Rep. Thomas M. Stanley 9th Middlesex District |
Contact Information:
State Rep.
Thomas M. Stanley
State House
Room 167
Boston, MA 02133
(617) 722-2230
Thomas.Stanley@mahouse.gov
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Dear Friend:
It is my pleasure to deliver August's issue 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'd like to follow me on Facebook, please click here. To find me on Twitter, 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) 722-2230.
Sincerely,
Thomas M. Stanley
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News from Beacon Hill
Stanley Report Cable Episodes 9 & 10 are online!
Rep. Stanley recently sat down with Massachusetts Department of Veterans' Services Secretary Francisco Urena to discuss veterans issues. Click here to view the video. He also interviewed guest Massachusetts Secretary of Health and Human Services Marylou Sudders. Click here to view the video.
House and Senate Budget Votes Reaffirm Commitment to Education, Local Assistance
Rep. Stanley joined his colleagues in the Legislature in taking final action on the FY16 budget. These veto overrides will enhance support for Massachusetts residents and municipalities, and ensure that local programs, education funding, and economic development initiatives are well funded by the legislature.
Through the FY16 budget, the Legislature advanced its standing as the national leader in education for students of all ages. Recognizing the importance of providing statewide access to full-day kindergarten the Legislature overrode a cut to kindergarten expansion grants, reaffirming its support for funding in the amount of $18.6 million.
The Legislature also took action to emphasize its ongoing dedication to higher education, restoring cuts to the University of Massachusetts, state universities and community colleges. This week's overrides include the restoration of $5.25 million for UMass. As the university continues to distinguish itself as a pillar of excellence in public education and an economic driver for the Commonwealth, the Legislature remains committed to supporting its growth.
Understanding the vital role that community colleges and state universities have in educating individuals of diverse backgrounds, buoying workforce development efforts and improving local economies, the Legislature overrode more than $2.6M in cuts made to these institutions. The Legislature's budget as sent to the Governor also included a strong focus on early education and care (EEC). That commitment was reaffirmed through the restoration of $3.4 million in vetoes that support EEC programs and services.
Recognizing that education and economic development are intrinsically paired, the budget enhances the Legislature's focus on bolstering job opportunities for residents of all skillsets in diverse regions of the Commonwealth. Following action on the Administration's vetoes, the below programs are now funded at: MassCAN: $1.7 million to establish widespread, progressive computer science curriculum in public school through a public-private match program; Talent Pipeline: $1.5 million to encourage young innovators to get a head start on their futures by matching stipends for interns at innovation start-ups, and to provide mentoring opportunities for new entrepreneurs; STEM Starter Academy: $4.75 million to promote STEM careers at the Commonwealth's community colleges; and Mass Tech Collaborative: $750K for the Mass Tech Collaborative Tech and Innovation Entrepreneurship program to establish entrepreneur and startup mentoring.
Additional priorities include: $500,000 for a prostate cancer awareness and education program; more than $2.2 million for substance abuse treatment programs across the Commonwealth; restoration of funding for unaccompanied homeless youth housing services; $3 million for the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program for a total of $82.9M to support 900 to 1050 new vouchers for families at risk of homelessness; $2 million for the Early Education and Care Waitlist for a total of $12M to take 2,000 children off the waitlist for these critical services; and $1.2 million for the Gateway Cities English Language Learners program.
Governor Baker Signs Fiscal Year 2016 Budget
Governor Baker signed the Fiscal Year 2016 budget into law, reflecting the administration's priorities for responsible, smarter government and better communities, schools and jobs for Massachusetts. The $38.117 billion spending plan, which holds growth to a responsible three percent over the previous fiscal year, solves a $1.8 billion structural deficit without new taxes, makes critical investments in local aid, education and transportation, and gives the administration many new tools to fix the troubled MBTA including the creation of the MBTA Fiscal Management and Control Board and the three-year suspension of the Commonwealth's anti-privatization law.
