BrocktonPost
BROCKTON--The Downtown Brockton Association is accepting nominations for the annual James Edgar Community Service Award, given each year to the person in the community who best exemplifies first department store Santa Edgar’s spirit of generosity toward the city’s children.
To nominate someone for the James Edgar Award, please submit the following:
•Your name and contact information including phone number and email address;
•The name and address of the person you are nominating;
•A detailed description of how this person has benefitted the children of Brockton and why they deserve this recognition.
Please keep responses to a maximum of 250 words.
All nominees must be a Brockton resident.
The deadline for submitting nominations is Noon on Friday, November 4th.
Please submit nominations to Jennifer Kovalich, communications manager, Good Samaritan Medical Center at Jennifer.Kovalich@steward.org or Robert Malley, Executive Director, Brockton Parking Authority, at RMalley@cobma.us.
The recipient of the James Edgar Award will be honored during the 25th Annual Downtown Holiday Parade on Saturday, Nov. 26.
The honoree’s name will also be included on the Edgar Plaque on the James J. Adams Parking Garage on Main and Crescent streets.
Each person may only nominate one individual.
James Edgar was an immigrant from Edinburgh, Scotland who opened Edgar’s Department Store on Main Street in Brockton.
In December of 1890, he dressed up as Santa Claus based on a popular illustration of a jolly Santa drawn in 1863 by the famous cartoonist Thomas Nast.
Edgar did not intend for this to be a commercial attraction. He did it for the enjoyment of the children and to promote Christmas.
Edgar is considered the first by many to have begun the tradition of the department store Santa Claus.
Within days trains from as far away as Boston and Providence brought families and their children to downtown Brockton to see Santa. The idea quickly transferred to department stores around the country and continues to this day.
A city park is named for him.
Monday, October 31, 2011
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Campaign Mailing Splits Power Plant Candidates
By Lisa E. Crowley
BrocktonPost
BROCKTON—It didn’t take long before Councilor-at-large Jass Stewart’s supporters began calling, emailing and Facebooking him to make him aware of a bright yellow political endorsement that arrived in 3,000 residents’ mailboxes over the weekend from anti-power plant group Stop The Power that most noticeably excluded his name from city council candidates in the Nov. 8 election who are against the proposed $350 million natural gas power plant.
“I didn’t receive it, I guess I’m no longer on the list, but I received a number of (phone) calls, emails and messages on Facebook about it,” Stewart said in a telephone interview Monday with BrocktonPost.com.
“Regardless of how I found out about it, I am definitely against the power plant,” Stewart said, adding he has responded to the exclusion on Facebook and in the media because he wants to make sure his supporters and those inclined to vote for his reelection understand he is against the power plant.
However, a leader and money behind Stop The Power, Eddie Byers, owner of Cindy’s Kitchen, a Brockton salad dressing manufacturer, said he paid for the mailing and Stewart’s name was left off the endorsement for a reason.
“We’re not going to endorse someone who uses words like ‘contingency plan’ and ‘mitigation,’ as part of the fight against the power plant,” Byers said. “We endorsed candidates who are completely on our side—not those who are negotiating with the power plant people,” Byers said.
The candidates Stop The Power has endorsed for councilor-at-large are newcomer Kate Archard, who many see as a Stop The Power insider, and incumbent councilors Robert Sullivan and Thomas Brophy.
The mailing also supports for reelection the 6 other councilors who are running unopposed and supports incumbent Ward 3 Councilor Dennis Eaniri and his opposition Gerald Conefrey.
Todd Petti, who has been the only city councilor, state representative or state senator in favor of the power plant, was also left off Stop The Power’s endorsement, but many said that is to be expected.
The rift between Stop the Power and Stewart became public during the summer when Stewart angered and upset Stop The Power forces when, in a private meeting with Stop The Power activists suggested the group consider a “worst-case scenario” in case the power plant won legal cases or regulatory battles and the city was forced to allow the plant be constructed.
During the private meeting Stewart told Stop The Power activists he had met with former Mayor Jack Yunits about money, services and other mitigation the power plant could offer the city in the event the plant received approvals.
Stewart calls the meeting a responsible move by an elected councilor to protect the city’s interest in the face of potential backlash from the Stop The Power coalition. He likened a contingency plan in case of defeat to that if the Brockton Rox are unable to pay its debts and the city has to take over payments for the stadium's construction.
Stop The Power members and Byers call it a back-door play, a “betrayal” and “stab in the back” and they want their members to know Archard, Brophy, and Sullivan have not said one thing in public and another in private.
Stewart has he is disappointed in Stop The Powers’ mailing, but is not surprised, because the rift has become a divide and now the group is actively against his reelection, calling saying he expected something negative about his reelection, but not to exclude him as someone in favor of the power plant--similar to Petti's stance.
"I think it's a bit more of a shady play than I expected," he said.
Stewart said he was the first city official to publicly announce his opposition to the power plant during his unsuccessful run for mayor against James Harrington beginning in 2006 and culminating in Harrington’s reelection by a slim margin.
Stop The Power members are disputing the claim, saying Ward 6 Councilor Michelle DuBois was the first public official against the plant.
In 2009, when Stewart ran for councilor-at-large, Stop The Power supported Stewart in similar mailings while excluding others, like former Yunits staff member Mark Lucas who Byers said flip-flopped on his stance toward the power plant.
Two years later the group has sent a similar mailing excluding Stewart, and possibly splitting its supporters between Archard and Stewart for one of the four councilor-at-large seats.
Byers said the mailing isn’t about Archard even though she is a staunch supporter of Stop The Power, rather it’s about the fight against the power plant and letting Stop The Power’s supporters know who is on their side.
“If Jass didn’t say he was meeting with Yunits to negotiate and met with Yunits…his name would be on there,” Byers said.
Byers said two years ago he personally paid for a similar mass mailing and he did the same during this election.
