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Wednesday, February 29, 2012 10:53 AM

Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe and the City of Taunton

Announce Plans for a Destination Resort Casino

  

 

Taunton, MA—The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe and Mayor Thomas Hoye, Jr. announced today that they have begun discussions to build a destination resort casino in Taunton.

“The development of a destination resort in Taunton presents an incredible opportunity for the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe and the City of Taunton,” said Tribal Chairman Cedric Cromwell. “This project will bring much-needed economic opportunity for the Tribe while creating thousands of jobs in Taunton.”

 

Taunton Mayor Thomas Hoye, Jr. sees the proposal as an economic opportunity for the city and the region. “In addition to the thousands of good jobs a development like this will bring, it will also mean millions of dollars in revenue to address our priorities here in Taunton like improving our schools, hiring police officers and fire fighters, improving infrastructure, and attracting new businesses to the city,” Hoye said. “This conversation is the first step in the process. We will follow the guidelines in the state law.”

 

Both leaders stressed that this announcement is the beginning of a conversation with the residents of Taunton about how best to work together to make this proposal a reality. “I’ve been impressed from the beginning with the Tribe’s commitment to an inclusive process and a real partnership with Taunton,” Hoye explained. “Together, we’ll be meeting with residents across the city about this project and about a long-term vision for our community.”

The Tribe has entered into an option to purchase land alongside Route 24 in East Taunton. The Tribe’s integrated destination resort concept will include a casino, hotels, fine and casual dining, entertainment space and other amenities. “This will be a first-class resort with something to offer the whole family,” Cromwell said. “The residents of Taunton and all of Southeastern Massachusetts will be proud of the state of the art facility we will build here.” In addition, Taunton’s and the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe’s rich shared history will be an attraction to thousands of tourists. “We see Taunton as a cultural gateway to Southeastern Massachusetts, Cape Cod and the Islands,” Cromwell said. “Taunton is a fantastic city and we want to share it with people from all over the world.”

 

The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe will request a vote of the people of Taunton to approve the destination resort. This vote will follow a series of community meetings in every neighborhood of the city so residents have the opportunity to ask questions about the proposal and offer their ideas for how the project can help the city. In addition, the Tribe and the City will enter into an agreement that will spell out the relationship between the two governments.

 

In addition, the Tribe will negotiate a compact with Governor Deval Patrick regarding the operation of their destination resort. “We look forward to developing an agreement with the governor that will be beneficial to the Tribe, The City of Taunton and the Commonwealth,” said Cromwell. “We are excited about the opportunity this presents for all of us, and we can’t wait to get started.”

 

About the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe

 

The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe, known as the People of the First Light, has inhabited present-day Massachusetts for more than 12,000 years. After an arduous 30+ year process, the Mashpee Wampanoag were re-acknowledged as a federally recognized tribe in 2007 and retain full tribal sovereignty rights.

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Wednesday, February 29, 2012 10:45 AM

Rep. Stanley testifies on behalf of his bill to protect Massachusetts’

Public Deposits before Joint Committee on Financial Services

  

 

 

(Boston, MA) – February 9, 2012 – Representative Tom Stanley testified before the Joint Committee on Financial Services in support of a bill he filed to create a special commission to determine the best ways to protect public deposits. Richard Carmignani Jr., the Treasurer of Dudley, MA, also testified on behalf of the Massachusetts Collectors and Treasurers Association (MCTA) in support of Rep. Stanley’s legislation.

 

 

 

The special commission would investigate, study and report on the safety and security of deposits made by public entities with funds deposited in any public depository or combined investment fund by the state, municipalities, counties, districts and regional school districts.

 

 

 

“As we learned when Capitol Bank failed in 1990, taking millions of dollars in funds of the communities of Newton, Rehoboth and Yarmouth, bank and credit union failures can result in both a loss of public funds and a loss of public confidence.” said Rep. Stanley. “Furthermore, after the recent near financial collapse, it has been firmly established that even the most cautious public treasurer can no longer rely upon the published financial statements of banking institutions and that no amount of diligence can substitute for actual secure collateral.”

