News from Beacon Hill

General Election on 11/4

Residents will vote on four ballot questions on 11/4

Election Day is set for November 4th, 2014 and voters will see four questions on the ballot, according to Secretary of State William Galvin, the state's elections chief.  The questions will include the potential of the elimination of gas tax inflation indexing at the top, the proposed expansion of the bottle deposit law, the initiative aiming to repeal the 2011 casino law and an initiative looking to guarantee earned sick time for employees.

 LWVMA Launches Online Voters' Guide

The League of Women Voters of Massachusetts proudly presents its Voters' Guide to Statewide Offices, featuring questions and answers from all 21 candidates for statewide offices on the November ballot.   The Guide is now available on the League's website, www.lwvma.org.

The five candidates for governor answered questions on economic development, education, transportation, climate change and health care. Candidates for lieutenant governor, attorney general, secretary of state, treasurer and auditor answered questions specific to those offices. Voters can use the guide to read each candidate's responses to all the questions or to read all the candidates' responses to a particular question.

The League of Women Voters is a non-partisan political organization which encourages informed and active participation in government and works to increase understanding of major public policy issues.

MA DPH Responds to Ebola Virus Outbreak

The recent outbreak of Ebola virus in western Africa has attracted worldwide attention and a coordinated response from public health authorities including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) among many others. Here in Massachusetts, DPH infectious disease and emergency preparedness specialists are closely monitoring the ongoing response to Ebola in Africa - just as we do for any other outbreak of illness or disease.  To learn more, click here. 

New Health Exchange Website Set to Launch 

The new health exchange website is set to go live for the start of open enrollment on 11/5.  Officials are testing the website, training customer service representatives and conducting outreach to roughly 450,000 residents who may need to use the site to sign up for insurance. The website will be able to handle roughly 40,000 concurrent users every hour browsing the website anonymously and 20,000 consumers an hour filling out applications and entering personal data into their accounts.

26th Annual Hispanic Heritage Month

Hispanic Heritage Month lasts from September 15 - October 15. During this time, there have been have events showcasing the social and civic contributions and rich heritage of the Massachusetts Hispanic community.  This year's theme, "Civic Reflections: Promoting Diversity in Leadership" recognizes the impact of the Hispanic community's leadership and service to the Commonwealth.  According to the U.S. Census Bureau data, there are 53 million Hispanics in the U.S. Massachusetts' population is estimated at 6.6 million, of which over ten percent identify as Hispanic or Latino. The Latino population is rapidly growing; as such social issues similar to other minority communities are prevalent.

According to the United States Library of Congress, National Hispanic Heritage Month is an opportunity for Americans to celebrate "the histories, cultures and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America." First recognized as a week-long observation under President Lyndon B. Johnson, President Ronald Reagan later expanded the holiday from September 15 to October 15.

Ways And Means Moves Spending Bill

House Ways and Means advanced a $77.8 million spending bill to finish fiscal year 2014, which ended on July 1.  The spending bill ratifies 69 collective bargaining contracts, extends a benefit for active duty members of the military and includes $20 million in funding for a federal home heating assistance program. The bill increases by $5 million an area of the tax credit statute, and allocates $31 million to the Cambridge Public Health Commission once the entity transfers $15.5 million into the Medical Assistance Trust Fund.

Governor Patrick Tours Ocean Spray Cranberries Inc.

Governor Patrick joined state and local officials and Ocean Spray Cranberries Inc. staff to tour the Ocean Spray manufacturing facility and discuss the growth of the Commonwealth's robust advanced manufacturing sector.  Massachusetts is home to over 7,000 manufacturers with 250,000 employees. On Monday, Governor Patrick proclaimed September 29, 2014 to October 3, 2014 as Advanced Manufacturing Week in Massachusetts, underscoring the Administration's support of the robust advanced manufacturing industry and its workforce throughout the Commonwealth. The week-long celebration coincides with national efforts to promote the role advanced manufacturing plays in the economy, with the third annual National Advanced Manufacturing Day, celebrated on October 3.

Third Straight Year of Double Digit Job Growth in Clean Energy Industry

The Massachusetts clean energy sector saw double-digit job growth for the third consecutive year and now employs more than 88,000 workers in the Commonwealth. The 2014 Massachusetts Clean Energy Industry Report, released on Monday at the Boston Green Academy in Brighton, shows that the clean energy sector has grown by nearly 50 percent since 2010 and now includes 88,372 employees and 5,985 businesses. From July 2013 to July 2014, clean energy jobs in Massachusetts grew by 10.5 percent.

