Boston's Poet Laureate to visit East Boston Branch of the Public Library: June 27

Photo credit: Priscilla Harmel

BOSTON – June 24, 2015 – Boston Public Library and the Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture announce branch visits by the City of Boston’s Poet Laureate, Danielle Legros Georges, who will travel to Boston Public Library locations this summer to meet and engage with aspiring and practicing poets throughout the city. Interested participants can bring examples of their work for discussion, or questions and comments for the Poet Laureate Program. 

“The drop-in workshops from such a highly accomplished poet are a unique learning opportunity to develop one’s skills and celebrate creativity and the arts in the City of Boston,” said Christine Schonhart, Boston Public Library’s Director of Library Services for the Branches.

The following visits take place in Boston Public Library branches:

•   Saturday, June 27, from 2 – 4 p.m. at the East Boston Branch, located at 365 Bremen Street.
•   Saturday, July 25, from 2 – 4 p.m. at the Mattapan Branch, located at 1350 Blue Hill Avenue.
•   Saturday, August 8, from 2 – 4 p.m. at the Honan-Allston Branch, located at 300 North Harvard Street.

Danielle Legros Georges was appointed Boston’s Poet Laureate by Mayor Martin J. Walsh in December 2014 and teaches at Lesley University in the Creative Arts and Learning Division. She is the author of Maroon, a book of poems, and her poems have appeared in numerous anthologies. Her essays, interviews, poems, and reviews have appeared in publications including The American Poetry Review, The Boston Globe, Callaloo, Consequence, Salamander, spoKe, Solstice, Transition, World Literature Today, and the Women’s Review of Books. A resident of Dorchester, she was born in Haiti, has lived in Boston’s Haitian community of Mattapan, Chicago and New York, and has travelled to various parts of the world.

About BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY Boston Public Library has a Central Library, twenty-four branches, map center, business library, and a website filled with digital content and services. Established in 1848, the Boston Public Library has pioneered public library service in America. It was the first large free municipal library in the United States, the first public library to lend books, the first to have a branch library, and the first to have a children’s room. Each year, the Boston Public Library hosts thousands of programs and serves millions of people. All of its programs and exhibitions are free and open to the public. At the Boston Public Library, books are just the beginning. To learn more, visit bpl.org.

Mark the Date! Friends of the East Boston Library Gala Event: July 16

The Friends of The East Boston Branch of the Boston Public Library, Inc. invite the community to celebrate with us the return and unveiling of the Frederick Leonard King WPA painting The Queen Mary. She has been fabulously restored by the Oliver Brothers firm. The painting restoration funding was by The East Boston Foundation, and the frame by the Boston Public Library.

Date:      Thursday, July 16th
Time:      6:00 - 7:30 PM.
Where:    East Boston Branch Library, 365 Bremen Street

June 29: Gove Street Citizens Association Meets

The Gove Street Citizens Association monthly meeting agenda:

PRESENTATIONS:

* Update on current status of GSCA area projects.
* 97-99 Everett Street – Proposed - 6 units with 6 parking spaces. (VOTE TO BE TAKEN)
* 63 Frankfort Street – Proposed - Extend porch area. (VOTE TO BE TAKEN)
* Massport Presentation - Terminal E Renovation and Enhancements at Boston-Logan International Airport.

DATE: Monday, June 29, 2015

TIME: 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm

LOCATION: DRIVING - The Noddle Island Community Room located on the first floor of the Logan Rental Car Center at 15 Transportation Way. WALKING - Situated at the end of Porter Street just a 4 minute walk from the Embassy Suites Hotel.

All meetings are held on the last Monday of each month at the above location except for Holidays that are on Mondays.


   

Do you know someone between the ages of 16 and 24 that needs their High School Diploma?

This just in from the EBNHC:

As part of our Youth and Young Adults Pathways Program (YYAPP), Our Education and Training Institute (ETI) has been running a HiSET program the past several weeks.  HiSET, or High School Equivalency Test, is the new replacement to GED.  Our first program was intended to be small, but we are pleased to say that several EBNHC patients, and now students, have already benefited from the program.  Just last week one of our students took their first two equivalency exams and passed both successfully!