Additionally, a year-end supplemental budget was filed today to support the Commonwealth's cities and towns for historic winter weather and snow removal costs, family homelessness prevention and combatting opioid abuse, while paying down debt in advance and increasing the balance of the Stabilization Fund. In addition to avoiding new taxes, the Fiscal Year 2016 budget protects the anticipated reduction in the state income tax to 5.1% on January 1, 2016 and boosts the Earned Income Tax Credit from 15% to 23%, helping over 400,000 low income individuals and working families.
Other highlights of the signed budget include an increase in unrestricted local aid by 75% of tax revenue growth, support for an additional $111 million in Chapter 70 local education funding to its highest level ever, and funding for summer jobs up to an historic high of $11.5 million. Additionally, the budget invests $10 million in the I-Cubed public private partnership program for economic development, $2 million in development grants in urban communities as part of the administration's Urban Agenda and $1 million for the Transformative Development Initiative's support of Gateway Cities.
The budget supports $111 million in substance abuse prevention and treatment efforts, with an additional $28 million included in the supplemental budget. The Fiscal Year 2016 budget includes more than $21 billion in support for Health and Human Services and increases support for the mission of the Department of Children and Families by 4.3%. The budget signed by the governor also supports increased funding for autism services and veterans.
5-Member MBTA Fiscal Management & Control Board Begins Work
Governor Baker appointed the five-member Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority's (MBTA) Fiscal Management and Control Board (FMCB) and designated Joe Aiello as Chair immediately after signing into law the Fiscal Year 2016 budget. A key reform recommended by the Governor's MBTA Special Panel following unprecedented winter weather that crippled service at the MBTA, the FMCB is set to begin working immediately, holding its first meeting on Tuesday, July 21st.
Governor Baker appointed in February a Special Panel to carry out an extensive analysis of the underlying functions of the MBTA's governance, finances and capital planning which became apparent throughout historic snowfall and persistent freezing temperatures earlier this year. Among the panel's recommendations were the call for a FMCB to assume control of the MBTA, a reconstituted Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) Board of Directors, lifting of efficiency restrictions at the MBTA, and a separation of the MBTA's capital and operating budgets among a number of recommendations.
New Agreement Will Help Preserve Tax Break for Working Families
Governor Baker, House Speaker DeLeo and Senate President Rosenberg announced an agreement to preserve the increase in the Earned Income Tax Credit that was part of the legislature's budget while maintaining the FAS-109 tax deduction, which was eliminated in the budget. Under the compromise, FAS-109 implementation would be delayed for five years but the time a company can claim its overall deduction will be increased from seven to 30 years. The FAS-109 agreement funds the increase of the Earned Income Tax Credit to 23% as originally proposed by the legislature's budget conference committee.
$26 Million in Community Development Block Grants will support 65 municipalities
The state awarded 33 Community Development Block Grants totaling $26 million to 65 communities. These funds will help municipalities across the Commonwealth provide housing, infrastructure improvements, childcare vouchers, and other services to residents. The CDBG Grants distributed in this round will fund housing rehabilitation for more than 300 units, as well as infrastructure improvements from Truro to West Springfield. They will also support a community center in North Adams, a domestic violence prevention task force in Russell, Chester, Huntington, and Middlefield, and childcare vouchers in Dennis, among other projects.
Massachusetts' Community Development Block Grant Program is a federally funded, competitive grant program designed to help small cities and towns meet a broad range of community development needs. Assistance is provided to qualifying cities and towns for housing, community, and economic development projects that assist low and moderate-income residents, or by revitalizing areas of slum or blight. In Massachusetts, the state CDBG program has distributed $237 million through more than 300 grants in the last seven years.
Nonie Lesaux is New Chair of Board of Early Education and Care
Governor Baker appointed Nonie Lesaux, Ph.D. to the Board of Early Education and Care, and designated her as the new Chair. Lesaux is the Juliana W. and William Foss Thompson Professor of Education and Society, Harvard Graduate School of Education. She leads a research program that focuses on promoting the language and literacy skills of today's children and youth from diverse linguistic, cultural and economic backgrounds. In addition to numerous articles and books for scholars and practitioners, she is the author of a widely circulated report, "Turning the Page: Refocusing Massachusetts for Reading Success," that forms the basis for a Third Grade Reading Proficiency bill passed in Massachusetts. Lesaux has served on a number of federal committees, including the National Literacy Panel on Language Minority Children and Youth, and the National Research Council's Committee on the Science of Children Birth to Age 8. She is a 2007 recipient of the William T. Grant Scholars Award and a 2008 winner of the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers, the highest honor given by the United States government to young professionals beginning their independent research careers. A native of Canada, Lesaux earned her doctorate in educational psychology and special education from the University of British Columbia.