 

 

 

The study conducted by the Commission will determine the best ways to protect public deposits and consider the potential effect of legislation requested by the MCTA. This legislation would establish a structure to achieve and maintain the security of public deposits of all governmental entities in the Commonwealth by creating a system for qualifying public depositories and establishing rules for collateralization of public deposits.

 

 

“The MCTA has lobbied for passage of legislation for years that would establish a structure to achieve and maintain the security of public deposits by qualifying public depositories and establishing rules for collateralization of public deposits. Massachusetts is one of very few states that do not protect their public deposits and passage of my legislation would change that by forcing the competing interests to act,” added Rep. Stanley.

 

 

 

For more information:

 

Tara Conklin

Legislative Aide to Rep. Stanley

(617) 722- 2230

Tara.conklin@mahouse.gov

 

 

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Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture

Reviews Rep. Stanley’s Bills to Protect Striped Bass

  

 

 

 

Boston, MA, February 28, 2012 – The Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture, chaired by Rep. Anne Gobi and Sen. Marc Pacheco, today reviewed three bills filed by Rep. Stanley to protect the population of Atlantic Striped Bass.

  

 

 

Rep. Stanley requested a favorable report from the Committee on House Bill 258, “An Act relative to the economic value and revenue generation of the Atlantic Striped Bass”, House Bill 259, “An Act promoting the public health of the citizens of the Commonwealth through the testing and labeling of striped bass”, and House Bill 260, “An Act relative to the conservation of Atlantic Striped Bass.”

 

“It is of utmost importance that we protect and preserve the Atlantic Striped Bass in our waters,” said Rep. Stanley. “With the value of the recreational fishery estimated at $1.2 billion, it is extremely important to protect the harvest.”

  

 

 

A 66 percent decline in coast-wide recreational catch from 2006 - 2009; a 25 percent decline in estimated striped bass abundance from 2004 – 2008; and several years of below-average production of young fish from Chesapeake Bay (where most striped bass found in MA’s waters are spawned), are indicators of a declining population. In addition to these decreases in numbers, there are troubling signs of a wasting disease that has hit the species, which worries fishermen and specialists that another potential crash in stock like the one experienced in the early 1980s may occur.

 

 

“To ensure the long-term survival of this species, we need to recognize striped bass for their real value to Massachusetts and take action now. The current rising loss of jobs and personal income caused by the declining fishery must be reversed,” stated Rep. Stanley. “With fewer fish to catch each year, there are fewer visiting anglers coming to Massachusetts, all of which is having a negative effect on the Massachusetts economy.”

 

 

 

About the Legislation:

 

• House Bill 258 requires the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries to take into consideration the economic importance of and the revenue implications for the Commonwealth of the recreational Striped Bass fishery when making decisions about the Commercial Striped Bass fishery.
• House Bill 259 seeks to protect our consumers by requiring that the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection annually study the Striped Bass for contamination by mercury, PCBs and other elements as they currently do for the fresh water fishery. This research is shared on an annual basis with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health who will take action if the level of contaminants is deemed to be a threat to the Public.
• House Bill 260 seeks to grant the striped bass with “game fish” status, thus protecting the stock of striped bass and best managing this resource.

“These three bills would protect and preserve this important resource that is so integral to the Massachusetts economy, while also protecting consumers from potential health issues that have yet to be studied,” said Rep. Stanley.

FREE PHOTO EXHIBIT AT CITY HALL THROUGH MARCH 16

WORK OF CITY RESIDENTS FEATURED

 

            The Boston Parks and Recreation Department, in partnership with the Boston Arts Commission, is hosting a month-long photography exhibit on the second floor of Boston City Hall through March 16.