Two years ago Lucas raised questions about Byers’ and Stop The Powers' campaign expenditures and timely filing of financial disclosures.
Byers said those disclosures were a couple of days late and he is following the advice of his lawyer Paul Glickman to make sure he is doing everything required under the state’s Office of Political and Campaign Finance.
BrocktonPost.com has contacted Glickman and the Secretary of State, which oversees the Office of Political and Campaign Finance, to clarify Byers’ and Stop The Power’s requirements under the law.
Glickman said Byers paid for the mailing as an individual and not as a group or corporation and a filing will be submitted to the city’s Election Commission within the deadline.
A draft filing states Byers paid $1,507 for the mailing, including the 3,000 postcards, postage and tax.
Questions have been raised whether Stop The Power is a political action committee or a group, but Glickman said because Stop The Power does not raise any money—it all comes from Byers—it is not a political action committee, and although there are activists involved with Stop The Power, Stop the Power is Eddie Byers and not a group because mailings and other activities are paid for by no one other than Byers.
According to Jason Tait, spokesman for the Secretary of State’s campaign finance office, in general an independent expenditure has limits if any of the candidates who were supported were consulted before the endorsement went out and if there was consultation there are different spending limits for individuals and groups.
Tait said if the candidate or candidates were consulted the expenditure would be considered an in-kind contribution and individuals would be limited to spending $500 and a group would be capped at $15,000 or 10 percent of the group’s general fund or treasury.
BrocktonPost
BROCKTON—It didn’t take long before Councilor-at-large Jass Stewart’s supporters began calling, emailing and Facebooking him to make him aware of a bright yellow political endorsement that arrived in 3,000 residents’ mailboxes over the weekend from anti-power plant group Stop The Power that most noticeably excluded his name from city council candidates in the Nov. 8 election who are against the proposed $350 million natural gas power plant.
“I didn’t receive it, I guess I’m no longer on the list, but I received a number of (phone) calls, emails and messages on Facebook about it,” Stewart said in a telephone interview Monday with BrocktonPost.com.
“Regardless of how I found out about it, I am definitely against the power plant,” Stewart said, adding he has responded to the exclusion on Facebook and in the media because he wants to make sure his supporters and those inclined to vote for his reelection understand he is against the power plant.
However, a leader and money behind Stop The Power, Eddie Byers, owner of Cindy’s Kitchen, a Brockton salad dressing manufacturer, said he paid for the mailing and Stewart’s name was left off the endorsement for a reason.
“We’re not going to endorse someone who uses words like ‘contingency plan’ and ‘mitigation,’ as part of the fight against the power plant,” Byers said. “We endorsed candidates who are completely on our side—not those who are negotiating with the power plant people,” Byers said.
The candidates Stop The Power has endorsed for councilor-at-large are newcomer Kate Archard, who many see as a Stop The Power insider, and incumbent councilors Robert Sullivan and Thomas Brophy.
The mailing also supports for reelection the 6 other councilors who are running unopposed and supports incumbent Ward 3 Councilor Dennis Eaniri and his opposition Gerald Conefrey.
Todd Petti, who has been the only city councilor, state representative or state senator in favor of the power plant, was also left off Stop The Power’s endorsement, but many said that is to be expected.
The rift between Stop the Power and Stewart became public during the summer when Stewart angered and upset Stop The Power forces when, in a private meeting with Stop The Power activists suggested the group consider a “worst-case scenario” in case the power plant won legal cases or regulatory battles and the city was forced to allow the plant be constructed.
During the private meeting Stewart told Stop The Power activists he had met with former Mayor Jack Yunits about money, services and other mitigation the power plant could offer the city in the event the plant received approvals.
Stewart calls the meeting a responsible move by an elected councilor to protect the city’s interest in the face of potential backlash from the Stop The Power coalition. He likened a contingency plan in case of defeat to that if the Brockton Rox are unable to pay its debts and the city has to take over payments for the stadium's construction.
Stop The Power members and Byers call it a back-door play, a “betrayal” and “stab in the back” and they want their members to know Archard, Brophy, and Sullivan have not said one thing in public and another in private.
Stewart has he is disappointed in Stop The Powers’ mailing, but is not surprised, because the rift has become a divide and now the group is actively against his reelection, calling saying he expected something negative about his reelection, but not to exclude him as someone in favor of the power plant--similar to Petti's stance.
"I think it's a bit more of a shady play than I expected," he said.
Stewart said he was the first city official to publicly announce his opposition to the power plant during his unsuccessful run for mayor against James Harrington beginning in 2006 and culminating in Harrington’s reelection by a slim margin.
Stop The Power members are disputing the claim, saying Ward 6 Councilor Michelle DuBois was the first public official against the plant.
In 2009, when Stewart ran for councilor-at-large, Stop The Power supported Stewart in similar mailings while excluding others, like former Yunits staff member Mark Lucas who Byers said flip-flopped on his stance toward the power plant.
Two years later the group has sent a similar mailing excluding Stewart, and possibly splitting its supporters between Archard and Stewart for one of the four councilor-at-large seats.
Byers said the mailing isn’t about Archard even though she is a staunch supporter of Stop The Power, rather it’s about the fight against the power plant and letting Stop The Power’s supporters know who is on their side.
“If Jass didn’t say he was meeting with Yunits to negotiate and met with Yunits…his name would be on there,” Byers said.
Byers said two years ago he personally paid for a similar mass mailing and he did the same during this election.
Two years ago Lucas raised questions about Byers’ and Stop The Powers' campaign expenditures and timely filing of financial disclosures.
Byers said those disclosures were a couple of days late and he is following the advice of his lawyer Paul Glickman to make sure he is doing everything required under the state’s Office of Political and Campaign Finance.
BrocktonPost.com has contacted Glickman and the Secretary of State, which oversees the Office of Political and Campaign Finance, to clarify Byers’ and Stop The Power’s requirements under the law.
