Medford Health Matters (MHM), in coordination with the City of Medford, is embarking on an exciting switchbox beautification project. Over the next few months we will be matching local artists and interested students to work together to develop a theme and draft a mural to be painted on the large electrical boxes around the City of Medford. We hope to engage several local artists to collaborate with us and our local students to turn our switchboxes into proud pieces of public art, much like similar successful initiatives in Malden and Somerville.

We will have MHM Project Managers to assist the artists and students in the coordination and development of each MHM Board approved project from start to finish. Local artists will be given a stipend for the supplies (TBD) and their time to complete the project and students will earn community service hours.

If you are interested in participating in this project please complete the attached form and return it to me at City Hall, Room 214, or via fax (781) 393-2105, or fill it out by going to this link http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/LGW76JX, and return it no later than December 20, 2011.

We will have an orientation meeting to begin our planning process in early January and ultimately have the box project complete by early Spring. Artists and students can be a part of as many box projects as they like. We have 21 switchboxes throughout the city than will be painted. We hope you will be part of this fun and educational city project.

If you need more information and/or have questions please contact me at 781-393-2501 or at dmcleod@medford.org

Sincerely,

Diane McLeod

MHM Member

The evening of September 29th, from 7:00 – 8:00 pm in the Caron Theater at Medford High School, the Rachel’s Challenge speaker will conduct a powerful session with parents and community leaders. This session is similar to the assembly program and ends with a specific challenge to parents and community leaders, showing them how they can reinforce the positive decisions Medford youth are making.

Entertainers, politicians, sports celebrities, educators, and even two Presidents of the United States have been impacted by Rachel’s Challenge. However, students are the target audience and, based on many reviews of the program, students have proven that they will respond with positive words, attitudes, and actions. My hope is that the Medford High School community will feel a tremendous positive impact as a result of the Rachel’s Challenge program.

Support Specialist David Blauch would like to invite all members of the community, including members of the School Committee, to attend the Rachel’s Challenge community event on Thursday, 9/29/11 from 7:00 – 8:00 pm in the Caron Theater at Medford High School. There are about 350 seats in the Caron Theater. Let’s fill the place and take what we can from this program to make a significant difference for our kids.

Rachel Joy Scott was the first person killed at Columbine High School on April 20, 1999. Rachel was known for her kindness and compassion and positive ways of interacting with peers; the contents of her six diaries have become the foundation for the “Rachel’s Challenge” program.

Rachel’s Challenge is coming to Medford High School on Thursday, September 29th. The program will begin with two assemblies at Medford High School. Powerful video/audio footage of Rachel’s life and the Columbine tragedy will characterize a one hour school presentation that motivates students to treat others in more positive, empathetic ways. All grade 9 and 10 students at Medford High School will attend the assemblies.

The assemblies will be followed by a separate interactive 90 minute training session involving both adult and student leaders that shows how to sustain the momentum created by the assembly. The assembly creates the “want to” or desire for positive change. The training session teaches the “how to” and ensures that the positive impact will continue.

For more information, please contact Support Specialist David Blauch at Medford High School at 781-393-2303, or visit www.rachelschallenge.org.

Tuesdays in October 4th, 11th, 18th, and 25th
Marilyn Belmonte will present four 2 hours sessions APPLAUDD – A Prevention Program Learning About Underage Drinking & Drugs.  For Parents only (see below for details about each night)

Tuesday November 1st

Eileen DiBattista will present one 2 hour presentation on Medford Public Schools drug and alcohol policy, school health policy and procedures for identifying if students are under the influence of drugs and alcohol.

Location: Medford High School in the Caron Theater

Time: 6:30 to 8:30 each night

To access resources now

APPLAUDD descripition:

October 4th- An introduction to the latest in research about adolescent brain development and how drugs affect the brain during this period. It discusses the current teen drug trends in this part of the country and how parents can influence substance abuse. This session covers many plant-based and traditional drugs including Heroin, Cocaine, Crack Cocaine, Methamphetamine, Crystal Meth, Ecstasy, LSD, Salvia Divinorum, Jimsom Weed.

October 11th- includes the fastest growing drug trend of prescription drug abuse. Percocet, Vicodin, OxyContin are explained and the connection to heroin abuse is illustrated. ADHD medication abuse as academic enhancers, Klonopin, Xanax, Ambien and Steroids are also discussed. Over the counter medicines such as Dextromethorphan are included. This session also covers inhalant abuse.

October 18th- is a non-political, scientific-based presentation on the effects of marijuana on the adolescent brain, grades, driving, depression, suicide and addiction to other drugs. K2 is included. Along with discussion about the new MA law decriminalizing marijuana and school policies.

