All Pawtucket All The Time

Parents/caregivers and children of all ages are invited to a Family Story Night. This FREE program will be held in the library auditorium at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, July 7^th and August 4th. We will have wonderful stories, simple crafts and sing songs. No registration required. For more information please call 401-725-3714 x209 or stop by the children’s desk.

Padres/cuidadores y sus niños de todas edades están invitados a un programa de Cuentos en Familia.  Este programa  es GRATIS y se tomara lugar en el auditorio a las 6:30 de la noche el Martes, 7 de Julio y 4 de Agosto. Tendremos cuentos divertidos, actividades simples y canciones. No es necesario registrarse. Para más información por favor llamar al 401-725-3714 x209 o pase por el departamento de niños.

  The Weaver Library is proud to present The Chorus of East Providence in a free concert at the East Providence Senior Center, 610 Waterman Avenue, on Tuesday, July 14, 2009 at 7:00PM.  The Chorus, under the direction of Beth Armstrong, will present a dynamic program of music ranging from traditional spirituals like My Lord, What a Morning and Down to the River to Pray to songs from Broadway shows and movies to 60s pop tunes.  Cherished songs such as Turn, Turn, Turn, See You in September, Summer Nights and long-time audience favorites One Tin Soldier and Let There Be Peace on Earth are also on the evening’s program.

            The Chorus of East Providence, a non-profit organization, is a diverse, intergenerational, non-auditioned group of people who love to sing. Led by Director, Beth Armstrong and accompanied by Victoria Lambrozo, the mission of The Chorus of East Providence is to educate its members and the public about music and choral singing, while fostering an appreciation of music by all.

Join in the community spirit as the library and the senior center come together to offer another wonderful program.  Bring the whole family to a delightful indoor concert in the spacious cafeteria of the East Providence Senior Center.  Questions?  Call Adult Services Librarian Joyce May at 434-2453 or email jmay@eplib.org.  This concert is free and open to all.

PROVIDENCE, R.I.-Lieutenant Governor Elizabeth Roberts announced today that she will seek re-election, pledging to use her position to make health care affordable for every Rhode Islander.

“National health care reform is happening now and will not wait for Rhode Island to be ready to respond. As President Obama and Congress develop national health care reform, I will work all day, every day, to ensure that federal policies reflect the reality of the struggles of everyday Rhode Islanders,” Roberts said. “Given the urgency of the national health care reforms coming to Rhode Island at a time when our economy is so seriously distressed, Rhode Islanders need leadership on this issue now.”

“As Lieutenant Governor, I have visited every Rhode Island city and town,” Roberts continued. “What I have heard time and again from small businesses, working families and seniors is the desperate need for high quality, affordable health care that is accessible to everyone. My career, both in private life and as a public servant, has been focused on improving health care. It is clear that this fight must continue, and I am committed as Lieutenant Governor to making affordable health care a reality for all Rhode Islanders.”
   
From 1997 to 2007, Roberts served as a State Senator, where she worked to reform Blue Cross and create the Office of Health Insurance Commissioner. Most recently, Lieutenant Governor Roberts’ leadership was crucial to saving the Health Insurance Commissioner’s position and the critical protections for affordability and fairness that the office provides. The Commissioner is credited with saving over $150 million dollars in health insurance premiums for Rhode Islanders, but was slated for elimination in the General Assembly’s budget. Her leadership also proved pivotal in stopping the state’s health insurers’ request for double-digit rate increases last month.

“These rate increases would have come at a time when Rhode Island’s small businesses and families simply could not afford them,” Roberts explained. “They had to be stopped.”

“I’ve spent the past few months exploring a run for governor, and I want to thank all of my supporters and let them know that I will continue to work to turn the page on politics as usual in Rhode Island,” Roberts said. “I will continue to fight for quality health care for all; a stronger, more

At a recent meeting the State Arts Council board elected William A. (Bill) Brackett of Coventry as its Chairman. Brackett’s election places him as leader of the thirteen-member governing body of the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts, the state agency responsible for support of the arts in communities throughout the state.

Bill Brackett is technical director for the Providence Performing Arts Center (PPAC) as well as Director of Technical Services for Professional Facilities Management. Brackett is responsible for all technical aspects of all performances at PPAC and serves as a theatre consultant specifying and designing backstage support areas and equipment. He is active in the Town of Coventry in sports and government. He has coached Little League and has served on the Coventry School Building Committee.