EBNHC’s ETI will again be offering FREE HiSET Classes this fall – on a larger scale.  A High School Diploma is critical for anyone’s future and this is an excellent opportunity to assist our patients with preparation.  The program begins this October and runs Monday through Friday from 9:30am to 2:30pm.  Classes are conducted in English only, however, ESOL classes are also offered at the Institute.  The Education & Training Institute is located at 250 Sumner Street in East Boston and is just 2 blocks from the Maverick “T” Station, so very easy to get to from all of our service areas. 

If you know of anyone who is interested, please have them call 617-568-6444 today to register and schedule an intake and assessment appointment. 

United Way expands successful summer learning program; EB YMCA and Social Centers participate

Over 3,000 K-3 students expected to benefit from literacy programs proven to avoid summer learning loss and increase reading skills
 
BOSTON -- United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley is expanding its nationally-recognized Summer Learning Collaborative to reach over 3,000 elementary school-age children in 25 program sites in the region. This year’s funding of $260,000 – raised from diverse partners such as Alliance Data, Boston Consulting Group, Boston Financial Data Services, Theodore Edson Parker Foundation, United Parcel Service and United Way’s Women’s Leadership Council – enables the expansion to serve over 300 more children than last year and three additional locations. The 2015 locations will serve students from the communities of Lynn, Lawrence, Lowell, Salem, Winthrop, Peabody, Revere, Cambridge, Somerville and Boston neighborhoods of Dorchester, East Boston, Allston Brighton, Chinatown and Roxbury.

Research shows that low-income children experience summer learning loss at a much higher rate than their middle-class peers, who typically benefit from enriching summer programs, learning experiences and homes filled with books and reading. Over the course of one summer vacation, this summer learning loss creates an approximate three-month achievement gap in reading skills between the two groups of children. By middle school, the cumulative effect adds up to a gap equal to two full years of achievement.

A partnership between United Way, BOSTnet, community-based organizations, and school districts, the Summer Learning Collaborative improves children’s literacy outcomes by integrating literacy activities in fun and meaningful ways into existing summer camp programs at community-based organizations in low-income communities. It also focuses on professional development for program staff to ensure the program’s success can be sustained and scaled.  Last year:

·         85% of the 2,700 participating children avoided summer learning loss;

·         82% of children said they enjoy reading more now than they did at the end of the summer;

·         69% of the participating children maintained or increased reading skills; and

·         85% of the participating children said the staff made reading fun.

“For too many children, summer time is when important progress made during the school year is lost,” said Michael K. Durkin, president at United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley.  “This partnership is specifically designed to target summer learning, helping children to maintain, and even increase, their reading skills over the summer to keep them on track to be proficient readers by third grade.”

The communities and locations for the 2015 Summer Learning Collaborative include:

Boston: Ellis Memorial, Dorchester YMCA, East Boston YMCA, Egleston YMCA, Oak Square YMCA, Wang YMCA, East Boston Social Centers

Cambridge: East End House

Lawrence: Lawrence YWCA, Greater Lawrence Community Action Council, Merrimack Valley YMCA

Lowell: Girls Inc. of Lowell, Community Teamwork Inc. (at Murkland, Pawtucketville and McAuliffe schools)

Lynn: Camp Fire North Shore, Girls Inc. of Lynn, Gregg Neighborhood House

Peabody: For Kids Only Afterschool

Revere: For Kids Only Afterschool

Salem: For Kids Only Afterschool

Somerville: Somerville YMCA

Winthrop: For Kids Only Afterschool

East Boston Main Streets Announces East Boston Neighborhood Health Center and John Tyler as Business and Volunteer of the Year

BOSTON, MA (June 8, 2015) – On Thursday, June 25, East Boston Main Streets will join Mayor Walsh at the Strand Theatre on 543 Columbia Road in Dorchester to honor the 2014 recipients of the East Boston Outstanding Business Award and Outstanding Volunteer Award.  

