丁大衛，屈振生，羅旭， Alice Rose。

圖片說明：

            中華頤養院董事長雷偉志（左起），董事陳秀英歡迎兩名新董事，梅綺華，陳奕文。（菊子攝）

            中華頤養院副主席陳余美貞（左起）頒獎學金給林玉燕。Marylou Falletti從董事丁大文那兒獲頒領導獎。右一為董事Alice Rose。（菊子攝）

            中華頤養院創辦人之一的陳毓璇（中）對該院新一代員工阮奕雲（右），康復中心護室主管林黎輝（左）等人都一樣親切有加。（菊子攝）。

昆市亞協服務中心表揚羅文燦 發獎學金給十二名高中生

亞協服務中心發獎學金鼓勵十二名高中畢業生。（圖由亞協服務中心提供）

(Boston Orange 周菊子昆士市報導) 亞協服務中心（QARI）日前在昆市龍鳳酒樓舉行第八屆社區宴，頒發獎項，表揚對社區，該中心有貢獻者，並介紹青少年計劃，以“投資我們的未來領袖”為主題，訂明金額級別的現場募款。

 麻州參議員柯南（John Keenan）（左）頒發遠見者獎給羅文燦牧師（右）。（周菊子攝）

亞協服務中心主席Abby Hieu Nguyen-Burke指出，該中心舉辦社區宴，主要是為籌款辦理青少年服務項目。八年下來，幾乎每年都有375名青少年參加該中心舉辦的領導力培訓，社區服務，以及為新近移民來美上高中，初中學子提供輔導的服務。今年，大約有三百名青少年志工，為社區提供了一萬小時的服務。

Abby Hieu Nguyen-Burke表示，在社區大方支持下，他們已發出共三萬八千元的獎學金給高中畢業生。

QARI透露，今年獲發每人一千元獎學金的高中畢業生人數破紀錄，達到十二名之多。

JP富士集團負責人梁戰士（左）在劍橋市也開有至少一家餐廳，和劍橋市議員張禮能
（右）經常交流。（周菊子攝

在社區宴上，亞協服務中心還頒發獎項，表揚有貢獻者，包括頒發遠見者獎給羅文燦牧師，李振儀無名英雄獎給Rich Kerr，社區夥伴獎給塔芙茨醫療中心。

當晚獲頒遠見者獎的羅文燦牧師，在昆市是名人，亞協服務中心當年籌備成立時，他也是積極參與討論，熱心提供意見人士之一。他在路德會及亞美社會服務協會為昆市社區民眾服務已數十年。

諾福克郡（Norfolk）治安官貝羅提（Michael Bellotti ）（中）主持現場募款活動。
（周菊子攝)

亞協服務中心當晚請諾福克郡（Norfolk）治安官貝羅提（Michael Bellotti ）主持現場募款活動。塔醫執行長萬格納（Michael Wagner），華人醫務中心執行長衛優俊（Eugene Welch），以及營運長Eric Tiberi 等人，各捐了一千元。

曾任亞協服務中心董事的鄒毅透露，該中心今年將擴大辦理鼓勵亞裔登記為選民，並出席投票的活動。

會上還舉辦了彩券抽獎活動，獎品是由梁戰士所經營的JP 富士（Fuji）集團捐出的嶄新頻果電腦一部，以及四張包括芬衛球場免費停車證的紅襪隊門票，金神賭場的酒店及餐飲套票兩張等。

當晚出席的嘉賓包括麻州參議員柯南(John Keenan) ，麻州眾議員陳德基，劍橋市市議員張禮能，昆士市長助理邱潔芳等人。

華康家護中心六月辦平衡計畫 助耆英防止跌倒

塔芙茨醫療中心和華康加護中心（Multicultural Home Care）合作，將於六月八日起的每週一至五的早上十點，在塔醫的中庭6002室，為說廣東話耆英舉辦“平衡計畫”系列講座，協助老人家預防跌倒。