Governor Baker Names Executive Director for Military Asset and Security Strategy Task Force
Governor Baker named Christopher Willenborg to serve as Executive Director of the Military Asset and Security Strategy Task Force, created in 2012, to promote and strengthen the Commonwealth's six military installations and their impact on local communities and economies at the federal, state and local level.
Governor Baker recently traveled to Washington, DC to meet with top defense officials, including U.S. Senators Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) and Jack Reed (D-RI) who are members of the U.S. Senate Committee on Armed Services overseeing the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process, and Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Energy, Installations and Environment John Conger who will play a key role in BRAC for the U.S. Department of Defense.
Housed within the Office of the Governor and supported by EOHED and MassDevelopment, the Task Force coordinates among the Commonwealth's six military facilities to maximize their efficiency. Massachusetts is home to six military installations with over $13 billion in total economic activity and support for over 61,000 jobs, including Hanscom Air Force Base, Natick Soldier Systems Center, Joint Base Cape Cod, Fort Devens, Westover Air Force Reserve Base and Barnes Air National Guard Base.
YouthWorks Summer Jobs Program Benefits Teens in MA
Approximately 4,000 teenagers across the Commonwealth are participating in the YouthWorks program this summer, which provides summer jobs in the public, non-profit and private sectors to lower-income young people ages 14 to 21. YouthWorks is a state-funded program administered by Commonwealth Corporation - a quasi-public state agency - on behalf of the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development. The Fiscal Year 2016 budget allocated $11.5 million to YouthWorks - the highest amount ever for the program - for next summer's programming. Massachusetts is one of the only states in the nation to invest in state-funded early work experiences and work-readiness programs for low-income young people. Since 2007, more than 33,000 young people have been employed through YouthWorks.
State Files Solar Legislation to Raise Net Metering Caps, Continue Industry Growth
The Baker-Polito Administration filed legislation to establish a long term, market-predictable, sustainable framework for further solar development in the Commonwealth. The proposal seeks to achieve the administration's goals of reducing costs to ratepayers while strengthening the clean energy economy in Massachusetts and meeting greenhouse gas emissions reduction requirements set forth under the Global Warming Solutions Act (GWSA).
An Act relative to a long-term, sustainable solar industry, filed in the House of Representatives, maintains strong support for solar generation in the Commonwealth by raising the private and public net metering caps two percent each, to six and seven percent, respectively. The enhancement of cap space represents a 50% increase for public entities, and a 40% increase for private entities, in the allowable amount of solar energy available for net metering credits. This increase will provide immediate support for projects being developed in service territories where the caps have already been reached, and provides the Department of Public Utilities with the authority to raise the caps further, as needed in the future. Additionally, this framework will work to bolster the ability of the Commonwealth to meet the 2020 target of 1,600 megawatts of solar development, well ahead of schedule.
Hitting the net metering cap does not prevent an entity from choosing to install solar generation and selling energy and renewable energy certificates from the project into the market. However, the proposed cap increase will provide an additional revenue stream to many solar projects that allows the Massachusetts solar industry to advance at a faster pace towards the 1,600 megawatt goal.
To facilitate further growth, the legislation also provides for the development of a program to support solar development beyond 1,600 megawatts at a reasonable cost to ratepayers while promoting equitable access to solar energy. Furthermore, the plan filed today ensures that the costs of the program are shared collectively among all ratepayers of the distribution companies.
