Celebrating the Cape Ann Savings Bank's 175th Anniversary

I was pleased to present a Senate Citation to the Cape Ann Savings Bank this morning to help them celebrate this momentous occasion. The bank, founded in Gloucester on April 15th of 1846, has been connected to the greater Cape Ann community for many generations. I learned that the bank has identified a number of non-profit organizations and is giving $175,000 to support their charitable missions. 

Congratulations to bank President Bob Gillis and the wonderful employees of the Cape Ann Savings Bank.

 

Sumner Tunnel Centennial - Massachusetts Department of Transportation Tobin Bridge/Chelsea Curves Rehabilitation Project Update

What is happening?

The Sumner Tunnel, between East Boston and the North End, will be undergoing a full restoration beginning in 2022. The purpose of these upcoming meetings is to provide the public with the opportunity to become fully acquainted with the project. All views and comments made at the hearing will be reviewed and considered to the maximum extent possible. How will this affect you?

The Sumner Tunnel Centennial Project will create significant impacts to the community and commuters during construction. During the meetings, MassDOT will review the construction activities and schedule, tunnel closures, traffic detours, and community impacts. Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions and offer comments.

When

Tuesday, April 27, 2021, 6:00pm to 8:00pm

4/27 Webinar Link

Webinar ID: 889 2113 5782

Passcode: 860159

Dial-in Option: 888-788-0099

 

Thursday, April 29, 2021, 6:00pm to 8:00pm

4/29 Webinar Link

Webinar ID: 862 2389 6416

Passcode: 765313

Dial-in Option: 888-788-0099

 

Up Next:

Governor Charlie Baker will provide an update on COVID-19 vaccination. He will be joined by Lt. Governor Karyn Polito, Secretary of Health and Human Services Marylou Sudders, Boston Red Sox President & CEO Sam Kennedy, The BASE Founder & President Robert Lewis, Jr., and El Mundo Boston President & CEO Alberto Vasallo. A live stream will be available at www.facebook.com/SenatorBruceTarr- check in about 11:35 AM.

Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles Extending Grace Period for Certain Expired Inspection Stickers through End of May

Vehicle owners with expired March 2021 and April 2021 inspections stickers have through May 31, 2021 to obtain inspections 

Law enforcement aware of these instances of expired stickers due to Applus’ vendor outage

Additional time will be granted for failed motor vehicle inspection and retests

Due to the nationwide system outage of motor vehicle inspection services by its vendor Applus Technologies (Applus) impacting inspection stations and motor vehicle owners, the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) is extending a grace period for specific motor vehicle inspection requirements. The requirements are outlined below and include an extension which now allows vehicle owners with expired March 2021 and April 2021 inspections stickers to have through May 31, 2021 to obtain inspections. The RMV is working in close partnership with the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security (EOPSS), the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association (MCOPA), the Massachusetts State Police (MSP) and other stakeholders to mitigate the impacts of the outage.

The RMV is allowing a grace period for certain expired motor vehicle inspections. The RMV has advised law enforcement that compliance with the safety/emissions inspection requirement has not been possible since March 30, in light of the outage caused by the malware attack against Applus.

● Motor vehicles with expired inspection stickers from March 2021 (“3” sticker on windshield) and April 2021 (“4” sticker on windshield) are extended until May 31, 2021, to obtain an inspection.

● Newly purchased vehicles registered on or after Tuesday, March 23, 2021, should be granted until April 30, 2021, to obtain an inspection. Newly purchased vehicles must typically be inspected within seven (7) days of registration.

● Customers who recently had an inspection rejection and are in the 60-day free retest window will be afforded one extra day for each day Applus’s system remains unavailable but should plan to facilitate their inspection as soon as possible once the system is restored and stations are online.

The RMV will hold the vendor accountable for this disruption and is working with Applus to restore services as soon as possible. Applus has indicated that their systems will be operating by Saturday, April 17th in Massachusetts and the Registry will continue working with the vendor to meet this goal. It has been 15 days since the Registry learned of the Applus cyber-attack, and the outage has had a significant impact to the many business owners who employ staff to deliver vehicle inspection services to the citizens of the Commonwealth.

For additional information and details on these and other RMV service offerings during the COVID-19 pandemic, please visit www.mass.gov/rmv

Update Regarding Janssen Vaccine from the Lower Merrimack Valley Regional Collaborative

AMESBURY -- The Lower Merrimack Valley Regional Collaborative has been notified by the Massachusetts Department of Public Heath that federal authorities have called for a pause on the use of the Johnson & Johnson/Janssen COVID-19 vaccine, effective immediately. 

At 7 a.m. Tuesday, the CDC tweeted that the Federal Government has called for a pause on use of the Janssen COVID-19 vaccine after rare clotting cases occurred in some patients. Approximately 2,000 people have received this vaccine at LMVRC clinics in Amesbury and West Newbury. 

The collaborative is anticipating guidance from state and federal authorities on any advisories or information that may need to be sent to those patients. A Janssen clinic scheduled for Thursday, April 15 with approximately 250 registered patients has been cancelled, however all patients registered for this clinic will be contacted and given the opportunity to register for a Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine during a clinic session this weekend. No patient will lose their opportunity to receive a vaccine. 

"This is an unfortunate situation, but as always we will abide by the guidance and information we receive from our state and federal health partners," said Amesbury Fire Chief and Health Director Ken Berkenbush. "We are pleased that we will be able to hold our patients faultless and ensure that all patients who would have received a Janssen vaccine this week will have the chance to receive a first dose of the Pfizer vaccine." 

The Lower Merrimack Valley Regional Collaborative comprises Amesbury, Georgetown, Groveland, Merrimac, Newbury, Newburyport, Rowley, Salisbury and West Newbury.

*** The Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Diseases Control Recommend Pause in Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 Vaccine *

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health this morning is notifying all Massachusetts providers to pause administration of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine, effective immediately. 

The FDA will have a 10 AM. press conference which we will live stream on my Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/SenatorBruceTarr , and the CDC on Wednesday plans to convene its Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices on Wednesday to review the cases. 

 "Lower Merrimack Valley Regional Collaborative confirms @MassDPH has asked clinic to pause #janssenvaccine distribution after Federal Government has called for a pause on use of the J&J COVID-19 vaccine after rare clotting cases," tweeted John Guilfoil.  The Lower Merrimack Valley Regional Collaborative (LMVRC) is a partnership between Amesbury, Georgetown, Groveland, Merrimac, Newbury, Newburyport, Rowley, Salisbury and West Newbury.

 

Up Next: Baker Briefing at Noon

Today, Governor Charlie Baker and Lt. Governor Karyn Polito will join Secretary of Health and Human Services Marylou Sudders, Massachusetts Health Connector Executive Director Louis Gutierrez​ and Family Health Center of Worcester President & CEO Lou Brady after a tour of the vaccination site at Family Health Center of Worcester and provide an update on COVID-19 vaccination. A live stream will be available at https://www.facebook.com/SenatorBruceTarr about noon.