該活動以波士頓市為根據地，講座名稱為“平衡這事：處理關於跌倒的憂慮（A Matter of Balance: Managing Concerns About Falls）”，旨在減少年長者對跌倒的恐懼，並幫助他們增加活動程度。

參加者將可學到如何設定增加活動量的切實目標，改變周遭環境來減少跌倒的風險，並學習一些增加體力及平衡能力的簡單運動，包括預防跌倒，增加日常活動，改變居家安全，通過運動來增加“體力“平衡力“等。

凡是擔心自己會跌倒的人，想增加體力，平衡力與身體柔韌性的人，曾經跌倒數次的人，因害怕跌倒而限制自己活動的人等，都適合參加這一講座。。

            華康加護中心將為參加活動者提供講座手冊，點心。

            講座將於塔醫中心位於華盛頓街800 號的大樓中庭舉行，從六月八日起至六月十八日，每週一至五的早上十點至中午十二點舉行。每班限八到十二人參加。查詢可洽梅小姐，617-479-8880。

BCEC籌款三萬三千元 賑濟尼泊爾震災，防治西非艾波拉

波士頓華人佈道會（BCEC）自從買下中華頤養院舊址後，日前首度使用，和世界宣明會（World Vision）合作，舉辦“波士頓希望”活動，整理，包裝“照顧者套件（caregiver kit）”，將運送到西非及中南亞的尼泊爾去。

波士頓華人佈道會表示，在西非爆發艾波拉（Ebola）病症，尼泊爾出現七點八級地震等事故時，該會循例展開行動，除了為受影響者祈禱，還和各大救災機構合作，提供援助。

中國的地震，非洲的愛滋病，紐奧良的卡翠納颱風，以及日本的地震，都是該會曾經賑濟，支持的對象。。

該會的慈善活動，還包括和波士頓本地的波士頓援救任務（Boston Rescue Mission ）合作，為流浪漢提供餐食。

過去三週以來，該會成員為準備艾波拉照顧者套件籌款，原訂目標為一萬一千元，但令人驚喜的募得三萬三千元，將可為西非及尼泊爾提供更多援助。

在尼泊爾的世界宣明會工作，將包括為當地受災民眾提供清潔飲水，食物，庇護所，尤其是要為失去家庭的小孩提供安全空間。

在募款之外，該會成員日前匯聚到中華頤養院舊址，分裝了1400 個艾波拉照顧者套件，將送往塞拉利昂（ Sierra Leone）去。

Shutdown of Eastbound Memorial Avenue Rotary Bridge in West Springfield

10:00 PM Friday, May 29 to 5:00 AM Tuesday, June 2, 2015

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) has developed several detour routes to maintain traffic during the first 79-hour shutdown of the Memorial Avenue Rotary Replacement Project in West Springfield. These detours have been modified to reduce congestion and provide a feasible route for larger vehicles.

Eastbound Bridge Shutdown - 10:00 PM on Friday, May 29 through 5:00 AM on Tuesday, June 2

During the first shutdown, MassDOT will close the following roads starting at 10:00 PM on Friday, May 29, for the eastbound bridge replacement:

·        Eastbound traffic on Memorial Bridge (into Springfield)

·        Route 5 northbound between the Memorial Bridge and the South End Rotary (vehicles may access Bondi’s Island transfer station facility)

·        Route 5 north and southbound ramps to Memorial Ave eastbound

·        Sidewalks on the eastbound bridge closed to pedestrians/cyclists

All roads will reopen to traffic at 5:00 AM on Tuesday, June 2.

 

SIGNED DETOUR ROUTES

Signs will direct vehicles to several detours throughout West Springfield and neighboring communities. The colors for each route correspond to the map:

To reach the North End or Downtown Springfield from West Springfield (Orange): Follow Main Street to the North End Bridge to cross the Connecticut River. Follow West Columbus Avenue (traveling south) to access downtown Springfield.

