The Stanley Report
Lexington & Lincoln, Volume 7, No. 5
May 2012
In This Issue
News from Beacon Hill
Lexington & Lincoln Corner
Upcoming Events
About Rep. Stanley

Tom Picture 

Rep. Thomas M. Stanley
9th Middlesex District 
 

Like me on Facebook

 

 

Grossman

 

Rep. Tom Stanley's interview with Treasurer Steve Grossman  

 

press conference

 

Speaker DeLeo at a press conference on the Jobs & Economic Development Bill  

 

 

Rep. Stanley with former Celtic Chris Herren at the State House.  Herren is dedicated to fighting substance abuse. 

  

Wayside

  

Horse & Buggy at the Wayside Inn

 

  Whale

 

Whaling Museum on Nantucket 

 

 

100th Year Celebration at  

Fenway Park  

 

 

Beautiful day at Fenway   

 

 

Brant Point Lighthouse 

 

 

Spring on Beacon Hill 

 

 

 

Conch Shell Fence  

 

Dome

 

State House Dome   

 

Lincoln Library1

 

Lincoln Library    

 

Lincoln Town Hall

 

Lincoln Town Hall    

 

daffodils  

 

April flowers 

 

Lincoln Library1   

Lincoln Public Library 

   

Old Town Hall Lincoln

 

Old Town Hall   

     

 

 

At the DeCordova Museum

 

 

At the DeCordova Museum    

 

 

Swan on the Charles River 

 

Flint Pond

 

At Flint Pond 

 

Drumlin Farm2

 

Drumlin Farm     

 

Walden2

 

Sunshine at Walden Pond 

   

Matlock Farm2

 

Lovelane Therapeutic Riding Facility in Lincoln   

 

Nobel

 

The House Chamber  

 

Walden1

 

Walden Pond  

   

Entering Lincoln Sign

 

Entering Lincoln  

 

TMS in New Office

 

Rep. Stanley at the State House

  

Lex Minuteman

 

Minuteman Statue in Lexington

 

TMS at Podium

 

Rep. Stanley in the House Chamber 

 

House Chamber

 

House Chamber  

 

Old Town Hall Lincoln

 

Old Town Hall, Lincoln    

  

Lex Town Offices  

Lexington Town Offices  

 

Commuter Rail and Station

 

Commuter rail station      

   

State House2

 

State House, Boston   

 

Dome

 

State House Dome

 

Dome

Massachusetts State House
 
Conservation Land Lincoln

Conservation Land, Lincoln

Eagle Statue
 
Memorial Eagle, Lincoln

Nat'l Heritage Museum

National Heritage Museum, Lexington

State House Tour
  
If you'd like to arrange a State House tour, please call (617) 727-3676.
  
Rep. Stanley Reads1 
  
If you'd like Rep. Stanley to visit your classroom, call
(617) 722-2310

Contact Information:

 

State Representative

Thomas M. Stanley

State House, Room 167

Boston, MA 02133

(617) 722-2810

Dear Friend,

 

It is my pleasure to deliver May's edition of The Stanley Report, my monthly update from Beacon Hill. Please feel free to pass this e-mail along to your friends, family and co-workers and let them know they can subscribe to receive my monthly newsletter by emailing me.  If you are interested in following me on Facebook, please click here.  If you'd like to follow my fan page, please click here.

Thanks for reading, and for giving me the opportunity to represent you in the legislature.  As always, please do not hesitate to contact my office at (617) 722-2310. 

 

Sincerely,

 

 

Signature 

Thomas M. Stanley

News from Beacon Hill

 

House Passes $32B Budget

 

Rep. Stanley helped passed a balanced FY '13 budget aimed at increasing government efficiency, cutting costs and preserving essential services across the Commonwealth. The budget, which passed with bipartisan support, closes a projected $790 million budget gap through cuts and adjustments to state spending, one-time revenues and a $400 million withdrawal from the Rainy Day fund.

 

The budget for fiscal year '13 includes no new taxes or fees and makes a significant investment in local aid to help lessen the burden of the recession on municipalities. Thanks to such sound fiscal management, Standard and Poor's increased Massachusetts' bond rating from AA to AA+.

 

This budget fully funds the Unrestricted General Government Aid that municipalities rely on to balance their budgets each fiscal year. It includes an additional $65M that was sent out last year in the form of a supplemental budget, essentially guaranteeing that money for municipalities up front. The House budget also places a high priority on education funding by increasing Chapter 70, special education circuit breaker, McKinney-Vento and regional transportation funding.

