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[Sam Doran/SHNS]. Gov. Charlie Baker pulled on a mask, branded with the state s #MaskUpMA slogan, after announcing a series of reopening rollbacks and other measures like tightened facemask requirements on Dec. 8.Â
[Sam Doran/SHNS]. U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren waded through a dense crowd of supporters on Super Tuesday, March 3, during a walk from her home to Cambridge s Graham and Parks School where she cast her primary ballot.
[Sam Doran/SHNS]. Speaker Robert DeLeo waved as he walked across the Mount Vernon Street archway to his car around 5:30 p.m. Dec. 29, half an hour before his resignation took effect.Â
‘The building was on fire and they were given a cup of water’: Lawyer for former head nurse at Holyoke Soldiers’ Home defends decisions in thick of COVID-19 outbreak
Updated Dec 23, 2020;
HOLYOKE In March, as coronavirus deaths began to climb and after initial pleas for emergency backup were rebuffed by the state, a clinical team at the Soldier’s Home in Holyoke huddled to come up with a Plan B.
Former Chief Nursing Officer Vanessa Lauziere was in the huddle. According to an attorney for Lauziere one of several employees who lost their jobs over the outbreak at the state-run facility for veterans many were hung out to dry as veterans died by the dozens.
By STEPHANIE BARRY | masslive.com | Published: December 23, 2020
Stars and Stripes is making stories on the coronavirus pandemic available free of charge. See other free reports here. Sign up for our daily coronavirus newsletter here. Please support our journalism with a subscription. HOLYOKE, Mass. (Tribune News Service) In March, as coronavirus deaths began to climb and after initial pleas for emergency backup were rebuffed by the state, a clinical team at the Soldier’s Home in Holyoke huddled to come up with a Plan B. Former Chief Nursing Officer Vanessa Lauziere was in the huddle. According to an attorney for Lauziere one of several employees who lost their jobs over the outbreak at the state-run facility for veterans many were hung out to dry as veterans died by the dozens.
To renovate or replace? Holyoke Soldiers’ Home trustees mull options as facility, state race toward new design
Updated Dec 16, 2020;
HOLYOKE Plans for a new, $300 million Holyoke Soldiers’ Home are coming into focus, nearly eight months after the coronavirus ravaged the patient population and sickened nearly 100 staff.
The outdated, cramped design of the nearly 70-year-old building, along with a shortage of staffing and leadership in over its head was partially blamed for the loss of 76 veterans to the disease. State officials were mobilized after the outbreak to send in emergency staff including the National Guard and other medical personnel.
During a special meeting of the Soldiers’ Home board of trustees Wednesday evening, a principal of the Payette Group made a presentation outlining in more detail its recommendations for a new facility. Scott Parker told trustees the design firm favors building a new facility on the existing footprint of the Cherry Street campus.