(The opinions and views expressed in the commentaries of Boston News Group's News Publications belong solely to the authors of those commentaries and do not reflect the views or opinions of Boston News Group, it's publications, its staff or publishers.)
Feature coming soon
Click Here for Up to Date Waltham Police/Crime Results
Then Type "Waltham Ma" Where it Reads "Enter an Address"
Poll Results: Maria Curtatone is Still The Voter's Favorite Top Choice Pick! Candidate Curtatone is predicted to win the Democratic election for Middlesex South Register Of Deeds
Favorite Top Choice Pick Candidate Maria Curtatone for Middlesex South Register Of Deeds
Vote for Maria Curtatone On September 6, 2012
My name is Maria Curtatone and I am running for Middlesex South Register of Deeds. I am a practicing attorney and small business owner with my own firm. I have worked in Middlesex County and the surrounding area for the last 25 years. I bring to this job strong administrative skills, leadership and a commitment to public service.
As a business owner and working professional with two children I bring a unique perspective to this office. I am not a politician. I am a working professional who understands the needs of other working professionals. As a business owner, I know what it takes to run a business. I will bring to the office effective management, strong leadership and administrative skills. I am and have been an active member of my community for the last 25 years and I look forward to giving back further and applying my skills to the office of Middlesex County Register of Deeds.
As the Register of Deeds, I will continue to expand and build upon the work the office already does in order to efficiently maintain property records while further implementing the utilization of state-of-the-art technology, electronic recording and accessibility online while simplifying the process and making certain that it is a customer service driven office. It is imperative to me that the office of Middlesex South Register of Deeds maintain ultimate transparency at all times.
I am a highly qualified candidate and the right person for the job of the Middlesex South Register of Deeds. I am committed to effectively serving the public and serving you as your Register of
Deeds. I am seeking your endorsement and humbly ask for your vote
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&v=x5tIv228NBM&NR=1
ACTON, ARLINGTON, ASHBY, ASHLAND, AYER, BEDFORD, BELMONT, BOXBOROUGH, BURLINGTON, CAMBRIDGE, CONCORD, EVERETT, FRAMINGHAM, GROTON, HOLLISTON, HOPKINTON, HUDSON, LEXINGTON, LINCOLN, LITTLETON, MALDEN, MARLBOROUGH, MAYNARD, MEDFORD, MELROSE, NATICK, NEWTON, NORTH READING, PEPPERELL, READING, SHERBORN, SHIRLEY, SOMERVILLE, STONEHAM, STOW, SUDBURY, TOWNSEND, WAKEFIELD, WALTHAM, WATERTOWN, WAYLAND, WESTON, WINCHESTER, WOBURN
Posted at 09:28 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Governor Patrick is joined by legislators and family members while signing S.2132 “An Act Relative to Medical Emergency Response Plans for Schools.” (Photo credit: Eric Haynes / Governor’s Office). View full size photo.
BOSTON – Thursday, May 17, 2012 – Governor Deval Patrick today joined legislators and family members to sign Senate Bill 2132, “An Act Relative to Medical Emergency Response Plans for Schools.” Local school districts will now be required to develop efficient written medical response plans to be better prepared to respond to life-threatening emergencies.
The legislation, also known as “Michael’s Law” was filed in response to a tragic incident involving Sutton High School sophomore Michael Ellsessar, who died after suffering cardiac arrest while playing high school football in 2010. Michael was 16.
“I am proud that we are honoring Michael Ellsessar’s legacy and implementing important steps to stop tragedies like this from happening again,” said Governor Patrick.
“This new law will provide local school districts with the tools and resources to respond effectively and efficiently in the event of medical emergencies which will help prevent future tragedies like the loss of Michael Ellsessar,” said Lieutenant Governor Timothy Murray.
Schools will now be required to implement the following steps in addition to the required multihazard evacuation plan: (1) a method for establishing a rapid communication system and protocols, (2) a list of relevant contacts, (3) a method to efficiently direct emergency medical services, (4) safety precautions for injury prevention, (5) a method of providing access to CPR and first aid training, and (6) the location of defibrillators and personnel who are trained in their use.
“Life-threatening emergencies can happen in any school at any time," said Senator Mark Montigny. “A medical crisis can strike students, staff or visitors and occur during class, after school or at athletic events. This bill encourages every school to develop a program which provides the tools to react to any acute medical incident. Such a program will have the potential to save the greatest number of lives. We must ensure the safety of all the members of the public, young and old alike that utilize our public schools and this legislation will accomplish that goal.”
Local districts will be required to submit their plans to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) every three years and DESE will be required to develop and biennially update a model medical emergency response plan to assist school districts in the formulation of their plans. Schools are required to conduct plan simulations at least annually and to evaluate and modify their plans as necessary. DESE will be required to submit a report to the legislature on the implementation of this initiative by July 1, 2013.
“This bill will save young lives in the future, and it's a fitting memorial tribute to a great young man, Mike Ellsessar of Sutton” said Senator Richard Moore.
Posted at 09:21 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Posted at 09:02 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
MMA Alert - Right to Repair passes MA Senate, but BAD for Motorcyclists!
Late Thursday evening, the Massachusetts State Senate passed SB2204, also known as "Right to Repair" in a mixed vote, but the Massachusetts Motorcycle Association (MMA), upon receiving and reviewing a copy of the passed bill cautions that this bill clearly excludes motorcycles meaning that motorcyclists are not protected under the new legislation. The MMA requests all riders to contact their State Senators to express their displeasure and contact your State Representative to request that they amend this bill to add Motorcycles back to the legislation!
Originally scheduled to be heard on April 26th, Senate Bill 2204 was being amended and was deferred several times until May 17th. The MMA previously reported that it could contain specific and potentially significant language that affects motorcycles adversely. Indeed, State Senator Thomas P Kennedy (D) Brockton filed an amendment to exempt motorcycles completely from this bill and the revised bill passed by the State Senate contains that very language which is based on heavy lobbying from the Motorcycle Industry Council representing the Motorcycle Manufacturers.
In essence, the Bill specifically removes Motorcycles from a list of defined “Motor Vehicles” despite their presence in the Massachusetts General Law, Chapter 90, Section 1. The specific listing of a Motorcycle as excluded from the definition of a Motor Vehicle means that motorcyclists who have bikes with computer controls could lose their right to repair our own motorcycles or to choose our favorite independent motorcycle service shop.
On May 17th, during the MMA’s Storm the State House, numerous MMA Board Members and riders visited Senator Kennedy’s office to ask for clarification of his position. The Senator seemed reluctant to speak with us asking if we were paid lobbyists (which we are not), but did hear our position, insisting that the bill was only still being written. Despite this, the re-drafted bill was presented to the Senate floor late in the evening with little time for anyone to review before it was passed by a mixed vote, even after some additional concern was raised by Senator Bob Hedlund on the floor.
Many modern motorcycles (those manufactured in the past few years and beyond) are now heavily computerized and many riders are already reporting that their independent service providers do not have the required access to manufacturer's authorized dealers in order to diagnose and reset computer codes.
The Right to Repair Coalition had been lobbying for this legislation to include Motorcycles, however their recent communication asks to support of the House passing the legislation as approved by the Senate. The MMA is actively in discussion with the Right to Repair Coalition to actively support amending the bill to include Motorcycles.
The MMA requests that you contact the Right to Repair Coalition, your favorite independent Motorcycle parts and repair providers, your State Senator, and your Representative via a phone call, letter, or a fax as soon as possible; let them know you do not want to be exempt from this law!! Tell them a Motorcycle is a Motor Vehicle – one requiring a special license, one requiring registration and inspection, and one you pay taxes on. Insist that the House amended Senate Bill 2204 to NOT have motorcycles exempted to the entire bill, rather only the specific section dealing with emissions testing during motor vehicle inspections which does not currently apply to motorcycles anyway.
To contact the Right to Repair Coalition, go to: http://massrighttorepair.com/
To find your State Senator please go to this link: http://www.malegislature.gov/People/Search and type in your address.
For more information see http://www.massmotorcycle.org/, contact chairman@massmotorcycle.org, or call 1-800-432-1MMA
©2012 Massachusetts Motorcycle Association
MMA 2012 Harley-Davidson Bike Raffle Tickets are ALMOST GONE! Visit http://www.massmotorcycle.org to get yours today!
Poll Results: Maria Curtatone is Still The Voter's Favorite Top Choice Pick! Candidate Curtatone is predicted to win the Democratic election for Middlesex South Register Of Deeds
Favorite Top Choice Pick Candidate Maria Curtatone for Middlesex South Register Of Deeds
Vote for Maria Curtatone On September 6, 2012
My name is Maria Curtatone and I am running for Middlesex South Register of Deeds. I am a practicing attorney and small business owner with my own firm. I have worked in Middlesex County and the surrounding area for the last 25 years. I bring to this job strong administrative skills, leadership and a commitment to public service.
As a business owner and working professional with two children I bring a unique perspective to this office. I am not a politician. I am a working professional who understands the needs of other working professionals. As a business owner, I know what it takes to run a business. I will bring to the office effective management, strong leadership and administrative skills. I am and have been an active member of my community for the last 25 years and I look forward to giving back further and applying my skills to the office of Middlesex County Register of Deeds.
As the Register of Deeds, I will continue to expand and build upon the work the office already does in order to efficiently maintain property records while further implementing the utilization of state-of-the-art technology, electronic recording and accessibility online while simplifying the process and making certain that it is a customer service driven office. It is imperative to me that the office of Middlesex South Register of Deeds maintain ultimate transparency at all times.
I am a highly qualified candidate and the right person for the job of the Middlesex South Register of Deeds. I am committed to effectively serving the public and serving you as your Register of
Deeds. I am seeking your endorsement and humbly ask for your vote
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&v=x5tIv228NBM&NR=1
ACTON, ARLINGTON, ASHBY, ASHLAND, AYER, BEDFORD, BELMONT, BOXBOROUGH, BURLINGTON, CAMBRIDGE, CONCORD, EVERETT, FRAMINGHAM, GROTON, HOLLISTON, HOPKINTON, HUDSON, LEXINGTON, LINCOLN, LITTLETON, MALDEN, MARLBOROUGH, MAYNARD, MEDFORD, MELROSE, NATICK, NEWTON, NORTH READING, PEPPERELL, READING, SHERBORN, SHIRLEY, SOMERVILLE, STONEHAM, STOW, SUDBURY, TOWNSEND, WAKEFIELD, WALTHAM, WATERTOWN, WAYLAND, WESTON, WINCHESTER, WOBURN
Posted at 09:28 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Governor Patrick is joined by legislators and family members while signing S.2132 “An Act Relative to Medical Emergency Response Plans for Schools.” (Photo credit: Eric Haynes / Governor’s Office). View full size photo.
BOSTON – Thursday, May 17, 2012 – Governor Deval Patrick today joined legislators and family members to sign Senate Bill 2132, “An Act Relative to Medical Emergency Response Plans for Schools.” Local school districts will now be required to develop efficient written medical response plans to be better prepared to respond to life-threatening emergencies.
The legislation, also known as “Michael’s Law” was filed in response to a tragic incident involving Sutton High School sophomore Michael Ellsessar, who died after suffering cardiac arrest while playing high school football in 2010. Michael was 16.
“I am proud that we are honoring Michael Ellsessar’s legacy and implementing important steps to stop tragedies like this from happening again,” said Governor Patrick.
“This new law will provide local school districts with the tools and resources to respond effectively and efficiently in the event of medical emergencies which will help prevent future tragedies like the loss of Michael Ellsessar,” said Lieutenant Governor Timothy Murray.
Schools will now be required to implement the following steps in addition to the required multihazard evacuation plan: (1) a method for establishing a rapid communication system and protocols, (2) a list of relevant contacts, (3) a method to efficiently direct emergency medical services, (4) safety precautions for injury prevention, (5) a method of providing access to CPR and first aid training, and (6) the location of defibrillators and personnel who are trained in their use.
