Letters to the Editor
Leominster Hospital staff, patients deserve better
As an employee at Leominster Hospital, management’s announcement to close our labor and delivery unit came as a shock.
Management has justified the closing of our birthing center by stating the closest labor and delivery units are available to our community within 15 to 20 minutes and that outpatient services will still be available; however, they have not considered emergent and urgent situations for mothers and their unborn children that will be absorbed by our already understaffed, under equipped and overcrowded emergency department. Currently, emergency staff lack the specialty training of labor and delivery nurses needed to care for mothers and babies when stable, let alone emergencies and postpartum care. This strain will no doubt have a negative impact on the already scarce resources of the emergency department and force staff to triage other emergent medical conditions such as trauma and stroke, which will result in unfortunate and unnecessary patient fatality.
As a nurse, I cannot support an organization who knowingly and willingly strips away vital resources for our community and our families. As a mother, I am struggling to continue to work for an organization that I feel is morally and ethically bankrupt. As a mother who struggled with complications postpartum, I am outraged and terrified for mothers, their unborn children and families who will be forced to make difficult and life-changing decisions because the care they need to survive is not at their doorstep. We deserve better, our patients deserve better and most importantly, our community deserves to come first.
Amanda Baum, BSN, RN, HN-BC
Phillipston
Continue free breakfasts for kids
As many people are well aware, breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Massachusetts has offered free breakfast and lunch for all students since 2020, after the start of the pandemic, in order to relieve some of the financial strain that the pandemic caused for many residents. However, the effects of the pandemic are still lingering and many families rely on this program. Many families facing food insecurity don’t qualify for free or reduced lunch that the National School Lunch Program or School Breakfast Program provide. It’s important that Massachusetts provides for every student, regardless of their financial situation. When parents send their children to school, they rely on the system to keep them safe. We need to ensure that every child is well fed and ready to learn in the morning.
At Assabet Valley High School, the buses arrive at 7:25, even though classes only start at 7:45. During this free time, students are allowed to grab and eat the provided breakfast in the cafeteria. Students don’t have to worry about making breakfast or missing the bus in the morning. Worcester Public Schools also provide opportunities for students to get breakfast. Changing this will disrupt hundreds of students’ schedules and daily life. While the free breakfast program was created in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, continuing it guarantees students are well fed and focused during class.
Lara El Amme Pingitore
Northborough
Keep electric utility market open
Do you want an increase to the already high cost of energy? I certainly do not. For many it is already out of reach.
House Bill 3196 and Senate Bill 2106 would close the competitive electric market in Massachusetts, forcing customers back to their default utility. Under the competitive market, you can shop and compare rates, save money and access 100% renewable options if you so choose.
I oppose the bills introduced by Rep. Frank Moran and Sen. Brendan Crighton that would close the competitive retail energy market and remove my energy choice.
I was disappointed to see this legislation introduced again. More than 1,000 Massachusetts energy customers fought against this legislation last year.
I like being able to choose my energy supplier and the plan that works for me and my household. Competition is important and customers deserve to have a choice and options. This is our right!
Since when do our elected officials make this decision for us? How and why do elected officials tell us where to shop and how to spend our money? Maybe we should "follow the money." Friends and neighbors, say no as loudly as you can. It is apparent that our elected officials are hard of hearing.
Ted Bauer
Leicester
Thanks, Superintendent Monárrez
The Worcester Parent Action Group would like to thank Superintendent Rachel Monárrez for everything she has accomplished for the Worcester Public Schools so far.
She has taken the time to meet with and hear the voices of Worcester parents in her planning for the school system. From our discussions with her and the action we have seen taken so far, we believe in and have faith in her.
Bullying in the schools is a problem and she is working hard to improve how it is addressed. She is working to expand afterschool programs. She has created a new parent advocacy group for our school system that gives parents voice – to enable them to share their concerns so that they can be properly addressed.
Dr. Monárrez is addressing food insecurity within the Worcester school system by working to ensure that more schools have food closets. She has set up parent meetings with the head of her nutrition department to look at what foods are being provided.
The superintendent "gets" that many kids are impacted by racism in the schools. She is working to address this so that kids can go to school and experience less stress.
She is visiting all the schools to check on how they are doing and so that the school children can identify her by name. Dr. Monárrez is also letting more services in to help address the mental health crisis. She welcomes all feedback.
We thank Dr. Monárrez for all her hard work and everything she has achieved since becoming Superintendent!
Anne Bureau, Louise Burrell, Larechia Baldwin, Donna Evans, Janet Alvarado
Worcester
This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Letters to the Editor
