The Montachusett Regional Planning Commission (MRPC), in collaboration with the Montachusett Regional Transit Authority (MART) and technical consultant WSP, has released the MRPC Region Vision Zero Safety Action Plan. This comprehensive strategy aims to significantly reduce roadway fatalities and serious injuries across MRPC communities.

The plan is grounded in extensive data analysis and shaped by robust public engagement. It includes example projects tailored to each MRPC member community and outlines targeted infrastructure improvements, policy recommendations, and educational initiatives to make the region’s roadways safer for all users.

Review the Draft Plan: Your feedback helps the plan reflect the voices of MRPC communities. Please review the draft plan and share your comments by Tuesday, October 14.

Read the Plan: https://bit.ly/MRPCVZPlan

Submit Comments: or via mail: Montachusett Regional Planning Commission, Attn: George Snow 464 Abbott Avenue, Leominster, MA 01453

MRPC does not discriminate. For more information, see: mrpc.org/home/pages/title-vi-policy-and-procedures

 

Insurance losses due to reviver statutes for legacy abuse claims, social inflation and nuclear verdicts are driving up liability insurance rates. Some underwriting executives including those at Hub International have posited that reducing policy limits saves money and can make nonprofits less attractive targets for the plaintiffs’ bar — but choosing the right level of insurance protection requires a deeper analysis.

When plaintiffs’ attorneys prosecute abuse and molestation cases, one of the first lines of questioning typically involves the target’s insurance protection: What type of policy and how much will it cover? Many attorneys take a pragmatic “grab-and-go” approach by demanding policy limits, collecting those sums and moving on to new opportunities rather than face a jury trial. In such instances, low insurance limits may discourage aggressive, protracted litigation.

However, limited insurance protection won’t immunize an organization for an egregious case of willful, wanton misconduct — such as serial abuse or vehicular manslaughter by an impaired driver. Juries won’t tolerate wanton negligence and won’t stop at an organization’s insurance limits when awarding financial damages. The bankruptcies of multiple Roman Catholic dioceses and the Boy Scouts of America illustrate the perils of inadequate insurance protection.

Use Data Analytics to Determine the Correct Insurance Mix

Weighing the benefits of lower liability limits against maintaining potentially insufficient coverage if a calamitous event occurs requires a deep dive into an organization’s net assets, annual revenues, location and relative prominence. While many organizations look to benchmarking data as a barometer, this is a flawed approach because finding “comparable” nonprofits is subjective. Do you benchmark organizations by Standard Industrial Classification (SIC)? By revenues or net assets? Headcount? Location?

Even if the benchmarking sources use a credible pool of organizations sharing similar characteristics, are the decisions made by those nonprofits necessarily appropriate for the organization seeking insurance guidance?

A better approach is to take an inwardly focused look at the organization’s metrics. A nonprofit can use analytics modeling tools to examine its own claims history and financials, and run thousands of loss simulations against a robust industry database of benchmark incidents. These Monte Carlo simulations will generate a wide range of potential situations, outcomes and probabilities, quantifying the organization’s projected loss frequency and severity from those events.

This data equips the nonprofit with information it needs to select an optimal insurance structure and yields objective recommendations for risk management and a defensible basis for insurance decisions.

Calibrating your insurance limits in today’s dynamic legal environment doesn’t have to be a guessing game. A skilled risk advisor can be a valuable resource to stretch your insurance dollars and fortify protection where it’s needed most.

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Care Central VNA & Hospice, a leading provider of community-based home health, hospice, private duty, and adult day care in Central Massachusetts, will be accepting the transfer of care of patients and will be welcoming staff for employment, following the upcoming transition from Overlook VNA & Hospice.

Overlook VNA & Hospice recently announced its decision to transfer operations effective August 28, 2025. In collaboration with Overlook leadership, Care Central is coordinating a compassionate, well-structured transition of care for patients who choose to seamlessly continue with their home health & hospice services. 

“Our foremost priority throughout this transition is to ensure patients and families continue to receive uninterrupted, high-quality care,” said Holly Chaffee, President and CEO of Care Central VNA & Hospice. “We are also proud to welcome members of the Overlook team who share our commitment to compassionate, community-focused care.”

Care Central has initiated onboarding efforts for Overlook clinicians and support staff, many of whom will continue serving the same patients and service areas to preserve continuity and trust. Patients and families will be personally contacted to ease the transition and provide updated information about their new Care Central care team.

“As a proud, free-standing nonprofit organization serving Central Massachusetts, we are thrilled to share a milestone moment in our history—we are doubling in size,” said Holly Chaffee, President & CEO of Care Central VNA & Hospice. “With this expansion, our service territory will reach 128 towns, welcoming 30 new communities into our care. This tremendous growth allows us to touch the lives of even more patients and families with the compassionate, high-quality care they deserve. Equally important, we are honored to welcome talented members of the Overlook team whose dedication to our mission will further strengthen our presence and amplify our impact across the nonprofit community.”

“This transition guarantees that those we have been honored to serve will continue receiving the same high-quality, compassionate care through a trusted organization that shares our values and unwavering commitment to residents and the community. By choosing Care Central VNA & Hospice, patients will not only experience continuity of care but will also be comforted by the familiar faces of staff they already know and trust,” said Tameryn Campbell of Overlook VNA & Hospice.

For more information about Care Central VNA & Hospice or to inquire about services or employment opportunities, please visit www.carecentralvna.org or call 978-632-1230.

Time & Location
Oct 04, 2025, 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM
College of the Holy Cross, 1 College St, Worcester, MA 01610

About The Event
In today’s fast-paced media environment, dominated by social media, how you communicate about a crisis is one of the most important aspects of leading through it. Effective crisis communication begins in the calm before the storm, in developing healthy relationships with reporters, organizing your team to prepare and to act as one, and in putting communication at the very front of your leadership efforts. Admiral John Kirby became the face — and the voice — of numerous high-profile crises, from the Navy Yard shooting of 2013 to the wars in Ukraine and Gaza and dozens more. Learn from Admiral Kirby how to prepare for crises and lead — both in action and communication — when they arise.

Register here to attend Admiral Kirby’s keynote speech at Holy Cross (One College Street, Worcester) on Saturday, October 4th at 5:30pm.

This event is hosted by the O’Callahan Society and Holy Cross’ Office of Alumni Relations. Questions may be directed to

Register Now