Glickman said Byers paid for the mailing as an individual and not as a group or corporation and a filing will be submitted to the city’s Election Commission within the deadline.
A draft filing states Byers paid $1,507 for the mailing, including the 3,000 postcards, postage and tax.
Questions have been raised whether Stop The Power is a political action committee or a group, but Glickman said because Stop The Power does not raise any money—it all comes from Byers—it is not a political action committee, and although there are activists involved with Stop The Power, Stop the Power is Eddie Byers and not a group because mailings and other activities are paid for by no one other than Byers.
According to Jason Tait, spokesman for the Secretary of State’s campaign finance office, in general an independent expenditure has limits if any of the candidates who were supported were consulted before the endorsement went out and if there was consultation there are different spending limits for individuals and groups.
Tait said if the candidate or candidates were consulted the expenditure would be considered an in-kind contribution and individuals would be limited to spending $500 and a group would be capped at $15,000 or 10 percent of the group’s general fund or treasury.
Otherwise, an individual can spend an unlimited amount of money, but must disclose the expenditures as required by law.
Kate Archard said she knew the mailing was going to go out and it was being worked on by Byers’ consultant, but she did not have any hand in its inception, design or final product approval.
Other candidates could not immediately be reached for comment.
Glickman said he did not believe Archard’s involvement prior to the mailing rises to the level of consultation under the law and believes Byers is taking all of the right steps to disclose expenditures in the campaign.
Whether the mailing has an impact on election results remains to be seen.
Voters can choose up to 4 of the 5 candidates in the councilor-at-large race and can decide to cast all of those votes or hold some back.
Stewart said he has had positive responses from supporters since the mailing and believes voters will see his overall record and understand he met with Yunits to protect the city and he is still firmly against the power plant whether or not Byers and others believe otherwise.
Byers said the mailing wasn’t an endorsement against Stewart, it was a way to tell power plant opponents which candidates have been resolute in their opposition to the power plant and voters will decide for themselves.
“They’ve got a 4th pick…I just didn’t feel good enough to have Jass on the list,” Byers said. “People want to know who is with us and who isn't,” he said.
Ward 2 Meeting Thursday, 7 p.m.
BrocktonPost
BROCKTON--Ward 2 City Councilor Thomas Monahan will host a ward 2 meetingThursday, October 27 at 7 p.m. at George's Cafe. Guest speakers will be School Commmittee member Richard Bath who will talk about the reopening of Marciano Stadium and other school issues; a representative of Brockton Police department to talk about Dover St. and Neighborhood Watch; Steve Torrey of Torrey Associates who will talk about Johnson Sq. and other developments.
Also on the slate is John Merian of the Downtown Business Association to talk about the Holiday Parade coming up in November and downtown police patrols; and 21st Century Corp. head Mary Waldron, who is battling cancer, is tentatively scheduled to talk about the agency's work.
Monahan also invites any candidate who is running in the Nov. 8 election who would like to appear are more than welcome to say a few words.
For more information, contact Tom Monahan at 508-942-0385.
BROCKTON--Ward 2 City Councilor Thomas Monahan will host a ward 2 meetingThursday, October 27 at 7 p.m. at George's Cafe. Guest speakers will be School Commmittee member Richard Bath who will talk about the reopening of Marciano Stadium and other school issues; a representative of Brockton Police department to talk about Dover St. and Neighborhood Watch; Steve Torrey of Torrey Associates who will talk about Johnson Sq. and other developments.
Also on the slate is John Merian of the Downtown Business Association to talk about the Holiday Parade coming up in November and downtown police patrols; and 21st Century Corp. head Mary Waldron, who is battling cancer, is tentatively scheduled to talk about the agency's work.
Monahan also invites any candidate who is running in the Nov. 8 election who would like to appear are more than welcome to say a few words.
For more information, contact Tom Monahan at 508-942-0385.
Monday, October 24, 2011
AG's Office Raids Area Spas
BrocktonPost
BROCKTON--Two local women were arrested Saturday and charged with offering sexual activity and selling narcotics at three day spas in Brockton, Canton and Norwood.
According to a statement from Attorney General Martha Coakley's office, Terry Mussari, 45 of Stoughton, and Tiffany Burgess, 31, of Raynham were arrested during the raids that took place at Aria Day Spa, 1280 Belmont St., Brockton, Sparkle Day Spa, 95 Washington St., Canton MA and Spa Bellissimo, 1210 Boston-Providence Turnpike, Norwood.
Search warrants were executed by State Police assigned to the AG's office and members of the FBI in Boston who have been investigating allegations of prostitution and drug distribution from the three spas that are owned and operated by Mussari. (Pictured above)
According to the AG's statement, investigators developed evidence indicating that all three spas were allegedly offering sexual activity between masseuses employed by Mussari and their clients in exchange for cash that was characterized as "tips." In addition, authorities also allege employees of the spa were selling narcotics to customers as well as each other.
Following the execution of the search warrants authorities arrested Mussari and Burgess.
Mussari was charged with deriving support from prostitution and taken to the State Police Barracks in Middleboro.
Burgess (Pictured, right) was arrested on multiple outstanding arrest warrants and also taken to the Middleboro Barracks. Mussari is due to be arraigned on Monday, October 24 in Brockton District Court.
The investigation remains active and ongoing.
(Photos courtesy of AG's office)
BROCKTON--Two local women were arrested Saturday and charged with offering sexual activity and selling narcotics at three day spas in Brockton, Canton and Norwood.
According to a statement from Attorney General Martha Coakley's office, Terry Mussari, 45 of Stoughton, and Tiffany Burgess, 31, of Raynham were arrested during the raids that took place at Aria Day Spa, 1280 Belmont St., Brockton, Sparkle Day Spa, 95 Washington St., Canton MA and Spa Bellissimo, 1210 Boston-Providence Turnpike, Norwood.
