Page 26 THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2021 Baker announces start of public ice skating season T he Baker-Polito Administration recently announced that the state Department of Conservation & Recreation (DCR) has opened state-managed ice rinks for free public skating through the winter season, with the exception of Kelly Outdoor Rink in Boston, which is scheduled to open on Saturday, December 18, weather permitting. DCR ice rinks will continue to adhere to COVID-19 guidance, which requires all visitors and staff within public areas of the rinks to wear a mask. Appropriate signage has been posted throughout the facilities to remind visitors of the requirements. “We are excited to again announce the start of free ice skating at DCR managed rinks for people of all abilities to enjoy skating with friends and family,” said Acting DCR Commissioner Stephanie Cooper. “As part of our commitment to providing the people of Massachusetts with safe and engaging recreational spaces, the Baker-Polito Administration continues to invest in our first rate state park facilities, including ice rinks, as a way to promote fitness, well-being, and community pride.” Public ice skating times and locations of DCR-managed rinks, as well as a full list of all DCR-owned rinks, can be found on DCR’s webpage. Visitors are advised to call ahead concerning the availability of ice skate rentals and snack concessions. Additionally, adaptive programming is offered during the winter season through DCR’s Universal Access Program. To learn more about UAP, please visit the program’s webpage (https://www.mass.gov/orgs/universal-access-program) where upcoming events are posted. CHRISTMAS | FROM PAGE 23 personal information to receive free gift cards. In some of these emails, scammers impersonate legitimate companies, like Starbucks, and promise gift cards to loyal customers who have been supporting their business throughout the pandemic. They might also use pop-up ads or send text messages with links saying you were randomly selected as the winner of a prize. If you have received an unsolicited email with gift card offers, do not open it. Instead, mark it as Spam or Junk. However, if you opened the email, do not click on any links. 6. Temporary Holiday Jobs: Retailers typically hire seasonal workers to help meet the demands of holiday shoppers. Shippers and delivery services are top holiday employers this year because of the increase in online orders and the need to get most of these packages delivered before Christmas. These jobs are a great way to make extra money, sometimes with the possibility of turning into a long-term employment opportunity; however, jobseekers need to be wary of employment scams aimed at stealing money and personal information from job applicants. Keep an eye out for opportunities that seem too good to be true. 7. Look-Alike Websites: The holiday season brings endless emails offering deals, sales and bargains. Be wary of emails with links enclosed. Some might lead to look-alike websites created by scammers to trick people into downloading malware, making dead-end purchases and sharing private information. If you are uncertain about the email, do not click any of the links. Instead, hover over them to see where they reroute. 8. Fake Charities: Typically, 40 percent of all charitable donations are received during the last few weeks of the year; however, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many organizations had to cancel their usual fundraising events and awareness campaigns and are now inviting donors to support online. Donors are advised to look out for fraudulent charities and scammers pretending to be individuals in need. Avoid impromptu donation decisions to unfamiliar organizations. Responsible organizations will welcome a gift tomorrow as much as they do today. Verify a charity at BBB’s give. org. Where possible, donate to the charity through their website and use a credit card. 9. Fake Shipping Notifications: More consumers are making purchases online; there is also an increase in the number of notifications about shipping details from retailers and carriers. Scammers are using this new surge to send phishing emails with links enclosed that might allow unwanted access to your private information or download malware CHRISTMAS | SEE PAGE 28 Start the New Year with a new career at the MBTA T growth opportunities to employees and encourage members of the public to visit our website to learn more about our many open positions and beginning their career at the T.” This fall the MBTA has gone to over 20 online and in-person career fairs across the region, and it is updating the way it hires to make it easier and faster to start a T career, including Commercial fits and incentives. “The MBTA plays an integral and essential role in keeping Massachusetts moving. The T is a diverse and exciting place to work, and we’re actively hiring and training new employees, especially bus drivers, right now to join our ranks and play a significant part in revitalizing the region post pandemic,” said MBTA General Manager Stephen Poftak. “The MBTA is being proactive in recruiting new individuals to join our team and fast-tracking the hiring process, and will continue to work closely with local and state career centers and our community partners to recruit new individuals to join our team. We offer a variety of Driver’s License (CDL) permit “events” at Registry of Motor Vehicle locations (CDL permits are encouraged in applying for bus operator positions), a revamp of the interview process and streamlining the application process. The T has also launched an aggressive recruitment campaign, more than doubling the size of its Human Resources recruiting department since Labor Day 2021 with more anticipated to join soon. A Human Resources team was also recently created that is dedicated to vehicle operator hiring, especially MBTA bus operators. The MBTA offers competitive salaries, extensive healthcare benefits, free public transit, training programs, tuition assistance, employee assistance programs and an emphasis on diversity, equity and inclusion. MBTA employees also receive attractive retirement plans, paid vacation, holidays, sick time and flexible spending accounts. Members of the public can view open positions onhe MBTA is aggressively hiring new employees to join its dynamic workforce. It takes many people to move more than a million trips a day, and the 6,500-person MBTA is redoubling efforts to hire hundreds of open positions – from train and trolley operators to administrative and technical positions, and especially bus drivers, who are in high demand to transport Massachusetts residents to work, play and everywhere in between. Prospective candidates looking for a rewarding career where they can have a positive impact on the entire region should visit mbta.com/ careers for more information on open positions and to learn about the MBTA’s many beneline and visit the MBTA website for more information on insurance and other benefits. The MBTA envisions a thriving region enabled by a bestin-class transit system. The MBTA’s mission is to serve the public by providing safe, reliable and accessible transportation, and it holds core values built around safety, service, equity and sustainability. Each employee that works for the MBTA performs their role based on the MBTA’s vision, mission and values. The MBTA is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.
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