The Massachusetts clean energy sector is now a $10 billion industry, responsible for 2.5 percent of Massachusetts' Gross State Product. Employers are optimistic about the future, predicting a 13.3 percent jump in clean energy employment over the next year, with clean energy employment expected to surpass 100,000 in early 2015.

Nanobiotix Expands into Massachusetts

Nanobiotix, a clinical-stage nano-medicine company pioneering novel approaches for the local treatment of cancer, will be opening its first U.S. office in Massachusetts. Governor Patrick met personally with officials from Nanobiotix at this year's Bio Convention in San Diego this past June to explain the benefits of doing business in the Commonwealth. The announcement was made on the last day of the Governors Massachusetts-France Innovation Partnership Mission in Paris.  Nanobiotix is focused on the development of NanoXray, a pipeline of products that are based on a physical mechanism of action. NanoXray products are built on the existing standard of care and can be used with existing radiation equipment available in almost every hospital worldwide.

Four Nominations to the Superior, District and Boston Municipal Courts

Governor Patrick announced four judicial nominations: Boston Municipal Court Judge Robert N. Tochka as Associate Justice of the Superior Court; Jeanmarie Carroll as Associate Justice of the Quincy District Court; David E. Frank as Associate Justice of the Concord District Court and Lisa A. Grant as Associate Justice of the Boston Municipal Court, Dorchester Division.

Tochka was appointed to the District Court bench in 2002. He has been serving as an Associate Justice of the Boston Municipal Court since 2004. Prior to his judicial appointment, he served as an Assistant District Attorney in Suffolk County for 18 years, including three years in the Appellate Division and 12 years in Superior Court.  Carroll has had a distinguished 26 year legal career in the Norfolk County District Attorney's Office, serving as the First Assistant District Attorney since 2009 and as Chief of the Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Unit for 12 years.  Frank has been a sole practitioner in Boston since 2005, focusing on criminal defense in the District and Juvenile Courts. He previously served as an Assistant District Attorney in Bristol County for four years and in Suffolk County for three years. He has been as a faculty member of the Harvard Law School Trial Workshop since 2006. Frank is the managing editor of Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly.  Grant has 17 years of experience as a public defender with the Committee for Public Counsel Services ("CPCS"). She served as a trial unit staff attorney for nine years, a supervisor for six years and the managing director of the southeast region for the past two years. This fall, Grant is working as a visiting professor in the Criminal Justice Clinic at Boston College Law School.

Agreement with Cape Wind for Use of the South Coast Marine Commerce Terminal

Cape Wind has entered into a lease agreement with the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) to stage its historic, first-in-the-Nation offshore wind project out of the South Coast Marine Commerce Terminal located on New Bedford harbor, a project that from construction through operation will create hundreds of new jobs. MassCEC expects Cape Wind to begin operations at the terminal site in January 2015.

The two-year lease agreement calls for Cape Wind to pay MassCEC $4.5 million in rent for use of the 28-acre facility. The South Coast Marine Commerce Terminal is the first facility of its kind in North America, and has been specifically designed to handle the heavy loads associated with the staging of offshore wind projects. The terms of the lease include an option for two one-year extensions. This week Cape Wind announced it will file a request for modification of its Construction and Operations Plan with the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management to allow the use of the South Coast Marine Commerce Terminal for deployment of the Cape Wind project. MassCEC broke ground on the terminal project in April 2013. Construction of the terminal is 80 percent complete and is scheduled to be completed in December 2014.

The terminal, located inside New Bedford Harbor and protected by the hurricane barrier, was designed as a multi-purpose facility and engineered to sustain the heavy loads of some of the largest cranes in the world. More than 21 acres of the South Coast Marine Commerce Terminal's main terminal site has the ability to sustain uniform loads of 4,100 pounds per square foot and concentrated loads of up to 20,485 pounds per square foot. This allows for heavy cranes to be mobile throughout the site, increasing the efficiency of the facility and providing logistical flexibility for terminal operators. The terminal is positioned in close proximity to the Cape Wind project, as well as many other offshore wind planning areas along the East Coast including large development areas in federal waters off the coast of Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

The U.S. Department of Energy projects 43,000 clean energy jobs will be created in the offshore wind industry nationally by 2030 and Massachusetts is poised to claim a strong portion of those jobs with its first-to-market position. Since 2009, the Commonwealth has been working with the federal government, tribes and local officials on the establishment of the Massachusetts Wind Energy Area. There are more than 742,000 acres in federal waters off the shore of Massachusetts - the largest offshore wind planning area along the East Coast. The U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Lab estimates that the area has the potential to generate between 4,000 and 5,000 megawatts of clean energy, enough to power more than half of the homes in Massachusetts. The federal government will be conducting an auction to lease this area for commercial wind energy development in December 2014.