Also elected to leadership positions for the coming year were Carrie Zaslow of Providence as Vice-Chair, and Mary K. Talbot of Barrington as Secretary.

Council members are appointed by the Governor for three-year terms, and are subject to approval of the Rhode Island State Senate. Leadership positions are elected to one year terms by members of the Council. The Council serves as the decision-making body of the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts.

The Rhode Island State Council on the Arts is a state agency, supported by appropriations from the Rhode Island General Assembly and grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency. RISCA provides grants, technical assistance and staff support to arts organizations and artists, schools, community centers, social service organizations and local governments to bring the arts into the lives of Rhode Islanders.

CRANSTON, R.I. - June 29, 2009 - RIDOC Correctional Officer Michael LaPlume of Warwick says he hasn’t seen anything like the camaraderie and support he’s witnessed since deciding to launch the Correctional Officers Search and Rescue (COSAR) Team about a year ago. Designed to assist in woodland searches for missing or lost children, Alzheimers patients, or even hikers and hunters who lose their way, the team is the only one of its kind in the state. It is on call 24/7.

Officer LaPlume initially received 110 applications (all RIDOC Correctional Officers) for the 42-person team. He made his selections based on an interview process which determined the commitment level and experience of the applicants. He has donated some of his own money and has received support from the Rhode Island Brotherhood of Correctional Officers (RIBCO) to get the non-profit team up and running. The team has been trained and certified by the Rhode Island State Police and the Rhode Island Emergency Management Association (RIEMA).  Officer LaPlume recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the State Police outlining how the team will operate.

COSAR is a multi-agency group called Task Force Two (TF-2), which is led by the State Police. Each member of COSAR winds up spending up to $400 between equipment and uniforms. Officer LaPlume is looking into grant funding to help defray some of these costs.

Officer LaPlume says forming the team has been a “huge endeavor,” but one he is pleased and proud to have undertaken. He has set up a website (www.mycosar.com), training schedule, ordered all equipment, formed a board of directors, and just recently incorporated the team (with help from C.O. Jason Messier of the RIDOC’s Women’s Division). COSAR has a treasurer, recording secretary, and even a photographer. Officer LaPlume recognizes his team members for their dedication. “I couldn’t do any of this without them. With their help, hopefully we can save a life someday,” he says.

All members must complete two eight-hour days, as well as a 16-hour land/navigation course. There are 12 drills per year and some classroom sessions. The most recent training was held on Wednesday, June 24^th, from 3:30-6:30 p.m. at the Training Academy.  The team will participate in a multi-agency drill conducted by the Rhode Island State Police on Sunday, August 30^th.

Because of the enthusiastic response, Officer LaPlume is in the process of recruiting more members, hoping to add another 20 new positions to the team. So far, he has three medics, one nurse, and two EMTs on the team. He has about eight female members and males with the title of Captain, Lieutenant, and C.O., ranging from two years on the job to over 30. All members are current active duty Correctional Officers who have been trained in crime scene preservation through the rigorous nine-week Correctional Officer Training Academy.

While the team hasn’t yet been pressed into service for an actual search, they held a mock search recently and were pleased when 35 of the 42 members reported. All members must participate on the team on their own time.

Officer LaPlume credits his comrade Lt. Michael Reis with inspiring him to start COSAR. Lt. Reis launched a dog rescue team and has been “a great inspiration.”

Realizing running the team was taking up more time than he’d ever imagined, Officer  LaPlume recruited 18-year RIDOC veteran Stephen Aceto to serve as assistant team leader. Officer Aceto, also of Warwick, recently held a class for team members on map reading and plotting. He designed the team patch, ordered all of the uniforms, and shares in making team decisions. He works in Maximum Security and Officer LaPlume in Minimum Security, but the team members come from every building within the ACI.

Corrections Director Ashbel T. Wall recently wrote to Officer LaPlume, commending him for his effort and congratulating him for forming a volunteer team with a common mission. “The public spiritedness and professional manner in which the team conducts itself will reflect well on the Department of Corrections,” Wall wrote.

