Breaking The Ice - Let's Talk Inclusion

12/23/2025

It's our last radio episode on 95.9 WATD FM, but don't fret! We're getting ready to launch a new podcast!! 🎉 Stay tuned for more details coming soon!

On our last radio episode of Breaking The Ice - Let's Talk Inclusion, our hosts will discuss the highlights of the show’s 2.5 year run on 95.9 WATD FM.

The episode will air live tonight at 6:15 PM, and will also be live-streamed on watd. com.

Co-Hosts:

Steve Nearman, Executive Director, The Great Blizzards Special Hockey Team

Holly Flanagan, Mother of a Great Blizzards Hockey Family

Jim Coughlin, Executive Director, Plymouth County Family Support

It may be our last radio show, but do not fret! Breaking the Ice – Let’s Talk Inclusion is not going away – we are expanding our reach across America through our new podcast. 🎉 Watch for more details coming soon!

Breaking the Ice is sponsored by Plymouth County Family Support, Inc., South Shore Support Services, and New England Village, Inc.

Our hosts discuss topics that are important to our inclusive community and highlight the talents and achievements of our community members.

If you haven’t already, please follow our show page (tagged above) on Facebook which includes recordings of the episodes and more!

Breaking The Ice Lets Talk Inclusion

12/17/2025

Find out the latest on The Great Blizz - listen to the replay of last night's episode (link in their post below).

Get the latest on all things Great Blizz from last night’s episode of Breaking The Ice - Let's Talk Inclusion!

If you missed the show, you can listen to the replay here: https://bit.ly/GBBTIEp121

Our guests:

🔹 Joe Colletti, Blizz Coach
🔹 Bill Wedge, Blizz Board Member & Team Photographer
🔹 Jonathan Nearman, Blizz Goalie

Breaking the Ice is sponsored by Plymouth County Family Support, Inc., South Shore Support Services, and New England Village, Inc.

The program airs every Tuesday at 6:15PM. Each week, our hosts will discuss topics that are important to our inclusive community and highlight the talents and achievements of our community members.

If you haven’t already, please follow our show page (tagged above) on Facebook which includes recordings of the episodes and more!

Breaking The Ice Lets Talk Inclusion

12/11/2025

Buy your 50/50 Holiday Raffle tickets starting at just $10 and help a great cause! 🎅

Our electronic Holiday 50/50 Raffle is a win-win opportunity! 🎄 Half the proceeds will go to the lucky winner, and the other half supports The Great Blizz Special Hockey and our amazing players.

Ticket Bundles:

⭐️ 3 tickets for $10
⭐️ 50 tickets for $50
⭐️ 200 tickets for $100 (just 50 cents per ticket!)

The drawing will take place on Tuesday, Dec. 23rd at noon - just in time for that last-minute holiday shopping spree! 🛍️

👉 Get your tickets at https://bit.ly/GBHoliday5050

Key Details:

• You must purchase tickets while in Massachusetts, but you don’t need to be a resident.
• Must be 18+ to enter.

Why Participate? Every ticket you buy supports our mission to provide more than 100 players with special needs the ultimate hockey experience at our four locations in Kingston, South Dennis, Winthrop, and Oak Bluffs. Our entire program is powered by volunteers - 100% of the process go to programming, not overhead.

Imagine the difference we can make together! If every one of our followers bought a ticket, we could grow and improve our program like never before. 😀

So take a shot, dream big, and now you’re making a huge impact. Thank you for your support.

Good luck and may the holiday bring you joy and a little extra cash!

12/09/2025

Find out the latest on Autism Rocks and The Soulful Girls Club on tonight's episode at 6:15PM on 95.9 WATD FM! Get the details below...

On tonight’s episode of Breaking The Ice - Let's Talk Inclusion, we’ll be catching up with two amazing non-profits: Autism Rocks and The Soulful Girls Club (The Soul Project). Tune in at 6:15 PM on 95.9 WATD FM, or join the livestream at watd. com.

Joining host Holly Flanagan are her guests:

🔹 Scott Kaufman and Kate Huggins of Autism Rocks

🔹 Lyn Fitzgerald of The Soulful Girls Club

Autism Rocks is dedicated to creating sensory sensitive concerts for a cause where individuals of all abilities are welcomed. Their events are designed to be community centered, ensuring everyone can enjoy the power of music together.

The Soulful Girls Club is an empowering community just for teenage girls with intellectual and developmental differences to create, move, and connect.