Governor Patrick Leads Innovation Partnership Mission to Denmark, UK and France to Grow the MA Global Economy

Governor Patrick announced he will lead a coalition of the Commonwealth's government and industry leaders on an innovation partnership mission to Denmark, the United Kingdom and France to expand opportunities between the Commonwealth and these three European countries for economic development and job creation in the innovation economy, clean tech, digital gaming, financial services, workforce training and education sectors.

From September 14, 2014 - September 19, 2014, the Innovation Partnership Mission made stops in Copenhagen in Denmark, London in the United Kingdom and in Lyon and Paris in France. The Governor and members of the delegation visited companies and business organizations in sectors important to the Commonwealth's continued economic growth, and meet with top business and government leaders to highlight all that Massachusetts has to offer.

During the mission, the Governor met with leaders of the global offshore wind industry to tour the Lilligrund Wind Farm off the coast of Copenhagen, met with England's Financial Secretary to Her Majesty's Treasury David Gauke and other top government officials in the United Kingdom, and deliver an address at the Movement of the Enterprises of France (MEDEF) International and Paris Chamber of Commerce's event in Paris. MEDEF International is France's largest union of employers.

Edward M. Kennedy Institute Announces March 2015 Public Opening

The Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate (EMK Institute) announced it will open to the general public with a formal dedication in March of 2015. Housed in a beautiful 65,000 square-foot facility designed by world renowned architect Rafael Viñoly, the Institute will be a dynamic center of learning and civic engagement.  It will use cutting-edge technology to convey the history of United States Senate and its pivotal role in America's development and governance.

The Institute is located next to the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum. The location, on the University of Massachusetts - Boston campus on Columbia Point, will enrich the cultural and educational life of Boston and the region and serve the country as a center of national and international scholarship and public discourse.  As construction nears completion, a planned rollout will bring the Institute to life in stages in the next year with three tracks of targeted outreach, public activities, and initial programming leading up to the public dedication next March.  For more information about the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate, please visit www.emkinstitute.org. Follow the Institute on Twitter @emkinstitute. 

Fitchburg Commuter Rail Line Improvement Project Update

Throughout the months of September through November 2014 the MBTA will be continuing construction of major improvements on the Fitchburg Line. This is the second year of a 3-year improvement project to improve track, signals, bridges, and stations to reduce trip time and increase service reliability.  To facilitate the efficient completion of this work, weekend service has been suspended on the line from July 12th through November 16th, 2014.  Click here for additional information.

Government Center Station Closure

GWArc's 44th Annual Harvest Breakfast on 10/19

Greater Waltham Arc (GWArc) will celebrate its 44th Annual Harvest Breakfast, a signature annual pancake breakfast fundraiser, on October 19, 2014 between 8am and noon at the Embassy Suites in Waltham.  Rep. Stanley will be donating a lunch and State House tour for the silent auction. This family-friendly community event is attended by over 450 business leaders and legislators, community members, program participants, their families and guardians, and dedicated staff and volunteers to celebrate the enduring presence and progress of GWArc.  All proceeds from the event go to support GWArc programs and services. To learn more about the breakfast, visit http://www.gwarc.org/Events/.

Waltham Symphony Orchestra Opened 2014-2015 Season with "Emperor Concerto" Performed by Paul Carlson

On Saturday, October 4, 2014 at 8 PM, the Waltham Symphony Orchestra, led by Patrick Botti, held its first concert of the new 2014-2015 season at Kennedy Middle School on Lexington Street, Waltham, MA. 