“Life-threatening emergencies can happen in any school at any time," said Senator Mark Montigny. “A medical crisis can strike students, staff or visitors and occur during class, after school or at athletic events. This bill encourages every school to develop a program which provides the tools to react to any acute medical incident. Such a program will have the potential to save the greatest number of lives. We must ensure the safety of all the members of the public, young and old alike that utilize our public schools and this legislation will accomplish that goal.”
Local districts will be required to submit their plans to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) every three years and DESE will be required to develop and biennially update a model medical emergency response plan to assist school districts in the formulation of their plans. Schools are required to conduct plan simulations at least annually and to evaluate and modify their plans as necessary. DESE will be required to submit a report to the legislature on the implementation of this initiative by July 1, 2013.
“This bill will save young lives in the future, and it's a fitting memorial tribute to a great young man, Mike Ellsessar of Sutton” said Senator Richard Moore.
Posted at 09:21 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Posted at 09:02 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
MMA Alert - Right to Repair passes MA Senate, but BAD for Motorcyclists!
Late Thursday evening, the Massachusetts State Senate passed SB2204, also known as "Right to Repair" in a mixed vote, but the Massachusetts Motorcycle Association (MMA), upon receiving and reviewing a copy of the passed bill cautions that this bill clearly excludes motorcycles meaning that motorcyclists are not protected under the new legislation. The MMA requests all riders to contact their State Senators to express their displeasure and contact your State Representative to request that they amend this bill to add Motorcycles back to the legislation!
Originally scheduled to be heard on April 26th, Senate Bill 2204 was being amended and was deferred several times until May 17th. The MMA previously reported that it could contain specific and potentially significant language that affects motorcycles adversely. Indeed, State Senator Thomas P Kennedy (D) Brockton filed an amendment to exempt motorcycles completely from this bill and the revised bill passed by the State Senate contains that very language which is based on heavy lobbying from the Motorcycle Industry Council representing the Motorcycle Manufacturers.
In essence, the Bill specifically removes Motorcycles from a list of defined “Motor Vehicles” despite their presence in the Massachusetts General Law, Chapter 90, Section 1. The specific listing of a Motorcycle as excluded from the definition of a Motor Vehicle means that motorcyclists who have bikes with computer controls could lose their right to repair our own motorcycles or to choose our favorite independent motorcycle service shop.
On May 17th, during the MMA’s Storm the State House, numerous MMA Board Members and riders visited Senator Kennedy’s office to ask for clarification of his position. The Senator seemed reluctant to speak with us asking if we were paid lobbyists (which we are not), but did hear our position, insisting that the bill was only still being written. Despite this, the re-drafted bill was presented to the Senate floor late in the evening with little time for anyone to review before it was passed by a mixed vote, even after some additional concern was raised by Senator Bob Hedlund on the floor.
Many modern motorcycles (those manufactured in the past few years and beyond) are now heavily computerized and many riders are already reporting that their independent service providers do not have the required access to manufacturer's authorized dealers in order to diagnose and reset computer codes.
The Right to Repair Coalition had been lobbying for this legislation to include Motorcycles, however their recent communication asks to support of the House passing the legislation as approved by the Senate. The MMA is actively in discussion with the Right to Repair Coalition to actively support amending the bill to include Motorcycles.
The MMA requests that you contact the Right to Repair Coalition, your favorite independent Motorcycle parts and repair providers, your State Senator, and your Representative via a phone call, letter, or a fax as soon as possible; let them know you do not want to be exempt from this law!! Tell them a Motorcycle is a Motor Vehicle – one requiring a special license, one requiring registration and inspection, and one you pay taxes on. Insist that the House amended Senate Bill 2204 to NOT have motorcycles exempted to the entire bill, rather only the specific section dealing with emissions testing during motor vehicle inspections which does not currently apply to motorcycles anyway.
To contact the Right to Repair Coalition, go to: http://massrighttorepair.com/
To find your State Senator please go to this link: http://www.malegislature.gov/People/Search and type in your address.
For more information see http://www.massmotorcycle.org/, contact chairman@massmotorcycle.org, or call 1-800-432-1MMA
©2012 Massachusetts Motorcycle Association
MMA 2012 Harley-Davidson Bike Raffle Tickets are ALMOST GONE! Visit http://www.massmotorcycle.org to get yours today!
MMA Announces Member Legal Services Program with Haymond Law Firm
The Massachusetts Motorcycle Association (MMA) and the Haymond Law Firm are proud to announce a partnership between the motorcycle rights association in Massachusetts and New England's premier motorcycle attorneys. On behalf of the Haymond Law Firm, John Haymond, a Gold Card member of the MMA has agreed to significantly lower his fees to 25% and simplify his fee structure for all active MMA members and their immediate families.
Left to Right: Legislative Director Rick Gleason, John Haymond, Chairman Dave Condon
Vice Chairman Doc D'Errico, Member Services Director Kevin Raiche
Law Firm President John Haymond proudly stated that "In my view It's only natural that our firm and the MMA would form such a partnership. After all, we both work on behalf and for the benefit of the motorcycle community. I'm very happy to be able to help the hard working members of this motorcycle rights organization and their families!"
MMA Chairman Dave Condon stated "The MMA is very pleased to establish this new relationship with John Haymond and his Law Firm. They have a proven track record of helping riders out in their worst time of need. We thank John and his firm for this generous offer to our membership and we look forward to working with them."
MMA Vice Chairman and Safety & Education director Doc D’Errico commented, "I know the MMA works diligently to assure that our riders are afforded educational opportunities, and our awareness programs are attempting to make the byways safer, but when an accident does occur, our members should also benefit from strong representation at an affordable cost to assure their efforts are aimed towards getting back on 2 wheels.”
Any questions about these exclusive MMA membership benefits can be answered by John Haymond directly at 1-800- HAYMOND or go to haymondlaw.com.
For further information about this and other benefits available to MMA members please contact the MMA's Member Services Director Kevin Raiche at MemberServicesDirector@MassMotorcycle.org or by visiting www.MassMotorcycle.org
©2012 Massachusetts Motorcycle Association
MMA 2012 Harley-Davidson Bike Raffle Tickets are ALMOST GONE! Visit http://www.massmotorcycle.org/ to get yours today!
-30-
Over a hundred motorcycles from all over the state assembled on New Washington Street in Somerville on Thursday morning to ride into Boston to the steps of the state house for the annually "Storm the State House Rally".
The bikes enjoyed a breakfast provided to them by the Somerville Lions Club as well a from Cindy Hicky one of the major organizers of "Toys For Local Children before their run into Boston.
The Massachusetts Motorcycle Association (MMA) have played a key role in the success of the "Toys For Local Children Charity" since its formation in Somerville a few years ago.
MMA Supports Motorcycle Safety Programs and reminds riders that inspections are due!
May is national Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month which is a perfect extension to the Massachusetts Motorcycle Safety Awareness Period which runs through the Month of April. This period also concludes with all Annual Motorcycle Safety Inspections due on the last day of May. The Massachusetts Motorcycle Association (MMA), has been heavily active in promoting Motorcycle Safety and would like to remind Motorcyclists to renew their Motorcycle Inspections as well as joining all motorists to “Check Twice” because the life they save may be their own.
Motorcycle Safety is something that affects all of us, regardless of whether we’re in the saddle, or on 4 or more wheels. It’s hard to come across someone who hasn’t been impacted by someone they know who’s been in a Motorcycle Accident. Yet as much as we’re aware of these concerns, aggressive driving seems to be at an all-time high. Accidents involving Motorcycles are increasing, in part due to inattention and in part due to aggressive driving behaviors – not always on the part of the “other” driver…
Safety in traffic is a responsibility shared by everyone. According to the Massachusetts Rider Education Program (MREP), 65% of the time, when a Motorcycle is involved in a collision with another vehicle, it’s because the other vehicle turned left in front of the Motorcycle. Most experts would agree, however, that most crashes can be avoided with proper mental and physical preparedness. Such techniques are taught by the MREP schools and yet in approximately 80% of the fatalities involving motorcycles, the Motorcyclist had no rider education at all!
Because of statistics like these, coupled with an unusually high early-season accident rate in the Western part of Massachusetts, the North Adams Police Department began a campaign to promote Motorcycle Safety. Pictured here, the North Adams Police Department has posted signs asking all motorists to “Check Twice, Save a Life”.
Members of the North Adams Police Department proudly displaying their new banner!
The NAPD campaign, sponsored by the North Adams PD with support from the MMA, is aimed at creating greater awareness and respect between Motorists and also asks Motorcyclists to ride with respect in the local community referencing the MMA’s “When in Town, Throttle Down ©” campaign.
Other signage around the state has been visible on the highways, for example, these signs captured in early May on I-495, asking motorists to “Share the Road” and “Look Twice for Motorcycles”.
Road Signs on I-495 and other MA Highways this month ask ALL motorists to
"Share the Road" and to "Look Twice for Motorcycles"
The program, supported by MREP and MassDOT, is initiated every year in support of the MMA’s Motorcycle Safety Awareness Period, and will continue to run sporadically through the major North East Motorcycle Bike Weeks at Laconia and Americade in June.
The National Motorcycle Awareness Period, which ends May 31st, is also the end of the annual Motorcycle Safety Inspection period. The MMA reminds all riders to renew their Motorcycle Inspections annually, but visiting a local Motorcycle Inspection station. Authorized Motorcycle Inspection Stations for Massachusetts can be found here:
http://www.vehicletest.state.ma.us/find_inspection_station.php
For more information, please see www.MassMotorcycle.org or contact SafetyDirector@MassMotorcycle.org
©2012 Massachusetts Motorcycle Association
MMA 2012 Harley-Davidson Bike Raffle Tickets are ALMOST GONE! Visit http://www.massmotorcycle.org/ to get yours today!
Attorney Maria C. Curtatone, Democratic candidate for Middlesex (South) Register of Deeds issued the following message in observance of Memorial Day:
"On Memorial Day we fondly remember those we loved and lost. We honor the men and women who serve and have served for our nation.
We also recognize and appreciate the sacrifices of the families of those who have served and continue to do so.
Our hearts go out to the families who have paid the ultimate price, whose loved ones have died or were taken captive and never returned.
For anyone who may still be in captivity, we offer prayers for their safe return. We have not forgotten them. And we never will."
--
Attorney Maria C. Curtatone, Democratic candidate for Middlesex (South) Register of Deeds issued the following message in observance of Memorial Day:
"On Memorial Day we fondly remember those we loved and lost. We honor the men and women who serve and have served for our nation.
We also recognize and appreciate the sacrifices of the families of those who have served and continue to do so.
Our hearts go out to the families who have paid the ultimate price, whose loved ones have died or were taken captive and never returned.
For anyone who may still be in captivity, we offer prayers for their safe return. We have not forgotten them. And we never will."
Photo left to right: Sons Ed Tauro, Bill Tauro, Walter Tauro, Uncle Benny Tauro, sons David Tauro and Ronald Tauro
~Photos by Bobbie Toner and William Tauro
On Saturday, May 5, the City of Somerville dedicated a square at the intersection on McGrath Highway and Linwood Street to Sgt Pasquale “Patrick” Tauro, 67th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion of the United States Army.
Over a hundred friends, relatives, political figures attended to glorious tribute to an American serviceman that served his country well during WWII.
Patrick Tauro was born in Mirabella, Italy in 1921. He enjoyed his childhood in sunny Italy but always wanted a better life in the promised land. At age 15 he made his way, alone, to the USA and was processed at Ellis Island. He then went to find his father, who was already established in Boston as an ironworks laborer. He immediately took on any and all available jobs to pay the bills and move him ahead. During this time he also found time to attend assimilation classes which eventually lead to citizenship.
Since his desire to “fit in” was so strong, he eventually changed his birth name at city hall from “Pasquale” to “Patrick”. A few years later he met his wife to be, Emily, who had also arrived in Boston at an early age with her family to follow that same dream. They hit it off immediately and got married while they were both in their early twenties.