          The Winter Photography Exhibit highlights photographs taken during the recent Pics in the Parks Winter Photography Workshops and Scavenger Hunt.  Photography instructor Sarah Berry taught participants techniques and different approaches to taking a creative photo. 

The exhibit can be viewed during regular business hours on the second floor of Boston City Hall in the corridor to the right of the Marriage and Birth Certificate windows.

          In addition to the workshops, city residents with cameras were invited to take part in a citywide Scavenger Hunt that guided participants to one-of-a-kind landmarks in Boston ’s parks.  Photographers received clues via email and on the Parks Department’s social media accounts. 

A panel of judges, including representatives from Photo Nights Boston, the Mayor’s Office of Arts Tourism and Special Events, and the Parks Department selected their favorite photos from the exhibit and awarded the photographers exciting prizes at a reception on February 28.

For more information, follow @bostonparksdept on Twitter or visit www.facebook.com/bostonparksdepartment

Boston Public Library to Host Authors and Lecturers in March

Researchers, writers, and historians will visit BPL locations

BOSTON – February 27, 2012 – The Boston Public Library will host authors and speakers throughout March at the Central Library and in branches across the city.

 

Boston Public Schools introduces far-reaching tobacco-free environment policy

 
Policy goes further than any other school district in banning promotion of tobacco products

BOSTON – Boston Public Schools (BPS) Superintendent Carol R. Johnson today kicked off a campaign aimed at informing schools throughout the city of the district’s new Tobacco-Free Environment policy. The district's policy goes further than any other in the Commonwealth in banning the use, consumption, display and promotion of all tobacco products and nicotine delivery devices on school property and within 50 feet of school property by students, parents, staff and visitors.

“We have come a long way in educating our students about the dangers of tobacco use,” said Dr. Johnson. “Even though the health dangers are well known today, we know that our students are still susceptible to clever marketing of new products that may seem less harmful than a cigarette. This policy and our campaign will ensure that our students are well informed.”

Steps being taken in the Superintendent’s campaign to inform schools of the new policy include new sings inside and outside buildings, a tobacco-free poster contest, and information on access to cessation programs of low or no cost for staff.

The Boston Public Health Commission contributed to this effort with funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services through Communities Putting Prevention to Work. Funding supported involving students and staff in the development of the policy, supporting staff who wanted to quit smoking, and promoting a BPS-wide student art competition to develop tobacco-free messages that will be posted in all Boston public schools.
 
“I want to congratulate the Boston Public Schools for their groundbreaking steps to ban the use and promotion of tobacco and tobacco products on school property,” said Barbara Ferrer, executive director of the Boston Public Health Commission. “We know that children often copy adult behavior, so these policies mean our students will have strong role models to look up to.”

The policy was developed by the BPS Tobacco Policy Task Force, which included parents, teachers, students, principals, and representatives from BPS operations departments, including Facilities, School Safety, Health Services and Health & Wellness.

“Through a partnership with the Boston Public Health Commission, BPS has been working to increase tobacco prevention and cessation efforts by providing assistance and resources to schools for prevention education and cessation access” says Jill Carter, Executive Director of Health and Wellness in the Boston Public Schools. “We want to create productive learning environments where the healthy choice is the easy choice.”
 
The new policy provides a clearer definition of school property and includes BPS sponsored events held off school property. The policy also provides stronger implementation supports for principals and administrators, requiring signage, information how to file a complaint and also where to access cessation services.
 
The Boston School Committee approved the policy last month.

The Boston Public Schools, the birthplace of public education in the United States,
serves more than 56,000 pre-kindergarten through grade 12 students in 125 schools.

 

26 Court St., Boston, Massachusetts 02108 | www.bostonpublicschools.org | Follow us on Facebook and Twitter @BostonSchools

 

Senator DiDomenico sponsors DMH Citizen’s Legislative Breakfast and is Recognized for his Legislative Leadership for Adults and Children with Mental Illness and their Families

 

Photo Caption – Senator DiDomenico is pictured with Department of Mental Health Commissioner Marica Fowler.

