CVN Aug. 2010 page 2
Mr. Medeiros,
Just a short note for an update. We have scheduled August 15th at 11:00 as the Ben Rose Field Rededication and Family Fun Day. Mayor Lang will lead the ceremony at 1:00 and hopes that Donald Gomes will make a speech on that date. We will have many educational booths as we can muster to entertain and educate the students with book swaps and other fun activities from community organizations. We will have some of those bouncing things for the kids and hot dogs and hamburgers on the grill. We want a couple of games, both soccer and baseball in the field (pick up games). The Governor's office will try to send some representation and I hope that happens! Hope someone from your office can make it. Thanks for your continued support. The building is still not attainable for us. The Community Development Proposal Grant was denied unfortunately. We won't give up but if it doesn't happen we will just have to change our name! We have raised $5000.00 with the two fundraisers (Jazz Concert and Golf Tournament). Please visit us on Facebook "Ben Rose Recreation and Education Center" to see the pictures. We also made the Cape Verdean News on both occasions. Thank you again.
Kathleen A. Davis, M.A.CCC/SLP
Executive Director
Ben Rose Recreation and Education Center
www.bennyrose.org
(617) 823-9079
Executive Director
Ben Rose Recreation and Education Center
www.bennyrose.org
(617) 823-
Ben Rose Field redication date set for August 15th at 11 a.m.
Patrick-Murray Administration Encourages Veterans to Visit Local Veterans’
Service Officers
VSOs can connect veterans and dependents with financial benefits they are entitled to
BOSTON - July 13, 2010 - The Patrick-Murray Administration is reminding veterans and dependents in the Commonwealth who are in financial need or have had their unemployment insurance benefits expire to visit their local Veterans' Service Officer (VSO) for assistance. Massachusetts offers some of the most generous veterans benefits in the country -- enhanced even further by the Patrick-Murray Administration -- and VSOs can help connect veterans and their families with the programs available to them.
Under Chapter 115 of Massachusetts General Laws, the Commonwealth provides a uniform program of financial and medical assistance for indigent veterans and their dependents. Qualifying veterans and their dependents receive necessary financial assistance for food, shelter, clothing, housing supplies and medical care, in accordance with a formula that assesses the number of dependents and a veteran's income from all sources. Eligible dependents of deceased veterans are provided with the same benefits they would if a veteran family member were still alive. Massachusetts is the only state in the country to offer financial assistance to veterans and dependants in need.
"For veterans and dependents who may be struggling due to loss of unemployment benefits, Chapter 115 assistance is a strong and viable option," said Governor Deval Patrick. "We are proud of the comprehensive benefits and services we offer the veterans of Massachusetts, and Chapter 115 benefits are a great example of how state government is working for the people."
"Our administration wants to ensure that the men and women who have served our country receive the benefits and assistance they have rightfully earned," said Lieutenant Governor Tim Murray, Chairman of the Governor's Advisory Council on Veterans Services. "Veterans' Service Officers are in place to help veterans and their families gain access to available services, including CH 115 benefits."
Applications for Chapter 115 benefits can be obtained at the offices of local Veterans' Service Officers. Every city and town in the Commonwealth employs a VSO who works out of City or Town Hall and is knowledgeable about an array of federal, state and local benefits to which veterans and dependents may be entitled. His or her job is to help veterans in the community learn about, apply for, and when appropriate, receive benefits. VSOs can also help with information about workforce development opportunities, VA claims, access to healthcare and other issues and benefits.
In addition to Chapter 115 benefits, Massachusetts offers extensive benefits and services to veterans including U.S. Department of Labor grants to provide training and job placement for veterans. The Veterans Workforce Investment Program (VWIP) and The Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program (HVRP) are in place to assist veterans throughout the Commonwealth. Massachusetts also offers housing programs, Welcome Home bonuses, annuities and tax exemptions for eligible veterans.