 

This budget guarantees all municipal, vocational and regional school districts an increase over Fiscal Year 2012 Chapter 70 funding for a total increase of $164M. It will assist districts in meeting their special education obligations by funding circuit breaker at $221.5M.  Rep. Stanley is pleased that the House appropriated funds to offset the expense of the federal mandate (McKinney-Vento) requiring communities to incur the costs of transporting their homeless student population. The House was also able to prioritize regional school transportation, funding it at $45.4M.

 

In an effort to create jobs and help cities and towns, the House budget strengthens the Community Preservation Act, a law passed in 2000 that allows Massachusetts cities and towns to establish a fund to support local needs. Over the past decade, the CPA has promoted cost savings and job creation. By increasing the funding available for the statewide CPA Trust Fund in this year's budget, the House will provide more local aid and support for local jobs.

 

This budget also places the Commonwealth's community

colleges in the best position possible to respond to the changing needs of Massachusetts and its residents, particularly in workforce

development and continued higher education. The House budget includes increased coordination among the 15 separate community colleges and the Board of Higher Education in order to provide flexibility to adapt to new opportunities for the Commonwealth. 

 

In a demonstration of the House's commitment to serving elders and the disabled, this budget preserves programs such as elder nutrition enhanced home care services and elder protective services. Recognizing the high cost of our home services, this budget increases in-home supports for families of the developmentally disabled and makes investments in the areas of transportation and Turning 22. These significant investments ensure there will be a continuum of services to these populations.

 

Finally, the House seeks efficiencies and re-procurements in many areas of state government, such as Mass Health and the Department of Corrections, in order to achieve savings and maximize our investments. In addition, the budget provides the tools needed to seek out fraud, waste and abuse in state funded programs. The budget includes a provision banning any individual from knowingly using, transferring, acquiring, altering or possessing an electronic benefit transfer card or access device in any manner not authorized by federal or state law.  

 

To learn more about the MA budget process, please click here.

 

Speaker DeLeo Announces Job Bills

 

At a recent press conference, Speaker DeLeo announced job creation legislation to increase jobs and economic development in the Commonwealth. The bill includes a new manufacturing grant program to support small businesses, increased funding for a program that helps advance large economic projects and efforts to expedite permitting.  The legislation also calls for innovation economy matching funds, appropriations to match stipends in the private sector for tech startup interns and permitting allowances to facilitate development projects that have been unable to move forward due to tight credit markets.  The March jobless rate in the state decreased to 6.5 percent from 6.9 percent, and MA reported the addition of 8,700 jobs in March.


Rep. Stanley Advocates for Bill on Behalf of Domestic Violence

 

Rep. Stanley, REACH, Jane Doe Inc, and Employers against Domestic Violence gathered on Tuesday May 8th at the Waltham Public Library for a discussion about how to create a safer community for and with victims of domestic and sexual violence. Specifically, the group discussed Bill S918 which protects the employment rights of victims of domestic violence by providing 15 days of unpaid leave to plan for their safety.

 

Rep. Stanley Supports Bill To Curb Health Care Costs

 

House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo and Chairman Steven Walsh of the Committee on Health Care Financing announced a comprehensive plan aimed at curbing health care costs and empowering patients. The bill, released by the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing, comes six years after Massachusetts passed the nation's first universal health care law. The bill now moves to the House Committee on Ways & Means.

 

The bill provides a responsible way to curb health care costs by attempting to build on existing incentives and market forces and empowers patients by giving them information they need to make informed decisions about health care. For the first time, patients will have online access to detailed comparative price and quality information, categorized by medical procedure, provider and payer. Likewise, it gives providers the cost and quality of health care services and patient-specific data to aid doctors in treating patients.  The bill comes as health care spending takes up a larger and larger percentage of the state's budget; Premiums for a family average over $15,000 annually and each year health care costs comprise a greater percentage of our state budget.

 

The bill creates an electronic health record system to allow patients and providers readily accessible information; establishes the Health Care Workforce Trust Fund to better prepare workers for the health care jobs of the future; puts a premium on prevention and wellness (businesses are eligible for a $10K tax credit by establishing a wellness program); simplifies payer coverage and claims information; allows for providers to make use of an 'apology' provision to reduce litigation and cut costs; streamlines health care governance bringing all state agencies under the Division of Health Care Cost and Quality; sets a predictable goal for health care cost growth, Gross State Product -0.5% in three years; and facilitates the use of Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) and Patient-Centered Medical Homes to improve treatment.