 

BOSTON – Senator Sal DiDomenico recently sponsored the annual Massachusetts Department of Mental Health Metro Boston Area Citizen's Legislative Breakfast in the Great Hall at the State House, where he was recognized for his legislative leadership on behalf of adults and children with mental illness and their families.   The event provided an opportunity for people with mental illness, family members, providers and advocates to interact with state legislators.

 

“I want to thank the Commissioner and staff of the Department of Mental Health, and I am grateful for the opportunity to speak to so many consumers.  Helping people thrive, and live productive and satisfying lives in their communities is the reason I love my job and continue to be an advocate for them in the legislature,” said Senator DiDomenico.

 

“This is an opportunity for the mental health community—consumers, families, providers and advocates—to meet with their legislators, thank them for their support and discuss with them the many services DMH provides to individuals with serious mental illness,” said DMH Commissioner Marcia Fowler.

 

The theme of this year’s DMH breakfast series was “Community First and Our Future.”   The event’s centerpiece was the personal stories shared by DMH consumers and their families. Their experiences put a face on mental illness, demonstrated that treatment works and reminded us that people with mental illness can achieve important accomplishments and most importantly, recover and lead productive lives.

 

More than 300 people including legislators, consumers, family members and advocates and providers attended the breakfast.

 

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Senator DiDomenico Approves Storm Response Legislation

 

BOSTON – The Senate on Thursday passed a bill to address emergency service response of public utility companies in Massachusetts as a result of the widespread power outages in communities across the state during Tropical Storm Irene in August and the snowstorm in October, Senator Sal DiDomenico announced. 

 

“The aftermath of Iast year’s storms demonstrated the critical need to improve emergency service response in the Commonwealth,” said Senator DiDomenico. “Thousands of residents were left without the full knowledge of the ongoing storm efforts and lacked proper communication with their public utilities company.  This bill is an important step to ensure that we do not repeat the unfortunate events of last year.”

 

“I heard from many frustrated residents and local officials during last year’s storms, and we want to make sure our communities won’t run into the same roadblocks they did in August and October,” Murray said. “No one expected power to be restored immediately, but there were people without power for a week or longer in some cases with no knowledge of an anticipated response time. That is unacceptable.”

 

The bill requires public utility companies to provide twice-daily estimates to customers on when electricity will be restored following a 24-hour damage assessment period, and to set up a call center during a major storm. The call center must be located in Massachusetts and must have sufficient staffing to handle increases in calls.

 

Utilities must also report storm outages to the state and designate a community liaison in each community when implementing an emergency response plan. The bill also requires utilities to designate staff at the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency to help coordinate statewide response.

 

Additionally, utilities will pay an assessment charge to help the Department of Public Utilities pay for storm investigations. The cost of this assessment cannot be passed on to customers. The bill also ensures that any penalties assessed on utilities for violation of emergency preparation and response will be credited to customers.   

 

The bill now goes to the House of Representatives.

Joe Spinosa's Weekly Red Sox Article-Player Projections for the 2012 season

  

(The opinions and views expressed in the commentaries of Boston News Group's News Publications belong solely to the authors of those commentaries and do not reflect the views or opinions of Boston News Group, it's publications, its staff or publishers.)

 

 

 

 

by Joe Spinosa

  

  

  

First off, starting with the pitchers

 

 

