Financial Assistance

The Board of Health is offering shingles vaccine to residents who are 50 years of age or older. The shots are covered by Medicare Part D. For individuals who have insurance that does not cover the shingles vaccine, the cost is $87 per shot. Those living on a limited income may qualify for financial assistance through the Merck Vaccine Assistance Program. To be eligible, income guidelines must be met. For more information or to reserve a dose of the vaccine, contact public health nurse Kathy Whittaker at 781-721-7121.

TBILISI, Georgia - A flood killed five people in Georgia's capital overnight after torrential rain caused a river to burst its banks, officials said Sunday. The Agency for Emergency Situations said that a mother and her two children, an elderly woman, and an elderly man died in Tbilisi's Ortachala neighborhood after the Kura River flooded Saturday night. All five were trapped in their homes and crushed when the buildings collapsed. One of the children was 6 months old; the other was 5. At least 30 other people sought medical help.

The following was submitted by Jim Glynn, assistant director of marketing and communications for Salem State: Citing outstanding community leadership, the Eastern Bank Charitable Foundation this week announced a $100,000 grant to Salem State University. The grant was announced during the bank's "Community Quarterback" ceremony at Cambridge College. Salem State is one of 98 Massachusetts non-profit organizations across the state to receive a Community Quarterback award presented by former NFL quarterback and Eastern Bank spokesperson Doug Flutie.

A flood killed five people in Georgia's capital overnight after torrential rain caused the local river to burst its banks, officials said Sunday. The Agency for Emergency Situations said that a mother with her two children, an elderly woman and an elderly man died in Tbilisi's Ortachala neighborhood after the Kura River flooded Saturday night. All five were trapped in their homes and crushed when the buildings collapsed. One of the children was six months old; the other was five.

Susan Romano read her son Zach's financial-aid letter from Drexel University, and her eyes jumped to the line highlighted in yellow: "$13,442 expected payment" for the first year at the $63,000-a-year school. "At first, I thought it was great," said Romano, 48, an insurance claims representative from Huntington, Penn. But "the more I read it over and over, the worse it got. " The college's "offered financial aid" included $42,000 in loans to be taken out by the family, including a "suggested" $36,178 in parental borrowing or private loans.

A flood killed five people in Georgia's capital overnight after torrential rain caused the local river to burst its banks, officials said Sunday. The Agency for Emergency Situations said that a mother with her two children, an elderly woman and an elderly man died in Tbilisi's Ortachala neighborhood after the Kura River flooded Saturday night. All five were trapped in their homes and crushed when the buildings collapsed. One of the children was six months old; the other was five.

Registrations for the Norfolk Lions Club's spring youth soccer program are being accepted online. The program is open to boys and girls from age 3 through 12th grade, and all games will be played in Norfolk on Sunday afternoons, although participants do not need to live in Norfolk to sign up. The cost to participate is $80, but financial assistance is available; contact Craig Koch at 508-520-0163. For program details or to register, visit www.norfolklionssoccer.com. - Rachel Lebeaux

RE "OCCUPY Harvard left up to students" (Metro, Nov. 11): With its generous financial aid policies, it seems to me that Harvard is doing more than most institutions to alter the balance between the 1 percent and the 99 percent. Since the student quoted in the article on Occupy Harvard was the first person in his family to go to college, he may well have benefited from that financial assistance. Why is he protesting in Harvard Yard? Pamela Brindamour

The Affordable Housing Trust is offering financial assistance to income- and asset-eligible homebuyers. Participants, who will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis, should be first-time homebuyers, with some exceptions. Income limits range from $45,500 for 1 person to $75,400 for six persons. Details and applications are available at the Ames Free Library, 53 Main St., and the Town Offices, 136 Elm St., or by calling Tim Harrigan at 508-230-0645. Information is also available at www.easton.ma.us/homebuyers.

A Waltham man pleaded guilty yesterday to charges that he stole a total of more than $200,000 from four women he romanced after meeting them through online dating websites, Middlesex District Attorney Gerard T. Leone Jr. announced. Albert B. Lovering, 54, was sentenced to six years in the Middlesex jail in Billerica followed by 10 years of probation. Middlesex Superior Court Judge Elizabeth Fahey also found Lovering guilty of being a common and notorious thief, Leone's office said.