 

Solar Program Benefiting 17 MA Communities, including Lincoln

 

As part of the effort to reach Governor Patrick's goal of 250 megawatts (MW) of solar power installed by 2017, Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Richard K. Sullivan Jr. announced the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) and the Department of Energy Resources (DOER) selected 17 communities to participate in the 2012 Solarize Massachusetts (Solarize Mass) Program, which helps residents and business owners adopt solar photovoltaic (PV) technology.

 

Solarize Mass is a program that encourages the adoption of small scale solar PV by deploying a coordinated education, marketing and outreach effort, combined with a tiered pricing structure that provides increased savings as more people in the community go solar.  MassCEC, in partnership with the DOER's Green Communities Division has selected the cities and towns of Acton, Arlington, Boston, Hopkinton, Melrose, Mendon, Millbury, Montague, Newburyport, Palmer, Pittsfield, Lenox, Shirley, Sutton, Wayland, Sudbury and Lincoln, to participate in Solarize Mass. For more information about Solarize Mass, click here.

 

Rep. Stanley Contributes to Final Double Poles Report and Legislation

 

The Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy (TUE) released legislation on double poles which is now before the House Committee on Ways and Means.  Rep. Stanley worked with a subcommittee of the TUE on the issue of double poles.  Committee Vice-Chair Kate Hogan, committee members and Rep. Stanley had discussions with line workers, utility companies and state regulators to address the ongoing visual pollution and safety concerns of double poles and bring interested parties together to find a solution to the problem. Rep. Stanley contributed to the subcommittee's report to TUE and was recognized in the publication for his contribution to the report and final legislation.

 

Double poles have increasingly become a problem throughout the state, creating eyesores and safety hazards.  Through the report and legislation, the subcommittee hoped to increase the speed of double pole removal and encourage the removal of unnecessary utility poles; identify tools and best practices to track pole removal; and create a final report to TUE Chairs with recommendations for more efficient double pole removal.  The committee's efforts require a multi-prong approach to identify the most affected areas, meeting with utility and telecommunications companies, and municipalities.

 

This legislative session, there are 14 separate pieces of legislation relating to the issue of double poles under review in the TUE. The term "double pole" refers to the situation when two utility poles are erected side by side as the electric, telephone, cable and other wires from one pole are transferred to the other. Double poles are generally created when repairs or upgrades requiring a new pole are made to utility or communications equipment, or during road construction projects when utility poles must be relocated. The various bills in the Committee seek to decrease or eliminate the prevalence of double poles across the Commonwealth through various means, including fines against utility companies for the failure to remove poles in a timely fashion. There are now an estimated 30,000 double poles in Massachusetts.

 

Governor Patrick Signs Bill to Increase Access to HIV Screening

 

Governor Patrick signed S.2158, "An Act Increasing Screening for HIV," which removes barriers for patients to get HIV screening, while maintaining all confidentiality protections.  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.

 

Tourism Recognized at State House

 

Tourism officials and local companies celebrated MA's tourism industry by bringing their products to the State House on May 9th. Tourism brings 20 million visitors a year, $15.5 billion in expenditures and provides 122,000 jobs to the Commonwealth and is a vital party of the economy. According to the Joint Committee on Tourism, Arts and Cultural Development, tourism is the third largest industry in the state and the state needs to continue to market MA as a destination hotspot. Some of the regional food offerings included cookies and coffee, cider donuts, popcorn, maple sugar leaf lollipops, Friendly's ice cream, fudge, Boston cream pie, Toll House cookies and much more.

 

State Establishes Council for Innovation

 

Governor Patrick signed an executive order establishing the Commonwealth's Council for Innovation, continuing the Administration's ongoing efforts to change the way government does business, while achieving savings for taxpayers. The council will advise Governor Patrick on the best opportunities to improve government efficiency and use technology to streamline delivery of services to people, businesses and local governments.

 

Proposed in the Governor's Fiscal Year 2013 budget recommendation, the Council will enhance the Administration's ongoing efforts to improve services to residents, businesses and local governments by engaging with technology experts and entrepreneurs to focus on creating technology upgrades that will help streamline the delivery of services.  The Council members include venture capitalists, founders of successful start-ups, technology specialists, innovation experts and leading academics from Harvard, MIT and the University of Massachusetts. The Council will use their breadth of experience to help the Administration to set technology and innovation priorities, identify new opportunities for government to leverage technology to support innovative approaches to delivering government services and identify new partnerships for delivering programs and services to residents.