"The Commonwealth of Massachusetts does more for its veterans than most other states in the nation," said Secretary of Veterans' Services Tom Kelley. "For veterans who are eligible, Chapter 115 benefits are an
Cape Verde wins International Literacy Prize
The Cape Verdean government agency DGEFA (Agency for Adult Education and Training, Direcção Geral para Educação e Formação de Adultos) was selected by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as a winner of its International Literacy Prize.
An international jury recommended DGEFA for one of the two prizes, – the UNESCO King Sejong Literacy Prize (funded by the Republic of Korea) - praising the flexibility and relevance of its Adult Literacy and Training program, the priority given to women and the remarkable achievements for the country: the illiteracy rate in Cape Verde fell from 60% to 20% between 1974 and 2005, and this tendency is due to continue.
The prize represents a well deserved recognition by the International community of Cape Verde’s commitment in investing in its people as one of its most valuable assets.
“Mijora Qui Mas Mijora Qui Nu Perde”
Why preserve the past? One reason comes to mind is to understand the present and it also provides us with the opportunity to contemplate the future of our self’s, our families, and our community.
Preserving history makes the foot prints of the past easier to understand, while substantiating the oral histories that are past on from one generation to another, by helping to identify and separate fact from fiction.
The history of a community can help us try to understand, the essence of our being and insight into those that assisted us in the shaping our identity of today.
The Cape Verdean Community of the past, with its traditions, music, food, and yes the very heart our being is being lost to the present making the future of this community unclear.
“The Good of the Good We lost” a statement made by “Agueybana“, about his people, the Taino”s of what is now called Puerto Rico. Exemplifies my feelings about where we are in the Cape Verdean Community today here in New Bedford.
What are your feelings?
Steven Santos
Vet44nb@aol.com
Cape Verdean President Pires
considers writing his memoirs
Luanda - The President of Cape Verde, Pedro Pires, has said that he might start writing his memoirs right after the end of his current term, which is in 2011, but he also appealed to specialists to re-write the history of his country without ideological influences.
Luanda -
Speaking to Angolan journalists, in Luanda, he declared that he is very seriously considering writing his memoirs.
“I want something that goes beyond my memoirs. It would be my memoirs and those of my comrades of journey”, he stressed.
He regretted, however, the fact that some of his comrades are not alive anymore, which means “a loss in terms of data”.
He appealed to historians and intellectuals of his country to promote a reanalysis of history, because the current one is not satisfactory, because, he said, “it is not concrete, real, but ideological (…) to justify some actions and measures”.
Pedro Pires said it is up to universities to research history so as to find what has been hidden, aiming for a logical vision of history.
Born on 29 April 1934, Pedro de Verona Rodrigues Pires is President of Cape Verde since 2001.
He is married and father of two daughters.
Letter to Editor:
Governor Deval Patrick,
I first want to take this time to thank you for speaking to me and especially for taking an interest in my three year old son. It was extremely refreshing meeting a politician that doesn't just want to shake my hand to get my vote and then never really care about what happens to me but more importantly to my family.
I first want to take this time to thank you for speaking to me and especially for taking an interest in my three year old son. It was extremely refreshing meeting a politician that doesn't just want to shake my hand to get my vote and then never really care about what happens to me but more importantly to my family.
I am hoping that I was not mislead or misinformed when you showed such genuine concern for my son when we spoke about him continuing to live on the Parker Street Waste Site. I know that we spoke about having Mayor Scott Lang give you a tour of the Parker Street Waste Dump all 100 and some acre site. However, it seems that Mayor Lang is to busy to give you a tour at this time.
Therefore, I gladly offer my services and the services of the organization "CLEAN" to give you a guided tour and a history of the Parker Street Waste Site.
As you will recall, I spoke with you as you were being escorted at the Feast, by Mayor Lang, and City Councilor-At-Large, Debora Coelho, who also Chairs New Bedford's City Council's Committee on Energy and the Environment
Greatly Appreciated,
Brenda Mattos and Family
Brenda Mattos and Family
Fort Taber at Fort Rodman
New Bedford, Massachusetts
“Visit it”