The program focused on a signature work of the piano repertoire, Beethoven's Piano Concerto No.5, popularly known as the "Emperor Concerto."  The work--which begins with blazing tempos and technical complexity and later moves to slower melodic passages of sublime beauty--was performed by Paul Carlson, a distinguished pianist and music educator who lives in Watertown and teaches at the Lexington School of Music. The program also included a performance of Brahms Symphony No. 1, another signature example of German Romantic classical repertoire.

To learn more about WSO and its programs, visit www.walthamsymphony.com. 

The Waltham Garden Club, established in 1941, welcomes new and returning members. It meets at 7 PM on the 3rd Tuesday of every month September to June at the American Legion Hall on Waverley Oaks Road. Its purpose is to promote the love and knowledge of gardening among the people of Waltham and vicinity. It is one of the few Massachusetts Garden Clubs that meet at night. More information can be obtained at www.walthamgardenclub.com.

The deadline to register for the City of Waltham Clerical or Emergency Telecommunication Dispatcher exams is October 17, 2014.  The exams will take place on October 25.  For information on how to apply for these exams, please click here.

The City of Waltham, through its Mayor's Office, and the Waltham SWITCHBOX Art Committee, invites any person who lives or works in Waltham to participate in a public art project.   To represent the vibrancy and spirit of Waltham, a switchbox art project will be instituted to "transform" plain electrical boxes throughout the City into public pieces of art. These metal canvases will present an exciting opportunity to turn background urban utilities into conversational pieces that celebrate the historical and cultural wealth of our City and increase the beauty of our public space. To learn more or complete a form to participate, click here.

Waltham Farmers' Market through 11/8

The Waltham Farmers' Market runs every Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., and will now be held at School and Lexington Streets, in the Government Center lot, Waltham. Parking is available behind the building off Lexington Street and at the Central Square Parking Deck, accessible by both Lexington and Common Streets. The market will have pedestrian access from both School and Lexington Streets.  The market is held rain or shine, and will run from every Saturday through November 8. The market is wheelchair-, bicycle- and stroller-accessible. Leashed pets are welcome.

Nearly three dozen vendors will sell their goods at the market this year, bringing fresh, Massachusetts-grown fruits and vegetables, organic and specialty produce, herbs, cheese, goat milk and cheese, eggs, maple syrup products, beef, pork, chicken, fish, smoked fish, coffee, wine, preserves, sauces, baked goods, pasta, gluten-free baked goods, candies, soap, jewelry, bags, handcrafts, plants and cut flowers. A food truck will also be on site.

SNAP EBT cards can be used at eligible vendors and SNAP purchases up to $10 per person per week will be matched, with support from Waltham Fields Community Farm, Waltham Farmers' Market, First Parish in Waltham and Watertown Savings Bank. Credit and debit cards are accepted by all vendors. WIC coupons are accepted by participating farmers.

On October 25, Dave Birkin and the Hot Shots play jump blues, swing, R&B and jazz in the final concert of the season. Concerts are sponsored by Watertown Savings Bank, Doctors Express Waltham, Waltham Local First, Brookline Bank and the Waltham Cultural Council, with additional support from Waltham West Suburban Chamber of Commerce.

For more information, please call (781) 894-0357 or go to www.walthamfarmersmarket.org.

The Girl Scouts of America programs are also available for the same age range. In Girl Scouts, girls discover the fun, friendship, and power of girls together. Through a myriad of enriching experiences, such as extraordinary field trips, sports skill-building clinics, community service projects, cultural exchanges, and environmental stewardships, girls grow courageous and strong. Girl Scouting helps girls develop their full individual potential; relate to others with increasing understanding, skill, and respect; develop values to guide their actions and provide the foundation for sound decision-making; and contribute to the improvement of society through their abilities, leadership skills, and cooperation with others.

http://www.girlscouts.org/join.asp.

News from the Waltham Symphony Orchestra-"World Class Music Right in the Heart of Waltham"

Maestro Patrick Botti invites all Waltham residents to its FREE concerts of orchestral and chamber music.  In keeping with the orchestra's mission of community outreach and promotion of young artists, many concerts feature the participation of Waltham students.  For dates and times of upcoming performances, visit www.walthamsymphony.org.

The City of Waltham's procedure for the collection of televisions and computers has changed. Capitol Waste will pick up televisions and computers, VCRs, printers, cables, etc. at curbside on your regular trash day.  The pick-up must be scheduled and called in by 3:30pm on the day before.  Please call 617-569-1718.  Leave a message, if necessary. The driver does not assist with transport to curb.  Items should be placed curbside by 7am. Please report any abandoned computers or TV's with the address to Capitol Waste for pick-up.

