Wednesday, August 14 at 7:30 p.m.

Join Kate Genovese,author of Two Weeks Since My Last Confession, for a reading and book signing at the Medford Public Library.

The best upbringing in the world doesn’t foolproof one from a terrible life. Two Weeks Since my Last Confession follows Molly O’Brien, daughter of a senator and raised in what seems to be the perfect life. But at thirty, she has a crippling heroin addiction and her life is on the rocks. What went wrong? Two Weeks Since my Last Confession is a moving novel of dealing with one’s past.

Kate Genovese is a member of the National Writer’s Union and also the author of two previous books – Thirty years in September : A Nurses Memoir and Loving Joe Gallucci; : Love and Life with Hepatitis C. Kate is a registered nurse in the community health field and lives in the Boston, Massachusetts area with her family.

]]> http://medfordhealthmatters.org/2010/07/book-reading-at-mpl/feed/ 0 http://medfordhealthmatters.org/2010/06/school-lunch-program-uses-local-ingredients/ http://medfordhealthmatters.org/2010/06/school-lunch-program-uses-local-ingredients/#comments Fri, 18 Jun 2010 01:32:00 +0000 Nikole http://medfordhealthmatters.org/?p=415

Wheat berries, used in the salad above, will be introduced into the school menu next year.

Medford School Food Services, students from Tufts University’s Tisch Scholar program, consultants from the Massachusetts Farm to School Program, Medford parents and children, community members, and others gathered together on Friday, June 11 to enjoy a dinner composed of local ingredients to launch Medford’s Farm-to-School Initiative.

The project includes the integration of locally sourced products such as produce, fresh herbs, and whole grains into the school breakfast and lunch menus and the creation of future schoolyard gardens. Tufts Tisch Scholar Leah Effron has been working closely with the schools to help with the project.

Diners enjoyed the following items prepared with locally sourced ingredients:

- Rotini Pasta with Roasted Garlic Tomatoes, Arugula and fresh Goat Cheese (produce from Lanni Orchards and goat cheese from Westfield Farms)
- “Confetti” Wheat Berry Salad w/ fresh vegetables and beans (produce from Lanni Orchards and grains from Four Star Grains)
- Tossed mixed greens with fresh herb vinaigrette dressing (produce Lanni Orchards)
- “Mojito” marinated roasted chicken with fresh garlic, cilantro, basil, mint and citrus juice (Herbs by Lanni Orchard)
- Whole Grain Mac and Cheese (by the Great Maria Cantacesso)
- Locally made Richardson’s ice cream courtesy of C.B. Scoops of Medford with fresh berries and apple compote topping (fruit from Lanni Orchards)

The dinner was to give people a taste of some of the local ingredients that have already been incorporated into the school lunch program along with some other locally grown food. Seasonal produce from local farms has been used for several years and whole grains from Four Star Grains will be used starting next year.

A panel composed of local farmers, representatives from the Massachusetts Farm-to-School Program and Medford residents, among others, spoke briefly and answered questions during the community dinner. There was also informational materials on food origin and sustainability, recipes, and an activity where children planted mesclun seeds into cartons to bring home.

- Information from Food Services Director Jeanne Irwin

Article courtesy of InsideMedford.com

Students from Tufts University, along with Medford School Food Services, Consultants from the Massachusetts Farm to School Program, along with a few Medford parents, will gather together to launch a Farm-to-school Initiative for the school children by hosting a citywide, Community Dinner kick-off event at the Andrews Middle School!

The project includes the integration of local produce (principally from Lanni Orchards) into the school breakfast and lunch menus and the creation of future schoolyard gardens.

The event will include dinner and dessert prepared with locally sourced ingredients. There will be a panel composed of local farmers, representatives from the Massachusetts Farm to School Program and Medford residents, among others.

There will also be informational materials on food origin and sustainability, recipes, as well as activities for the children relating to gardening (such as planting seeds in milk cartons).

Tickets will be available soon through the Medford School Food Service office at no cost.

More info to follow…

posted for Bridget Collins, School Chef extraordinaire!

With the nice weather on it’s way, many of us in Medford eagerly await spring cleaning. It’s a wonderful time of year because not only are sprouts and gardens popping up everywhere, but so are yard sales. This year many large “city-wide” yard sales are being organized. In a continued effort to be the green city that we know Medford is, let’s all do our part to keep any items that can either be recycled or reused out of the dumps.

Medford Freecycle, an online group growing strong, with almost 1,900 Medford participants, is open to all who want to “recycle” that special something rather than throw it away. Whether it’s a chair, a fax machine, piano or an old door, feel free to post it. Or maybe you’re looking to acquire something yourself! Nonprofit groups are also welcome to participate too! So sign up today.

Just this morning we have had offerings of baby cloths, board games, books, a baby crib, gardening tools, and a futon.The one main rule: everything posted must be free. This group is part of The Freecycle Network, a nonprofit organization and a movement of people interested in keeping good stuff out of landfills. Check out freecycle.org for other cities and info on the movement!

E-mail medfordfreecycle@gmail.com for questions or improvement ideas!

Click on image to enlarge.

Be a Parent Not a Pal Presentation April 12^th

By Penelope Bruce

On Monday April 12^th from 7pm-9pm, Medford Board of Health and Medford Health Matters Substance Abuse Task will be hosting a presentation for parents at the Caron Theater, Medford High School.