To reach the South End or Downtown Springfield from West Springfield (Orange): Follow Route 5 South to the South End Bridge to cross the Connecticut River. Follow I-91 North sign, then bear right to the Columbus Avenue exit to the South End.

To reach Route 5 Northbound north of the North End Bridge:

Option 1: Mandatory for trucks and heavy vehicles – Via I-91 (Green): From West Springfield or Agawam, follow Route 57 eastbound and take the exit onto US-5 South toward I-91/Springfield/Hartford Connecticut. After crossing the South End Bridge, take the exit on the left to merge onto I-91 northbound. Continue 4 miles, then keep left at the fork to stay on I-91 over the North End Bridge. Take exit 13A onto Route 5 North/Riverdale St.

Option 2: Passenger vehicles only – Via Local Roads in Agawam and West Springfield (Blue): From downtown Springfield, follow US-5 South over the South End Bridge and take the MA-57 exit toward Agawam/Southwick. At the traffic circle, take the third exit onto the MA-57 West ramp and continue on MA-57 west for 1 mile. Take the exit toward Main Street Agawam/West Springfield and merge onto Main Street/MA-159. Continue for 1 mile and turn right onto MA-147 East/Suffield Street. After crossing the Westfield River, turn left onto River Street. Turn slightly right onto Park Street. At the traffic circle, take the third exit onto the Riverdale Street ramp to US-20 East/Springfield. Then merge onto Riverdale Street/US-5 North.

Pedestrians and Bicyclists: Access will be provided to the sidewalks and unmarked crosswalks on the westbound bridge and northern portion of the rotary. Bicyclists should dismount and walk their bikes on the sidewalks. Pedestrians coming from the southern sidewalks on the Memorial Bridge or Memorial Avenue in West Springfield should cross to the northern sidewalks prior to entering the rotary.

Pioneer Valley Transit Authority (PVTA) Bus Detours: Two PVTA bus routes will be impacted. PVTA Red Route 10 connects Westfield State University and Westfield Center to the bus depot in Springfield. PVTA Red Route 14 connects Feeding Hills/Agawam to the bus depot in Springfield.  PVTA will provide a special shuttle with no fare from Park Street to Century Plaza traveling on Main Street in West Springfield on Saturday (7:00 AM to 9:35 PM), Sunday (9:00 AM to 7:45 PM), and Monday (5:00 AM to 11:13 PM). Please visitwww.pvta.com for additional information.

 

For Questions or More Information:

Visit the project website: http://www.mass.gov/massdot/MemorialAvenueRotaryReplacement or contact MassDOT Legislative Liaison Pahola DeLeon at (857) 368-8986 or Pahola.DeLeon@dot.state.ma.us.

AG HEALEY ANNOUNCES $6 MILLION MULTISTATE SETTLEMENT WITH NATIONAL CREDIT REPORTING AGENCIES

AG HEALEY ANNOUNCES $6 MILLION MULTISTATE SETTLEMENT WITH NATIONAL CREDIT REPORTING AGENCIES

Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion Agree to Significant Changes to Benefit Consumers

BOSTON – In an effort to provide significant protections for consumers nationwide, Attorney General Maura Healey has joined a coalition of states in announcing a settlement with the three national credit reporting agencies following disputes over credit report errors, providers of consumer debt information, and marketing concerns.

Under the settlement, Equifax Information Services LLC, Experian Information Solutions Inc., and TransUnion LLC have agreed to pay the 31 participating states a total of $6 million and to make a number of changes to their business practices to benefit consumers.

            “Credit reports affect countless aspects of day-to-day life, from a person’s ability to obtain a mortgage and buy a house to a job hunter’s success in finding employment,” AG Healey said.  “This settlement will improve the accuracy of those reports and provides important protections to consumers.”

The states initiated an investigation into certain segments of the credit reporting industry following concerns from consumers that the agencies do not maintain the right procedures to assure the complete accuracy of credit reports. Consumers also complained that the agencies tried to sell them on products during credit report dispute calls, and that the agencies did not prevent information, that was removed in credit reports following a reinvestigation, from reappearing.