Shortly after the birth of their first child, WWII began. Patrick felt that it was his duty to protect the new world he had so struggled to become a part of, and so, voluntarily, joined the United States Army. He was assigned to the infantry as a tank driver and proudly fought in Normandy, Germany, Northeast France, Rhineland, Ardennes, Central Europe and other European war zones including his birth country, Italy. Patrick was also the recipient of the Good Conduct Medal and the European African Middle Eastern Campaign Ribbon Victory Medal.
When the war ended Patrick returned to the Boston area and took advantage of GI Trade Schooling. He chose auto body since he enjoyed working on vehicles. It wasn’t long before he had jobs working in Somerville and Cambridge as an expert auto body repairman and painter. But his desire to do it alone was so strong that he broke away soon as it was possible to establish his own repair shop. That shop was located on McGrath Highway in Cambridge. Later he made his way to a more central location on McGrath Highway in the City of Somerville. He believed that the most important aspect in repairs was customer satisfaction. He eventually expanded his business to cover three locations in Somerville.
Patrick was a family orientated person who believed in the traditional Sunday family get-together. During these times he always cooked and experimented with various food dishes at which he excelled. Throughout his life he treasured his family, his livelihood, his new friendships and his new country and he excelled in all these areas.
He died in 1994 at the age of 73, leaving behind his wonderful wife, Emily and five sons and their families, including thirteen grand children.
He truly made his mark and we will forever miss him.
We Salute you, Sgt Patrick Tauro.
Special thanks to Somerville Mayor Joseph Curtatone, Alderman Maryann Heuston, former Veterans Services Director Frank Senesi as well as the Service’s Kathy Carey for their continuous support in making this event possible. ~ The Tauro Family
Posted at 04:50 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Well Nicholas Burtt provides us with a touching poem. By touching earth—he touches us.
Touching Earth
Waves crash the seashore
The sandy beach in my sight
Sunbeams touching earth
Many colors here
Green and blue swirling around
Cover this planet
Remember the grass
The fields of insects and birds
A vital system
A grid of kingdoms
All of us free, together
Drawn to harmony
Watching a campfire
Reminding me my power
To kindle the flame
I sit, contemplate
Wondering awesome ideas
Holding always faith
This is me at peace
No violence to threaten
My heavenly space
Gather in the air
Thirsty lungs take into them
A meditation
Clouds drifting above
Dew collecting on flowers
I am still breathing
Gathering wisdom
The sandy beach in my sight
Waves crash the seashore.
–Nicholas Burtt
To have your work considered for the LYRICAL send it to:
Doug Holder 25 School St.Somerville,Mass. 02143 dougholder@post.harvard.edu
Posted at 04:44 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Well-there is a fairly new bookshop in town “THE BOOKSHOP” in Ball Square. The owner is Gil Barbosa, and he is a brave man. I say this because it is damn hard to keep an indie bookshop thriving in these days of Amazon.com, e books, nooks, etc… Anyway Somerville resident, poet and painter, and longtime arts editor at the Ibbetson Street Press, Richard Wilhelm, has organized a reading in celebration of the store. Gloria Mindock and Lucy Holstedt, both Somerville poets will be reading, as well as a number of talented local folks. Hope you can come-and even read your own work in an open mic after the featured readers.
HOSTED BY: Gil Barbosa, proprietor
Richard Wilhelm, poet
WHERE: The Book Shop at Ball Square
694 Broadway
Somerville, MA 02144
WHEN: 6 p.m.
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
FEATURED READERS:
DOUG HOLDER is the founder of the Ibbetson Street Press. He teaches writing at Endicott College in Beverly, MA and Bunker Hill Community College in Boston. His own poetry and prose have been in such journals as Rattle, Main Street Review, Houston Literary Review, Poesy, The Boston Globe, and many others. Holder is the Arts Editor of The Somerville News, and curator of the Newton Free Library Poetry Series. He holds an MA in Literature from Harvard University. One of his latest collections of poetry is “The Man in the Booth in the Midtown Tunnel” (Cervena Barva Press.)
JAMES DECRESCENTIS has had poems published in New Letters, The Cafe Review, Ibbetson Street and other literary magazines. He currently teaches at Bunker Hill Community College and runs the Gallery at the Piano Factory in Boston.
GLORIA MINDOCK is editor of Cervena Barva Press and The Istanbul Literary Review. Her poetry has been translated into Romanian, Serbian, Spanish, and French. Widely published, her poetry recently has appeared in Levure Litteraire (France) and in Vatra Veche Romania).
LUCY HOLSTEDT teaches at Berklee College of Music. She is a composer, songwriter, choral arranger, playwright , actor, piano player, and vocalist. Her poetry has appeared in Ibbetson Street, The Wilderness House Literary Review, and the Lyrical Somerville column of The Somerville News.
DOUG WORTH is a Cambridge poet, a retired teacher, and author of “Catch the Light: Selected Poems, 1963–2003″, a book that won praise from such luminaries as Howard Zinn and Lawrence Ferlinghetti.
An Open Mike will follow the featured readers
How long will your retirement last?
A 30-year retirement is a real possibility!
By Andrew Reitano
You have worked hard to get where you are, and your retirement should be everything you have imagined. For you, this could mean anything from traveling, pursuing hobbies to simply spending time with the people you love. Whatever your plans, you will need income to support the retirement lifestyle you have always dreamed of for yourself.
As you embark on your retirement, keep in mind you may face unforeseen risks including: market volatility, longevity, and healthcare expenses. To help manage some of the financial risks you may face, you should look for guaranteed sources of income. In the past, people have traditionally depended on company-based pensions and traditional Social Security benefits to solidify their financial needs in retirement. As the retirement landscape changes, fewer of us are covered by traditional pensions than a generation ago and Social Security is covering a smaller percentage of our retirement income than in the past.
A lifetime income annuity (LIA) may address many of your retirement risks and like a pension plan or Social Security, it provides features like: security, protection, simplicity, and longevity. Contributing to the evolving face of retirement is the fact that we are living longer lives. Thanks to medical advances and healthier lifestyles, life expectancy in the United States has risen over the last century – and continues to rise!1 A LIA is a just one of the ways to leverage your money in retirement.
A LIA provides retirement income that is guaranteed to last as long as you live, no matter how long that is and no matter how the financial markets perform.2 A LIA is a single premium immediate fixed annuity that you purchase using a single lump sum of money. Most LIAs let you customize the income you will receive to include another person, legacy options, cash refund and inflation protection.
Some of the factors that may determine the amount of payments you will receive include: the amount of your premium, the number of people covered, your age, and other custom features you may have chosen for your particular lifetime income annuity.
One of the benefits of a LIA is that you can set it up to automatically satisfy your Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) for qualified money. The IRS requires that people begin withdrawing money each year from their tax-qualified accounts at age 70 ½. By rolling over qualified money from a 401(k), IRA, or other retirement plan into a LIA, you may help to avoid penalties and free you of the burden of having to figure out and withdraw the correct distribution amount on your own each year. Payments from a LIA funded from a Roth IRA are tax free.
Nonqualified money (“after tax dollars”) can also be used to purchase a LIA. Each annuity income payment consists of a taxable income portion and a return of premium portion, which is not taxable. The division between the taxable and tax-free portions of your payments is determined by IRS rules based on several factors. Once the tax-free payments you receive equal your policy’s cost basis, all future payments you receive are 100 percent taxable as ordinary income.
Lifetime income annuities offer a combination of features that can help you address your retirement income needs. When you select the one that is right for you, it can be a great way to help you cover your basic expenses in retirement and have a paycheck for the rest of your life.
Consult your financial professional to understand better how a lifetime income annuity fits into your financial plan. This educational third-party article is being provided as a courtesy by Andrew Reitano, Agent, New York Life Insurance Company. To learn more about the information or topics discussed, please contact Andrew at 781-392-1720 or at areitano@ft.newyorklife.com.
Posted at 06:07 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
RESTAURANT HOOD CLEANING Click Here to Get All Types Hood Cleaning Service $250 Special Home/Office/ Condo Dryer Vents and Duct Cleaning Specials as low as $95.00
|
VENTCLEANERS.com 1(888)625-2706 |
|
|
|
All Types Vent & Hood Cleaning Service Massachusetts State Fire Marshal Licensed Approved Certified Insured & Qualified Hood & Vent Cleaners! We also repair/fix/replace motors & belts on your restaurant exhaust system 24HR emergency Service! Call Now: while low special sale prices are in affect! Our Specialties are: HOME & OFFICE VENT CLEANING * RESTAURANT HOOD CLEANING * TO CHECK OUT OUR MANY LOCAL SERVICES THAT WE ALSO PROVIDE (Handyman Services *Power Washing Services * Yard & Basement Junk & Debris Removal Cleanout Services) Click here: www.alltypescleaning.com Our Sister Companies: www.Ventcleaners.com www.Hoodcleanersboston.com www.Hoodcleaningboston.com www.Ductcleaningboston.com www.Dryerventcleaningboston.com HOME / OFFICE/ CONDO/ COMMERCIAL A/c/Heat Air Duct/VentSystem Cleaning begining at $125. HOME DRYER VENT CLEANING $95. RESTAURANT HOOD CLEANING SPECIALS $250 (UP TO 11'HOOD) (Metro Boston & All New England Areas )
RESTAURANT HOOD CLEANING SPECIALS $250 (UP TO 11'HOOD) |
|
|
|
|
FPRIVATE "TYPE=PICT;ALT=Vent.jpg" ALL TYPES VENT CLEANING SERVICE VENTCLEANERS.com Massachusetts State Fire Marshal Certified Licensed Approved Qualified & Insured!
OR Email us: ALLTYPESCLEANING@aol.com (Serving all of Mass and parts RI & NH) |
|
Posted at 07:09 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
MARLBOROUGH – Tuesday, May 1, 2012 – Governor Deval Patrick today celebrated the expansion of clean energy company SolarCity in Marlborough, where the company plans to add 25 jobs. The job growth is attributed to the Patrick-Murray Administration’s investments in the clean energy economy including the Green Communities program.
“We have developed a nation-leading clean energy agenda because it is the right thing to do for our environment, our energy independence and our public health,” said Governor Patrick. “The growth of private companies like SolarCity is a sign that our investment strategy in the clean energy industry is working.”
SolarCity, a clean energy services company, expanded into Massachusetts in 2011. In less than a year, the company has tripled its workforce adding 33 employees to date and is adding 25 more positions at its new location. The Marlborough expansion more than doubles the company’s warehouse square footage, combining the 6,000 square feet in facilities the company held in Billerica and Raynham.
The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center’s 2011 Massachusetts Clean Energy Industry Report showed a 6.7 percent growth in Massachusetts clean energy jobs between July 2010 and July 2011, with companies projecting continued growth in the year ahead. The report found nearly 5,000 companies engaged in clean energy work and employing more than 64,000 clean energy workers.
“Massachusetts is home to clean energy companies specializing in technologies ranging from energy efficiency and energy storage to efficient lighting and biofuels and we’re proud they’ve made Massachusetts home,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Richard K. Sullivan. “The clean energy industry is growing and we’re here today to celebrate it.”
“Massachusetts has invested in the clean energy economy – and that investment is paying off with jobs and lower energy costs,” said SolarCity's Regional Director for Massachusetts Ed Steins. “We have tripled our local staff in less than a year and are hiring for more positions in Massachusetts right now.”
With these latest designations, 42 percent of Massachusetts residents or 2.7 million people now live in Green Communities across the Commonwealth. All of the 86 Green Communities committed to reduce their municipal energy consumption by 20 percent. This commitment collectively equates to the annual energy consumption of more than 13,000 Massachusetts homes and the greenhouse gases from more than 16,800 cars.
Under the Global Warming Solutions Act, Massachusetts has set the strongest greenhouse gas reduction targets in the nation – 25 percent below 1990 levels by 2020 and 80 percent by 2050. The implementation of the state’s Clean Energy and Climate Plan for 2020 is estimated to create at least 42,000 jobs.
Posted at 07:04 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Governor Patrick plants flowers with students at the launch of the “Plant Something” initiative. (Photo credit: Eric Haynes / Governor’s Office). View full size photo.