 

Compact Boosts Massachusetts Ports

 

Lieutenant Governor Murray announced the formation of the Ports of Massachusetts Compact agreement 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 along with MassDOT Secretary and CEO Richard A. Davey, Massport, the Massachusetts Secretaries of Energy and Environmental Affairs, Housing and Economic Development, and the Legislature's Joint Committee on Transportation.

 

MassDOT's Planning Division will lead research and planning efforts for the compact and will identify ways to maximize funding to improve infrastructure.  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.

 

New Assistance Program to Help Businesses and Institutions to Increase Recycling

 

The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) announced the "RecyclingWorks in Massachusetts" program, a new initiative to provide Massachusetts businesses and institutions with the information and assistance they need to reduce waste and recycle more. The RecyclingWorks program will be funded by MassDEP and administered by the Center for EcoTechnology (CET), a non-profit organization based in Northampton and Pittsfield. The program provides a comprehensive set of statewide services, as well as targeted business assistance services.

 

Statewide services include a hotline and e-mail address to help businesses answer their questions and either start new recycling programs or improve existing programs. RecyclingWorks also features a web site (www.recyclingworksma.com) that includes a searchable recycling service-provider database and guidance materials by material type and business sector. The RecyclingWorks program will also coordinate the Massachusetts WasteWise program, a free, voluntary program that provides networking, tools and guidance to help businesses to advance recycling initiatives.

 

In addition to the statewide services, the program will provide site visits, technical assistance and workshops to work with specific businesses, business sectors, and chamber of commerce partnerships. Short-term areas of focus will include increasing diversion of food waste from large generators such as supermarkets, colleges and universities and hotels.

 

MassDOT Recognized as a "Bicycle Friendly Business"

 

MassDOT became the first transportation agency in the nation recognized as a "Bicycle Friendly Business" by the League of American Bicyclists.  The League today announced 67 awards nationally to businesses, cities, non-profits, and government agencies, including a Bronze medal to MassDOT for encouraging a bike-friendly atmosphere for customers and employees.

 

As a Bicycle Friendly Business MassDOT is leading by example, providing travel options to employees and creating a workplace that supports healthy travel choices of walking, bicycling and transit to reduce congestion and greenhouse gases and create a healthier and more sustainable Commonwealth.  MassDOT has earned its Bronze medal through such initiatives as Bay State Bike Week, the only such week-long statewide bicycling education and awareness promotion in the nation.

 

State Will Hold Town Hall Meetings to Prevent Underage Drinking and Prescription Drug Abuse

 

Lieutenant Governor Murray, Chair of the Interagency Council on Substance Abuse and Prevention, 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 MA.   Throughout 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. The meetings 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.  For updates about local events, click here.

 

AG Coakley Launches "HomeCorps" Program and Hotline to Aid Distressed Borrowers and Ease Foreclosure Crisis

 

AG Coakley launched a groundbreaking new initiative to prevent unnecessary foreclosures by increasing the number of loan modification specialists available to help distressed borrowers and providing a wide range of grant opportunities aimed at easing the foreclosure crisis in MA.  The new HomeCorps program is funded by the Massachusetts' share of a nationwide settlement involving the nation's five largest mortgage servicers and their connection with unlawful foreclosures and loan servicing. As part of the launch of this new program, the AG's office has established a HomeCorps Hotline at 617-573-5333 with loan modification experts available to assist borrowers facing foreclosure. A designated HomeCorps section of the AG's website is now open with more information here.

 

More than five million people across this country have lost their homes to foreclosure during this economic crisis, including more than 45,000 people in Massachusetts. There are thousands more Massachusetts families on the brink of foreclosure. According to the Warren Group, in February 2012 alone there were 1,394 foreclosure starts in Massachusetts. That is more than double the number of foreclosure starts in February of 2011.

 

New "Veteran" Driver's License

 

As of 2012, veterans have the option to have the word "Veteran" appear on their driver's license or ID card. The veteran designation is designed to increase awareness about available resources and benefits, and the Department of Veterans' Services will notify veterans of benefits they may not have accessed. There is no cost for the veteran designation if it is added during license renewal time.  Visit MassDOT RMV on the web to access online license and registration renewal and other services.

 

MassDEP Announce Federal Grants to Fund Diesel Hybrid Trucks, Promoting Cleaner Air Quality

 

Massachusetts environmental officials announced more than $400,000 in federal grants to help private firms fund the purchase of 11 diesel hybrid heavy-duty trucks - bringing cleaner air quality to Massachusetts. The funding comes from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) and the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) federal grant programs, and an environmental enforcement settlement between the American Electric Power Service Corporation and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).  The funding was distributed by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) as part of a Diesel Hybrid Vehicle Purchasing Program, which helps to foster the advancement of hybrid technology in the private sector.