 JOSH BECKETT:
12-9, 4.13 ERA
The skinny:
Josh Beckett in his Boston tenure has been very inconsistent. In 2006 the
young, newly acquired, 26 year old posted 16 wins with an atrocious 5.02
ERA. Then in 2007, Beckett had a career year posting 20 wins with a
miniscule 3.27 ERA finishing second in the Cy Young Award voting. In 2008
Beckett had some nagging injuries especially his hamstrings and quads, he
finished the year with 12 wins and 4.03 ERA. Following his average year,
was 2009 in which he had 17 wins and a respectable 3.86 ERA. In 2010
Beckett had a career low point where he had similar injuries to the
nagging ones in '08, but was just not able to recoup he had a 6-6 record
with a skyrocketed 5.78 ERA. Finally in 2011,this past season, Josh had a
deceivingly good year. He had 13 wins, which could have been at least
17-20 if he got appropriate run support for what the team had been
producing in his non starting days. Most bitter fans ,myself included,
only remember his season as fried chicken and beer. So in conclusion my
methodology for the projection is that since Beckett has had his best
seasons in '07,'09, and '11 and had his worse years in'06, '08, and '10.
I'm sticking with the trend of his career and saying he will have a nearly
identical year to the one in 2008.

Jon Lester:
17-8, 3.17 ERA
The Skinny:
Jon Lester has taken the reign as the Red Sox "ace" since 2008. Lester
always had the stuff but was side tracked by Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma, but
since his no hitter in May of '08 Lester has been one of the most dominant
lefties in the MLB. posting and average total of a 16-8 record with a 3.33
ERA from his breakout year in 2008. A testament to Lester's power stuff is
that from '08 to now he has averaged nearly 200 strikeouts each year
topping with 225 in both 2009 and '10. The numbers don't lie and Lester is
poised to have a "Lester-like" year and will do just fine in his age 28
season.

 

Clay Buchholz:
15-5, 3.47 ERA
The Skinny:
Clay Buchholz has been a highly touted individual in the Boston Red Sox
system his whole career from the day the Sox had drafted him in the first
round of the 2005 draft and two years later in 2007. Clay threw a no
hitter against the Baltimore Orioles in September of 2007. He had a rough
next two years being bounced around from the AAA to the big club. Finally
in 2010 Buchholz had a phenomenal year posting 17 wins and a microscopic
2.33 ERA. In 2011 Buchholz got bit by the injury bug in late June and
suffered a stress fracture in his lower back. Though in the 14 games he
started, he had a good 3.48 ERA. Not sure how he is going to rebound from
the injury I am reluctant to go full speed ahead and think he will produce
at a comparable level to his excellent '10 season, but I have faith that
Clay will have a solid year as our #3 starter

Daniel Bard:
13-8, 3.98 ERA
The Skinny:
Daniel Bard has been a staple as the Red Sox setup man for three years and
has caught the baseball world by storm with his blazing fastball that tops
out around 100 mph. Concerns for Bard is that he has never pitched more
than 75 innings as a pro and has broken down towards the end of the year
posting a 7.47 ERA from August 1st to the end of the year in 2011. His
season ERA before August was 1.76 and had ballooned to 3.33 by the end of
the season. Another reason for weariness is that he is a predominantly a 1
pitch pitcher and that pitch is obviously a fastball. He has sprinkled in
some sliders and very little change-ups now and again. Also since he will
be pitching at least 5 innings as a starter compared to 1 as a reliever
his velocity will dip from 100 to about 96, which is still excellent. With
all the negative reasons to suspect he will have a lack luster year Bard
has such great stuff, potential, youth, and he will prevail.  although he
will have to a lot of strength and conditioning and stay away from Beckett
(a la fried chicken).

Andrew Bailey
4-6, 3.01 ERA,33 saves
The Skinny:
The newly acquired Andrew Bailey is the replacement for 6 year closer and
fan favorite Jonathan Papelbon. Filling Paps shoes will be hard, but
Bailey has the talent to do so. I unfortunately never got to see him play,
but he seems like a viable closer by the numbers. In 2009 Bailey was the
AL rookie of the year and was incredible. He was a horse in 2009 and he
pitched in 68 games and recorded 26 saves which could have been a boatload
more if the team gave him more opportunities. his team was not competitive
and finished with a total of more than 75 wins good for last in the AL
West. In 2010 he had an even better 1.47 than his 1.84 in the year prior,
but only pitched 49 innings and most recently in 2011 Bailey pitched 42
innings with an ERA that doubled from the two previous seasons (a 3.24 ERA
in today's game is very good). Causes for concerns are his health, Bailey
has had decreasing innings pitched from each year of his career. Another
issue is that his ERA jumped in 2011 which causes questions of if teams
have figured him out, yet another factor is going from the monstrous,
pitcher friendly park in Oakland compared to the small dimensions of the
100 year old Fenway Park. Finally. I get nervous going from Oakland where
baseball is not very important to the pressure cooker in Boston where
every game in April is equal to one in September.  Therefore, if he has a
slow start and blows a few saves he might not be able to take the
relentless attacks from the fans. I do believe Bailey will have a career
high in saves due purely to the number of opportunities in Boston opposed
to Oakland and he has youth on his side.