Search warrants were executed by State Police assigned to the AG's office and members of the FBI in Boston who have been investigating allegations of prostitution and drug distribution from the three spas that are owned and operated by Mussari. (Pictured above)
According to the AG's statement, investigators developed evidence indicating that all three spas were allegedly offering sexual activity between masseuses employed by Mussari and their clients in exchange for cash that was characterized as "tips." In addition, authorities also allege employees of the spa were selling narcotics to customers as well as each other.
Following the execution of the search warrants authorities arrested Mussari and Burgess.
Mussari was charged with deriving support from prostitution and taken to the State Police Barracks in Middleboro.
Burgess (Pictured, right) was arrested on multiple outstanding arrest warrants and also taken to the Middleboro Barracks. Mussari is due to be arraigned on Monday, October 24 in Brockton District Court.
The investigation remains active and ongoing.
(Photos courtesy of AG's office)
Sunday, October 23, 2011
ICE Opens New Boston Forensics Lab
BrocktonPost
BOSTON--U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations has announced the dedication of an expanded new state-of-the-art forensic laboratory in Boston Friday, Oct. 21.
The facility will assist federal, state, and local law enforcement authorities in New England with a wide range of forensic investigative support in cases that are often complex, and require significant examination and analysis, ICE said in a prepared statement.
"Whether it's an examination of computers in cyber crimes or fraudulent travel documents in an international human trafficking ring, this facility has the investigative keys to unlock the mysteries of crime," said Bruce M. Foucart, Homeland Security Investigations special agent in charge in New England. "This lab also illustrates our professional commitment to develop the strongest evidence possible to successfully prosecute these cases," he added.
The forensic lab will help prepare investigators as they team with other state and local investigative experts as well as prosecutors from U.S. attorney's offices in Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Maine and Vermont.
Several other federal, state and local law enforcement authorities have expressed their support of efforts to strengthen investigative techniques to remain competitive with the ever-changing world of scientific technology.
"This facility, and, more importantly, the expertise of the agents who are responsible for conducting the daily examinations and analyses, enhances ICE's ability to successfully solve crime and to bring those responsible for it to justice," said Foucart.
The new forensic lab will support the work of ICE HSI special agents and other federal, state and local law enforcement authorities, including those who investigate crimes as part of the Document & Benefit Fraud Task Force in Boston, one of 18 cities in the U.S. where task forces have been established.
The lab will also support the work of its Boston-based cyber crimes group and investigations of transborder production and distribution of images of child abuse, as well as individuals who travel abroad to engage in sex with minors.
The lab employs the latest technology to collect evidence and track the activities of individuals and organized groups who sexually exploit children through the use of websites, chat rooms, newsgroups and peer-to-peer trading.
As Internet access continues to expand, the forensic lab brings the full range of ICE HSI computer and forensic assets together in a single location to combat such Internet-related crimes as:
*Possession, manufacture and distribution of images of child abuse;
*International money laundering and illegal cyber-banking;
*Illegal arms trafficking and illegal export of strategic/controlled commodities;
*Drug trafficking, including trafficking in prohibited pharmaceuticals;
*General smuggling, including trafficking in stolen art and antiquities and violations of the Endangered Species Act;
*Intellectual property rights violations, including music and software;
*Immigration violations; and
*Identity and benefit fraud.
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Aquaria Head Takes Heat From Brockton Council
By Lisa E. Crowley
BrocktonPost
BROCKTON—Although it may take years before a developer looking to build a 350-megawatt natural gas power plant can buy water from desalination water provider Aquaria LLC, Brockton city councilors are indignant that Aquaria’s general manager did not inform them a potential deal was in the works and instead had to learn the details from the media.
“With all due respect, I see it as a slap in the face,” said Councilor-at-large Thomas Brophy during Monday night’s City Council Finance Committee meeting when Aquaria’s general manager Alfredo Andres attended the meeting to talk about the potential sale of 1.7 million gallons of water to cool the turbines that would power the proposed natural gas plant on Oak Hill Way.
Andres and Aquaria came under fire at the end of last month following a state hearing with the Energy Facilities Siting Board that upheld the city’s denial of drinking water for the power plant’s turbines.
The power plant project has been mired in controversy, lawsuits and a grassroots uprising against it that includes 10 of 11 city councilors and the city’s state legislators.
The water issue is seen as a linchpin in the plant’s construction and along with denying the plant drinking water, the city has rejected the plant’s request to pay for the use of treated wastewater—the plant’s first choice in the approval process.
When the waste water was denied, power plant officials sought approval from the state to use the city’s drinking water.
The Siting Board’s decision upholding the city’s drinking water denial was seen as a major victory until word spread Advanced Power—the power plant’s developer—had signed a letter of intent to get the needed water from Aquaria which was somewhat of a shock to councilors because Andres had met with the council just days before the Siting Board hearing and did not mention the possible deal with Advanced Power.
Andres said when he was in front of the council in September they had not asked questions that were specific to a deal with Advanced Power, however Ward 1 Councilor Timothy Cruise disagreed.
”I think you were very disingenuous that night,” Cruise said. “I’m very offended over how we were treated that night,” he said, adding he believed Andres did not tell the council the whole truth because Andres knew what the council’s reaction would be.
Councilor-at-large Robert Sullivan also disagreed with Andres’ assertion the board was not specific in its questions about the possibility of the plant using Aquaria’s desalinated water.
“I feel that the questions you were asked were pointed—I asked them myself,” Sullivan told Andres. “I’m extremely disappointed that wasn’t disclosed,” Sullivan said.
Andres, who did more listening than talking, told councilors that the letter of intent was agreed upon about two or three months ago and initial talks with Advanced Power began 6 to 8 months ago in January or February.
He said there was little to no talk about how much it would cost Advanced Power for the water, only that the power company would have to pay what Brockton pays as a minimum.