BOSTON – Tuesday, May 1, 2012 – Governor Deval Patrick, Massachusetts Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Richard K. Sullivan and Department of Agricultural Resources (DAR) Commissioner Greg Watson today joined students, school officials and members of the state’s horticulture industry at the Mather Elementary School in Dorchester to launch the “Plant Something” campaign to spotlight local flower and nursery growers and encourage residents to shop at local garden centers.
Governor Patrick also announced May as Flower and Nursery Month, highlighting the state’s strong agricultural sector.
“It gives me great pleasure to recognize a $2 billion industry that helps to beautify Massachusetts and kick-off a program that will help enhance the outdoor learning experience for students here at the Mather School,” said Governor Patrick. “I encourage everyone to go out and ‘Plant Something.’”
The Mather Elementary School participates in the Boston Schoolyard Initiative (BSI), a program that revitalizes Boston’s schoolyards, transforming asphalt lots into dynamic centers for recreation, learning and community life. Members from the Massachusetts Flower Growers Association (MFGA) and the Massachusetts Nursery and Landscape Association (MNLA) generously donated the greenery for the school yard.
“This is a great way to spotlight beautification projects at schools throughout the Commonwealth,” said Secretary Sullivan. “To have our children involved and planting flowers and trees only adds to their interactive hands on education.”
The “Plant Something” initiative is being highlighted with the collaboration between DAR, MFGA and MNLA. Slogans will be featured across the state at independent garden centers, delivery trucks and at the MBTA’s commuter rail stations and trains during the month of May.
“With spring here and Mother’s Day approaching, now is the perfect time to select flowers, hanging baskets, flowering shrubs or trees at one of the independent garden centers across the state,” said DAR Commissioner Greg Watson.
The greenhouse and nursery industry is the top contributor to Massachusetts agriculture, valued at $177 million in 2008 or 31 percent of the total cash receipts in the state, according to the New England Agricultural Statistics Service.
MFGA President Cindy Bertrand, of The Farmer’s Daughter at Hillcrest Farm in Auburn, notes that Association members offer consumers a tremendous selection of quality flowers and plants.
“We want to make gardening easy, fun and successful for our customers,” she said. “We can give them individualized attention and knowledgeable advice on choosing what will work best for them so their gardens will burst with dazzling color. And with Mother’s Day coming up on Sunday, May 13, what could be a better gift in honor of those special mothers in our families than a beautiful, locally grown hanging basket or colorful planter.”
“We always have new plants and products but also focus on tried and true items that have a track record of being reliable for Massachusetts gardeners,” said Jim Connolly, Massachusetts-Certified Horticulturalist, MNLA president and owner of Northeast Nurseries in Peabody.
DAR’s MassGrown & Fresher Google Interactive Map features a list of over 125 local garden centers across the Commonwealth, allowing consumers to easily find ALL of their locally grown needs in one convenient one-stop-shopping spot.
DAR’s mission is to ensure the long-term viability of local agriculture in Massachusetts. Through its four divisions – Agricultural Development, Animal Health, Crop and Pest Services, and Technical Assistance – the DAR strives to support, regulate and enhance the Commonwealth’s agricultural community, working to promote economically and environmentally sound food safety and animal health measures, and fulfill agriculture’s role in energy conservation and production. For more information, visit DAR’s website at www.mass.gov/agr, and/or follow at twitter.com/mdarcommish.
Posted at 07:02 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Advertise with the Boston Area Small Press and Poetry Scene! http://tinyurl.com/ddjcal
Boston Area Small Press and Poetry Scene http://dougholder.blogspot.com
Doug Holder's CV: http://dougholderresume.blogspot.com
Ibbetson Street Press http://ibbetsonpress.com
ISCS PRESS http://www.iscspress.com
Ibbetson Street Press Online Bookstore http://www.tinyurl.com/3x6rgv3
What to do about the national debt
By William C. Shelton
I’ve never written a book review. But a recent work on the fiscal crisis is so sensible, thoroughly researched and non ideological that its ideas are worth sharing.
It is White House Burning: The Founding Fathers, our National Debt, and Why it Matters to You. Its authors, Simon Johnson and James Kwak are professors at MIT and the UConn respectively. Johnson was Chief Economist for the International Monetary Fund.
They show that arguments over national debt and taxes are as old as the Republic. The Continental Congress had borrowed heavily to finance the War of Independence. So the new nation was bankrupt when the war ended.
Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton restructured the debt and successfully argued that taxes must be imposed to pay it down. This reassured lenders, but Thomas Jefferson and James Madison held that taxation gave the federal government too much power.
Simon and Kwak identify six episodes in which the nation has gone deeply into debt. The first five were to support wars. Americans paid down those debts with increased taxes, but did so over decades rather than years so as not to stifle economic growth.
Nonmilitary events since 2000 are responsible for the sixth and toughest debt problem: the George W. Bush tax cuts, adoption of the Medicare drug benefit, and the 2008 financial crisis that wrecked the economy. A Congressional Budget Office (CBO) analysis says that the financial meltdown’s total impact, including reduced tax revenues, was a 50% increase in federal debt relative to gross domestic product (GDP).
They present simple and unequivocal evidence disproving the notion of runaway government spending. With the exception of defense, most government spending categories, as a percent of GDP, have remained flat or declined since the late 1990s.
As a share of GDP, our government spending is low in comparison to that of other nations with advanced economies. And investors around the world are lending us money at an incredibly low interest rate—around 2%.
So do deficits matter? Dick Chaney famously told then Treasury Secretary Paul O’Neill that Ronald Reagan had proven they don’t matter.
They do. We cannot keep borrowing indefinitely. Nor is there any way of knowing when international investors will demand higher interest rates. And our dysfunctional Congress is not giving them confidence.
We need to convince investors that we can stabilize the debt and then bring it down, relative to the size of the economy. Higher interest rates would retard economic growth, slow or reverse job creation, reduce tax revenues, and indiscriminately reduce the needed services that government can provide.
Johnson says that, “Politicians deal in illusions and dreams.” And Republicans and Democrats are both doing it.
President Obama wants to tax those earning over $250,000 per year. But his proposal would produce only a quarter of the total revenue lost by the Bush-era tax cuts. The wealthiest 1% that we have heard so much about is still only 1%. Although the Bush tax cuts disproportionately favored the rich, the bulk of taxes comes from the middle class.
Republican politicians say that the crisis is driven by excessive spending, and that deeper tax cuts would stimulate the economy, producing increased tax revenues. Harvard Economist Gregory Mankiw was Chairman of George W. Bush’s Council of Economic Advisers and is now a key consultant to Mitt Romney. His exhaustive research shows that even under the most optimistic projections, cutting taxes does not lead to greater revenue. Romney, however, is saying the opposite.
Simon and Kwak identify the greatest expense-side threat to future budget balancing as Medicare and Medicaid. Republican Congressman Paul Ryan, Chairman of the House Budget Committee, offers one solution. He would replace Medicare with a voucher with which to buy healthcare in the private market. Its value would be capped. So what could be bought would continually decline.
But the private market has been unwilling to insure people in their 70s, 80s, and 90s. This is why Medicare was first created. And the CBO says that healthcare costs would rise with this plan because the government has much more bargaining power than do individuals and companies.
The authors advocate a free and open debate about such basic issues as what we want government to do. But it should be a fact-based debate.
What is their prescription? The worst economic medicine would be to precipitously stop borrowing. We should phase in fiscal adjustment gradually, balancing it with economic growth, as we did responsibly with past debt crises. But we must start now.
The Bush tax cuts should be allowed to lapse for everyone. This would take us back to the levels of the late 1990s, but would still be much lower than those of the 50s and 60s. The cost to the average American family would be a few hundred dollars per year.
If the economy is still weak at the time that the tax cuts expire, we should implement a temporary payroll tax cut. They do propose increasing taxes on the wealthy, but by closing tax loopholes and raising the rate on capital gains to 28 percent—still lower than historic levels.
Ultimately, say Simon and Kwak, the national debt is a political problem rather than an economic problem. I would agree, but I would add that the political problem continues because of politicians who encourage and exploit voters’ misunderstanding and ignorance.
The authors quote James Madison, writing in 1822: “Knowledge will forever govern ignorance, and the people who mean to be their own governors must arm themselves with the power which knowledge gives.”
Posted at 05:53 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
NEW BEDFORD – Monday, April 30, 2012 – Lieutenant Governor Timothy Murray today announced the formation of the Ports of Massachusetts Compact, an agreement designed to boost economic development and capitalize on resources in the Commonwealth’s seaports.
The compact was signed by the mayors of Boston, New Bedford, Fall River, Gloucester and Salem; in addition to the Massachusetts Secretaries of Transportation, Energy and Environmental Affairs, Housing and Economic Development, Massport; and the Legislature’s Joint Committee on Transportation. Lieutenant Governor Murray will serve as chair.
“With approximately 2,800 miles of coastline, there are valuable opportunities for increased transportation and economic development in the state’s seaport communities,” said Lieutenant Governor Murray, who also chairs the Seaport Advisory Council. “The creation of the Ports of Massachusetts Compact ensures we are strategically planning development opportunities and sharing knowledge across agencies and municipalities to help benefit the entire Commonwealth.”
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) Planning Division will lead research and planning efforts for the compact and will identify ways to maximize funding to improve infrastructure.
“Coordinating efforts of the fishing, energy, shipping and transportation industries that operate in our ports is healthy for business and job growth, as well as the environment,” said MassDOT Secretary Richard Davey.
The Compact’s initial action items will include fishing regulations, coastal shipping trends and recommending a plan for seaport coordination. Other Compact goals will include moving people and goods safely, securely and more efficiently through the five ports while providing intermodal connectivity for those doing business and visiting the Commonwealth.
“The historic seaports of Massachusetts are a vital tool for local communities to help support economic development and create local jobs,” said Secretary of Housing and Economic Development Greg Bialecki. “The ‘Ports of Massachusetts’ Compact will support the many vital industries that use these seaports to operate and help boost economic development in these regions.”
“We look forward to working more closely with our fishing communities to better protect and manage the development of our ports,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rick Sullivan.
“As our roads and highways continue to grow more and more congested, we must look to expand our usage of our waterways for both transit and commercial purposes," said Senator Thomas M. McGee. "This compact will help us fully explore sound environmental and economic policies for our ports, waterfronts and waterways. I am looking forward to continuing our commitment to our ports and exploring ways to maximize the impact they have on the Massachusetts economy."
Ports of Massachusetts Compact Members
SEAPORT ADVISORY COUNCIL
Lt. Governor Timothy P. Murray, Chair
MASSACHUSETTS JOINT COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION
Senator Thomas M. McGee, Senate Chair
Representative William M. Straus, House Chair
MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Richard A. Davey, Secretary & CEO
EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS
Richard K. Sullivan, Jr., Secretary
EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF HOUSING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Gregory Bialecki, Secretary
MASSACHUSETTS PORT AUTHORITY
David S. Mackey, Interim CEO
CITY OF BOSTON
Thomas M. Menino, Mayor
CITY OF NEW BEDFORD
Jonathan F. Mitchell, Mayor
CITY OF FALL RIVER
William A. Flanagan, Mayor
CITY OF GLOUCESTER
Carolyn A. Kirk, Mayor
CITY OF SALEM
Kimberley Driscoll, Mayor
Posted at 05:40 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
BOSTON – Friday, April 27, 2012 – Governor Deval Patrick today signed S.2158, “An Act Increasing Screening For HIV,” which removes barriers for patients to get HIV screening, while maintaining all confidentiality protections.
Governor Patrick is joined by legislators and supporters while signing S.2158 “An Act Increasing Screening For HIV.” (Photo credit: Meghan Dhaliwal / Governor’s Office). View additional photos.
“This bill will lead to more lives being saved,” said Governor Patrick. “By removing barriers to screening, we will continue to decrease rates of HIV in our communities.”
S.2158 removes the requirement that patients give written consent for HIV tests, and instead requires only verbal consent. This will result in more instances of HIV being screened and detected early enough for life saving treatments to be provided.