The three credit reporting agencies have agreed to comply with state and federal laws, including the Fair Credit Reporting Act. Key provisions of the settlement include:

Higher standards for data furnishers:

• The credit reporting agencies must maintain information about problem data furnishers – or providers of consumer debt information to the agencies – and provide a list of those furnishers to the states upon request.
• The credit reporting agencies and data furnishers must use a better, more detailed system to share data with each other.

Limits to direct-to-consumer marketing:

• The credit reporting agencies cannot market credit monitoring services to a consumer during a dispute phone call until the dispute portion of the call has ended.
• The credit reporting agencies must tell consumers that purchasing a product is not a requirement for disputing information on their credits reports.

Added protections for consumers who dispute credit reporting information:

• The credit reporting agencies must implement an escalated process for handling complicated disputes, such as those involving identity theft, fraud, or mixed files — where one consumer’s information is mixed with another’s.
• When consumers initiate disputes, the credit reporting agencies must send any supporting documents that the consumers provide to the data furnishers.
• Consumers may obtain one additional free credit report in a 12-month period if they dispute information on their credit report and a change is made as a result of the dispute.

Limits to certain information that can be added to a consumer’s credit report:

• The credit reporting agencies are generally prohibited from adding information about fines and tickets – such as speeding or parking tickets – to credit reports.
• The credit reporting agencies cannot place medical debt on a credit report until 180 days after the account is reported to the credit reporting agency, which gives consumers time to work out issues with their insurance companies.

A credit reporting agency must also tell consumers how they can further dispute the outcome of an investigation, such as by filing a complaint with other agencies, and will provide a link to its online dispute website, free of ads and any marketing, offers advertisements, on www.annualcreditreport.com.

Under the terms of the settlement, the agencies will pay a total $6 million to the participating states, including approximately $160,000 to Massachusetts. Consumers with concerns or questions can visit the AG’s website for more information.

The settlement was joined by the Attorneys General of Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, and Wisconsin.

This case was handled by staff of Attorney General Healey’s Insurance and Financial Services Division, including Assistant Attorney General Lydia French, Chief Glenn Kaplan, and Legal Analyst John-Michael Partesotti.

MAYOR WALSH RELEASES REPORT ON SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND ADDICTION IN THE CITY OF BOSTON

MAYOR WALSH RELEASES REPORT ON SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND ADDICTION IN THE CITY OF BOSTON

Report Serves as Blueprint for Newly Formed Office of Recovery Services; Office to be Led by Jennifer Tracey 

BOSTON - Wednesday, May 20, 2015 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh today joined the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation (BCBSMF) to release Addiction and Recovery Services in the City of Boston, a Blueprint for Building a Better System of Care, a report on the current status of substance abuse and addiction in the City of Boston. The findings of the report will serve as a road map for the Mayor’s Office of Recovery Services (ORS), the first-ever municipal-based office to focus on this issue. The Mayor also announced that Jennifer Tracey, a highly respected and experienced recovery expert, will head ORS. 

“Too many Bostonians are all too familiar with the destruction that substance abuse addiction causes in our City’s families and neighborhoods,” said Mayor Walsh. “We see addiction’s devastation in our homes, at our workplaces, and on our streets. Where there are accessible recovery supports that readily assist people and families suffering from addiction, devastation can quickly transform into a wellspring of resilience and strength. This is why addressing Boston’s addiction problem is one of my top priorities as Mayor of Boston. Now that BCBSMAF has finalized this report, it will serve as a vital roadmap for the newly created Office of Recovery Services, which will soon open under the Boston Public Health Commission.”

“We were pleased to partner with Mayor Walsh and his Administration  on an assessment that included concrete, actionable recommendations to strengthen Boston’s substance use disorder and recovery service system," said BCBSMF President Audrey Shelto. "Under his leadership, the City has an incredible opportunity to strengthen the partnerships and programs that provide services to individuals and families impacted by addiction and reduce stigma by encouraging those who need treatment to seek it. The City of Boston can become a national leader in combating drug use and related community challenges and serve as a model to other municipalities in the region and around the country." 