Andres characterized the two meetings as discussions and not negotiations—a point Cruise disagreed with—and that Advanced Power would have to be characterized as a public utility or wholesaler by several state agencies before Aquaria could sell water to the plant. Such a process could take years, if at all. (SEE BROCKTONPOST.COM'S INTERVIEW WITH ANDRES BY SCROLLING DOWN TO SEPT. 26)
According to Catherine Williams, a spokeswoman with the state Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, thus far, Advanced Power has not submitted an application to be declared a wholesaler or public utility.
Andres said he understood councilors were angry about the matter, but said he had to meet with Advanced Power because they were a potential customer interested in buying 1.7 million gallons of water—an issue heightened by the need for the company to sell a surplus of its water.
Councilors have requested a copy of the letter of intent. Andres said he was unsure if Aquaria has received that request yet.
City Councilor Philip Nessralla said Aquaria has only recently been asked for a copy of the letter and will inform the council when the request is answered.
Andres, who was interviewed by BrocktonPost.com following the Siting Board hearing and subsequent anger over the letter of intent was asked by BrocktonPost.com for the letter, also. During that interview Andres said he was not certain if the letter was a public document and suggested a copy of the letter might be obtained through Advanced Power.
Advanced Power has not responded to BrocktonPost.com’s requests for comment or information since the Siting Board hearing held Thursday, Sept. 22.
BrocktonPost
BROCKTON—Although it may take years before a developer looking to build a 350-megawatt natural gas power plant can buy water from desalination water provider Aquaria LLC, Brockton city councilors are indignant that Aquaria’s general manager did not inform them a potential deal was in the works and instead had to learn the details from the media.
“With all due respect, I see it as a slap in the face,” said Councilor-at-large Thomas Brophy during Monday night’s City Council Finance Committee meeting when Aquaria’s general manager Alfredo Andres attended the meeting to talk about the potential sale of 1.7 million gallons of water to cool the turbines that would power the proposed natural gas plant on Oak Hill Way.
Andres and Aquaria came under fire at the end of last month following a state hearing with the Energy Facilities Siting Board that upheld the city’s denial of drinking water for the power plant’s turbines.
The power plant project has been mired in controversy, lawsuits and a grassroots uprising against it that includes 10 of 11 city councilors and the city’s state legislators.
The water issue is seen as a linchpin in the plant’s construction and along with denying the plant drinking water, the city has rejected the plant’s request to pay for the use of treated wastewater—the plant’s first choice in the approval process.
When the waste water was denied, power plant officials sought approval from the state to use the city’s drinking water.
The Siting Board’s decision upholding the city’s drinking water denial was seen as a major victory until word spread Advanced Power—the power plant’s developer—had signed a letter of intent to get the needed water from Aquaria which was somewhat of a shock to councilors because Andres had met with the council just days before the Siting Board hearing and did not mention the possible deal with Advanced Power.
Andres said when he was in front of the council in September they had not asked questions that were specific to a deal with Advanced Power, however Ward 1 Councilor Timothy Cruise disagreed.
”I think you were very disingenuous that night,” Cruise said. “I’m very offended over how we were treated that night,” he said, adding he believed Andres did not tell the council the whole truth because Andres knew what the council’s reaction would be.
Councilor-at-large Robert Sullivan also disagreed with Andres’ assertion the board was not specific in its questions about the possibility of the plant using Aquaria’s desalinated water.
“I feel that the questions you were asked were pointed—I asked them myself,” Sullivan told Andres. “I’m extremely disappointed that wasn’t disclosed,” Sullivan said.
Andres, who did more listening than talking, told councilors that the letter of intent was agreed upon about two or three months ago and initial talks with Advanced Power began 6 to 8 months ago in January or February.
He said there was little to no talk about how much it would cost Advanced Power for the water, only that the power company would have to pay what Brockton pays as a minimum.
Andres characterized the two meetings as discussions and not negotiations—a point Cruise disagreed with—and that Advanced Power would have to be characterized as a public utility or wholesaler by several state agencies before Aquaria could sell water to the plant. Such a process could take years, if at all. (SEE BROCKTONPOST.COM'S INTERVIEW WITH ANDRES BY SCROLLING DOWN TO SEPT. 26)
According to Catherine Williams, a spokeswoman with the state Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, thus far, Advanced Power has not submitted an application to be declared a wholesaler or public utility.
Andres said he understood councilors were angry about the matter, but said he had to meet with Advanced Power because they were a potential customer interested in buying 1.7 million gallons of water—an issue heightened by the need for the company to sell a surplus of its water.
Councilors have requested a copy of the letter of intent. Andres said he was unsure if Aquaria has received that request yet.
City Councilor Philip Nessralla said Aquaria has only recently been asked for a copy of the letter and will inform the council when the request is answered.
Andres, who was interviewed by BrocktonPost.com following the Siting Board hearing and subsequent anger over the letter of intent was asked by BrocktonPost.com for the letter, also. During that interview Andres said he was not certain if the letter was a public document and suggested a copy of the letter might be obtained through Advanced Power.
Advanced Power has not responded to BrocktonPost.com’s requests for comment or information since the Siting Board hearing held Thursday, Sept. 22.
Monday, October 17, 2011
Good Sam Celebrates ER Opening
By Lisa E. Crowley
BrocktonPost
BROCKTON—Respiratory therapist Deb Owen could not, and did not want to hide the happiness she felt as she enjoyed the public preview of the opening of Steward Good Samaritan Medical Center’s $30 million state-of-the art emergency room.
“I’ve been waiting 30 years,” Owen said as she and Darlene Gareri, head of the hospital’s catheter lab, were set to enter a large inflatable heart that gave grand opening goers a look into the workings of the human heart. (Pictured, second photo)
“I’m thrilled and the new ER is stunning—it’s beautiful,” Owen said.
On Saturday, Oct. 15 hundreds of doctors, nurses, therapists, staff and residents joined Good Samaritan for public tours of the new ER and also had the opportunity to have footballs, hats, and T-shirts signed by New England Patriots 3-time Pro Bowler Matt Light.