The product of several years of work amongst the HIV advocacy community, clinicians, service providers and others, this bill removes what physicians describe as a barrier to HIV screening: written consent. Removing this requirement puts Massachusetts in line with the majority of other jurisdictions.
“This is an important step forward in getting more people tested for HIV in the Commonwealth, which is critical to stopping the spread of HIV,” said Rebecca Haag, President & CEO of AIDS Action Committee of Massachusetts. “We thank Senate President Therese Murray, House Speaker Robert DeLeo and Governor Patrick for their leadership and support on this issue. There are an estimated 25,000 to 27,000 people living with HIV/AIDS in Massachusetts, but approximately 21 percent of them are unaware that they are HIV positive according to estimates by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. The first step is learning your status. The next steps are getting connected with care and treatment, fighting the stigma that is still attached to HIV/AIDS in many communities; and shoring up resources for those infected, affected, and at risk for HIV.”
“The March of Dimes is pleased that the Commonwealth has taken an important step to making HIV testing a more routine part of medical care,” said Ed Doherty, the Massachusetts State Director of March of Dimes. “Given the advances in HIV prevention for pregnant women and newborns, early identification and individualized treatment of HIV-positive pregnant women is the best way to prevent pediatric HIV disease and maximize maternal health.”
The bill will allow more comprehensive and accurate information to reach the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, improving its ability to survey and address HIV cases in Massachusetts. These changes do not affect any of the confidentiality protections surrounding HIV testing and diagnosis.
Posted at 05:39 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
BOSTON – Thursday, April 26, 2012 – Governor Deval Patrick and Lieutenant Governor Timothy Murray were honored this evening with the “Stars of STEM” award at the Museum of Science’s Science Behind the Stars annual event. Governor Patrick and Lieutenant Governor Murray joined Intel Corporation to be honored for promoting and supporting science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) in Massachusetts.
“STEM plays a vital role in our growth strategy here in Massachusetts – a strategy focused on education, innovation and infrastructure,” said Governor Patrick. “We will continue our commitment to STEM education so all students can be prepared for future careers in STEM and be a part of the Commonwealth’s growing innovation economy.
“Governor Patrick and I thank the Museum of Science for this recognition, but the real stars of STEM are our students who are all destined to be future leaders in Massachusetts as well as educators and industry partners who support them,” said Lieutenant Governor Murray, Chair of the Governor’s STEM Advisory Council. “As we work towards building a stronger economy, our Administration has focused on supporting statewide initiatives aimed at increasing student interest in STEM related fields. With more and more students excited about STEM, Massachusetts will have bright future led by many stars of STEM.”
The Science Behind the Stars was established by the Museum of Science as a signature event in 2009 to help raise awareness of the Museum’s commitment to promote STEM education and to also honor Massachusetts leaders, including individuals and companies, who are leading the way to educate the next generation of scientists and engineers. Since the creation of the Governor’s STEM Advisory Council in 2009, the Museum of Science has partnered with the Patrick-Murray Administration to support the statewide STEM initiative. Ioannis Miaoulis, President of the Museum, and Yvonne Spicer, Vice President of the Museum, also serve on the Governor’s STEM Advisory Council.
“We are pleased to recognize individuals who have made such a strong commitment to STEM education and who share the Museum’s mission of transforming people’s relationship with science and technology,” said Ioannis Miaoulis, president and director of the Museum of Science in Boston. “Governor Deval Patrick and Lieutenant Governor Timothy Murray made STEM education and job development a statewide priority in 2009 with the formation of the Governor’s STEM Advisory Council, on which I am proud to serve. Their leadership in convening STEM advocates from the public and private sectors has made Massachusetts a model for the nation and the world.”
Early in the Patrick-Murray Administration, Lieutenant Governor Murray began collaborating with STEM stakeholders across the state to assess existing STEM related programs in Massachusetts. With more than 1,000 different programs in the Commonwealth, Governor Patrick signed an Executive Order in 2009 creating the Governor’s STEM Advisory Council to increase collaboration, coordination and results in STEM education, jobs and workforce development. The Council, chaired by Lieutenant Governor Murray, released the state’s first STEM Plan at the 2010 STEM Summit. Since the plan’s implementation, Lieutenant Governor Murray and the Council have organized regional networks and infrastructure across the state to move STEM policies towards the goals and benchmarks outlined in the plan. Through the work of the Council, Massachusetts has received national recognition as a nationwide leader in STEM from the National Governor’s Association, Change the Equation and Innovate+Educate.
In 2011, the Patrick-Murray Administration endorsed six @Scale Initiatives selected by the Council for projects aimed at increasing PreK-12 student interest in and readiness for STEM college majors. The Governor’s Fiscal Year 2013 budget proposed $1.5 million in funding for the STEM Pipeline Fund, an increase of $500,000 from Fiscal Year 2012 which will support the state’s @Scale Initiatives and STEM Plan to increase the number of students and teachers engaged in STEM and improve the state’s STEM educational offerings.
“The leadership shown by Governor Patrick and Lieutenant Governor Murray on STEM education has been remarkable, leading to a nationally recognized state STEM initiative that serves as a model for the rest of the country,” said JD Chesloff, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Business Roundtable (MBR). “This Administration, and particularly Lieutenant Governor Murray through his leadership of the Governor’s STEM Advisory Council, understands the important link between producing a pipeline of workers skilled in STEM competencies and the long-term economic success of the Commonwealth. MBR congratulates Governor Patrick and Lieutenant Governor Murray, and thanks the Administration for their continued investment in STEM education to help Massachusetts remain competitive in a 21st century global economy.”
To learn more about the Patrick-Murray Administration’s STEM initiatives and the Governor’s STEM Advisory Council, visit www.mass.gov/governor/stem.
Posted at 05:38 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
BOSTON – Thursday, April 26, 2012 – Governor Deval Patrick and Lieutenant Governor Timothy Murray today met with members of the Massachusetts Chapter of the Gold Star Wives to honor their work supporting veterans and their families across the Commonwealth.
Governor Patrick and Lieutenant Governor Murray honor the Massachusetts Chapter of the Gold Star Wives. (Photo credit: Eric Haynes / Governor’s Press Office). View full size photo.
“It's an honor for me to acknowledge the Massachusetts Gold Star Wives for their steadfast dedication to veterans and their families,” said Governor Patrick. “What a difference their service makes to military families and their example makes to us all.”
“Massachusetts is proud to honor our military servicemen and women who have sacrificed their lives to defend our country and protect our freedom,” said Lieutenant Governor Murray. “The Massachusetts Gold Star Wives have experienced great loss, but through their dedication we are all able to carry out the legacy of our brave soldiers and further support Massachusetts veterans and military families.
Gold Star Wives of America, Inc. is an organization of widows and widowers whose spouses died while on active duty in the military services or as the result of a military service connected cause. The primary mission of Gold Star Wives is to provide service, support and friendship to the widows and widowers of military personnel.
The Gold Star Wives has approximately 10,000 members nationwide, with 53 chapters in 26 states. There are four Massachusetts chapters of the Gold Star Wives which include: the Greater Boston Chapter, the Patriot Chapter based in Chicopee, the Lowell Chapter and the New Bedford Chapter.
Posted at 05:35 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Boys and Girls Clubs Get New Executive Director
Good evening friends of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Middlesex County,
The Boys and Girls Clubs of Middlesex County Board of Directors and staff are happy to introduce the organization’s new Interim Executive Director, Lorita Williams. Lorita joins the BGCMC family as a versatile executive with extensive experience spanning corporate, higher education and non-profit organizations. Having held executive positions at Campfire USA, Simmons College and IBM, she has become an agent of change - effectively facilitating and mobilizing high performance teams to collaborate and realize successful outcomes.
“This is an exciting time of growth for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Middlesex County and I am delighted to be a part of it,” says Williams.
We are very excited about the potential that lay ahead for BGCMC. Please join us in welcoming Lorita to our family. She can be reached at (617) 623-7320 ext 158 or at LWilliams@kidsclubs.org.
Sincerely,
Rich Fields
Chairman of the BGCMC Board of Directors
What to do about the national debt
By William C. Shelton
I’ve never written a book review. But a recent work on the fiscal crisis is so sensible, thoroughly researched and non ideological that its ideas are worth sharing.
It is White House Burning: The Founding Fathers, our National Debt, and Why it Matters to You. Its authors, Simon Johnson and James Kwak are professors at MIT and the UConn respectively. Johnson was Chief Economist for the International Monetary Fund.
They show that arguments over national debt and taxes are as old as the Republic. The Continental Congress had borrowed heavily to finance the War of Independence. So the new nation was bankrupt when the war ended.
Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton restructured the debt and successfully argued that taxes must be imposed to pay it down. This reassured lenders, but Thomas Jefferson and James Madison held that taxation gave the federal government too much power.
Simon and Kwak identify six episodes in which the nation has gone deeply into debt. The first five were to support wars. Americans paid down those debts with increased taxes, but did so over decades rather than years so as not to stifle economic growth.
Nonmilitary events since 2000 are responsible for the sixth and toughest debt problem: the George W. Bush tax cuts, adoption of the Medicare drug benefit, and the 2008 financial crisis that wrecked the economy. A Congressional Budget Office (CBO) analysis says that the financial meltdown’s total impact, including reduced tax revenues, was a 50% increase in federal debt relative to gross domestic product (GDP).
They present simple and unequivocal evidence disproving the notion of runaway government spending. With the exception of defense, most government spending categories, as a percent of GDP, have remained flat or declined since the late 1990s.
As a share of GDP, our government spending is low in comparison to that of other nations with advanced economies. And investors around the world are lending us money at an incredibly low interest rate—around 2%.
So do deficits matter? Dick Chaney famously told then Treasury Secretary Paul O’Neill that Ronald Reagan had proven they don’t matter.
They do. We cannot keep borrowing indefinitely. Nor is there any way of knowing when international investors will demand higher interest rates. And our dysfunctional Congress is not giving them confidence.
We need to convince investors that we can stabilize the debt and then bring it down, relative to the size of the economy. Higher interest rates would retard economic growth, slow or reverse job creation, reduce tax revenues, and indiscriminately reduce the needed services that government can provide.
Johnson says that, “Politicians deal in illusions and dreams.” And Republicans and Democrats are both doing it.
President Obama wants to tax those earning over $250,000 per year. But his proposal would produce only a quarter of the total revenue lost by the Bush-era tax cuts. The wealthiest 1% that we have heard so much about is still only 1%. Although the Bush tax cuts disproportionately favored the rich, the bulk of taxes comes from the middle class.
Republican politicians say that the crisis is driven by excessive spending, and that deeper tax cuts would stimulate the economy, producing increased tax revenues. Harvard Economist Gregory Mankiw was Chairman of George W. Bush’s Council of Economic Advisers and is now a key consultant to Mitt Romney. His exhaustive research shows that even under the most optimistic projections, cutting taxes does not lead to greater revenue. Romney, however, is saying the opposite.
Simon and Kwak identify the greatest expense-side threat to future budget balancing as Medicare and Medicaid. Republican Congressman Paul Ryan, Chairman of the House Budget Committee, offers one solution. He would replace Medicare with a voucher with which to buy healthcare in the private market. Its value would be capped. So what could be bought would continually decline.
But the private market has been unwilling to insure people in their 70s, 80s, and 90s. This is why Medicare was first created. And the CBO says that healthcare costs would rise with this plan because the government has much more bargaining power than do individuals and companies.
The authors advocate a free and open debate about such basic issues as what we want government to do. But it should be a fact-based debate.
What is their prescription? The worst economic medicine would be to precipitously stop borrowing. We should phase in fiscal adjustment gradually, balancing it with economic growth, as we did responsibly with past debt crises. But we must start now.
The Bush tax cuts should be allowed to lapse for everyone. This would take us back to the levels of the late 1990s, but would still be much lower than those of the 50s and 60s. The cost to the average American family would be a few hundred dollars per year.