Free screenings-which include total cholesterol levels, blood pressure, bone density, glucose levels, waist circumference and body mass index-will help provide adults with a critical foundation for early treatment and disease detection.   

July 17, 2009   Noon - 6 PM     Walgreens      

100 Broad Street       
Pawtucket, RI 02860    

May all your ‘journeys have the spirits of our roundtable with you!!
           ><../’/_/ KingArthur/_//<>

Saturday, July 4, 2009

First Lady Michelle Obama Announces Release of More Than $5.6 Million from Recovery Act to Upgrade & Expand Community Health Centers To Serve More Patients in Rhode Island

Washington, DC - First Lady Michelle Obama today announced the release of $5,696,700 in grants to community health centers in Rhode Island. The grants will help address immediate and pressing health center facility and equipment needs and increase access to health care for millions in Rhode Island.  The money was made available by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and comes as more Americans join the ranks of the uninsured due to the economic downturn and skyrocketing health costs.

“Community Health Centers provide care to the Americans who need it most and their work has never been more important,” said Obama. “These grants will help centers in Rhode Island serve more Americans who simply can’t afford insurance coverage anymore.”

The Recovery Act Capital Improvement Program (CIP) grants will support the construction, repair and renovation of over 1,500 health center sites nationwide. More than 650 centers will use the funds to purchase new equipment or health information technology (HIT) systems, and nearly 400 health centers will adopt and expand the use of electronic health records.

To see a list of Recovery Act CIP grantees in Rhode Island, go to http://transparency.cit.nih.gov/RecoveryGrants/grant.cfm?grant=HRSA_CIP

Health centers deliver preventive and primary care services at more than 7,500 service delivery sites around the country to patients regardless of their ability to pay; charges for services are set according to income.  Health centers serve more than 17 million patients, about 40 percent of whom have no health insurance. Community Health Centers are the responsibility of the Department of Health and Human Services’ Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).

The Capitol Improvement grant awards are the third set of health center grants provided through the Recovery Act.  On March 2, President Obama announced grants worth $155 million to establish 126 new health center sites.  Those grants will provide access to essential preventive and primary health care for more than 750,000 people in 39 states and two territories.

On March 27, HHS also awarded $338 Million in Increased Demand for Services grants for health centers. Health centers are using these Increased Demand for Services grants to provide care to more than 2 million additional patients over the next two years, including approximately 1 million uninsured people.

By Ken McGill, Registrar of Voters

City of Pawtucket 

In these troubling times more and more people are asking for help to make ends meet. There are several groups throughout Rhode Island who help people but I can think of none better than the Blackstone Valley Community Action Program (BVCAP) right here in Pawtucket. BVCAP is a non-profit agency whose mission is to assist low-income people and empower them so that they may become self reliant, responsible citizens. BVCAP serves over 12,000 families in Pawtucket, Central Falls, Cumberland, Lincoln and Woonsocket.

So how can BVCAP help you in these tough times? BVCAP has several programs that may help:

Basic Needs - BVCAP runs a food pantry and is available to assist with the application for food stamps.

Energy Assistance - BVCAP has several programs to help with energy concerns including; the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program which helps with paying for ones oil, gas and electric; Residential Energy Assistance Challenge which help clients 55+ access energy assistance; Weatherization Program which will help with everything from boiler replacement to new windows.

Housing - BVCAP develops housing for low-income ownership or rental and does housing counseling & education for the first time homeowner.

Senior Programs - which is one of the agencies most popular helps with much needed social services for seniors who live in facilities run by Pawtucket Housing. In addition, the agency runs the Retired Senior Volunteer Program which provides seniors 55+ the opportunity to keep busy and share their time, experience, knowledge and interest with a plethora of local groups.

Educational Programs - each year BVCAP offers a variety of GED and English as a Second Language programs. At the end of each school year BVCAP holds a graduation ceremony for those who have passed their GED requirements giving participants the opportunity to feel the happiness one feels on graduation day.

These are just a few of BVCAP’s many, many programs. BVCAP is a safety net for those who are struggling during these very difficult times. If you would like to know more about their programs you can call at 723-4520.

Times are tough for everyone and some are not going to make it without a hand up and that is why the Blackstone Valley Community Action Program is part of Pawtucket - Your Hometown.

-           Until next week.