October 25th- covers the affect of underage drinking on adolescent brain development, the myth of teaching children to drink responsibly and social host liability as related to MA state law. Prevention strategies and protective factors discussed include communication techniques, parenting styles, parent involvement, monitoring teens, family dinners, youth activities, reading selections, teaching proper use of medications vs. abuse, role modeling, building self-esteem, healthy stress relief, developmental asset building. Parents leave with an Action Plan for continued implementation.

• Each session ends with breaking into small groups to plan actions and discuss specific questions.
• October 25th ends with a Q&A between parents and community leaders to provide parents with community-specific policies and treatment resources.
• APPLAUDD includes the “What Now?” Action Plan, a checklist for implementation of newly learned strategies, continued education, community involvement and resources.

Initial and Short Term Outcomes are:
*Increased parent knowledge of drug impairment, including drug paraphernalia
*Increased parent efficacy to talk with child about alcohol and drugs.
*Increased parent intention to take action.
*Increased knowledge of barriers to parent-child communication and how to break through these barriers.
*Changed parent perceptions regarding underage drinking and drug “experimentation”.
*Increased awareness of need for ongoing information regarding risk factors.
*Sign up for monthly parent newsletters that provide up to date information and suggestions for parenting tools.
*Increased recognition of drug abuse and related early intervention
*Increased frequency of parent-teen communication
*Parents take steps to secure the home (i.e. proper disposal of prescription medications)
*Increased monitoring and rule enforcement
*Increased parent access/use of prevention materials.
*Increase engagement of parents in school or other community prevention efforts (changes in policies, bylaws, school rules).

Long Term Outcomes are:
*Reduced underage drinking.
*Reduced drug use among youth.
*Long-lasting, increased parent involvement with teens, monitoring of adolescents and parent-teen communication about substance abuse.
*Informed parents who are actively involved in community engagement.

Please join Medford Health Matters at our next members’ meeting.

Medford Health Matters’ members meeting will be held on Thursday, March 3 2011, from 7pm to 8:30 pm at Medford City Hall in the Council Chambers, 85 George P. Hassett Drive, Medford.

There is a change in our meeting presentation.  Our meeting highlighting the Medford Census data for 2010 will be postponed since the Census Bureau may not have released Massachusetts data by March 3.  Please watch this space for information regarding the census presentation, and join us for the March rd meeting which will include highlights of Medford Health Matters partnership projects.

*   Team Medford, Penny Bruce Medford Substance Prevention Task Force
*   Science to Service Award for I’m Allergic to Stupid Decisions, Medford Substance Prevention Task Force
*   Environmental Justice and the Mystic Watershed, Nick Cohen Tri-City Community Action Program, Inc. (Tri-CAP)
*   “Voices of Medford,” Diane Mcleod Human Diversity Director for the City of Medford

Come and learn about  Medford Health Matters and how you can participate.  Medford Health Matter’s board meets on the first Thursday of each month at 8:00 a.m. at Medford City Hall.  Member meetings are held every other month and alternate between morning and evening meetings.  Please watch this space for details.

Medford Health Matter’s mission is to foster an environment of wellness and healthy lifestyles for all those who live, learn, work and play in Medford.

MA Drivers License

By Alix Roy, Town Correspondent

A local ordinance requiring all purchasers of alcohol to be carded – regardless of age – took many residents by surprise, but advocates for preventing underage drinking say the rule has been received positively by many retailers and restauranteurs.

For full text article go to:

http://www.boston.com/yourtown/news/medford/2010/06/liquor_stores_restaurants_rece.html?s_campaign=8315

Drug Free Communities Coordinator – Medford Health Matters and Northeast Center for Healthy Communities

Medford Health Matters, in partnership with the Northeast Center for Healthy Communities (NCHC), seeks a Coordinator of the Drug Free Communities Grant. The DFC Coordinator will work primarily with the DFC Director at the NCHC and with the Substance Abuse Task Force of Medford Health Matters.

The NCHC is a small team of public health specialists passionate about making positive change. Our mission is to build the capacity of prevention programming throughout Northeast Massachusetts with a primary focus on building healthy, substance-free communities. The Drug Free Communities Grant Coordinator (DFC Coordinator) will implement programs and strategies to prevent substance abuse among youth in Medford. By serving as an ambassador for the NCHC and MHM, the DFC Coordinator will build effective community partnerships and community collaborations to implement action plans to support youth in living healthy lives. The DFC Coordinator will build the membership of MHM and its task forces and will participate in assessment, strategic planning, and evaluation activities to ensure effective program implementation. The DFC Coordinator will be called upon to present to small and medium-sized audiences and to draft newsletters and funding reports. Time will be spent in Lawrence and Medford offices. The DFC Coordinator reports directly to the NCHC Director of Programs.