“I am absolutely thrilled to be able to announce this year’s award recipients.  Both the EBNHC and John Tyler have been tireless advocates for East Boston and their partnership and friendship has greatly enhanced the impact that EBMS has been able to have on the East Boston community,” says Max Gruner, Executive Director of East Boston Main Streets.

This year’s winner of the East Boston Main Streets Volunteer of the Year Award is John Tyler for his unfaltering support and tireless work on behalf of the East Boston business district.  

In particular, EBMS would like to recognize John Tyler for his over 150 hours of volunteer time, his expertise and superior welding skill, as well as for opening up his work space to us in the construction from scratch of over a dozen magnificent tree-pit surrounds as part of a much needed and on-going beautification initiative in East Boston.
 
The East Boston Neighborhood Health Center is awarded the Business of the Year Award 2014.  The EBNHC, now in its 45th year, has been a tremendous partner to EBMS over the past 20 years.  In particular, we would like to recognize EBNHC’s untiring and innovative support of the Neighborhood Business Institute, an educational subsidiary of East Boston Main Streets.  We thank the Health Center for use of its training space and equipment, for sharing its staff’s expertise, and ongoing positive outlook and friendship of its administration throughout the planning and implementation of this unique and impactful program.
 
Both recipients will be honored by Mayor Walsh at the Annual Awards Ceremony which will take place on Thursday evening, June 25th at the Strand Theater in Upham's Corner at 6:00pm.  “We encourage members of the East Boston community to join us for this truly fabulous event and to cheer on these two outstanding and well deserving award recipients,” says Jim Buckley, EBMS board chair.
 
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EBMS is a non-profit corporation. Our mission is to create a more vibrant business district by initiating private and public improvements, promoting commerce, and supporting efforts to improve the quality of life for all who live, work and do business in East Boston.

Tuesday June 16th: East Boston Fights Opioid Addiction

A Night to Learn, Share, and Strategize for a Healthier East Boston

The East Boston community is invited to attend an open conversation about the rise in opioid addiction,
overdoses, and other drug use in East Boston.

This is an all ages event!

Tuesday June 16th 5:30 pm to 8:00 pm

EAST BOSTON HIGH SCHOOL
86 White Street, East Boston
Refreshments 5:30 pm - 6:00 pm 

• Child care will be available on site
 
Keynote Speaker: Dr. Peter Smith, Primary Care Physician,
East Boston Neighborhood Health Center
 
Hear about causes of addiction, learn to identify the signs that a loved one might be using drugs, and explore treatment options. Be inspired by stories from people recovering from alcohol and drug addiction: local community activist and business owner Joe Ruggiero and parent and Drug Court advocate Debbie Hanscom will share their recovery stories.

SPANISH TRANSLATION AVAILABLE

This FREE event is brought to you by the Office of State Senator Anthony Petruccelli, City Councilor Sal LaMattina, State Representative Adrian Madaro, and the East Boston Neighborhood Health Center.

Celtics player Tyler Zeller will lead 40 YMCA youth in fruit sculpture and fitness games

Boston Celtics and Sun Life Financial Close Out the East Boston YMCA 
Fit to Win Program with "Championship" Event 

Celtics player Tyler Zeller will lead 40 YMCA youth in fruit sculpture and fitness games

WHO: Boston Celtics Center Tyler Zeller Boston Celtics Mascot "Lucky" the Leprechaun 40 3rd-6th grade children from East Boston YMCA
East Boston YMCA staff Sun Life Financial staff volunteers

WHAT: Boston Celtics player Tyler Zeller will celebrate the completion of the four week East Boston Fit to Win program, the Celtics' and Sun Life Financial's rewards-based youth activity program, with a "Championship" event at the East Boston YMCA. 3rd - 6th graders who have completed the program will interact with Zeller, mascot "Lucky" and Sun Life volunteers for a healthy eating activity and fitness games before a jersey presentation and Celtics "Dunk Show" to close out the celebration. 

The Championship Event marks the culmination of the East Boston YMCA's four week program, where participants earned Celtics-themed prizes and event opportunities for the YMCA. The East Boston YMCA is the last of three participating YMCA of Greater Boston locations. The Celtics and Sun Life Financial also brought the Fit to Win program to the Thomas M. Menino YMCA in January and Roxbury YMCA in March. 

