News from Beacon Hill

Rep. Stanley attends Joint Committee on Public Health to review the readiness of state health system to monitor the Ebola virus

Rep. Stanley attended an oversight hearing at the State House held by the Joint Committee on Public Health to review the readiness of state health system to monitor the Ebola virus outbreak and respond to potential cases of infection in Massachusetts. He heard testimony from state health officials, hospital leaders and clinicians with experience in the management of Ebola patient care and infectious disease control.

House Passes Bill Mandating CPR Training for Coaches

The House passed a bill which requires all school athletic coaches be certified in cardiopulmonary resuscitation.  The bill, which is supported by The American Heart Association of Massachusetts, would apply to coaches for school athletics, not recreational programs in communities that are typically run by parent volunteers.  In November, the Senate passed the bill.  The bill still needs final approval in both branches.

For the fourth year in a row, the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) has ranked Massachusetts first in the nation for energy efficiency policies and programs.   The Patrick Administration continues to expand on proven strategies and create new approaches to help businesses, cities and towns, institutions, homeowners, renters and low-income residents save energy and manage costs. Investments made by the Patrick Administration have created clean energy jobs, reduced reliance on foreign sources of energy and cut greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

A new round of MassWorks Infrastructure Program grants will advance local development projects across the state. The grants total over $66 million in improvement projects that will support thousands of jobs in Massachusetts communities. Through these awards, the state will partner with cities and towns to support housing developments, infrastructure developments, road safety and revitalization projects. Through these grants, the Patrick Administration will partner with cities and towns making targeting investments in infrastructure such as roadways, streetscapes, water and sewers to facilitate and support new and sustained housing and economic growth throughout Massachusetts.

Governor Patrick announced the nomination of William M. Fitzpatrick as Associate Justice of the Lynn District Court. Fitzpatrick has been the Assistant General Counsel at the MBTA since 1992, managing a civil litigation practice in the Massachusetts trial courts. He previously served as legal counsel to the Massachusetts Joint Legislative Committee on Transportation for seven years and as an Assistant District Attorney in Norfolk County for two years. From 1982 to 2001, Fitzpatrick was a part-time law instructor at the Massachusetts Criminal Justice Training Council. He is a graduate of Northeastern University (B.S., 1977) and Suffolk University Law School (J.D., 1983). Fitzpatrick resides in Lynnfield.  If confirmed, he will fill the seat on the Lynn District Court created by the appointment of Judge Robert N. Tochka to the Superior Court.

Governor Patrick joined with teachers, students, education advocates and community-based partners to celebrate progress made in closing achievement gaps in the Commonwealth.  The most recent MCAS results released this year by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education show that since 2007, 10th grade students across all racial and ethnic backgrounds have made impressive progress, including a 24-point increase for African American students and a 26-point increase for Hispanic students in English Language Arts. Math results show a similar positive trend with a 28-point increase for African American students and a 24-point increase for Hispanic students since 2007.

State and local officials and EF Education First (EF) staff and organizational leadership celebrated the opening of EF's expanded headquarters in Cambridge. Headquartered in Massachusetts, EF has grown significantly as a world-wide leader in educational travel and language training, with nearly 1,000 employees in Massachusetts.  EF's newly constructed space in Cambridge is a $125 million project that consists of 230,000 square feet of office space and 31,000 square feet of public space in the company's ground floor. The new facility is built on land owned by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, awarded through a competitive bidding process. As part of the expansion, EF has agreed to maintain and make improvements to portions of North Point Park, a public park overseen by the Department of Conservation and Recreation. EF has already filled 200 of the 400 new jobs that EF committed to creating following the 2012 groundbreaking.

Governor Patrick announced the nomination of Margaret D. Crateau as Clerk-Magistrate of the Gloucester District Court.  Crateau has worked in the clerk's office of the Gloucester District Court since 2001. She has been the Acting Clerk-Magistrate since January 2013 and was the First Assistant Clerk-Magistrate from 2001 to 2013. From 1991 to 2001, Crateau was a partner at the Law Offices of Daly and Daly in Salem where she focused on family law, personal injury, workers compensation and criminal defense. Prior to becoming a lawyer, she worked as a nurse at Salem Hospital. Crateau is a graduate of Boston College (B.S.N., 1986) and Suffolk University Law School (J.D., 1991). She is a resident of Danvers. If confirmed, Crateau will fill the clerk-magistrate vacancy at the Gloucester District Court created by the retirement of the Honorable Kevin P. Burke.