If the economy is still weak at the time that the tax cuts expire, we should implement a temporary payroll tax cut. They do propose increasing taxes on the wealthy, but by closing tax loopholes and raising the rate on capital gains to 28 percent—still lower than historic levels.
Ultimately, say Simon and Kwak, the national debt is a political problem rather than an economic problem. I would agree, but I would add that the political problem continues because of politicians who encourage and exploit voters’ misunderstanding and ignorance.
The authors quote James Madison, writing in 1822: “Knowledge will forever govern ignorance, and the people who mean to be their own governors must arm themselves with the power which knowledge gives.”
Posted at 05:53 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
NEW BEDFORD – Monday, April 30, 2012 – Lieutenant Governor Timothy Murray today announced the formation of the Ports of Massachusetts Compact, an agreement designed to boost economic development and capitalize on resources in the Commonwealth’s seaports.
The compact was signed by the mayors of Boston, New Bedford, Fall River, Gloucester and Salem; in addition to the Massachusetts Secretaries of Transportation, Energy and Environmental Affairs, Housing and Economic Development, Massport; and the Legislature’s Joint Committee on Transportation. Lieutenant Governor Murray will serve as chair.
“With approximately 2,800 miles of coastline, there are valuable opportunities for increased transportation and economic development in the state’s seaport communities,” said Lieutenant Governor Murray, who also chairs the Seaport Advisory Council. “The creation of the Ports of Massachusetts Compact ensures we are strategically planning development opportunities and sharing knowledge across agencies and municipalities to help benefit the entire Commonwealth.”
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) Planning Division will lead research and planning efforts for the compact and will identify ways to maximize funding to improve infrastructure.
“Coordinating efforts of the fishing, energy, shipping and transportation industries that operate in our ports is healthy for business and job growth, as well as the environment,” said MassDOT Secretary Richard Davey.
The Compact’s initial action items will include fishing regulations, coastal shipping trends and recommending a plan for seaport coordination. Other Compact goals will include moving people and goods safely, securely and more efficiently through the five ports while providing intermodal connectivity for those doing business and visiting the Commonwealth.
“The historic seaports of Massachusetts are a vital tool for local communities to help support economic development and create local jobs,” said Secretary of Housing and Economic Development Greg Bialecki. “The ‘Ports of Massachusetts’ Compact will support the many vital industries that use these seaports to operate and help boost economic development in these regions.”
“We look forward to working more closely with our fishing communities to better protect and manage the development of our ports,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rick Sullivan.
“As our roads and highways continue to grow more and more congested, we must look to expand our usage of our waterways for both transit and commercial purposes," said Senator Thomas M. McGee. "This compact will help us fully explore sound environmental and economic policies for our ports, waterfronts and waterways. I am looking forward to continuing our commitment to our ports and exploring ways to maximize the impact they have on the Massachusetts economy."
Ports of Massachusetts Compact Members
SEAPORT ADVISORY COUNCIL
Lt. Governor Timothy P. Murray, Chair
MASSACHUSETTS JOINT COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION
Senator Thomas M. McGee, Senate Chair
Representative William M. Straus, House Chair
MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Richard A. Davey, Secretary & CEO
EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS
Richard K. Sullivan, Jr., Secretary
EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF HOUSING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Gregory Bialecki, Secretary
MASSACHUSETTS PORT AUTHORITY
David S. Mackey, Interim CEO
CITY OF BOSTON
Thomas M. Menino, Mayor
CITY OF NEW BEDFORD
Jonathan F. Mitchell, Mayor
CITY OF FALL RIVER
William A. Flanagan, Mayor
CITY OF GLOUCESTER
Carolyn A. Kirk, Mayor
CITY OF SALEM
Kimberley Driscoll, Mayor
Posted at 05:40 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
BOSTON – Friday, April 27, 2012 – Governor Deval Patrick today signed S.2158, “An Act Increasing Screening For HIV,” which removes barriers for patients to get HIV screening, while maintaining all confidentiality protections.
Governor Patrick is joined by legislators and supporters while signing S.2158 “An Act Increasing Screening For HIV.” (Photo credit: Meghan Dhaliwal / Governor’s Office). View additional photos.
“This bill will lead to more lives being saved,” said Governor Patrick. “By removing barriers to screening, we will continue to decrease rates of HIV in our communities.”
S.2158 removes the requirement that patients give written consent for HIV tests, and instead requires only verbal consent. This will result in more instances of HIV being screened and detected early enough for life saving treatments to be provided.
The product of several years of work amongst the HIV advocacy community, clinicians, service providers and others, this bill removes what physicians describe as a barrier to HIV screening: written consent. Removing this requirement puts Massachusetts in line with the majority of other jurisdictions.
“This is an important step forward in getting more people tested for HIV in the Commonwealth, which is critical to stopping the spread of HIV,” said Rebecca Haag, President & CEO of AIDS Action Committee of Massachusetts. “We thank Senate President Therese Murray, House Speaker Robert DeLeo and Governor Patrick for their leadership and support on this issue. There are an estimated 25,000 to 27,000 people living with HIV/AIDS in Massachusetts, but approximately 21 percent of them are unaware that they are HIV positive according to estimates by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. The first step is learning your status. The next steps are getting connected with care and treatment, fighting the stigma that is still attached to HIV/AIDS in many communities; and shoring up resources for those infected, affected, and at risk for HIV.”
“The March of Dimes is pleased that the Commonwealth has taken an important step to making HIV testing a more routine part of medical care,” said Ed Doherty, the Massachusetts State Director of March of Dimes. “Given the advances in HIV prevention for pregnant women and newborns, early identification and individualized treatment of HIV-positive pregnant women is the best way to prevent pediatric HIV disease and maximize maternal health.”
The bill will allow more comprehensive and accurate information to reach the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, improving its ability to survey and address HIV cases in Massachusetts. These changes do not affect any of the confidentiality protections surrounding HIV testing and diagnosis.
Posted at 05:39 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
BOSTON – Thursday, April 26, 2012 – Governor Deval Patrick and Lieutenant Governor Timothy Murray were honored this evening with the “Stars of STEM” award at the Museum of Science’s Science Behind the Stars annual event. Governor Patrick and Lieutenant Governor Murray joined Intel Corporation to be honored for promoting and supporting science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) in Massachusetts.
“STEM plays a vital role in our growth strategy here in Massachusetts – a strategy focused on education, innovation and infrastructure,” said Governor Patrick. “We will continue our commitment to STEM education so all students can be prepared for future careers in STEM and be a part of the Commonwealth’s growing innovation economy.
“Governor Patrick and I thank the Museum of Science for this recognition, but the real stars of STEM are our students who are all destined to be future leaders in Massachusetts as well as educators and industry partners who support them,” said Lieutenant Governor Murray, Chair of the Governor’s STEM Advisory Council. “As we work towards building a stronger economy, our Administration has focused on supporting statewide initiatives aimed at increasing student interest in STEM related fields. With more and more students excited about STEM, Massachusetts will have bright future led by many stars of STEM.”
The Science Behind the Stars was established by the Museum of Science as a signature event in 2009 to help raise awareness of the Museum’s commitment to promote STEM education and to also honor Massachusetts leaders, including individuals and companies, who are leading the way to educate the next generation of scientists and engineers. Since the creation of the Governor’s STEM Advisory Council in 2009, the Museum of Science has partnered with the Patrick-Murray Administration to support the statewide STEM initiative. Ioannis Miaoulis, President of the Museum, and Yvonne Spicer, Vice President of the Museum, also serve on the Governor’s STEM Advisory Council.
“We are pleased to recognize individuals who have made such a strong commitment to STEM education and who share the Museum’s mission of transforming people’s relationship with science and technology,” said Ioannis Miaoulis, president and director of the Museum of Science in Boston. “Governor Deval Patrick and Lieutenant Governor Timothy Murray made STEM education and job development a statewide priority in 2009 with the formation of the Governor’s STEM Advisory Council, on which I am proud to serve. Their leadership in convening STEM advocates from the public and private sectors has made Massachusetts a model for the nation and the world.”
Early in the Patrick-Murray Administration, Lieutenant Governor Murray began collaborating with STEM stakeholders across the state to assess existing STEM related programs in Massachusetts. With more than 1,000 different programs in the Commonwealth, Governor Patrick signed an Executive Order in 2009 creating the Governor’s STEM Advisory Council to increase collaboration, coordination and results in STEM education, jobs and workforce development. The Council, chaired by Lieutenant Governor Murray, released the state’s first STEM Plan at the 2010 STEM Summit. Since the plan’s implementation, Lieutenant Governor Murray and the Council have organized regional networks and infrastructure across the state to move STEM policies towards the goals and benchmarks outlined in the plan. Through the work of the Council, Massachusetts has received national recognition as a nationwide leader in STEM from the National Governor’s Association, Change the Equation and Innovate+Educate.
In 2011, the Patrick-Murray Administration endorsed six @Scale Initiatives selected by the Council for projects aimed at increasing PreK-12 student interest in and readiness for STEM college majors. The Governor’s Fiscal Year 2013 budget proposed $1.5 million in funding for the STEM Pipeline Fund, an increase of $500,000 from Fiscal Year 2012 which will support the state’s @Scale Initiatives and STEM Plan to increase the number of students and teachers engaged in STEM and improve the state’s STEM educational offerings.
“The leadership shown by Governor Patrick and Lieutenant Governor Murray on STEM education has been remarkable, leading to a nationally recognized state STEM initiative that serves as a model for the rest of the country,” said JD Chesloff, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Business Roundtable (MBR). “This Administration, and particularly Lieutenant Governor Murray through his leadership of the Governor’s STEM Advisory Council, understands the important link between producing a pipeline of workers skilled in STEM competencies and the long-term economic success of the Commonwealth. MBR congratulates Governor Patrick and Lieutenant Governor Murray, and thanks the Administration for their continued investment in STEM education to help Massachusetts remain competitive in a 21st century global economy.”
To learn more about the Patrick-Murray Administration’s STEM initiatives and the Governor’s STEM Advisory Council, visit www.mass.gov/governor/stem.
Posted at 05:38 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
BOSTON – Thursday, April 26, 2012 – Governor Deval Patrick and Lieutenant Governor Timothy Murray today met with members of the Massachusetts Chapter of the Gold Star Wives to honor their work supporting veterans and their families across the Commonwealth.
Governor Patrick and Lieutenant Governor Murray honor the Massachusetts Chapter of the Gold Star Wives. (Photo credit: Eric Haynes / Governor’s Press Office). View full size photo.
“It's an honor for me to acknowledge the Massachusetts Gold Star Wives for their steadfast dedication to veterans and their families,” said Governor Patrick. “What a difference their service makes to military families and their example makes to us all.”
“Massachusetts is proud to honor our military servicemen and women who have sacrificed their lives to defend our country and protect our freedom,” said Lieutenant Governor Murray. “The Massachusetts Gold Star Wives have experienced great loss, but through their dedication we are all able to carry out the legacy of our brave soldiers and further support Massachusetts veterans and military families.
Gold Star Wives of America, Inc. is an organization of widows and widowers whose spouses died while on active duty in the military services or as the result of a military service connected cause. The primary mission of Gold Star Wives is to provide service, support and friendship to the widows and widowers of military personnel.
The Gold Star Wives has approximately 10,000 members nationwide, with 53 chapters in 26 states. There are four Massachusetts chapters of the Gold Star Wives which include: the Greater Boston Chapter, the Patriot Chapter based in Chicopee, the Lowell Chapter and the New Bedford Chapter.
Posted at 05:35 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Boys and Girls Clubs Get New Executive Director
Good evening friends of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Middlesex County,
The Boys and Girls Clubs of Middlesex County Board of Directors and staff are happy to introduce the organization’s new Interim Executive Director, Lorita Williams. Lorita joins the BGCMC family as a versatile executive with extensive experience spanning corporate, higher education and non-profit organizations. Having held executive positions at Campfire USA, Simmons College and IBM, she has become an agent of change - effectively facilitating and mobilizing high performance teams to collaborate and realize successful outcomes.
“This is an exciting time of growth for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Middlesex County and I am delighted to be a part of it,” says Williams.