 

2012 Agriculture Photo Contest

 

Photographers who enjoy capturing images of the Bay State's farms and farm and horticultural products are invited to enter the 2012 Massachusetts Agriculture Calendar Photo Contest. Winning entries will be published in the 2013 Massachusetts Agriculture Calendar. The contest and calendar are sponsored by Massachusetts Agriculture in the Classroom, Inc., and the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR).  Photos should represent the traditional (maple sugaring, cranberries, dairy cows, flowers/plants, fall fruits, farmers and farm families), as well as the new and dynamic, such as on-farm renewable energy systems and urban agriculture. Click here for more information.

 

May is National Electrical Safety Month!

 

May is National Electrical Safety Month, and State Fire Marshal Stephen D. Coan and Fire Chiefs' Association of Massachusetts President Paul Zbikowksi want to raise awareness about potential home electrical hazards and the importance of electrical safety. For safety tips, please click here. For more information on fire safety, contact your local fire department or the Office of the State Fire Marshal at 1-877-9 NO FIRE.

 

Life Sciences Center Grants UMass-Lowell $10 Mil

 

A $10 million grant will support the construction of UMass Lowell's Emerging Technologies and Innovation Center, which will open in the fall of 2012. According to the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center, the grant will fund research facilities at the 84,000-square-foot, $70 million center.  The center has previously received $35 million from other state funding sources.  UMass will use private donations to pay for the remainder of the project.  The funds approved by the center's board will help pay for equipment in the micro-nano fabrication facility, also known as a clean room.

 

2012 MassWorks Infrastructure Program Application Materials Now Available

 

The 2012 MassWorks Infrastructure Program application materials are now online! The second annual MassWorks Infrastructure Program grant round will be open to new applications through an online system between Monday, Aug. 27 and Monday, Sept. 10.

 

The MassWorks Infrastructure Program provides a one-stop shop for municipalities and other eligible public entities seeking public infrastructure funding to support economic development and job creation. Municipalities with a population of 7,000 or less may also seek grants for road improvement that enhance safety.

 

A copy of the 2012 application, guidelines, scoring, FAQ and other relevant materials are now available on the HED website at http://mass.gov/hed/massworks. The electronic application system will open on June 1, providing applicants with more than 12 weeks to complete their application before the submittal period opens on Aug. 27.  All of the data submitted during the 2011 grant round will be available for updating, providing for the easy reapplication of a project submitted in 2011. All decisions will be rendered by the end of October.

 

Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Nutrition Program

 

WIC is a free nutrition program that provides healthy foods, nutrition education, breastfeeding support, and referrals to healthcare and other services to Massachusetts families who qualify. WIC stands for Women, Infants and Children.  WIC's goal is to keep pregnant and breastfeeding women and kids under 5 healthy. To apply for WIC, call 1-800-WIC-1007 or contact a WIC Program in your community.  Please click here for more info.
 

SAVE Partners with Veterans' Services to Support Veterans & Their Families

 

The fundamental principle of the Statewide Advocacy for Veterans' Empowerment (SAVE) program is to advocate for veterans who are not able to obtain the benefits they have earned due to institutional or personal barriers. The program's primary mission is prevention of suicide and mental health distress through the identification of issues facing veterans when they return from service and proactively providing them with access to benefits and services that may address these issues and result in positive transitions back to civilian life. SAVE acts as a liaison between veterans and their families and the various agencies within the federal and state governments.  To learn more, please click here.

 

Department of Public Safety Offers Smoke Alarm Info

 

Smoke alarms are the single most important means of preventing fatal fires.  The Department of Public Safety's website offers information about fire safety and fire alarms.  Please click here to learn more.

 

Mass 2-1-1, in Partnership with United Way, Partners with Department of Veterans Services

 

To learn more about the services available to veterans by MA 2-1-1 and the Massachusetts Department of Veterans' Services, the chief advocate for veterans and their families in the Commonwealth, please click here.  2-1-1 is the national abbreviated dialing code for free access to health and human services Information and Referral. 2-1-1 is an easy-to-remember and universally recognizable number that makes a critical connection between individuals and families seeking services or volunteer opportunities and the appropriate community-based organizations and government agencies. 2-1-1 makes it possible for people to navigate the complex and ever-growing maze of human service agencies and programs. By making services easier to access, 2-1-1 encourages prevention and fosters self-sufficiency. It also is hoped that it will reduce the number of non-emergency calls inappropriately made to 911. 