The new ER does not open for services until Wednesday, Oct. 19.
During brief comments, Light said the new facility is an important addition to the community, and has learned how fantastic area medical services are after having to confront his son’s rare heart disease.
“We are very lucky to have the health care we have here in New England,” Light said.
(Pictured, top with from left, Dr. Richard Herman, Mary Richardson and hospital head Jeffrey Liebman)
Nicole St. Laurent, 11 of Lakeville and friend Anne Pearce, 12, of Mansfield—both students at Taunton Catholic Memorial School stopped in at the celebration after running in the Saturday road races held each week at D.W. Field Park where Pearce took first place and St. Laurent third in their age groups. (Pictured, third photo with EMT Jeffrey Kaplan)
Linda St. Laurent, Nicole’s mother, said they saw the celebration going on and decided to stop in and see what was happening.
“It’s a good opportunity for them to learn about medical services,” St. Laurent said. “It’s good exposure for them. It’s another way to learn,” she added.
Dr. Richard Herman, chairman of emergency medicine, who was excited for the new ER’s opening, said the new facility is wired and ready for future growth and will allow the hospital to handle 65,000 emergency visits a year.
“Saying it’s a big day for us is an understatement,” Herman said smiling from ear-to-ear. “This is an epic moment in health care for the region,” he said.
The old emergency room was built in 1968 and was state-of-the-art at the time, Herman said, but more than 40 years later the ER needed an overhaul to catch-up with technology, patient comfort and privacy.
He said the life span of an emergency room is about 20 to 25 years, and the old one served for more than 43.
The old ER’s capacity was about 25,000 visits per year, about half the 54,000 patients the ER has been handling for years.
“We had it in life support for the last 20 or so years,” Herman said.
The new facility is modern, spacious and bright and features cutting edge equipment, including a 64-slice CT scan machine and a new digital imaging area in the ER.
Before the new building, patients had to be shuffled to another end of the hospital for X-rays, ultrasounds and CT scans. Now, instead, it is a short walk from room-to-room, and the new digital imaging suite uses no film—everything is computerized—and the CT scan and X-rays use a quarter of the radiation than older models—a key for patients who have to have those services, said X-ray Supervisor Chris Stillman. (Pictured, fourth photo)
A huge feature of the new ER are 42 private rooms for patients.
Before the new facility, patients were crammed together in rooms and beds were separated by a thin curtain.
Each room has televisions and chairs for the comfort of family and friends.
“Now you don’t have to listen to the conversation in the bed next to you,” Herman said.
There are also new psychiatric rooms, and a decontamination room, that officials said is the only one in New England, and while everyone hopes it will not be used too often—at least it is there.
“This is awesome,” said Councilor-at-large Robert Sullivan. “This is a good thing for Brockton and the entire region,” he said.
BrocktonPost
BROCKTON—Respiratory therapist Deb Owen could not, and did not want to hide the happiness she felt as she enjoyed the public preview of the opening of Steward Good Samaritan Medical Center’s $30 million state-of-the art emergency room.
“I’ve been waiting 30 years,” Owen said as she and Darlene Gareri, head of the hospital’s catheter lab, were set to enter a large inflatable heart that gave grand opening goers a look into the workings of the human heart. (Pictured, second photo)
“I’m thrilled and the new ER is stunning—it’s beautiful,” Owen said.
On Saturday, Oct. 15 hundreds of doctors, nurses, therapists, staff and residents joined Good Samaritan for public tours of the new ER and also had the opportunity to have footballs, hats, and T-shirts signed by New England Patriots 3-time Pro Bowler Matt Light.
The new ER does not open for services until Wednesday, Oct. 19.
During brief comments, Light said the new facility is an important addition to the community, and has learned how fantastic area medical services are after having to confront his son’s rare heart disease.
“We are very lucky to have the health care we have here in New England,” Light said.
(Pictured, top with from left, Dr. Richard Herman, Mary Richardson and hospital head Jeffrey Liebman)
Nicole St. Laurent, 11 of Lakeville and friend Anne Pearce, 12, of Mansfield—both students at Taunton Catholic Memorial School stopped in at the celebration after running in the Saturday road races held each week at D.W. Field Park where Pearce took first place and St. Laurent third in their age groups. (Pictured, third photo with EMT Jeffrey Kaplan)
Linda St. Laurent, Nicole’s mother, said they saw the celebration going on and decided to stop in and see what was happening.
“It’s a good opportunity for them to learn about medical services,” St. Laurent said. “It’s good exposure for them. It’s another way to learn,” she added.
Dr. Richard Herman, chairman of emergency medicine, who was excited for the new ER’s opening, said the new facility is wired and ready for future growth and will allow the hospital to handle 65,000 emergency visits a year.
“Saying it’s a big day for us is an understatement,” Herman said smiling from ear-to-ear. “This is an epic moment in health care for the region,” he said.
The old emergency room was built in 1968 and was state-of-the-art at the time, Herman said, but more than 40 years later the ER needed an overhaul to catch-up with technology, patient comfort and privacy.
He said the life span of an emergency room is about 20 to 25 years, and the old one served for more than 43.
The old ER’s capacity was about 25,000 visits per year, about half the 54,000 patients the ER has been handling for years.
“We had it in life support for the last 20 or so years,” Herman said.
The new facility is modern, spacious and bright and features cutting edge equipment, including a 64-slice CT scan machine and a new digital imaging area in the ER.
Before the new building, patients had to be shuffled to another end of the hospital for X-rays, ultrasounds and CT scans. Now, instead, it is a short walk from room-to-room, and the new digital imaging suite uses no film—everything is computerized—and the CT scan and X-rays use a quarter of the radiation than older models—a key for patients who have to have those services, said X-ray Supervisor Chris Stillman. (Pictured, fourth photo)
A huge feature of the new ER are 42 private rooms for patients.
Before the new facility, patients were crammed together in rooms and beds were separated by a thin curtain.