We are very excited about the potential that lay ahead for BGCMC. Please join us in welcoming Lorita to our family. She can be reached at (617) 623-7320 ext 158 or at LWilliams@kidsclubs.org.
Sincerely,
Rich Fields
Chairman of the BGCMC Board of Directors
Maria Curtatone Democratic Candidate for Middlesex South Register of Deeds is predicted to win this election on September 6th and is still leading the way with a monumental lead accross the board acording to many voter polls in just about every Middlesex County city and town.
The People have spoken and although she is up against the political machine, the people are speaking and voicing their support for "Curtatone in Deed" and it shows! Curtatone with her enormous amount of statewide supporters began her campaign for Register of Deeds in December with positive ideas and a commitment to make changes in the registry where needed without all the red tape and political bureaucracy and favoritism that other candidates and political hacks tend to deliver, for the people while other potential candidates were scrambling in disarray still deciding and struggling to get needed signature to even get on the ballot.
Latest Poll Results: Looks Like Curtatone is Still The Voter's Favorite Top Choice Pick! Candidate Maria Curtatone for Middlesex South Register Of Deeds and she is hitting the pavement daily and has team captains and hundreds of loyal supporters spreading the word in all forty-four cities and towns in South Middlesex County.
While the other candidates still struggle vigorously to gather their needed signatures, Maria Curtatone's signatures were certified and turned in months ago! If this alone is any indication of what the voters are saying about who they want as our next register of deeds, well the writing is on the wall that Curtatone will be our next Register of Deeds for South Middlesex County!
ACTON, ARLINGTON, ASHBY, ASHLAND, AYER, BEDFORD, BELMONT, BOXBOROUGH, BURLINGTON, CAMBRIDGE, CONCORD, EVERETT, FRAMINGHAM, GROTON, HOLLISTON, HOPKINTON, HUDSON, LEXINGTON, LINCOLN, LITTLETON, MALDEN, MARLBOROUGH, MAYNARD, MEDFORD, MELROSE, NATICK, NEWTON, NORTH READING, PEPPERELL, READING, SHERBORN, SHIRLEY, SOMERVILLE, STONEHAM, STOW, SUDBURY, TOWNSEND, WAKEFIELD, WALTHAM, WATERTOWN, WAYLAND, WESTON, WINCHESTER, WOBURN
By Boston News Group staff
My name is Maria Curtatone and I am running for Middlesex South Register of Deeds. I am a practicing attorney and small business owner with my own firm. I have worked in Middlesex County and the surrounding area for the last 25 years. I bring to this job strong administrative skills, leadership and a commitment to public service.
As a business owner and working professional with two children I bring a unique perspective to this office. I am not a politician. I am a working professional who understands the needs of other working professionals. As a business owner, I know what it takes to run a business. I will bring to the office effective management, strong leadership and administrative skills. I am and have been an active member of my community for the last 25 years and I look forward to giving back further and applying my skills to the office of Middlesex County Register of Deeds.
As the Register of Deeds, I will continue to expand and build upon the work the office already does in order to efficiently maintain property records while further implementing the utilization of state-of-the-art technology, electronic recording and accessibility online while simplifying the process and making certain that it is a customer service driven office. It is imperative to me that the office of Middlesex South Register of Deeds maintain ultimate transparency at all times.
I am a highly qualified candidate and the right person for the job of the Middlesex South Register of Deeds. I am committed to effectively serving the public and serving you as your Register of
Deeds. I am seeking your endorsement and humbly ask for your vote
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&v=x5tIv228NBM&NR=1
and please like her on her Face Book!
Posted at 06:12 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
BOSTON – Thursday, April 26, 2012 – Governor Deval Patrick today joined Lieutenant Governor Timothy Murray, legislators and advocates to sign S. 2017, “An Act Designating World Voice Week.” The legislation requires the Governor to annually issue a proclamation establishing the week beginning April 16 as World Voice Week, to recognize and support individuals suffering from voice disorders.
Governor Patrick and Lieutenant Governor Murray joined by legislators and advocates at a ceremonial bill signing. (Photo credit: Eric Haynes / Governor’s Office). View full size photo.
“I am proud to sign this legislation that will raise awareness for the many individuals in the Commonwealth who suffer from voice disorders, and honor the medical professionals who work day in and day out to treat and prevent these disorders.” said Governor Patrick.
“By partnering with the state legislature, Massachusetts will designate World Voice Week every year to recognize individuals with voice disorders and also increase awareness about voice disorders to help deliver more resources within the health industry and communities across the state,” said Lieutenant Governor Murray.
“I was proud to be part of the Governor’s World Voice Week bill signing today,” said Senate President Therese Murray. “With so many of us who are challenged by voice disorders, this recognition will help raise awareness within our communities and the health industry. Congratulations to all the citizens and advocates who worked so hard on this issue.”
“I was proud to sponsor this legislation on behalf of the thousands throughout the Commonwealth and more than 7 million people around the country who suffer from some sort of voice disorder,” said Senator Michael Moore. “My goals in filing this legislation are to raise awareness for those individuals who suffer from voice disabilities, to honor the medical professionals who work tirelessly to treat voice disabilities, and to bring a greater focus on the prevention and treatment of voice disabilities in the medical community. I am truly grateful to the Governor for his leadership in making these goals a reality.”
Posted at 06:10 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
BOSTON – Thursday, April 26, 2012 – Lieutenant Governor Timothy Murray today announced that the Patrick-Murray Administration is filing a supplemental capital bond bill that will include $5 million in funding over five years for a grant program to help vocational schools purchase modern laboratory and shop equipment. There are currently more than 44,000 students in 60 vocational technical schools across the Commonwealth and this funding will help provide these students access to state of the art equipment that will prepare them for learning in higher education and the workforce beyond.
“As we prepare the next generation of leaders in Massachusetts, our vocational-technical school model expands a student's education and career opportunities,” said Lieutenant Governor Murray. “With this proposed funding, Massachusetts will enhance students' learning in our vocational schools, and further engage and motivate students to learn in and outside of the classroom.”
Lieutenant Governor Murray recently highlighted the initiative at the 26th annual Massachusetts Association of Vocational Administrators (MAVA) and the Massachusetts Vocational Association (MVA) Awards Banquet honoring 51 outstanding vocational technical students from across the Commonwealth.
“Our new fiscal reality requires that we provide the tools and resources our students need to succeed in and outside of the classroom,” said Secretary of Administration and Finance Jay Gonzalez. “This funding will allow vocational technical schools an opportunity to partner with local industry and non-profits to achieve that goal.”
The Fiscal Year 2012 – 2016 Capital Plan includes $1 million in FY2012 for the grant program, which is administered by the Executive Office of Education. The supplemental bond bill will require legislative authorization, which the Administration will seek, to help the program move forward in 2013.
“Our vocational technical schools are achieving great success with students and these additional resources will help us expand those positive results to reach even more young people across the Commonwealth,” said Education Secretary Paul Reville.
“We are pleased about the collaboration that brings together vocational technical students with the state’s apprenticeship programs offering a critical step in an individual’s career path,” said Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development, Joanne F. Goldstein. “A collaboration like this one is helpful to employers and to our workforce as the training leads to excellent jobs in growing sectors.”
“One of our best resources here in Massachusetts is our strong pool of talent and this funding will further our goals to creating a strong workforce, particularly for middle-skill employers,” said Greg Bialecki, Secretary of Housing and Economic Development. “This funding will help vocational schools throughout the state help prepare students better than ever for their careers.”
Vocational Technical education programs have been an important component of the Patrick-Murray Administration’s efforts to close achievement gaps through promoting innovative learning strategies. Last year, Lieutenant Governor Murray announced a new leadership model to help advance and expand access to vocational technical education programs across Massachusetts. This new leadership model will increase the focus on successful vocation technical education and expand partnerships between educators and employers and increase collaboration among state agencies with the goal of expanding the use of vocational technical schools, which on average demonstrate higher graduation and lower dropout rates compared to overall high school rates statewide.
“The Massachusetts Association of Vocational Administrators was excited to learn of the potential funding of $5 million over the next five years for equipment in the Commonwealth’s vocational technical schools,” said David Ferreira, Executive Director of MAVA. “With the continually changing technology, it is imperative that equipment be upgraded to meet the training needs of business and industry in high demand occupations. With the additional funding, graduates of the state’s vocational technical schools will be prepared to enter the labor market trained with state-of-the-art technical skills and be capable of growing the Massachusetts economy.”
Recently, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education hired an Associate Commissioner for Vocational, Workforce and College Readiness Programs to head this work. The Associate Commissioner, Patricia Gregson, is working to cultivate relationships across Education, Labor and Workforce Development and Housing and Economic Development as well as build strategic partnerships throughout the community college system and with private sector leaders who understand the importance of vocational technical education to their businesses and the Massachusetts economy.
Additionally, the Massachusetts Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development’s Division of Apprentice Training, in collaboration with MAVA, has created statewide Apprentice Articulations in Sheet Metal, Carpentry and Construction Craft Laborers. These agreements, formed between vocational technical schools and apprenticeship programs in the three trades, allow vocational technical students to receive apprenticeship cards upon graduation, promoting a seamless transition between registered apprenticeship programs and eligible graduates of state-approved Vocational High Schools. Apprenticeship cards are now available to graduates of the Class of 2012.
Posted at 05:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
BOSTON – April 24, 2012 – Lieutenant Governor Timothy Murray, Chair of the Interagency Council on Substance Abuse and Prevention, today hosted the first in a series of statewide Town Hall Meetings that will examine what can be done to prevent underage alcohol use, prescription and other forms of drug abuse in the Commonwealth. Lieutenant Governor Murray was joined by Commissioner John Auerbach of the Department of Public Health, state legislators and student representatives from Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD), the state's recovery high schools, and schools across the Commonwealth.
“Massachusetts is proud to join states across the country for this town hall meeting series to help raise awareness and help prevent underage drinking and prescription drug abuse,” said Lieutenant Governor Murray. “These meetings will provide an opportunity to begin the discussion, but it should not be where it ends. In working with students, families, schools, and community organizations, we will continue to talk and educate our youth about the consequences of drinking and other drug use before they start.”
Today's event at the State House is part of a national campaign led by the federal Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Prevention of Underage Drinking (ICCPUD) in partnership with the Patrick-Murray Administration's Interagency Council on Substance Abuse and Prevention and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health’s Bureau of Substance Abuse Services (BSAS). The series of Town Hall Meetings that will be held across the state are designed to raise awareness and provide youth, parents, caregivers, and other adults with the tools necessary to help protect children, youth and young adults from abusing alcohol and the misuse of prescription and other drugs.
“The Lieutenant Governor has made awareness and education about the dangers of substance abuse among young people in the Commonwealth one of his top priorities,” said Secretary of Health and Human Services Dr.JudyAnn Bigby. “We know it takes a concerted effort to combat the ways that youth are encouraged to use alcohol and other substances. I’m delighted that we are partnering in this national campaign to host Town Halls and help young people safeguard their health and that of their communities.”
Lieutenant Governor Murray has chaired the Interagency Council on Substance Abuse and Prevention since 2008, and has focused on expanding Recovery High Schools; increasing awareness of underage drinking; reforming the Prescription Monitoring Program; and working with local municipalities, individuals, and families to provide resources to help prevent and treat substance abuse. During today's event, resource materials as well as DVDs of prevention activities in which youth are involved across Massachusetts, were available and will be available for each Town Hall Meeting.
Communities throughout the Commonwealth are encouraged to communicate with teens about the dangers of underage drinking, and to work together to prevent youths’ access to alcohol. The link between underage drinking, other drug use and the misuse of prescription drugs remains a major concern. By working together, communities can have a dramatic and lasting impact on underage drinking and misuse of prescription and other drugs in Massachusetts.
“Not a single community meeting goes by where someone doesn’t talk to me about a problem a loved one is having with drugs and alcohol,” said Senator John F. Keenan, Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Mental Health and Substance Abuse. “This is a pervasive problem that can be found on every block, in every neighborhood, in every community across the Commonwealth. We cannot afford to ignore this ongoing epidemic, or pretend our families, friends and neighborhoods are immune from it.”