 

MassWildlife Offers Calendar of Events

 

The Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (DFW) is responsible for the conservation - including restoration, protection and management - of fish and wildlife resources for the benefit and enjoyment of the public.   The Division works to balance the needs of people and wildlife today so wildlife will be available for everyone's enjoyment today and for future generations.  To learn more about DFW events across the Commonwealth, such as wildlife-related workshops, talks, walks or demonstrations, please click here.

 

MassDOT RMV urges eligible drivers to renew their licenses online

 

Services available on the MassDOT RMV website include applying for a first time license; converting an out-of-state license; scheduling a branch appointment; registration renewals; ordering a driving record, crash report or Fast Lane transponder; viewing the status of a license, registration, driver education certificate and title; signing up for organ/tissue donation; and canceling a registration plate.

     

State Announces Internship Opportunities Website

The state launched a website featuring internship opportunities across Massachusetts. The new website, promoted by the Commonwealth Marketing Office, aims to convince college students and recent graduates to stay in the state. Companies are allowed to post opportunities at no charge and serves as a "a one-stop shop" for students searching for internships. Currently, the site features more than 100 internship opportunities.

Drivers Encouraged to "Donate Life"

Massachusetts drivers can register as organ donors on their driver's license or online through the Donate Life New England registry. About 99 percent of all Massachusetts residents who designate themselves as organ and tissue donors do so through the Registry of Motor Vehicles at RMV branches and on its website.

Registering as a donor can save the life of someone desperately in need of a transplant. More than 110,000 Americans, including about 3,000 Massachusetts residents, are awaiting a life-saving organ transplant that may not come in time. In 2009, the RMV became the first state agency in New England to create an on-line application to allow an individual to register to be a donor. New England Organ Bank is the federally-designated, non-profit procurement organization responsible for the surgical recovery of organs and tissues for transplant throughout the New England region. Donate Life New England is a joint project of two federally designated organ procurement organizations that serve New England - LifeChoice Donor Services and New England Organ Bank. They have come together to create a fast and easy way for citizens of New England to register as organ and tissue donors in a secure and confidential manner. For more information, visit www.donatelifenewengland.org.  

Free program to help veterans & their families quit smoking

A free, statewide smoking cessation program is designed to help Massachusetts veterans and their families live healthier and longer lives. Massachusetts veterans and their family members can now call the Massachusetts Smokers Helpline at 1-800-QUIT NOW (1-800-784-8669) or click here to receive free telephone support and a two-week supply of nicotine patches to help them quit smoking.


Job Opportunities with the Commonwealth of MA

There are a number of job listings posted on the Commonwealth of Massachusetts home page. For more information, click here.

 


Lexington & Lincoln Corner 
 

Lexington Farmers' Market Events

 

Lexington Farmers' Market Opening Ceremonies - The Lexington Farmers' Market will ring in our 8th market season at the corner of Mass Ave and Woburn Street in Lexington Center on Tuesday, 5/29 from 2-6:30pm. We will be open every Tuesday, rain or shine, through October. Opening day festivities include Val Marcantonio Tap Dancers, Musical entertainment by Eric Eid-Reiner on Fiddle, Lexington Fife and Drum Corp. Fresh local fruits, vegetables and artisans food products available. SNAP accepted with a double incentive program up to $20.  For more info, please visit www.lexingtonfarmersmarket.org

 

June 5th, Lexington Farmers' Market corner of Mass Ave & Woburn Street, Lexington Center. Open every Tuesday rain or shine, 2-6:30pm SNAP accepted. 4-5pm Kids Cooking Green hosts a free workshop for kids!    Shop the market with a Kids Cooking Green instructor and learn about nutrition from Joy McCallum, MS, R., LDN.  Step back under the tent and buzz up a local, nutritious snack! Appropriate for children of all ages, (under 8 with an adult please) Free but pre-registration is necessary by contacting [email protected] or signing up at the Market Managers tent. Then bring a blanket to sit back and hear LIBERTY BONES, all trombone band put the trombone where it belongs, front and center!

 

June 12 - Lexington Farmers' Market- Bike to the Market Day! The farmers market is located right off the bikeway, so there is no need to drive to the Lexington Farmers' Market. Bike to the market today, and valet park your bike with under the tent manned by the Friends of the Lexington Bikeway, to receive a $2 coupon to be used for product at the market!