Governor Patrick rededicated South Station as "Governor Michael S. Dukakis South Station Transportation Center" in recognition of the former Governor's devotion to public transportation and advocacy. During his time in office, Governor Dukakis was known to take the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority (MBTA) and received national attention for his public transit ridership, and he supported increased transportation funding to improve and extend subway and commuter rail service in order to promote economic growth and increase equitable opportunities across Commonwealth communities.  A key measure within Governor Dukakis' transportation initiatives was safety, helping to ensure that riders felt safe while riding transit. This focus resulted in the MBTA Police becoming the first department in Massachusetts and the first Transit Police Department in the country to be accredited by the National Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA).

In preparation for the upcoming winter, please be aware of winter energy efficiency and renewable energy resources available to Massachusetts consumers. The most up to date information including energy efficiency programs and rebates, do-it-yourself options and help with utility/fuel bills and fuel assistance can be found here.

MA DPH Responds to Ebola Virus Outbreak

One of the most basic and ongoing responsibilities of the Department of Public Health is monitoring and responding to emerging health threats, whether in Massachusetts or on the other side of the globe. 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. 

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

Government Center Station is closed for two years while crews work to reconstruct the station into a fully accessible, safer, modern, more comfortable facility.  During the Station's closure, both Blue and Green Line trains will pass through Government Center Station but will not stop there.  For more information, click here. 

"MyLegislature" Website Features Improvements

Updates to the public website will allow users to personalize their experience when navigating bills, committees, hearing information and connecting with legislators. Through "MyLegislature" users can create a user-id and password to access their secure MyLegislature account. Users can identify specific bills, hearings, committees and legislators that they are interested in following and their personalized homepage will display each selection. Any hearings scheduled for their selected committees will automatically be included in their MyLegislature hearing list. In addition, users can further personalize MyLegislature by identifying any accessibility needs.  The updated website also includes an easy-to-use format to connect with legislators. The public website can be found at www.malegislature.gov.

Check out the Massachusetts Business One-Stop

Are you doing business in Massachusetts or just getting started? Our one-stop business portal has the information and tools to help you succeed.  Click here to learn more.

Resources to help you find a job

Finding a job can be difficult, so Massachusetts offers a number of programs and services to help job seekers find work.  Massachusetts One-Stop Career Centers connect workers and employers through job fairs and workshops, while the office of Labor and Workforce Development offers detailed job hunting information, including tips on writing a resume and cover letter, interviewing and networking, as well as career planning advice. The state also offers a variety of training opportunities for job seekers to obtain the education and skills needed for good paying jobs and careers. Additionally, special Section 30 Training Benefits programs exist for the unemployed. Please click here to learn more.

Mobile ticketing for Commuter Rail available

Commuter Rail customers: Buy your single-ride, 10-ride tickets, and monthly passes via the MBTA's new mobile app for smartphones.   Single and 10-ride tickets are now available for the Fitchburg, Haverhill, Lowell, and Newburyport/Rockport Lines. Purchase your monthly pass from your smartphone.  No waiting required.  Please click here to learn more.

Health Care Cost Containment Website

The mission of the Center of Health Information and Analysis (CHIA) is to improve health care quality and contain health care costs by critically examining the Massachusetts health care system and providing objective information, developing and recommending policies, and implementing strategies that benefit the people of MA. Click here to visit CHIA's website which outlines information on the law, notice of upcoming events and a single portal for connecting with other health care related state agencies, authorities and commissions. 

File for unemployment insurance benefits online or by phone

Connect & Serve's user-friendly design has many features to increase the visibility of opportunities across the state, including a quick search function highlighting impact areas, an easy zip-code radius search, and a monthly service projects calendar. All volunteer opportunities are promoted through a statewide collaboration with volunteer connector agencies to build awareness to a wider audience in all regions of the state.

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

MassDOT RMV urges eligible drivers to renew their licenses online

 
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. 

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.

The Scouting programs of Massachusetts offer many varied opportunities for youth.  Cub Scouting is a year-round, family-oriented part of the Boy Scouts of America program designed for boys who are in first through fifth grades (or are 7, 8, 9, and 10 years of age). Parents, leaders, and organizations work together to achieve the 10 purposes of Cub Scouting: character development, spiritual growth, good citizenship, sportsmanship and fitness, family understanding, respectful relationships, personal achievement, friendly service, fun and adventure, and preparation for boy scouts.

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.

If you're interested in either program, the best way for you to get information is through the "Be a Scout" tools online.  Just enter your address, and the information for the closest units will be displayed. For info on Boy Scouts, visit https://beascout.scouting.org/.  For info on Girl Scouts, visit

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

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 Mark Phillips, Rep. Stanley's legislative assistant, with information about your event.    

The Lexington Arts & Crafts Society