COASTSWEEP - The Massachusetts Annual Statewide Coastal Cleanup Each September and October, thousands of volunteers throughout Massachusetts turn out for COASTSWEEP-the statewide coastal cleanup sponsored by the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management (CZM). COASTSWEEP is part of the International Coastal Cleanup organized by Ocean Conservancy in Washington, DC. Volunteers from all over the world collect marine debris-trash, fishing line, and any other human-made items-and record what they find. This information is then analyzed and used to identify sources of marine debris and develop education and policy initiatives to help reduce it. To volunteer for an event, organize your own cleanup, or learn more about COASTSWEEP, click here.
Department of Public Health Launches Opioid Addiction Awareness Campaign
State Officials and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) launched the Stop Addiction in Its Tracks public awareness campaign to educate parents about the warning signs of opioid misuse as part of the Commonwealth's preventative strategy and the Governor's Opioid Working Group's recommendations.
The campaign will run throughout the summer on television and online, driving viewers to www.mass.gov/StopAddiction, an information hub to guide parents on how to best talk to their children, explain treatment options and provide assistance for those seeking help at 1-800-327-5050. In addition to the website, online-only videos, banners and web-ads, the campaign will consist of several television public service announcements.
Mass. Launches Online Voter Registration
Massachusetts residents can now register to vote online. To submit an online application, you must have a valid driver's license, learner's permit, or non-driver ID issued by the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV). You must also have a signature on file with the RMV. Please click here to learn more.
MA Health Connector
Visit the Massachusetts Health Connector website which helps MA residents find the right health insurance - with expert advice and affordable plans from top carriers. With up-to-date information, expert advice, free quotes, and affordable health plans from top carriers, Health Connector helps Massachusetts residents find the right health insurance and avoid tax penalties. Click here to learn more.
March of Dimes looks for support to reduce smoking among pregnant women
The March of Domes plans to launch a smoking cessation campaign in 2015 and is seeking support from the MA legislature. One out of 10 women smoke during pregnancy in the United States. The group would like the lawmakers to help them boost awareness of smoking-related birth problems, which can be linked to 23 to 34 percent of all Sudden Infant Death Syndrome cases. In 2013, the Commonwealth spent 4.4 percent of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-recommended $90 million on anti-tobacco programs, ranking behind 34 other states and Washington, DC. According to the March of Dimes, approximately 5 to 8 percent of all pre-term births are related to smoking, and 13 to 19 percent of low birth-weight babies can be attributed to smoking during pregnancy.
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.
MassDOT RMV Customer Service: New Number MassDOT announced a new telephone number for Registry of Motor Vehicles business and transactions, 857-DOT-8000/857-368-8000. The number serves the RMV's Call Center which answers an average of 45,000 calls each month. Over the next year, customers will become familiar with the 857-DOT area code and exchange as MassDOT offices across the Commonwealth transition to the new number. The telephone transition will result in annual phone bill and maintenance savings of approximately $422,000.
Find Volunteer Opportunities at Connect & Serve Connect & Serve is a free web-based volunteer portal administered by the Massachusetts Service Alliance. The Connect & Serve website is a valuable resource for organizations who recruit volunteers and for individuals who wish to find fulfilling volunteer opportunities in their communities. Click here to find a volunteer opportunity near you. 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.
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.
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. 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. Improved Benefits and Discounts for Drivers
Drivers around the state are able to take advantage of more discounts and expanded benefits as the competitive marketplace continues to mature. Managed competition went into effect April 1, 2008, ending the fixed-and-established system under which the state set auto insurance rates. The new system created a marketplace that allows companies to compete for consumers through rates, discounts, and benefits. Since the start of the reform, 13 new companies have entered the state, including three of four biggest carriers in the country (Allstate, Progressive and GEICO). To shop for a better auto insurance policy, visit www.mass.gov/autorates, research carriers' websites, and meet with insurance agents. For more info, visit the Massachusetts Division of Insurance's website, (www.mass.gov/doi) an agency within the Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation. Follow the Office at www.mass.gov/consumer.
Foreclosure Resource Center
The Federal Reserve Bank of Boston's web page offers resources for consumers, data and analysis, research and articles from our publications and information on policy and regulations related to foreclosures. Please click here to learn more.