Each room has televisions and chairs for the comfort of family and friends.
“Now you don’t have to listen to the conversation in the bed next to you,” Herman said.
There are also new psychiatric rooms, and a decontamination room, that officials said is the only one in New England, and while everyone hopes it will not be used too often—at least it is there.
“This is awesome,” said Councilor-at-large Robert Sullivan. “This is a good thing for Brockton and the entire region,” he said.
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Good Sam ER Open House Sat., Oct. 15
BrocktonPost
BROCKTON--Good Samaritan Medical Center will begin a new era of emergency care October 19 with the opening of its new, $30 million state-of-the art emergency room.
“The emergency department is the front door to the hospital, and our front door needed to be bigger and more welcoming,” said Richard Herman, chairman of emergency medicine.
“It wasn’t designed for our current high volume. The focus was not on patient privacy and comfort. Now we will be able to provide the best that emergency medicine has to offer, in a modern facility that is safe, comfortable, and convenient,” Herman added.
Good Samaritan is inviting the public to celebrate this momentous occasion.
There will be a community open house, with special guest, three-time Pro Bowler Matt Light of the New England Patriots Saturday, October 15 from Noon to 3 p.m. at the new emergency room on Pearl St.
All are welcome to come and view the brand new 32,000-square-foot space and its amenities.
The open house will include free educational sessions on infant car seat safety, breast cancer awareness, surgery, triage and medication safety.
Tours of the “Mega Heart,” an inflatable educational tool on cardiac care that visitors can walk through, will also be offered.
Staff will also give Halloween safety tips for children and tours of an American Medical Response ambulance will also be available.
“It is so gratifying to provide our employees, physicians and EMS partners with a facility and environment that matches their talents, skills and compassion for emergency medicine,” said Good Samaritan President Jeffrey H. Liebman. “This facility puts us on the map as a premier regional medical center.
The new ER includes:
•42 private rooms, including 6 fast-track bays
•2-bay trauma room
•cardiac care room
•7-bed observation unit
•64-slice CT scanner and X-ray suite
•dedicated space for behavioral health, pediatric and gynecological patients
•isolation room for patients with infectious diseases
•decontamination unit
•private workroom for EMS providers
The current emergency room opened in 1968 with an expected annual capacity of 25,000 visits.
In the last few years, the average annual visits have more than doubled the original t 54,000 per year.
Once operational, the new emergency department will accommodate approximately 60,000 yearly visits.
The new ER has private rooms with televisions and telephones instead of curtained cubicles, and will provide enhanced confidentiality and make the facility more welcoming for family members.
Physicians, nurses and ancillary health care professionals at the hospital will also find an improved environment for delivering care because the facility was designed with an eye on workflow optimization.
“Our emergency department will be much more efficient and effective thanks to this project,” Herman said. “We already provide exceptional quality, but we will be able to do an even better job in a modern environment,” he noted.
BROCKTON--Good Samaritan Medical Center will begin a new era of emergency care October 19 with the opening of its new, $30 million state-of-the art emergency room.
“The emergency department is the front door to the hospital, and our front door needed to be bigger and more welcoming,” said Richard Herman, chairman of emergency medicine.
“It wasn’t designed for our current high volume. The focus was not on patient privacy and comfort. Now we will be able to provide the best that emergency medicine has to offer, in a modern facility that is safe, comfortable, and convenient,” Herman added.
Good Samaritan is inviting the public to celebrate this momentous occasion.
There will be a community open house, with special guest, three-time Pro Bowler Matt Light of the New England Patriots Saturday, October 15 from Noon to 3 p.m. at the new emergency room on Pearl St.
All are welcome to come and view the brand new 32,000-square-foot space and its amenities.
The open house will include free educational sessions on infant car seat safety, breast cancer awareness, surgery, triage and medication safety.
Tours of the “Mega Heart,” an inflatable educational tool on cardiac care that visitors can walk through, will also be offered.
Staff will also give Halloween safety tips for children and tours of an American Medical Response ambulance will also be available.
“It is so gratifying to provide our employees, physicians and EMS partners with a facility and environment that matches their talents, skills and compassion for emergency medicine,” said Good Samaritan President Jeffrey H. Liebman. “This facility puts us on the map as a premier regional medical center.
The new ER includes:
•42 private rooms, including 6 fast-track bays
•2-bay trauma room
•cardiac care room
•7-bed observation unit
•64-slice CT scanner and X-ray suite
•dedicated space for behavioral health, pediatric and gynecological patients
•isolation room for patients with infectious diseases
•decontamination unit
•private workroom for EMS providers
The current emergency room opened in 1968 with an expected annual capacity of 25,000 visits.
In the last few years, the average annual visits have more than doubled the original t 54,000 per year.
Once operational, the new emergency department will accommodate approximately 60,000 yearly visits.
The new ER has private rooms with televisions and telephones instead of curtained cubicles, and will provide enhanced confidentiality and make the facility more welcoming for family members.
Physicians, nurses and ancillary health care professionals at the hospital will also find an improved environment for delivering care because the facility was designed with an eye on workflow optimization.
“Our emergency department will be much more efficient and effective thanks to this project,” Herman said. “We already provide exceptional quality, but we will be able to do an even better job in a modern environment,” he noted.
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
"Get Help," Past Domestic Abuse Victim Urges
By Lisa E. Crowley
BrocktonPost
BROCKTON—Brockton resident Irma Walat cruised past the finish line and talked to old friends and some new ones as she helped bring more awareness to domestic violence during the Family and Community Resource’s “Hearts and Hands for Hope” 5K run/walk last Saturday.
At 71, Walat (Pictured, second photo) has been running road races without fear for 17 years after she escaped the fists and words of her abusive and alcoholic husband—a man whom she married when she was 18, spent decades with raising two children and did not try to leave until she was 54.
