Revere Beach National Sand Sculpting Festival

The 9th Annual Revere Beach National Sand Sculpting Festival will take place Thursday July 12 through Sunday 15, 2012. As the largest Sand Sculpting Festival on the East Coast, we are pleased to welcome world-renowned artists and over 500,000 spectators to Revere Beach - America's First Public Beach.  The centerpiece is already taking shape and it's a tribute to the 100th Anniversary of Fenway Park.  The 2012 Revere Beach National Sand Sculpting Festival is free and open to the public. Friday night will also feature the House's own Scott Mitchell & his band Overdrive. Saturday night will feature the Band World Premier, the awards ceremony and fireworks over Revere Beach.

Free Fun Fridays

The Highland Street Foundation is once again sponsoring Free Fun Fridays this summer.  Every Friday from June 29 to August 31, 5 exciting attractions from across the Commonwealth will be open to the public for free.  This is a great opportunity for the citizens and visitors to the Commonwealth to experience the fabulous museums and cultural attractions Massachusetts has to offer.  To view the schedule of events, please visit www.highlandstreet.org.

House Approves Transportation Infrastructure Improvements Financing Bill

Rep. Stanley helped pass legislation that finances necessary improvements to the state's transportation system. This legislation provides $200 million in chapter 90 funding, financial assistance for interstate construction projects in FY 12/13, support for regional transit authorities and the rail transportation system, and funding for other general operating costs of the transportation department.  Waltham will receive $1,563,474 in funding, an increase from last year's appropriation.

The bill also provides for a Department of Transportation Board of Directors, a seven-member panel appointed by the Governor that shall exercise the MBTA's corporate powers and oversee transportation projects state-wide. Provisions of this bill include: $325 million for non-federally assisted construction projects in FY 12/13 including general highway maintenance, emergency bridge repairs, guardrail repairs, catch basin cleaning, line painting, etc.;  $11 million in capital assistance to the regional transit authorities; $300 million for improvements to and funding of the rail transportation system; and $225 million in supplemental funding for federally-assisted interstate construction projects and $525 million for non-interstate construction projects in FY 12/13.

Gov. Patrick $56.8 Million in Health Insurance Rebates for Small Businesses and Individuals

The Commissioner of the Patrick Administration's Division of Insurance, Joseph Murphy, announced that individual citizens and small employers in the Commonwealth will benefit from nearly $57 million in rebates from five of the state's largest health insurers.  The five carriers paying rebates for 2011 are: Fallon HMO, Harvard Pilgrim HMO, Harvard Insurance Company, Neighborhood Health Plan and Tufts HMO.

The rebates will be delivered to 50,000 individual policyholders and an additional 50,000 small businesses and their employees. Individuals will receive on average $205 and businesses will receive on average $936. The exact amount of the rebate will be based on the carrier and plan in which the participants are part. The $56.8 million in rebates, determined by the Division in concert with the insurance carriers, is approximately $10 million more than the carriers had initially estimated and reported to the Division.

The rebates reflect a portion of the difference between what the insurance carriers charged in premiums and what insurers actually spent on healthcare costs in 2011. Under Massachusetts law, health insurers last year must have spent at least 88 percent of the dollars collected from premiums on medical costs. Insurers that spent less than this amount are required to rebate part of the difference back to the individuals and small employer policy holders.

Under Massachusetts law, rebates must be calculated within six months of the end of each calendar year. Payments are made to individuals who purchase their own insurance, or to employers in the small group market that purchase insurance for their employees. Rebates either will be paid directly or will be credited toward the cost of future premiums.

Bill Names Bourne Bridge for Fallen Soldier

The House voted to rename the Bourne Bridge over the Cape Cod Canal in honor of Staff Sergeant Matthew Pucino, a decorated war hero killed in action in Afghanistan in 2009 when his mounted patrol unit was attacked with an IED.  The bridge was renamed so lawmakers could show their appreciation for Pucino's sacrifice.

MWRA Approves $636 Million Budget Requiring 3 Percent Rate Hike

MEMA Advises Caution during Extremely Hot Weather

With the arrival of summer and recent heat waves, the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) is advising people to be cautious during this period of extreme heat, and is offering some tips to help keep cool and safe. Click here to view some tips to follow during hot, humid weather.