 

June 26: Lexington Farmers' Market: and Cary Memorial Library! Tuesday June 26- 4-5pm

Dream Big-Read! Cary Memorial Library and The Lexington Farmers' Market celebrate the 2012 Summer Reading theme of Dream BIG, Read! with a workshop at the Lexington Farmers' market, from 4:00-5:00. Kids entering grades 3-5 (and their parents) are invited to Dream Big about what they could grow in their gardens and are asked to think about how the wildlife around them is beneficial to their gardens! Come meet local wildlife from Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary and learn the wonderful habits and needs of our wild neighbors. Why are they important to our gardens? Then let's walk the market, and meet the farmers that grow our food. Each child will be given a $2 coupon to be spent at the market as cash, to help buy a plant to put in their own garden at home! This event is free, funded by the friends of Cary Library Online registration will begin on Monday June 18, at 7:00 p.m., www.carylibrary.org or by telephone registration to begin at 7:30 p.m. (781-862-6288, ext. 170)

 

Publish your events in The Stanley Report

 

The Stanley Report is a great way to spread the word about an upcoming event!  Please forward any community, civic or nonprofit upcoming events that you would like included in next month's Stanley Report.  If interested, please email Tara Conklin, Rep. Stanley's legislative assistant, with information about your event.    


The Lexington Arts & Crafts Society

 

The Lexington Arts & Crafts Society is a non-profit regional education center dedicated to the preservation and promotion of excellence in both the traditional and contemporary arts and crafts. Registration is now open for new classes and workshops in all arts and crafts offered by its guilds. To learn more about its exhibits, classes and workshops and much more, please visit

 

Volunteer Drivers Needed One Day per Month 

 
If you are retired, have a flexible work schedule, or have available time during the day, please consider becoming a volunteer one day a month for Lexington's F.I.S.H. (Friendly Independent Sympathetic Help), a community-service organization.  F.I.S.H. has been providing free rides to medical appointments for over 30 years for Lexington residents, but our 130 volunteer drivers and phone callers cannot meet the current client demand.  Drivers typically volunteer to drive for one day a month and can choose to provide round-trip rides to destinations either in Lexington and vicinity or in the greater-Boston area. "Phone F.I.S.H." volunteers make calls from their homes for a few hours on a given day to assign F.I.S.H. clients needing a ride to the volunteer drivers.  Being a F.I.S.H. driver or Phone F.I.S.H. is a very rewarding experience and we hope you will consider helping out your fellow Lexingtonians who have become very dependent on this unique service. For more information about volunteering for F.I.S.H., please call F.I.S.H. President David Horton at 781-862-3293.    

Stanley Report to highlight non-profit orgs 

If you'd like your organization highlighted in the Stanley Report, please let Rep. Stanley know!  To allow more members of our community to hear about your organization's good work, please submit your upcoming community events, announcements and any other information about your organization.  If interested, please email Tara Conklin.


Upcoming Events & Opportunities   


Town of Lincoln Events

 

The Town of Lincoln's official website offers information about town services, schools, offices and boards and commissions, as well as information about local events and opportunities.  Click here to read what's new in Lincoln or here to view a complete calendar of events, meetings and holidays.

 

Drumlin Farm Special Events Listing

 

Enjoy a change of pace at Drumlin Farm, where you and your family can explore a real working farm and a wildlife sanctuary all in one day.  To view a listing of special events and the latest news from the farm, please click here.

The 2012 deCordova Biennial

 

The 2012 deCordova Biennial opened on January 22, 2012 and features 23 artists and collaboratives and will occupy almost the entirety of the museum and beyond-reaching into the park, Boston, and nearby communities through several public, off-site projects.  For more information, please click here.

 

For a full list of calendar items at the The deCordova Museum and Sculpture Park, please click here.   


Chess club
, Starbucks, 60 Bedford St., Lexington, Fridays, 7 to 9 p.m. Lexington Chess Club meets every Friday when school is held that day and on the following Monday. Free, children must be accompanied by an adult. For more information visit
http://groups.google.com/group/lexchess

Codman Community Farms Offers Events & Classes

 

Codman Community Farms is a living example of Lincoln's agricultural heritage, offering a place for children and adults to see animals, celebrate community and conservation, and learn about farming. The farm operates year-round and offers events and classes.  For more information, please click here.


Needle arts guild Lexington Arts and Crafts Society, 130 Waltham St., Lexington, meets Tuesdays at 10 a.m. and the second, fourth and fifth Thursday of each month at 7:30 p.m. For more information, call 781-862-9696 or e-mail [email protected].