“My life is very good and happy, now,” said Walat, a well-known and much-loved member of the Colonial Road Runners, an association of runners from across Massachusetts who Walat joined in 1978 when she began running to relieve the stress in her marriage and home life.
Walat said when she was 54 their relationship—marred by years of brawls and booze—took a malevolent turn for the worse and she began to fear for her life.
“I was young, I was naïve,” Walat said. “There was a lot of drinking…it was a very bad marriage,” she said.
As luck would have it, as she sought help to leave, a miracle of sorts happened.
“He got sick,” Walat said. “He got lung cancer and died—thank god,” she said laughing heartily as she told her story.
Her adult children, Walat said, struggle with alcohol and the affects of years of abuse, but since the husband died, the gut-wrenching anxiety and fear the family lived with has disappeared.
“Some people might think that is cruel,” Walat said of her delight over his death, “but the best thing that could have happened was that he died. You know what I mean if you’ve been through it.”
Walat joined about 100 runners, walkers and volunteers for Family and Community Resource’s “Hearts and Hands for Hope” run and walk.
The event took participants from the Raymond Elementary School to D.W. Field Park and back. Fourteen vendors sponsored the event and gave away free prizes and information. An after-event party was held at Mickey Malone's.
Some participants like Michael Matt, 13, and Asa Habb, 14, best friends from Providence, R.I. joined the run to continue their weekend training regimens for their cross-country teams and raise money for a good cause. (Pictured, top photo)
“We’re part of Peg’s Posse,” said Andy Matt, Michael’s father who grew up in Sharon and entered the boys as part of a group from Keller Williams Realty led by Peg Carbone, a volunteer at food pantries in Brockton and Stoughton.
Marshfield resident Debra Bloom was running her first 5K road race, having been recruited by Brian Quinn, an Easton resident who was there to support organizers.
Scituate Police officer Ted Coyle—who won the 5K road race—said he wanted to support Family and Community Resources because as one of two officers in Scituate who handle domestic violence issues with the Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office, he knows how difficult it can be to raise awareness so victims will get help. (Pictured, right)
“No town is immune to it. We have our share. We just don’t get the volume Brockton has,” Coyle said.
Coyle said law enforcement officials appreciate the people who volunteer with domestic violence programs such as Family and Community Resources, Jane Doe in Boston and the other services available to victims of domestic violence.
"We wouldn't be as far as we are without the volunteers," Coyle said.
Karen Slaby, director of marketing for Family and Community Resources, said the event was a great time and she thanked everyone involved.
"We get so much help and support from the community," Slaby said.
After years of suffering, Walat said she understands how difficult it might be for someone to leave an abusive and violent relationship, but that pain can lead to a life that is much better than the pain of an abusive relationship.
“Reach out. Get help,” Walat said.
BrocktonPost
BROCKTON—Brockton resident Irma Walat cruised past the finish line and talked to old friends and some new ones as she helped bring more awareness to domestic violence during the Family and Community Resource’s “Hearts and Hands for Hope” 5K run/walk last Saturday.
At 71, Walat (Pictured, second photo) has been running road races without fear for 17 years after she escaped the fists and words of her abusive and alcoholic husband—a man whom she married when she was 18, spent decades with raising two children and did not try to leave until she was 54.
“My life is very good and happy, now,” said Walat, a well-known and much-loved member of the Colonial Road Runners, an association of runners from across Massachusetts who Walat joined in 1978 when she began running to relieve the stress in her marriage and home life.
Walat said when she was 54 their relationship—marred by years of brawls and booze—took a malevolent turn for the worse and she began to fear for her life.
“I was young, I was naïve,” Walat said. “There was a lot of drinking…it was a very bad marriage,” she said.
As luck would have it, as she sought help to leave, a miracle of sorts happened.
“He got sick,” Walat said. “He got lung cancer and died—thank god,” she said laughing heartily as she told her story.
Her adult children, Walat said, struggle with alcohol and the affects of years of abuse, but since the husband died, the gut-wrenching anxiety and fear the family lived with has disappeared.
“Some people might think that is cruel,” Walat said of her delight over his death, “but the best thing that could have happened was that he died. You know what I mean if you’ve been through it.”
Walat joined about 100 runners, walkers and volunteers for Family and Community Resource’s “Hearts and Hands for Hope” run and walk.
The event took participants from the Raymond Elementary School to D.W. Field Park and back. Fourteen vendors sponsored the event and gave away free prizes and information. An after-event party was held at Mickey Malone's.
Some participants like Michael Matt, 13, and Asa Habb, 14, best friends from Providence, R.I. joined the run to continue their weekend training regimens for their cross-country teams and raise money for a good cause. (Pictured, top photo)
“We’re part of Peg’s Posse,” said Andy Matt, Michael’s father who grew up in Sharon and entered the boys as part of a group from Keller Williams Realty led by Peg Carbone, a volunteer at food pantries in Brockton and Stoughton.
Marshfield resident Debra Bloom was running her first 5K road race, having been recruited by Brian Quinn, an Easton resident who was there to support organizers.
Scituate Police officer Ted Coyle—who won the 5K road race—said he wanted to support Family and Community Resources because as one of two officers in Scituate who handle domestic violence issues with the Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office, he knows how difficult it can be to raise awareness so victims will get help. (Pictured, right)
“No town is immune to it. We have our share. We just don’t get the volume Brockton has,” Coyle said.
Coyle said law enforcement officials appreciate the people who volunteer with domestic violence programs such as Family and Community Resources, Jane Doe in Boston and the other services available to victims of domestic violence.
"We wouldn't be as far as we are without the volunteers," Coyle said.
Karen Slaby, director of marketing for Family and Community Resources, said the event was a great time and she thanked everyone involved.
"We get so much help and support from the community," Slaby said.
After years of suffering, Walat said she understands how difficult it might be for someone to leave an abusive and violent relationship, but that pain can lead to a life that is much better than the pain of an abusive relationship.
“Reach out. Get help,” Walat said.
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