Their carefully curated monthly events provide a variety of activities for girls with varying interests and abilities, constantly building opportunities to create and move. The girls develop meaningful connections with peers and discover they have a place all their own, where they are seen and valued precisely as they are.

Breaking the Ice is sponsored by Plymouth County Family Support, Inc., South Shore Support Services, and New England Village, Inc.

The program airs every Tuesday at 6:15PM. Each week, our hosts will discuss topics that are important to our inclusive community and highlight the talents and achievements of our community members.

If you haven’t already, please follow our show page (tagged above) on Facebook which includes recordings of the episodes and more!

Breaking The Ice Lets Talk Inclusion

12/03/2025

When decided to expand to a fourth location on Martha’s Vineyard, we were welcomed with open arms by hockey enthusiasts who had long craved a hockey team for their special residents.

We immediately applied for a grant to help fund the new location and today, at a spectacular event at the luxurious Lambert Cove Inn, we were formally recognized as a recipient of an award from Martha’s Vineyard Community Foundation along with nearly 60 other inspiring nonprofits doing God’s work on the Island.

We received an $8,000 award to carry on our mission on Martha’s Vineyard providing high-quality, meaningful and memorable ice hockey experiences to our special players and their families.

Thank you to the Martha’s Vineyard Community Foundation for your trust and your goodwill. We won’t let you down.

And special thanks to the Foundation’s Program Manager Elizabeth Bennett.

And to Foundation Executive Director Paul Schulz - pictured below with Blizz Executive Director Steve Nearman - and his truly engaged Board.

Stop by the rink Sundays at 10am to see us in action!

12/01/2025

Be sure to tune-in tomorrow night and be inspired by Brewability! Check the post below for details!

We’re looking behind the scenes of Brewability, an inspiring brew pub near Denver which employs a staff of 25-plus special needs workers, on the next episode of Breaking The Ice - Let's Talk Inclusion at 6:15 PM on 95.9 WATD FM.

Hear about the trials and tribulations and the victories of a restaurant owner who gives employment opportunities to those who can least find them.

Joining host Steve Nearman are his guests:

🔹 Tiffany Fixter, owner of Brewability & Pizzability, a brew pub in Englewood, CO
with two employees, Jess and Jake.

🔹 Michelle Badger, Massachusetts State Representative on the South Shore

We’ll also check in with Rep. Badger to see what keeps her busy working for the people of the South Shore.

Just in time for December 3rd, International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD), this episode is sure to inspire you!

You can also tune-into the live-stream on 959watd. com.

Breaking the Ice is sponsored by Plymouth County Family Support, Inc., South Shore Support Services, and New England Village, Inc.

The program airs every Tuesday at 6:15PM. Each week, our hosts will discuss topics that are important to our inclusive community and highlight the talents and achievements of our community members.

If you haven’t already, please follow our show page (tagged above) on Facebook which includes recordings of the episodes and more!

Breaking The Ice Lets Talk Inclusion

11/25/2025

On tonight's episode, you'll learn about the Agency with Choice (AWC) program, which allows a family and individuals to self-direct their services by hiring 1:1 staffing.

Did you know that Plymouth County Family Support, Inc. is qualified to provide Agency with Choice (AWC) services?

Learn more about it on tonight’s episode of Breaking The Ice - Let's Talk Inclusion, tonight at 6:15 PM on 95.9 WATD FM!

AWC is a program within the Department of Developmental Services (DDS), which allows a family and individual to self-direct their services by hiring 1:1 staffing and providing financial support.

Joining host Jim Coughlin, Executive Director, are his guests from Plymouth County Family Support (PCFS):

🔹 Jessica Gonsalves, Family Support Director

🔹 Dakota Phillips, Agency with Choice Coordinator

🔹 Wendy Dries, Agency with Choice Coordinator

This episode will also be live-streamed on 959watd. com.

Breaking the Ice is sponsored by Plymouth County Family Support, South Shore Support Services, and New England Village, Inc.

The program airs every Tuesday at 6:15PM. Each week, our hosts will discuss topics that are important to our inclusive community and highlight the talents and achievements of our community members.

If you haven’t already, please follow our show page (tagged above) on Facebook which includes recordings of the episodes and more!

Breaking The Ice Lets Talk Inclusion

11/18/2025

Get the latest updates on the Special Needs community in MA and The Great Blizzards on tonight's episode at 6:15 PM on 95.9 WATD FM! Or catch the live-stream on 959watd.com.

What’s the state of the special needs world in Massachusetts and The Great Blizzards? Find out on tonight’s episode of Breaking The Ice - Let's Talk Inclusion at 6:15 PM on 95.9 WATD FM!