La leche league    
The La League provides breastfeeding support and information through monthly meetings with accredited leaders and mother-to-mother support.  The Lexington group meets the second Thursday of each month at the Cary Memorial Library, 1874 Massachusetts Ave. The Lexington group attracts women from Lexington and surrounding towns.  For more information, call Francesca at 781.862.4762, Ann Marie at 781.863.1689, or Shari at 781.270.0944. 

Moving On Church of Our Redeemer, 6 Merriam St., Lexington. Thursdays, 7:30-9 p.m. Moving On is a nondenominational, on-going conversation and social group which provides a comfortable environment for now single adults to re-enter a fuller life after the loss of a partner through death, divorce or relationship termination. A $2 per person donation covers the room rental. For more information about this nonprofit group, contact John, 781.790.1708 (Waltham), [email protected]; Marti at 978.256.5872 (Chelmsford); or Phil at 978.922.3690 (Beverly). 

Fix It Shop Lexington Senior Center, 1475 Mass Ave., Lexington. Thursdays, 9 a.m.-noon. A Fix it Shop is held for the repair of small items. Drop-off and pick up only during the above times. Labor is free, repair parts at cost. Donations accepted. 

Volunteers sought Lexington Senior Center, 1475 Mass Ave., Lexington. The Friend to Friend Program at the Lexington Senior Center is looking for volunteers to spend a few hours a month to help isolated seniors keep in touch with everyday activities. Volunteers could help a senior with vision impairment pick up some groceries or a prescription, get a haircut, attend a special luncheon, or just have a cup of coffee and chat. People are carefully matched according to the time they have available and what they would like to do. Currently, there are several seniors looking for a friendly volunteer. Call Charlotte Rodgers, 781.861.0194, for more information. 

Newcomers Club Lexington Newcomers Club welcomes new residents to town. Consider joining the Lexington Newcomer's Club, a non-profit social organization, to meet friends and learn about the town. Visit lexington-newcomers. Org for more information or call Marjoleine, membership chair, 781.274.9822, to join.

NAMI Support Groups The Central Middlesex affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness of Massachusetts, serving Acton, Bedford, Boxborough, Burlington, Carlisle, Concord, Lexington, Lincoln, Littleton, Maynard, and Stow offers daytime and evening support groups for families and friends: Bedford, last Tuesday of each month, 7:30-9:30 pm, First Church of Christ, 25 Great Road, Routes 4, 62 and 225, Bedford; West Concord, first Thursday of each month, 12:30-2:00 pm, West Concord Union Church, 1317 Main Street, West Concord; Stow, -third Saturday of every month, 10:00 am-12:00 pm, Fellowship Hall, First Parish Church in Stow, near the intersection of Rt. 117 and Rt. 62. Call 781.982.3318.
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About Rep. Stanley:

State Representative: 2001 - Present 
City Council: 1998 - 2004, 2006 - Present
Council President: 2003
 
City Council Committees:    
Public Works
Community Development
Veterans
Long Term Debt, Chair

Committees:
 
Joint Committee on Ways and Means
House Post Audit and Oversight Committee
Joint Committee on Consumer Protection & Professional Licensure
  
Education:  Suffolk University (MPA), Bentley College (BS - Management), Mass Bay Community College (AS - Business Administration)
 
Board Member: Waltham Partnership for Youth, Warrandale Little League, Waltham Family School Advisory Board, Waltham Safe and Healthy Schools YRBS Steering Committee, Waltham Community Day Center (Honorary), Reach Beyond Domestic Violence Advisory Board, Safe Schools Healthy Students Initiative, Waltham Community Day Center (Active Honorary), Waltham Public Library Planning Committee  
Member: Lions Club, Sons of Italy, Democratic City Committee, Fitzgerald School PTO, Fernald Reuse Committee, Hardy Pond Association, Friends of Waltham Library 
 
Awards:

Work, Community, Independence - Human Service Advocate of the Year, 2008 COFAR - award recipient for support of people with mental disabilities, 2003 MassBay Community College Distinguished Alumni Award WATCH CDC - Housing Advocate Award, 2007 Minuteman Senior Services - Certificate of Appreciation, 2006 Boston Bar Assoc., Greater Boston Legal Services and MetroWest Legal Services - Pillar of Justice Award, 2003
Shining Star Award,
Edinburg Center   
Other:
 
Basketball coach for the Police Athletic League

Personal:

Married to the former Kimberly A. Bayliss
Children: Ryan, age 18, Parker, age 9