WHERE: East Boston YMCA  54 Ashley St. East Boston, MA 

WHEN: Wednesday, June 3:  4:30 P.M. - 5:30 P.M.

WHY: The Boston Celtics and Sun Life Financial's Fit to Win program is aimed at improving the health and well-being of young people throughout the city of Boston. The program harnesses Bostonian's love for the green team, and provides youth with a fun way to learn about maintaining a healthy lifestyle by utilizing activity tracking sheets that focus on the participants' fitness and health goals.

A Certified Asset: Congratulations to EBNHC’s Wandaly Pellicier!

This just in from the EBHNC:

(East Boston, MA, June 1, 2015)— After nearly 18 months of intense study, Wandaly Pellicier, Medical Assistant in the Women’s Health Department and Central Processing Technician for the Employee Health/Infection Control Department at EBNHC, has completed the IAHCSMM (International Association of Healthcare Central Service Material Management) course and exam. 

EBNHC’s Wandaly Pellicier

 She is now a Certified Registered Central Service Technician (CRCST). The CRCST Certification is accredited by both the American National Standards Institute and the National Commission for Certifying Agencies.

In 2013, Wandaly took on the new role of EBNHC’s Central Processing Technician. In this position, she became responsible for performing and overseeing instrument care and cleaning. Prior to Wandaly’s appointment, medical assistants across the health center would devote up to three hours a day to equipment sterilization—time that is now dedicated to patient care.

At the suggestion of EBNHC administration, and with their full support as well as encouragement from her supervisor, Wandaly decided to augment her Central Service knowledge and pursue certification as a Certified Registered Central Service Technician.

A Central Service Technician is a vital member of the medical team, supporting all patient care areas and interacting with staff across the health center (in fact, the CRCST course and exam even assess customer relations skills!). As the IAHCSMM defines this role, oversight of all supplies and equipment needed for patient care includes “decontaminating, inspecting, assembling, disassembling, packaging, and sterilizing reusable surgical instruments or devices in a health care facility that are essential for patient safety.”

Wandaly’s supportive supervisor in the Women’s Health Department is Meg Perkins Ames, RN, BSN. Meg is thrilled about Wandaly’s accomplishment: “Though pending, there is legislation in Massachusetts to make certification a requirement for all Central Service Technicians (those who sterilize instruments in medical settings). The certification exam Wandaly successfully completed is significantly more difficult, with a pass rate of less than 50%, than the previous version. This is an extraordinary personal achievement. Wandaly is an exceptional employee, and now, as a Certified Registered Central Service Technician, she has become an even more treasured asset for the health center.”

Each year, Wandaly will be required to recertify as a CRCST by completing continuing education specifications. While Wandaly’s certification makes her eligible for Central Processing roles in full-service hospitals (she understands the use and care of every machine, scope, and instrument that may be used, as well as the importance of safety in any Central Processing environment), she loves her work at EBNHC. Her future plans do include becoming a Certified Instrument Specialist-after a period of well-deserved rest, however!?

As her Central Processing duties have increased, Wandaly has reduced her clinical role in the Women’s Health Department. She fills in as needed, but has incorporated ordering, stocking, and maintaining all sorts of medical supplies into her sterilization/Central Processing work. “I love working at the health center,” says Wandaly. “It’s a wonderful, diverse community. I meet people of so many different nationalities, and learn lots of new things every day. I feel very supported here.”

With her dedication to patient care at the health center and her considerable accomplishments, Wandaly is the perfect choice as the “face of EBNHC” on the health center’s newly redesigned website home page at www.ebnhc.org.

Congratulations, Wandaly!

For more information about IAHCSMM certification, visit www.iahcsmm.org.

The East Boston Neighborhood Health Center has been a vital part of the community for 45 years, providing easily accessible, high-quality health care to all who live and work in East Boston and the surrounding communities of Chelsea, Revere, Everett, and Winthrop. EBNHC handles 300,000 patient visits per year—more than any other ambulatory care center in New England.