July 6, 2001

MGH Cancer Center's HOPES Program workshops
The MGH Cancer Center's HOPES (Helping Our Patients and Families through Education and Support) Program will offer several workshops and seminars this month.

• Jill Oravitz, RD, will present "Safe Summer Grilling," July 11, from noon to 12:30 pm.
• Yoga instructor Luba Zagachin will offer classes July 12, 19 and 26, from noon to 1 pm.
• Janice Wesley, PT, will facilitate "Complementary Therapies: Hands-On Energy Work to Decrease Pain and Enhance the Immune System," July 18, noon to 1 pm.
• Regina Holdstock, RPh, of MGH Pharmacy, will present "Sunscreens Make Summer Sense," July 20, from noon to 12:30 pm.
• Michael McElhinny, Oncology chaplain, will discuss "Fear of Death: Spiritual Resources," July 24, from noon to 1 pm.
• Katie Binda, MSW, LICSW, of MGH Social Service, will present "Feeling Stressed? Simple Steps to Relax," July 25, from 11 am to noon.
• Cathleen Poliquin, RN, of the MGH Hematology/Oncology Unit, will facilitate "Bone Marrow Transplant: A Discussion," July 26, from 1 to 2 pm.
• Paula Rauch, MD, of MGH Psychiatry, will present "Parenting With Cancer," July 31, from 11 am to noon.

All workshops are held in the Cancer Resource Room on Cox 1. For more information, call the HOPES Program at (617) 72-HOPES.

Update on payroll tax withholdings
The Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 went into effect July 1, and new tax rates will be applied to MGH wages paid after June 30. Beginning with the July 5 payday, employees may notice that the amount withheld for federal taxes may be less than before July 1. Employees may change withholdings by filing a new W-4 form, available in the MGH Payroll Office. The Massachusetts state tax withholding rate also was reduced from 5.80 percent to 5.60 percent. FICA tax withholdings remain unchanged. For more information, visit http://ftp.fedworld.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p15t.pdf.