Tour the State Library
The State Library welcomes Rep. Stanley's constituents to the library and arranges tours for school groups or other groups who wish to view the premises and see some of its special holdings. .To schedule a tour, please contact pamela.schofield@state.ma.us or call 617-727-2590 or email the reference department directly using the above number or e-mail reference.department@state.ma.us. You may also contact Rep. Stanley's office for assistance. You may wish also to visit the library's blog.
Job Opportunities with the Commonwealth of MA
A number of job listings are posted on the Commonwealth of Massachusetts website.
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Waltham Corner
Mental Health Care Consultation Info
Mental Health Care Consultations are a new service in which an experienced clinician meets with families struggling with bipolar disorder or depression either in our office in Waltham, over the phone, via Skype, or in various community organization settings for two 1-hour long sessions. During these sessions we navigate difficult family dynamics that may be acting as barriers to treatment, discuss a family's concerns, develop an action plan, educate families on their options, and give families referrals to treatment centers and resources in their communities. This service is FREE of charge to low-income families. To learn more and find out if you're eligible, visit http://familyaware.org/care-consultations/financial-aid or call us at our office at (781) 890-0220." Click here to learn more.
Learn about the Leland Home and Deaconess Abundant Life Communities
The Leland Home and Deaconess Abundant Life Communities are proud to announce that after 123 years of being private pay in the Waltham community, The Leland Home is now approved to accept state financial aid with Medicaid. This is an exciting opportunity to open up its doors to seniors who previously couldn't consider Leland as a viable option for long term residency. In keeping with its mission to provide affordable care with the comforts of home, Leland's Medicaid initiative was a way to respond to the needs of the community. Many Rest Homes have come out of reach of many people from a financial perspective. Leland Home is happy to expand its demographic beyond its private pay clientele, through Medicaid, to those who need supportive services such as medication administration, housekeeping, laundry, and three meals per day.
The Leland Home is proud to continue its mission as set forth by Hannah Leland back in 1892. It offers an exceptional retirement lifestyle of independence combined with security and quality health maintenance to our residents at a reasonable, affordable price, in the comforts of home. It continues to strive in order to provide a gold standard of care to its residents. If you have questions or know of an older adult who would benefit from the accommodations and services of The Leland Home please contact David Volovick, Administrator at (781) 893-2557, or at dvolovick@lelandhome.org.
Rep. Stanley serving on Enough Abuse Campaign Board
Rep. Stanley is serving as a Board member on the Enough Abuse Campaign. The Enough Abuse Campaign is a grassroots movement gaining momentum across the country. Developed in Massachusetts, the Campaign has been adopted by New Jersey and Maryland and has now been launched in New York and California. To learn more about the group, click here.
Child sexual abuse is "a silent epidemic," according to the American Medical Association. One in 4 women and 1 in 6 men report experiencing sexual abuse in childhood. The Enough Abuse Campaign offers educational information to parents, youth, professionals, and other concerned adults to prevent people from victimizing children today and to prevent children from developing abusive behaviors in the future. Click here to view a summary of the Enough Abuse Campaign's current training curricula which is intended achieve those goals.
Neighbors Who Care
Neighbors Who Care is proud to be serving elders in the greater Waltham area for the past 11 years. We match volunteers with seniors who may find themselves isolated or having a hard time doing life-giving activities, such as getting groceries or going to the hair dresser. Its volunteers serve as compassionate visitors, accompanying shoppers, or friendly supporters at a doctor's appointment. As well, its clients and volunteers can be found playing Scrabble, reading and discussing a book together, visiting a festival in the North End, exploring a local museum or shopping for a good bargain. Neighbors Who Care also host clients and volunteers for ice cream socials, teas, an outing to the symphony and holiday parties. If you are interested in learning more about its volunteer opportunities or services, go to www.neighborswhocare.net or contact info@neighborswhocare.net.