Waltham Philharmonic Orchestra News

The mission of the Waltham Philharmonic Orchestra is to provide the community opportunities to perform in and attend orchestral and chamber concerts of the highest quality.  Please find below a preview of upcoming events. For more information, click here.

Waltham Council on Aging Seeks Volunteers

The Waltham Council on Aging's Meals on Wheels Program needs volunteers to deliver meals to homebound seniors.  Volunteering involves 45 minutes one day a week to deliver about 10 meals in a designated neighborhood.  Please contact Debbie Barry at 781-314-3300.

Waltham's School Health Advisory Committee Seeking Members

The Waltham Public Schools School Health Advisory Committee (SHAC) meets four times a year, and welcomes new members. The SHAC is open to all parents, community members, school personnel and students.  The goal of the SHAC varies each year.  This school year the goal of the SHAC is to review our current Wellness Policy and concussion data.  We need your input!  Please join the committee.  The SHAC meetings are one hour and we meet at Waltham High School in Room 118 from 2:30 PM to 3:30 PM.   For more info, email Marie DeSisto, Director of Nurses and District 504 Coordinator at

mariedesisto@k12.waltham.ma.us or call 781-314-5462.

Non-profit spotlight: Neighbors Who Care

Neighbors Who Care, based in Waltham, provides volunteer services such as companionship and transportation to medical appointments, assistance with grocery shopping and errands, and home visits for homebound elders and chronically ill adults in the greater Waltham community, free of charge.  Neighbors Who Care is looking for volunteers to help enhance the quality of life of homebound elders and have a direct positive impact on a person in the Waltham community. Volunteering just a few hours a week will have a great impact. To learn more about the program, please visit www.neighborswhocare.net or email heather@neighborswhocare.net.

About Waltham Fields Community Farm

Waltham Fields Community Farm (WFCF) promotes local agriculture and food access through its farming operations and educational programs, using practices that are socially, ecologically, and economically sustainable. It encourages healthy relationships between people, their food supply, and the land from which it grows.  To learn more about this valuable resource in our community and view upcoming events, please click here.    

Waltham Women's Club

The Waltham Women's Club has been in existence for over 118 years. At one time there were over 125 members of the Waltham Women's Club whose mission is to "increase among women a spirit of cordial cooperation in addition to educational, philanthropic and civic awareness." The Waltham Women's Club is one of the oldest organizations dedicated to self and community. The club meets monthly from Sept. to April on the first Wednesday of the month. Check out or website for more information: https://sites.google.com/site/walthamwomansclub2/.

PET BEREAVEMENT Veterinary Emergency & Specialty Center of New England recognizes the important role pets play in people's lives and will offer a free bereavement support group for children and adults on the first Wednesday of every month, 7 to 8:30 p.m. at VESCONE, 180 Bear Hill Road, Waltham. Information: 781-684-8387.
 
OVEREATERS Overeaters Anonymous, a 12-step program for recovery from over-eating, anorexia and bulimia, meets Wednesdays, 7 p.m., at St. Mary's CCD, 30 Pond St., Waltham. Information: 508-875-0001, select option #1.
 
PARENTAL STRESS, Parents Helping Parents hosts a free and confidential parent support group every Wednesday evening in Waltham. Come share your experiences and gain valuable support, parenting advice and encouragement from other parents in the group. Information: 1-800-632-8188; info@parentshelpingparents.org; www.parentshelpingparents.org.
 
WALTHAM TOASTMASTERS, Toastmasters International meetings are on the first and third Thursday of the month, 7 to 8:30 p.m., at Meadow Green Rehab & Nursing Center, Trapelo Road. It is open to anyone at least 18 years old. Group works to help get over anxiety in public speaking and work on leadership skills. Call 781-894-7182 or e-mail howardlr@sprintmail.com.   

SERVE MEALS If you are interested in volunteering your time to assist the Middlesex Human Service Agency in serving meals, please contact Dick Rogers at 781-894-6110.
 
HOSPICE Evercare Hospice seeks volunteers for friendly visits with hospice patients 1-4 hrs per week in Waltham. Free training provided. Call Marjie Rochon at 781-472-8641 or e-mail marjorie_rochon@uhc.com.