The following was submitted by Jim Glynn, assistant director of marketing and communications for Salem State: Citing outstanding community leadership, the Eastern Bank Charitable Foundation this week announced a $100,000 grant to Salem State University. The grant was announced during the bank's "Community Quarterback" ceremony at Cambridge College. Salem State is one of 98 Massachusetts non-profit organizations across the state to receive a Community Quarterback award presented by former NFL quarterback and Eastern Bank spokesperson Doug Flutie.

Susan Romano read her son Zach's financial-aid letter from Drexel University, and her eyes jumped to the line highlighted in yellow: "$13,442 expected payment" for the first year at the $63,000-a-year school. "At first, I thought it was great," said Romano, 48, an insurance claims representative from Huntington, Penn. But "the more I read it over and over, the worse it got. " The college's "offered financial aid" included $42,000 in loans to be taken out by the family, including a "suggested" $36,178 in parental borrowing or private loans.

The Reading Economic Development Committee is seeking applicants for its Building Façade and Signage Improvement Program, an initiative that will offer technical and financial assistance to property owners and tenants who wish to spruce up the façade of their buildings, and/or their signs or exterior lighting. Anyone interested in participating in the program is invited to attend an informational meeting at 7 p.m. March 21 in the community room at the Police Station, 15 Union St. The application process will begin that evening and continue until April 30. For more information, contact staff...

Nearly a decade after Temple's moribund football program was pushed out of the Big East, the revitalized Owls are rejoining the conference — and bringing along their potent men's basketball team. The school will move to the Big East for football next season and all other sports in 2013. "We didn't deserve, truthfully, to be in the football competition in those years. But it's hard to get kicked out," Lewis Katz, chairman of Temple's athletic committee, said at a news conference during the Big East men's basketball tournament Wednesday.

The Affordable Housing Trust is offering financial assistance to income- and asset-eligible homebuyers. Participants, who will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis, should be first-time homebuyers, with some exceptions. Income limits range from $45,500 for 1 person to $75,400 for six persons. Details and applications are available at the Ames Free Library, 53 Main St., and the Town Offices, 136 Elm St., or by calling Tim Harrigan at 508-230-0645. Information is also available at www.easton.ma.us/homebuyers.

A Waltham man pleaded guilty yesterday to charges that he stole a total of more than $200,000 from four women he romanced after meeting them through online dating websites, Middlesex District Attorney Gerard T. Leone Jr. announced. Albert B. Lovering, 54, was sentenced to six years in the Middlesex jail in Billerica followed by 10 years of probation. Middlesex Superior Court Judge Elizabeth Fahey also found Lovering guilty of being a common and notorious thief, Leone's office said.

Mayor Robert J. Dolan is asking residents to donate to the Melrose Emergency Fund, which provides financial assistance to families in need. Over the past year, the fund has helped 80 families with food, fuel, and utility bills. "My goal is that no one in Melrose go cold or hungry," Dolan said in a prepared statement. The fund is administered by the mayor's office, so there are no administrative costs. Checks should be made payable to City of Melrose, with "Melrose Emergency Fund" written in the memo line.

The Reading Economic Development Committee is seeking applicants for its Building Façade and Signage Improvement Program, an initiative that will offer technical and financial assistance to property owners and tenants who wish to spruce up the façade of their buildings, and/or their signs or exterior lighting. Anyone interested in participating in the program is invited to attend an informational meeting at 7 p.m. March 21 in the community room at the Police Station, 15 Union St. The application process will begin that evening and continue until April 30. For more information, contact staff planner Jessie...

Hungary's foreign minister says he hopes formal negotiations with the International Monetary Fund on financial assistance for his country can start before the end of March. Hungary is seeking aid from the IMF and the European Union, but both creditors have said they won't begin talks until the independence of Hungary's central bank has been ensured. Hungary's conservative government has come under fire for measures seen as asserting political control over the central bank, courts and other institutions.

The Board of Health is offering shingles vaccine to residents who are 50 years of age or older. The shots are covered by Medicare Part D. For individuals who have insurance that does not cover the shingles vaccine, the cost is $87 per shot. Those living on a limited income may qualify for financial assistance through the Merck Vaccine Assistance Program. To be eligible, income guidelines must be met. For more information or to reserve a dose of the vaccine, contact public health nurse Kathy Whittaker at 781-721-7121.