“I am excited to participate in this initiative with my colleagues in the Legislature and the Administration. The issue of substance abuse among youth is one of the most important public health concerns of this generation. I hope that through these town hall meetings we will be able to reach both youth and caregivers, and thus reduce the rate of substance abuse, underage drinking, and overdoses," said Representative Elizabeth A. Malia, House Chair of the Joint Committee on Mental Health and Substance Abuse.
Throughout April and May Town Hall meetings will be held in 50 communities across the Commonwealth as part of the campaign and to engage youth and adults in developing effective solutions. For updates about local events, visit https://www.stopalcoholabuse.gov/townhallmeetings.
Poll Results: Looks Like Curtatone is Still The Voter's Favorite Top Choice Pick! Candidate Maria Curtatone for Middlesex South Register Of Deeds.
By William Tauro, Publisher, Boston News Group, Serving Seventy Cities in Massachusetts
Posted at 07:33 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Favorite Top Choice Pick Candidate Maria Curtatone for Middlesex South Register Of Deeds
Vote for Maria Curtatone On September 6, 2012
My name is Maria Curtatone and I am running for Middlesex South Register of Deeds. I am a practicing attorney and small business owner with my own firm. I have worked in Middlesex County and the surrounding area for the last 25 years. I bring to this job strong administrative skills, leadership and a commitment to public service.
As a business owner and working professional with two children I bring a unique perspective to this office. I am not a politician. I am a working professional who understands the needs of other working professionals. As a business owner, I know what it takes to run a business. I will bring to the office effective management, strong leadership and administrative skills. I am and have been an active member of my community for the last 25 years and I look forward to giving back further and applying my skills to the office of Middlesex County Register of Deeds.
As the Register of Deeds, I will continue to expand and build upon the work the office already does in order to efficiently maintain property records while further implementing the utilization of state-of-the-art technology, electronic recording and accessibility online while simplifying the process and making certain that it is a customer service driven office. It is imperative to me that the office of Middlesex South Register of Deeds maintain ultimate transparency at all times.
I am a highly qualified candidate and the right person for the job of the Middlesex South Register of Deeds. I am committed to effectively serving the public and serving you as your Register of
Deeds. I am seeking your endorsement and humbly ask for your vote
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&v=x5tIv228NBM&NR=1
ACTON, ARLINGTON, ASHBY, ASHLAND, AYER, BEDFORD, BELMONT, BOXBOROUGH, BURLINGTON, CAMBRIDGE, CONCORD, EVERETT, FRAMINGHAM, GROTON, HOLLISTON, HOPKINTON, HUDSON, LEXINGTON, LINCOLN, LITTLETON, MALDEN, MARLBOROUGH, MAYNARD, MEDFORD, MELROSE, NATICK, NEWTON, NORTH READING, PEPPERELL, READING, SHERBORN, SHIRLEY, SOMERVILLE, STONEHAM, STOW, SUDBURY, TOWNSEND, WAKEFIELD, WALTHAM, WATERTOWN, WAYLAND, WESTON, WINCHESTER, WOBURN
Posted at 07:33 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Governor Patrick participates in the annual trout stocking at Jamaica Pond. (Photo: Eric Haynes / Governor's Office). View additional photos.
BOSTON – Wednesday, April 18, 2012 – Governor Deval Patrick today joined Massachusetts Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) Secretary Richard K. Sullivan Jr. and local school children to usher in the spring fishing season by releasing more than 1,150 state hatchery-raised trout and salmon into Jamaica Pond in Jamaica Plain.
The event is part of an annual effort to stock the 500 Massachusetts waterways with fish produced at hatcheries operated by MassWildlife, a division of the Department of Fish and Game (DFG).
“This event is a great way to educate our young people about fishing, wildlife and the importance of protecting our natural resources,” said Governor Patrick. “When we teach children about their connection to nature, we foster a greater appreciation and respect for the natural world.”
Students and teachers from West Roxbury YMCA, Friends of the Children-Boston and Boy Scouts from Troop 1837 Athol/Orange Elks assisted officials in stocking the pond with 900 rainbow trout, 100 brook trout, 100 brown trout and about ten 8-pound brood stock salmon. Also added were 50 tiger trout – a cross between a female brown trout and a male brook trout – which measure an average of 14 inches long.
“Our annual trout stocking at Jamaica Pond is a spring tradition,” said Secretary Sullivan. “With the warmer weather, there has never been a better time to get outside, whether it’s to cast a reel, ride a bike or hike a trail and enjoy the natural beauty of Massachusetts.”
This spring, MassWildlife’s stocking program, supported by revenue from state fishing licenses, plans to release 529,000 trout – raised at state hatcheries in Sandwich, Belchertown, Sunderland and Montague – in rivers, ponds and streams across the Commonwealth.
Department of Conservation and Recreation Commissioner Edward Lambert Jr., Boston City Councilor Matt O’Malley and Boston Energy and Chief of Environmental Services James Hunt also took part in the stocking.
“Mayor Menino and the City of Boston thank Governor Patrick and Secretary Sullivan for the continued partnership to expand environmental education and outdoor recreation opportunities for Boston’s neighborhoods and communities,” said Chief Hunt.
A natural pond believed to be tens of thousands of years old, Jamaica Pond is 60 feet deep and home to fish such as largemouth bass, yellow perch and chain pickerel, as well as snapping turtles, crayfish, eels and freshwater clams. The pond is a property of the City of Boston and is surrounded by parklands managed by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation.
Click here for a list of all trout-stocked waters in Massachusetts
MassWildlife publishes weekly reports at the same website each Friday detailing where fish were stocked in various ponds, lakes, and rivers around the Commonwealth. Trout stocking began in mid-March.
DFG is responsible for promoting the conservation and enjoyment of the Commonwealth's natural resources. DFG carries out this mission through land protection and wildlife habitat management, management of inland and marine fish and wildlife species, and ecological restoration of fresh water, salt water and terrestrial habitats. DFG promotes enjoyment of the Massachusetts environment through outdoor skills workshops, fishing festivals and other educational programs, and by enhancing access to the Commonwealth's rivers, lakes and coastal waters.
Posted at 06:09 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
BOSTON – Thursday, April 19, 2012 – Governor Deval Patrick, Senate President Therese Murray, House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo and Massachusetts legislators this week celebrated the 100th Anniversary of Fenway Park. A banner commemorating this milestone currently hangs on the front of the Massachusetts State House. Fenway Park hosted its first professional baseball game on April 20, 1912.
A banner celebrating the 100th Anniversary of Fenway Park hangs on the front of the Massachusetts State House. (Photo credit: Eric Haynes/Governor’s Office). View full size photo.
“I am proud to celebrate 100 years of great Red Sox baseball at Fenway Park,” said Governor Patrick. “Its rich history and character make it one of the finest and most beloved ball parks.”
“Fenway Park is essential to the fabric of our landscape and our identity as New Englanders,” said Senate President Murray. “Fenway is not just the home of our beloved Red Sox; it has become the enduring and ultimate symbol of the American Pastime. I am proud to support and participate in this historic celebration marking the 100th anniversary of the world's greatest ballpark.”
“Looking back as we celebrate Fenway’s hundredth birthday, we remember how great a role the ballpark has played in shaping Boston’s history,” said House Speaker DeLeo. “For the past hundred years, Fenway Park has been a staple of Boston tourism and is home to so many precious moments, a curse reversed, and a timeless baseball club whose spirit will live on for many more years to come.”
The Boston Red Sox will commemorate 100 years of history at Fenway Park with a large-scale pre-game ceremony Friday night before they play the New York Yankees. The Red Sox played the same team (then the New York Highlanders) on April 20, 1912. Both teams will wear 1912 throwback uniforms.
Posted at 06:07 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
The Spanking New Herbal Academy of New England will open this JUNE!
By Doug Holder
The Herbal Academy of New England in Woburn, Mass. will be opening to the public June 2 and 3. The Herbal Cottage, where the school will be located, overlooks a scenic pond which makes for an ideal setting. The founder Marlene Adelmann, a graduate of the Boston School of Herbal Studies, has ambitious plans for the school that will have two sites; the other site slated to open later in the year in Bedford, Mass. The school will have an open house June 2 and 3, the details of which are below.
Saturday June 2nd:
2:00-7:00 Refreshments
Free herbal talks at 4:00 and 6:00
Sunday, June 3rd 2:00-6:00
Refreshments Free herbal talk at 4:00
120 Arlington Rd.
Woburn, Mass.
Adelmann sent me the mission statement for the school that will provide a comprehensive learning experience about the power of plants to heal.
“At the Herbal Academy of New England, we believe that we can heal ourselves, and that plants can serve as powerful allies to us in our healing processes. Healing involves finding wholeness within ourselves and deepening our web of healing connections, including other people as well as the flowers, trees, and other herbs that help us on our path. We train ourselves and our students to work responsibly with people and plants to provide safe, nourishing means of healing, and to empower our students and clients on their own journeys of learning and healing. While healing may begin with treating an illness, we believe that it must ultimately incorporate a holistic lifestyle in order to move from mere recovery to vitality. Learning to work with the herbs directly for one's own healing allows us to take charge of our own health.
Working with plant medicine, we connect deeply with the earth and recognize the beautiful gifts the earth fosters. We feel awe as we contemplate the beautiful plants surrounding us, and we strive to protect both plants and earth, and to reciprocate their bountiful gifts. The Herbal Academy of New England seeks to encourage individuals and society to make sustainable and meaningful changes so as to use earth's resources with greater wisdom and respect. Herbalism includes stewardship of the earth.
As an academy, we bring teachers and students together to learn and to share in an atmosphere of rigor and of community. We seek to engage learners and teachers in serious study and exploration, both academic and experiential. Rather than favoring one school of thought or philosophy of healing, we encourage our students to find their own ways and we welcome teachers with diverse backgrounds and approaches. We welcome both teachers and students to share their knowledge and experience. We seek to build an inclusive, supportive community, and we believe that such an approach promotes rigorous thought and exploration.
The Herbal Academy has its own programs and courses to teach plant knowledge and the art and practice of medicine-making, but we welcome other herbalists and practitioners to share our space and teach among us when possible. We support other holistic healing modalities that empower individuals to care for themselves and support the integrity of bodies, minds, and spirit. As an inclusive community, we specifically reach out to all herbalists, students of herbalism, newcomers interested in exploring, and practitioners of related fields to share information and downtime together.”
Advertise with the Boston Area Small Press and Poetry Scene! http://tinyurl.com/ddjcal
Boston Area Small Press and Poetry Scene http://dougholder.blogspot.com
Doug Holder's CV: http://dougholderresume.blogspot.com
Ibbetson Street Press http://ibbetsonpress.com
ISCS PRESS http://www.iscspress.com
Ibbetson Street Press Online Bookstore http://www.tinyurl.com/3x6rgv3
Posted at 05:19 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
04/21/2012
Posted at 07:29 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
04/18/2012
Senator DiDomenico Supports Joint Resolution Honoring the American Parkinson Disease Association
BOSTON- Senator Sal DiDomenico recently co-sponsored a Resolution declaring the month of April Parkinson’s Awareness Month. This resolution resolves that the Massachusetts Senate commends and recognizes the Massachusetts Chapter of the American Parkinson Disease Association (MCAPDA) for its efforts to improve the lives of people and families affected by Parkinson’s disease.
“By declaring the month of April Parkinson’s Awareness Month, I hope that our residents will learn more about the effects of this degenerative disease,” said Senator DiDomenico. “The Massachusetts Chapter of the American Parkinson Disease Association has done an outstanding job of educating the general public on Parkinson’s and advancing the development of essential services for Parkinson’s patients and their caregivers. Their effort to ‘ease the burden and find the cure’ for Parkinson’s Disease deserves our support.”
The MCAPDA works to raise awareness and find a cure for Parkinson’s through education, program development, support group assistance, fundraising and community involved