Last year, Mayor Walsh announced a collaboration between the City of Boston and the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation to produce a study on the current capacity of addiction and recovery services in the City of Boston. The findings of the report focus on how to better align the city’s addiction and recovery services with demonstrated best practices.

Among the report's findings, some include: 

• Boston’s rate of substance abuse prevalence (11.3 percent), based on respondents’ indication of dependence or abuse of illicit drugs or alcohol in the past year, is roughly comparable to that of other regions within the state.
• The substance use disorder treatment system is a statewide system and treatment seekers are not prioritized for placement based on their city or town of residence. At any given time, as many of half of the residential treatment beds based in Boston may be filled by individuals living outside of the City. 
• Boston’s capacity gap reflects needs beyond Boston residents. Based on the analysis by the state’s Health Planning Council, the City has a significantly higher density of treatment and recovery beds (detox, residential, transitional support services and Clinical Stabilization Service) than any other area of the state. 
• Boston has 152 beds per 100,000 residents, while the next largest, central Massachusetts and Cape Cod, have approximately 42 beds per 100,000 residents.

Among the report's recommendations, some include: 

• Augmenting existing capacity (beds) for detox and residential treatment;
• Creating a central source of real-time information on available treatment beds and outpatient services;
• A more cohesive and integrated continuum of care to reduce relapse and increase rates of retention during transition points;
• Encouraging of formal referral arrangements between organizations;
• Supporting integration of levels of care within single organizations;
• Public and private payment reform to support such delivery system reform;
• Expanding care coordination and system navigation services;
• Better data collection and reporting regarding need, demand and capacity;
• More detailed data collection including needs of specific populations and cultural competence; and
• Advocacy for implementation of evidence based practices. 

The Office of Recovery Services will be under the oversight of the Boston Public Health Commission, and is part of Mayor Walsh’s Fiscal Year 2015 budget, which identified $300,000 in new funding to help support its creation. The office will work to improve existing addiction and recovery services and create a continuum of high quality services for those battling addiction, help those fighting addiction navigate the city’s available resources, and advocate for treatment options. Today's addiction and recovery study will be fundamental to the development, mission and function of the office.

As the new Director of the Office of Recovery Services, Jennifer Tracey has nearly 20 years of experience in the field of Health and Human Services ranging from program development, implementation and evaluation; grant and contract negotiation; strategic community mobilization, education and direct service work with adolescents and families. Tracey previously served as the Director of the Office of Youth and Young Adults at the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Bureau of Substance Abuse Services for the past five years. At DPH, she oversaw the development of policies and programming for the state’s youth and young adult treatment service system and recovery high schools. Prior to her most recent position, Tracey worked for seven years as DPH's Boston Regional Manager, developing and administering comprehensive alcohol and drug treatment programs throughout the City of Boston and statewide. Tracey holds a master's degree in Social Work from Salem State College and a bachelor's degree from Providence College. She is a resident of Dorchester. 

"It is an honor to serve the City of Boston and join a team that prioritizes innovative addiction recovery efforts," said Tracey. "I am grateful to bring my experience and passion to the Office of Recovery Services to carry out the recommendations of the strategic plan and to support Mayor Walsh's comprehensive vision comprised of prevention, intervention, treatment, and recovery for each individual and family in the City of Boston."

Wednesday's report was released at the Dimock Center in Roxbury, which is nationally recognized as a model for the delivery of comprehensive health and human services in an urban community.

“I am incredibly honored that The Dimock Center was chosen as the site to release this important addiction and recovery report,” said Dr. Myechia Minter-Jordan, President & CEO of The Dimock Center and member of the report’s Advisory Council. “As a leader in substance abuse and recovery services, The Dimock Center is at the forefront of the fight against addiction as we work to increase access to these services in the City of Boston and beyond.”