Joining host Steve Nearman are his guests:

🔹 Dylan Fernandes, Massachusetts State Senator for the Plymouth and Barnstable District

🔹 The Great Blizzards Coaches

This episode will also be live-streamed on 959watd. com.

Breaking the Ice is sponsored by Plymouth County Family Support, Inc., South Shore Support Services, and New England Village, Inc.

The program airs every Tuesday at 6:15PM. Each week, our hosts will discuss topics that are important to our inclusive community and highlight the talents and achievements of our community members.

If you haven’t already, please follow our show page (tagged above) on Facebook which includes recordings of the episodes and more!

Breaking The Ice Lets Talk Inclusion

11/11/2025

To all veterans, thank you for your service and sacrifice. Your courage and dedication inspire us all. 🇺🇸

11/10/2025

Join us tomorrow night when we spotlight South Shore Therapies and the services they provide to our community!🩵

How do the occupational therapists at South Shore Therapies help children with everyday tasks, communication skills, feeding, and sensory integration? How can families navigate the process?

Find out on the next episode of Breaking The Ice - Let's Talk Inclusion tomorrow night at 6:15 PM on 95.9 WATD FM!

Joining host Holly Flanagan are her guests from South Shore Therapies:

🔹 Elaine Carroll, Marketing Relationship Coordinator

🔹 Jessica Lundblad, Occupational Therapist & Director of Clinical Services at their Hingham location

🔹 Allison Brown, Speech and Language Therapist & Community Services Liaison

South Shore Therapies offers comprehensive therapy options and programs for infant, child, and adolescent development. Their staff is highly skilled and experienced in occupational therapy to handle everyday tasks, speech and language therapy for better communication skills, feeding therapy to make meals more nutritious and enjoyable, and sensory integration to help with self-regulation and successful interactions with the surrounding world.

They also provide support and development for children and families in their own home and through community services.

Check out their website to learn more: southshoretherapies.com

Breaking the Ice is sponsored by Plymouth County Family Support, Inc., South Shore Support Services, and New England Village, Inc.

The program airs every Tuesday at 6:15PM. Each week, our hosts will discuss topics that are important to our inclusive community and highlight the talents and achievements of our community members.

If you haven’t already, please follow our show page (tagged above) on Facebook which includes recordings of the episodes and more!

Breaking The Ice Lets Talk Inclusion

11/03/2025

We're thrilled to welcome 3 former Bruins players on tomorrow night's episode: Frank Simonetti, Pat Leahy, and Bobby Allen! They'll discuss how the Boston Bruins Alumni Association supports New England charities including The Great Blizz!

How has the Boston Bruins Alumni Association made a huge impact for charities across New England, including The Great Blizz?

Find out on the next episode of Breaking The Ice - Let's Talk Inclusion tomorrow night at 6:15 PM on 95.9 WATD FM! This episode will also be live-streamed on watd. com.

Joining host Steve Nearman will be his guests from The Boston Bruins Alumni Association:

Frank Simonetti, President and Former Bruins Player

Pat Leahy, Former Bruins Player

Bobby Allen, Former Bruins Player

We’ll discuss the new Boston Bruins Alumni season and the impact they have made over the years.

Since its inception in 1968, the Boston Bruins Alumni Association has helped raise more than $13 million for charitable initiatives across New England, including six games with The Great Blizzards of Massachusetts since its inception 2019, with a seventh game scheduled for March 21, 2026.

Visit their website for more information: bostonbruinsalumni.com

Breaking the Ice is sponsored by Plymouth County Family Support, Inc., South Shore Support Services, and New England Village, Inc.

The program airs every Tuesday at 6:15PM. Each week, our hosts will discuss topics that are important to our inclusive community and highlight the talents and achievements of our community members.

If you haven’t already, please follow our show page (tagged above) on Facebook which includes recordings of the episodes and more!

The Ice Lets Talk Inclusion

10/31/2025

Last chance to enter the Halloween 50/50 Raffle! 🎃

🎃 Happy Halloween from The Great Blizz! 👻🏒

Wishing all our players, families, and fans a fun, safe, and treat-filled night! 🍬✨

And don’t forget — today’s the final day to enter our Halloween 50/50 Raffle! 🎟️ The jackpot is already up to $400, and the lucky winner takes home half! 💰

Your support helps keep our incredible players on the ice and doing what they love. ❤️

🕛 Don’t wait — entries close tonight!

🎫 Get your tickets here: https://bit.ly/GBHalloweenRaffle25