MIDDLESEX COUNTY PRISON COORDINATING COMMITTEE NEWSLETTER

October 2003

MCPCC met on October 8, 2003, in West Newton. Those present were

Mary Ann Donaldson, Beverly Wilkins, Elizabeth Woodbridge, Tom

Crowther, Dorothy Weitzman, Neil Gray and Marjorie Moerschner.

Tom reported on his very pleasant meeting on September 30 with

Sheriff DiPaola, Deputy Jody Kovachek, Human Services Director;

Lela Boykins Hall, and Chaplain Milton Thomas. Though the main focus of the meeting was to plan for the forum in November at which the Sheriff will speak, a number of other matters were discussed.

First, the forum, as you've already heard, it will take place on

November 2, 2003, at The First Church of Christ Congregational,

25 The Great Road. Bedford. (Those of you who would like more

precise directions to the church, see the end of this

newsletter.) There will be a social time at 7:00 pm and the

sheriff wi11 speak at 7:30; his emphasis wi11 be on

rehabilitation. There will be a question period. The sheriff

will also be take this opportunity to recognize the work of some

of the faithful- in every sense of the word- volunteers at the

prison and jail.

Other matters discussed prior to this meeting:

The chaplain likes to give each inmate several Christmas

cards to send out during the holidays, and Tom asked Rev. Thomas

if we could help with this as we did last year. Rev. Thomas said

some cards are left over from the huge number collected last

year. but more are needed. He liked Tom's suggestion that the

MCPCC note cards made from inmates’ art work could be used for

this purpose, but the men do prefer cards which have a Christmas

or holiday verse or message already on them to blank cards like

the MCPCC cards. Our note cards could be adapted to include an

appropriate greeting, but we really couldn't make enough to fill

the need; Rev. Thomas needs hundreds of cards. So-

Some of your churches and organizations might consider

collecting cards as a Christmas project. Those who did it last

year got a very enthusiastic response from their members. It's

an easy and fun way to do a good thing!

Remember, cards should be unused, have matching envelopes,

and include Christmas or seasonal greetings. Cards from those

worthy organizations which we all receive and don't know what to

do with are fine.

Call Marjorie at 617 527-5613 for more information or if you

need a pick-up.

The sheriff promised when he was first elected that he would

provide a strong religious presence at Billerica for inmates who

wished it, and he has done so. At a national sheriff's

conference recently, someone criticized him for providing that an

imam be available to Muslim inmates, but DiPaola replied that

they had the right to this care.

A group from Tom's church in Bedford continues to go to the

prison one Sunday a month for Bible study and discussion. A

Salvation army group from Lowell visits on the other Sundays.

In other prison news, Lynda Justice is about to start this year's

prison art contest, with prizes offered in several different

categories. We hope to have another traveling exhibit of some

of the winning work. It always gets a favorable response.

Beverly has talked to Carol Peters who reports that the Houses of

Healing course at Billerica is going very well. She and Rev.

Margie Saphier are now leading their third course there, A BU

School of Social Work student has joined the group as a leader

trainee, and one of the inmates who's been through the course is

also now training to be a leader. Human Services Staff Member Lela

Boykins Hall recently told Carol that an inmate participating in the group had just lost a close relative and was very upset, so Carol organized the next HOH meeting around a discussion of grief and loss.

And back again to our forum with Middlesex Sheriff James DiPaola!

Please come and bring your friends to what will be an interesting

and informative evening. Also, please post the enclosed flyer

somewhere in your church, or give it to a friend, and mention the

forum at work or during your church worship or coffee hour,

Time and Place:

Sunday, November 2, at

The First Church of Christ, Congregational, in Bedford.

See directions below*

Come at 7:00 pm for cookies and conversation.

The sheriff will speak at 7:30. There will be time for

questions.

The evening will include the recognition of prison

volunteers.

*Directions from Rte 128 (aka Rte 95)

Take exit 31 B (Rtes 4 and 225)

The church is 2.6 miles from Rte 128.

You will pass 6 traffic lights.

The church will be on your left, 2/10 of a mile after

the last traffic light, and shortly after passing the

Bedford Fire Dept.

NEXT MCPCC MEETING: NOVEMBER 12, 2003 at 7:30 pm

SECOND CHURCH IN NEWTON 60 HIGHLAND STREET, WEST NEWTON