The Massachusetts Water Resources Authority Board of Directors approved a $635.9 million fiscal year 2013 budget, meaning an average increase of 3 percent in the water and sewer rates paid by participating cities and towns.  While the highest increase was 7.5 percent, Waltham had the lowest increase at 1.2 percent.

The 3 percent rate increase follows a 3.49 percent increase last year. The MWRA had originally proposed a 3.9 percent average increase in February but the MWRA Advisory Board convinced the authority to bring the increase down to 3 percent. The Advisory Board features representatives from participating municipalities.

The House recently passed House Bill 4199, the gas leak bill, which requires leaks to be reported by Gas companies to DPU.  Under the legislation, gas companies must also file gas infrastructure replacement plans with DPU.

An Act Relative to Gender Identity, also known as the Transgender Equal Rights Bill, went into effect on 7/1. The bill was signed into law by Governor Patrick on November 23, 2011 and adds gender identity as a protected category to existing Massachusetts anti-discrimination laws covering employment, housing, public education, and credit and lending. The new law also adds gender identity as a protected category under the state hate crimes law. The statute provides new protections for people who have transitioned from one gender to another, as well as people whose gender identity, expression, and/or behavior does not match their birth sex.  Individuals do not need to have undergone sex reassignment surgery to be covered by the new law, and the protection extends to individuals discriminated against based on the gender identity or expression, even if they do not identify as transgender.

Shop for health insurance, now through August 15!

State Health Officials Urge Residents to Take Precautions against Tick Bites and Lyme Disease

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 

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.

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

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 

The number of license renewals is expected to increase by 50 percent beginning in November and continue at higher levels for the months thereafter. November is the beginning of a five-year license renewal cycle that began in 1991, replacing the previous four-year cycle.   The result of that change is one year every five years with a reduced number of license renewals.  That lower volume year ends as of November 1, and transactions will increase. The RMV has responded by launching a publicity campaign through Highway Division billboards and public service announcements at the MBTA to urge drivers to check their license expiration dates and renew 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.    

Drivers Encouraged to "Donate Life"

Rep. Stanley Cosigns Letter to Energy Bill Conference Committee on Section 42

In a letter to conference committee members, Rep. Stanley and his colleagues urged members to reject Section 42 of House Bill 4225, legislation relative to competitively priced electricity in the Commonwealth, stating that the section is anti-competitive and could be costly to ratepayers. By requiring distribution companies to enter into long-term contracts with fossil fuel burning generating facilities at the site of retiring coal and oil facilities, section 42 distorts the deregulated energy market. This will saddle ratepayers with the risk and cost of inevitable increases and fluctuations in natural gas and diesel prices over the next 15 years and beyond.

Rep. Stanley Cosigns Salary Reserve Override Letter

Rep. Stanley signed onto a letter to Speaker DeLeo asking for an override of Governor Patrick's veto of the Human Services Salary Reserve, an item endorsed by an overwhelming majority of House members during the budget process.  When the House approved the FY 13 budget, it included a $20 million annualized Salary Reserve. It would have been the first annualized salary increase human services workers have received in the last five years, and it would have been an estimated increase of between one and two percent for most employees. Employees would have received an annualized increase of $635/year on average.  The Governor vetoed $10 million of the $20 million Salary Reserve that would have given a modest salary increase to human services workers making under $40,000 per year. In a supplemental proposal, he also changed the Salary Reserve language so it would be given as a one-time payment and not annualize into workers' salaries.

House votes to override Governor's veto on the legislature's EBT reform

The House, by a vote of 152-2, voted to override the Governor Patrick's veto to reform Massachusetts' Electronic Balance Transfer (EBT) cards. Although Governor Patrick is in favor of restricting the use of EBT cards to certain stores, such as grocery and convenience stores, the House and Senate's budget limited the actual items that can be purchased, banning pornography, alcohol and lottery tickets among other things.  The proposal will now be discussed by the Senate.

Rep. Stanley was pleased that the final budget included $11.3 million in McKinney-Vento funding for municipalities to reimburse cities and towns for the cost of transporting homeless students to and from school.  Earlier this year, Rep. Stanley gathered the support of 112 legislators to lobby funding transportation costs for the state's homeless children.  Previously, the state was mandating cities and towns like Waltham to pay roughly $100,000 to $140,000 annually to pay for the expense.