Qualifications:

Qualified candidates will have an advanced degree, along with three years field experience. Demonstrated skills in prevention and community engagement are essential. Qualified candidates must be committed to high quality work and have experience working in a team environment, implementing effective project or action plans, and facilitating effective meetings to reach group agreement. Strong written and oral communication skills, along with, interpersonal and analytical skills are a must. Successful candidates should be comfortable using and learning new computer software and internet applications.

Interested candidates please send a cover letter and resume (no phone calls please) to:

Tami Gouveia-Vigeant, MSW, MPH
Director of Programs
Northeast Center for Healthy Communities
One Canal Street
Lawrence, MA  01840

tgouveia-vigeant@glfhc.org

Drug Free Communities Coordinator – Medford Health Matters and Northeast Center for Healthy Communities

Medford Health Matters, in partnership with the Northeast Center for Healthy Communities (NCHC), seeks a Coordinator of the Drug Free Communities Grant. The DFC Coordinator will work primarily with the DFC Director at the NCHC and with the Substance Abuse Task Force of Medford Health Matters.

The NCHC is a small team of public health specialists passionate about making positive change. Our mission is to build the capacity of prevention programming throughout Northeast Massachusetts with a primary focus on building healthy, substance-free communities. The Drug Free Communities Grant Coordinator (DFC Coordinator) will implement programs and strategies to prevent substance abuse among youth in Medford. By serving as an ambassador for the NCHC and MHM, the DFC Coordinator will build effective community partnerships and community collaborations to implement action plans to support youth in living healthy lives. The DFC Coordinator will build the membership of MHM and its task forces and will participate in assessment, strategic planning, and evaluation activities to ensure effective program implementation. The DFC Coordinator will be called upon to present to small and medium-sized audiences and to draft newsletters and funding reports. Time will be spent in Lawrence and Medford offices. The DFC Coordinator reports directly to the NCHC Director of Programs.

Qualifications:

Qualified candidates will have an advanced degree, along with three years field experience. Demonstrated skills in prevention and community engagement are essential. Qualified candidates must be committed to high quality work and have experience working in a team environment, implementing effective project or action plans, and facilitating effective meetings to reach group agreement. Strong written and oral communication skills, along with, interpersonal and analytical skills are a must. Successful candidates should be comfortable using and learning new computer software and internet applications.

Interested candidates please send a cover letter and resume (no phone calls please) by December 18^th to:

Tami Gouveia-Vigeant, MSW, MPH
Director of Programs
Northeast Center for Healthy Communities
One Canal Street
Lawrence, MA  01840

tgouveia-vigeant@glfhc.org

MassDOT has posted to the Green Line extension project website three new documents about the project that were presented at public meetings this week.

A Fall 2009 Product Fact Sheet was distributed at Wednesday’s Public Hearing on the Draft Environmental Impact Report, where an overview PowerPoint presentation also was made.

On Tuesday at the Medford City Council meeting, a brochure outlining the potential property tax impacts of the project was distributed.

Note that also at Tuesday’s City Council meeting, MassDOT officials said they were working on an alternative design for the Route 16 station that would eliminate the need to acquire the office buildings at 200 and 222 Boston Avenue in Medford, which currently are on the affected properties list.

All three documents are available in this folder:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/medfordmass/files/Green%20Line/

or on the project website:

http://www.greenlineextension.org/

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) would like to inform you that, over the next several months, our consultants will be initiating field work in and around the area of the Green Line Extension corridor. The purpose of this work is to collect data to support the ongoing development of the design for the Green Line Extension project.

Beginning immediately, you may see project team members working in and around the MBTA’s Lowell and Fitchburg Lines and on local roadways. These team members will be performing field surveys and geotechnical work. There is no construction work associated with this effort. Access to a limited number of commercial and residential properties will be required for survey work. Our consultants will provide a written notice to private property owners before entering onto any private property.

As part of our public outreach, we will continue to strive to keep you informed of progress related to the Green Line Extension project.

We encourage you to share this information with your friends and neighbors who may not be on our email distribution list, or encourage them to sign up for future mailings at www.mass.gov/greenlineextension.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding this work, please contact Kate Fichter, Project Manager for the Green Line Extension, at 617-973-7342 or by email to katherine.fichter@state.ma.us

Just a reminder, this months members meeting has been canceled and will resume on January 7, 2010 at 9am in room 201 at Medford City Hall.

If you have any questions, comments or items to add to the agenda, please email MHM President, Diane Trask McCue.

See you in 2010!