Be a parent not a pal is a presentation created by Richard P. Campbell and the law firm of Campbell Campbell Edwards & Conroy to educate students, parents, teachers and members of the community about the Social Host Law, and to illustrate the legal consequences of allowing those under the age of 21 to possess alcoholic beverages. The presentation will tell the stories of victims of the consequences of underage drinking as well as of the hosts who have been prosecuted under the Social Host Law. They show what happens when good kids make bad decisions and well-meaning parents who think that they are providing safe havens for their children and children’s friends painfully discover that these havens are not safe after all. They discuss the liability of social hosts when civil actions with millions of dollars at stake rapidly follow criminal prosecutions. They give new perspectives on the question, “Mom, Dad, can I have a party here at the house? Some of my friends will be drinking, but since I’ll collect all of the car keys, we’ll be safe, and everything will be all right.”

This program is for all parents with teens 6th to 12th grade but the program content is geared toward parents with teens in High School.

Admission is free and refreshments will be served, please RSVP at Medford Board of Health 781-393-2560 or at pbruce@medford.org

cta group

Medford Public Schools is creating a district technology advisory committee.

The purpose of this committee is to provide support and assistance in developing a new technology plan and other technology initiatives. Parents of Medford students and other interested parties are invited to apply for membership. The committee will meet on a monthly schedule.

If you would like to serve on this committee, please send a resume and letter of interest to Richard Trotta, Director of Media, Technology and Fine

Arts (rtrotta@medford.k12.ma.us), 489 Winthrop Street, Medford MA 02155. Applications must be received by March 12, 2010.

- Allison

March and April are Medford Community Read months!

This year’s Library-sponsored community read book is Cod: A Biography of the Fish That Changed the World by Mark Kurlansky. There are also three books for younger readers. This year’s Community Read events will deal with the history of New England fishing as well as the challenges facing marine ecology. The first program will take place on Thursday, March 11 at 7:30 p.m. at the Medford Public Library

We Are All Fishermen, A Lecture by Richard Adams Carey

George’s Bank and the inshore waters of New England were America’s first treasure chest, and Europe’s first clue to the vast natural wealth of the North American continent. There seemed to be no limit to the cod and other valuable species. The treasure replenished itself, over and over, and then it all went bust in the 1980s. Since then warring factions of fishermen, corporations, environmentalists, consumers, and politicians are still trying to figure out how to restore it. The success or failure of that effort is of huge import to us all.

Join Richard Adams Carey (Southern New Hampshire University) for the truth of why it went bust, a peek into the daily lives of real-life Cape Cod fishermen as they cope with the troubles of the industry, and a look ahead to what the future might hold.

This program is funded by the Medford Arts Council, which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council.

For upcoming Community Read events, check out the Library webpage at www.medfordlibrary.org

On Tuesday, Feb 9th, please join us, at Lawrence Memorial Hospital, for a Zonta Chocolate Event to help support local programs working to prevent and end violence against woman as well as assisting woman in transition.

This is  Zonta’s main fundraiser for the year. You can support Zonta by buying tickets even you can’t attend, although this is an awesome event for chocolate lovers and Valentine’s Day shoppers.

February 9, 2010 in the main lobby of LMH, Governors Ave, Medford, MA 02155

The Medford Family Network is looking for some GREAT DADS!

On Tuesday, February 2, 2010 (please note change of date) from 7:00 – 8:00 pm the MFN will be having a committee meeting at the MFN Family Center, 489 Winthrop Street, Medford as the search for  interested fathers, or those in a fathering role, to plan two “My Guy and I” field trips and other activities targeted for the special men in the lives of young children.

Come with your “Dads are Great” ideas!

Call the Medford Family Network today!
(781) 393-2106!

By Travis Andersen, Town Correspondent

Parents who wish their teens would quit texting so much may change their tune, thanks to a new text messaging service that Medford High students recently launched to help their peers say no to drugs and alcohol at parties.

The youth organization Teens Against Drinking and Drugs – or TADD, an offshoot of the local nonprofit Medford Health Matters – launched the service about three months ago.

The service, dubbed “I’m Allergic to Stupid Decisions,” kicks into action when youths text TADD to 69302.

Soon after, they receive a message with one of three pieces of information: an excuse to help them refuse a drink, a fact on underage drinking, or a pithy barb suggesting an alternative to booze and drugs.

To date, 130 youths have received over 1,000 texts, according to TADD advisor Gisela Rots.

“We want people to know that most youths DON’T drink, and that sometimes they just need to know there are more youth like them,” Rots said in an e-mail.

Two sample texts that youths may receive are, “I need these brain cells for college,” and “Have you seen ‘The Hangover’? I’ll be missing a tooth and will have a mystery baby!”

Rots said the group has advertised the service on Facebook, Twitter, and through other means, adding that a marketing expert has provided free advice.

Jenn Mui, a senior at Medford High and one of about 15 youths who worked on the project, recalled the brain-storming sessions that occurred last year.

“A bunch of us came up with excuses,” said Mui, who hopes to study communications in college. “What would we say if we were in a pressure situation?”

Rots said the entire initiative cost under $2,000, with funding from a state grant allocated to the Medford Board of Health.

“We hope that youth will begin using it at anytime they need it,” Rots said.