Stay tuned for more of my projections on the position players of the Sox.
The formula for my Projections are the previous 4 years, career trends,
and intuition from the mind of an avid baseball follower.

Boston Public Library to Host Compass Roundtable on Children and Teen Services

Continued community conversations following completion of strategic plan

 

Join a conversation with the Boston Public Library's new Youth Services Coordinator about the Children & Teens principle in the library's strategic plan, the BPL Compass. The Boston Public Library is offering a series of Compass Roundtables designed to continue the conversation about the library’s strategic plan. There are eight guiding principles in the library’s BPL Compass plan including one focusing on Children and Teens.
The discussion will be held at 3pm on Friday, March 9, in the Teen Room of the Central Library in Copley Square. Kids and teens are especially invited to this after-school session.

 

MAYOR MENINO TO PRESENT FIRST ANNUAL PARK PARTNERS AWARD

 

 Mayor Thomas M. Menino and the Boston Parks and Recreation Department will present the first annual Park Partners Award to Margaret Pokorny of the Back Bay during the Boston Flower & Garden Show Preview Party at the Seaport World Trade Center on Tuesday, March 13.  The Park Partners Award recognizes Boston citizens who make a significant contribution to beautification and the city’s parks.

            A longtime advocate for protecting the natural resources in her neighborhood, Margaret Pokorny has worked closely with residents and city officials to beautify Commonwealth Avenue Mall since she first moved to Back Bay in 1980.   She was instrumental in efforts to revive the turf along the Mall, supported the creation of the Women’s Memorial, and has been active in fundraising and caring for trees along the Commonwealth Avenue.

“Margaret has gone above and beyond in order to preserve the quality of life in the neighborhood by advocating for policies which protect trees and encourage use of Commonwealth Avenue Mall by residents and visitors,” Mayor Menino said.  “She is vigilant about engaging her neighbors to help water, replace, and protect trees, especially the Dutch elm population.  She is always gracious, honest, and direct.  The city is lucky to have such an advocate for our green space.”  

A hands-on booster for Boston’s parks, Pokorny’s personal slogan is “Born to Prune.”  Her in-depth knowledge of her neighborhood parks was evident in her final thesis in the Radcliffe Seminars program in Landscape Design in 1992: a history and master plan for Commonwealth Avenue Mall.   She was mentored in the project by her friend and neighbor, the late Stella Trafford, known as the Grande Dame of Boston parks for her own involvement with Commonwealth Avenue Mall, the Public Garden, and Boston Common. 

Pokorny worked with Trafford on issues related to the Mall, and became an active member of the Board of the Friends of Copley Square, the Friends of the Public Garden, and the Board of the Neighborhood Association of the Back Bay.  She also served as Co-President of the Garden Club of the Back Bay and joined the Board of The Esplanade Association when it was founded in 2000.

Tickets are still available for the March 13 Boston Flower & Garden Show Preview Party taking place from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on the eve of the 2012 Boston Flower & Garden Show which opens to the public on March 14.  In addition to the award presentation, Dr. Gustavo Romero will speak about the Glass Flowers Collection at the Harvard Museum of Natural History and gardening expert Patti “Garden Girl” Moreno will give a talk on Urban Sustainable Living and the five things everyone can do to live more sustainably in the city. 

