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

As you know, the Medford Family Network exists to provide family  support for families in all types of circumstances and situations. We  provide parenting education and family activities when you need them,  as well as concrete supports when you need them!

This is a “Shout Out” to those who may be in a position to help us  with a particular family.  The following is a list of items that this
family would greatly appreciate.  Those that attended the Shower of  Support on Sunday, May 15, 2010, need to be aware that those items  will immediately help this family as well as many others that we serve.

Mother –  Clothes Size 12, Shoe Size 9
Father –  Pants Size 34W x 30L, Shirts M/L, Shoes 8.5
Girl –    Clothes Size 2T, 3T; Shoes Size 4, 5
Household – New Queen Size Bedding
Family – Gift Cards to Kmart, Walmart, Target, Kohls, etc., any amount

Please call the Network at (781) 393-2106 for more information or to donate!

Sincerely,
Marie Cassidy, Family Specialist

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

The Friends of the Medford Family Network Present…

VALENTINE’S WEEKEND ICE CREAM SOCIAL FUN’RAISER

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2010 1:30 to 3:00 pm

McGlynn School Cafeteria, 3004 Mystic Valley Parkway, Medford

“Treat Your Little Sweetie!”

* Ice Cream Sundae Bar! * Children’s Entertainment by SING-A-LINGO * Face Painting! * Prizes, and More!

$5 per ticket/$15 max per family (ticket required in exchange for ice cream) Purchase your tickets at the MFN Family Center (781) 393-2106 or www.medfordfamilies.org

All Proceeds Support the Medford Family Network!

Thanks to all who contributed to and supported the suitcase collection drive for foster children conducted by Suitcases4Kids on Jan. 16, 2010 at Medford City Hall.

In just four hours, 1,039 suitcases were collected, to be donated to family service organizations so foster children moving to new homes have a dignified way to transport their belongings. More than 40 volunteers assisted at the event, including a group of students from Medford High School.

Benvenuti’s Italian Kitchen and Papa Gino’s on Riverside Avenue, and Dunkin’ Donuts on Salem Street donated refreshments.

A little history about Suitcases For Kids, well in 1995 a 10 year old girl came up with a great idea. She had found out that the average child in foster care has to move three to four times and carries everything they own in garbage bags.

“I thought it was horrible that the children had nothing to carry their things in as they moved so many times. I wanted to make them feel special by giving them something of their own to keep. I tried to put myself in their place and think how I would feel,” said Aubyn Burnside. And she started a movement to replace these kids’ garbage bags with their own suitcases.

It was not long before newspapers and magazines nationwide picked up the story. Aubyn would later appear on the Oprah Winfrey Show and be named one of Oprah’s Young Angels in her Angel Network.

Fast forward to 2009: Ron Nickerson, the president and founder, decided to use his talents and contacts to help children in the foster care system. During his research he discovered Aubyn Burnside. By this time her project had fallen into disuse as she had moved on to other things. He realized with his background that this would fit in very well with his goals.

Ron has spent the past 25 years working with children and their families in a variety of settings including residential facilities and psychiatric hospitals. He has also been a social worker for kids in specialized foster care and director of a 30 bed youth detention facility in Boston Massachusetts. He is currently a foster dad to several boys with Reactive Attachment Disorder.

The organizers also wished to thank Medford Mayor Michael J. McGlynn for co-sponsoring the event and opening Medford City Hall for the collection; corporate sponsor Citizens Bank; and Cheryl White, Executive Director of the Medford Chamber of Commerce.

Suitcases4Kids has now collected 10,194 suitcases toward its goal of 14,000 by June 10, 2010. Information on future collection drives will be available on the Web at www.suitcases4kids.org.

The Medford, MA Freecycle™ group 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!

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 groups.yahoo.com/group/FreecycleMedfordMA-owner@yahoogroups.com for questions
or improvement ideas! Or you can reach me right away at nikolet@gmail.com.

And have fun and jump right in!

Thanks, Your neighbor,

Nikole T. Roome-Torres

DISCLAIMER: FREECYCLE NETWORK MEMBERS USE THE LIST AT THEIR OWN RISK.
Please take reasonable measures to protect your safety and privacy when posting to the list
or participating in an exchange. By joining the list, you agree to hold neither the list owners
and moderators nor anyone affiliated with Freecycle.org responsible or liable for any
circumstance resulting from a Freecycle-related exchange or communication.

* FREE * Community Spaghetti Dinner

Saturday, December 12, 2009
6:00 to 7:00 pm

Congregational Church of West Medford
400 High Street
(next to the Brooks Elementary School)

All are welcome!
(Children must be accompanied by an adult)

Look for dinners in January, February, March 2010

Reservations not necessary, but encouraged!
Email: medfordgirlscouts@gmail.com
Phone: 781-854-6896

Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts
95 Berkley Street
Boston, MA  02116
www.hergirlscouts.org

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.

Team T.A.D.D. West and Team T.A.D.D. South. When you see these words, can you say that you know who these groups are, what they do and what they stand for?

If your answer is no to any of these questions, to me, that is a problem.

I am part of Team T.A.D.D., which stands for Teens against Drinking and Drugs and is a youth organization through Medford Health Matters. Our mission is to reduce underage drinking in Medford as well as change the perception of social norms.

But I have a dilemma.

Although people in the community and many students know who we are, I believe as a whole, the Medford community is not well educated about us. And that is preventing us from gaining the support necessary for our continued growth.

The thing that sparked this idea was when I attended the Search Institute’s Healthy Communities, Healthy Youth Conference. It was held in Cincinnati, Ohio from Nov. 5-7.

Teens from all over the United States attended and shared how they are making positive impacts in their communities and beyond.

This conference provided me with excellent networking opportunities and I met a few girls from Rochester, N.Y. They facilitated one of the workshops that I attended and in listening to what they do and how they get their tasks done, I became inspired.

I desire to create the same opportunities in Medford. They explained how whenever they decide to do a project or hold an event, they get the support of almost all of their community. And city officials too!

I want that for T.A.D.D. I want that for Medford.

If I had to approach Medford residents and promote an event for T.A.D.D. or even just T.A.D.D in general, I would probably encounter numerous people that do not know who we are. However, the girls from New York are able to speak to people in their county and most likely have that person know about their group and gain instant support.

I want that for T.A.D.D. I want that for Medford.

I have a vision for Medford because I see it’s potential. My vision includes gaining the support of my community. I want every section of this city to work together to become a better community. I want us all to work in unity.

My vision consists of T.A.D.D. being the catalyst to spark change not only in the youth but in the senior citizens and everyone in between. I’d like to increase inter-generational connectivity because change does not come about by only working with one group of people. From the youngest children to the wisest elders, everyone has a role to play and no one will get left out.

We cannot only focus on the youth, but adults as well. We can focus on the youth to gain new and creative ideas but we have to realize that we don’t have to come up with the basis of our ideas alone. Adults have had experiences that can help us spark change.

The task doesn’t have to be a struggle if we are open-minded and accept help. Medford has as much potential as any other city and maybe even more because we have resources in youth and adults. Medford is strong and as I strive to carry out my vision, I hope our community comes together and becomes engaged in the positive change that’s happening right in their back yard!

— Team T.A.D.D. member Crystal Chandler is junior at Medford High School.

Medford Transcript- Wicked Local