SWITCHBOX Art Project
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. Scouts Offer Programs for Youth
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. 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. Residential Collection of Televisions and Computers 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. 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/. Housing Clinic at WATCH
The Housing Clinic provides one-on-one training and personalized assistance to any tenant with a housing related issue or question. Tenants can drop in to receive assistance at WATCH (24 Crescent St, #401) every Monday from 7 - 8:30 pm and every Thursday from 7 - 8:30pm. Those who cannot come in person may leave a message on the Housing Clinic Hotline and someone will return their call during Clinic hours: 781-891-6689 x203. The clinic is provided through a partnership between Brandeis University and WATCH. City of Waltham website announces job openings
Job opportunities are posted on the City of Waltham's website.
Waltham posts boards and committee meetings calendar of events
Click here for more details!
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Upcoming Events & Opportunities
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. Learn more.
WALTHAM TOASTMASTERS, Toastmasters International meetings are on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of every month
Group works to help get over anxiety in public speaking and work on leadership skills. Learn more.
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.
Historic Gardens at the 1793 Coach House at Gore Place Gore Place, the historic Governor Gore estate in Waltham, announced the completion of 19th century, demonstration gardens recently installed near the 1793 Coach House on the 43-acre estate. Free to the public year-round and fully handicapped accessible, the gardens consist of historic varieties of flowers, vegetables and herbs including aromatic herbs intended to provide an enhanced experience for the low sighted and blind visitor. This program was supported, in part, by grants from the Waltham and Watertown Local Cultural Councils, local agencies which are supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency. The gardens may be viewed year-round, dawn-to-dusk. Admission and parking are free. Gore Place was the home of Christopher and Rebecca Gore. Gore was the 7th governor of Massachusetts, a lawyer, investor and farmer with over 400 acres of farmland. Gore Place is located at 52 Gore Street, just off Route 20 (Main Street) near the Waltham/Watertown line. For more information call: (781) 894-2798 or visit the museums website at www.goreplace.org.
REAGLE PLAYERS Non-profit theater company Reagle Players seeks volunteers: ushers, dressers, reception, stitchers and much more. Share any skills. No formal experience necessary. Call 781-891-5600 to inquire or visit www.reagleplayers.com for information. COMMUNITY DAY CENTER The Community Day Center seeks volunteers to tutor low to no income guest in literacy, GED, resume writing and computer skills including hunting for jobs on the internet. Learn more. MARISTHILL Maristhill Nursing & Rehab Center seeks volunteers to assist with Mass, Eucharistic Ministry, accompany people to medical appointments (no driving required), visit with elders, or share your unique talents and gifts in other ways. No experience necessary. Training, supervision, and support are provided. Call 781-893-0240. HOSPICE & ADMINISTRATIVE HELP VNA Care Choices needs volunteers to offer emotional and practical support to terminally ill patients and their families in many communities, including Waltham and Newton. Training and supervision provided. Learn more. COMMUNITY LINKS Wayside Community Links, 118 Central St., Waltham, seeks volunteer to do street outreach and co-facilitate educational groups for adolescents. Spanish and Portuguese speaking candidates are especially needed. Training provided. Call 781-891-0555 Ext. 71 for more information. WALTHAM MUSEUM Experience the rich history of Waltham at The Waltham Museum, 25 Lexington Street. Learn more. BOOKS, CDs, DVDs If you are looking to donate your books, CDs and DVDs, or hosting a book drive, donate to More Than Words Bookstore and Cafe, 376 Moody St. More Than Words empowers youth who are in the foster care system, court involved, homeless, or out of school, to take charge of their lives by taking charge of a business. Information: 781-788-0035. Learn more. The French American Victory Club : The French American Victory Club, a fraternal and charitable organization that promotes and supports community needs through volunteer efforts. The Club has many activities taking place, so be sure to check out our Calendar for upcoming events! Learn more.
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About Rep. Stanley:
State Representative: 2001 - Present
City Council: 1998 - 2004, 2006 - Present
Council President: 2003
City Council Committees:
Chair, Economic & Community Development Committee
Chair, Long Term Debt Committee
Ordinance & Rules Committee
State Committees: Ways & Means CommitteePost Audit & Oversight Committee
Municipalities Committee
Education: Suffolk University (MPA), Bentley University (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
Children: Ryan, age 21, Parker, age 12
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