For more information or to purchase tickets, please call the Parks Department at (617) 635-4032 or visit www.cityofboston.gov/parks/ttd/flowershow.asp.

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PARKS DEPT. ANNOUNCES DOWNTOWN TREE HEARING

 

          The Boston Parks and Recreation Department will be hosting a public hearing to discuss the proposed removal of one public shade tree at 99 Chauncy Street in downtown Boston.

The hearing will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, March 20, in the 3^rd floor Conference Room of the Boston Parks and Recreation Department located at 1010 Massachusetts Avenue, Roxbury.  The hearing will discuss an application for removal of one honey locust tree measuring 8-inches dbh (diameter at breast height) due to construction of a new building entrance on Avenue De Lafayette.

The public hearing will be held by the City of Boston Tree Warden (or designee) who may accept or deny the application.  If you have any questions or comments regarding this hearing, please contact the Boston Parks and Recreation Department at (617) 635-7275 or by submitting written comments to:  Boston Parks and Recreation Department, Attn: 99 Chauncy Tree Hearing, 1010 Massachusetts Avenue 3^rd Floor, Boston, MA  02118 no later than 5 p.m. on Friday, March 16.  A decision regarding the request will be made within two weeks of the hearing. 

For further information, please contact Greg Mosman of the Boston Parks and Recreation Department at (617) 635-7275.

 

 

Boston EMS EMT and 12-Year-Old Girl Selected as 911 Heros

 

Selected as 911 Heroes

 

Boston EMS is proud to announce that our own EMT Sara Curry and 12-year-old Tanisha Andrade of Hyde Park have been unanimously selected to receive the 9-1-1 Medal of Honor and 9-1-1 Heroes Certificate at the upcoming Commonwealth of Massachusetts 9-1-1 Heroes Awards® Ceremony. The ceremony will take place on Thursday, March 8, 2012.

 

“Sara Curry’s calm action under enormous pressure demonstrates the vital role played by emergency dispatchers every day. She went well beyond the call of duty in guiding a scared 12-year-old girl to help her mother,” said Mayor Thomas M. Menino. “As for Tanisha, the story shows that she is a very mature big sister. Her mother must be very proud of her.”

 

On December 31, 2011, Boston EMS EMT Sara Curry received a 9-1-1 call from a pregnant female in active labor who was attempting to drive herself to the hospital. The caller also had children in the car with her; the oldest was 12-year-old Tanisha. After instructing the patient to pull over and stop, Curry quickly determined the location of the vehicle as well as other information. Curry then asked to speak with Tanisha and calmly instructed her how to help her mother deliver the baby. Though Tanisha was obviously scared, Curry maintained a calm and reassuring demeanor. Curry then instructed Tanisha to wrap up the baby before crews arrived.

 

“Our Dispatch staff are the critical link between the public and our field crews every hour of every day. We are extremely proud of EMT Curry and her dedication to doing everything she could to ensure a good outcome for this family,” Boston EMS Chief Jim Hooley said.

 

Call takers and dispatchers at Boston EMS are certified EMTs who have received weeks of special training with EMS dispatching, including providing medical instructions and how to stay calm during stressful situations.  For more information about Boston EMS, please see our website at www.cityofboston.gov/ems.

 

 

 

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Jennifer B. Mehigan

Director of Media Relations, PIO

Boston Emergency Medical Services

785 Albany Street  •  Boston, MA 02118

Phone: (617) 343-1164  •  Cell: (617) 821-1277 •  Fax: (617) 343-1199

Email: mehigan@bostonems.org •  Website: http://www.cityofboston.gov/ems

Check out our Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/OfficialBostonEMS

We're also on Twitter! http://www.twitter.com/Boston_EMS 

 

Boston EMS, the provider of emergency medical services for the City of Boston, is committed to compassionately delivering excellent pre-hospital care and to protecting the safety and health of the public.