Gloucester Rotary Club Pancake Breakfast

Stage Fort Park in Gloucester was pancake central yesterday morning as the Rotary flipped flapjacks for good food, good fun and good causes. This annual event, which happens at the same time as the Gloucester Waterfront Festival, raises money for the Rose Baker Senior Center, North Shore Health Project, and the Cape Ann YMCA Teen Leaders. Congratulations to the Gloucester Rotary Club for another terrific event.

Essex County Cooperative 100th Anniversary Celebration

100 hundred years ago the Essex County Co-operative came alive to supply customers with their needs.  This past week, I presented a proclamation to Co-Op Board President David Johnson on behalf of Governor Charlie Baker​.  Senator Lovely and Reps. Hill and Speliotis presented a Joint Resolution from the House and Senate. 


It was great to see hundreds of people joining in the celebration of the 100th anniversary.

North Reading's Caitlin Galvin Wins State House Intern Award

Join me in congratulating Caitlin Galvin, a rising North Reading senior and intern in my State House office this summer, for being awarded first place in the 2017 Summer Legislative Intern Essay Contest.

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of introducing Caitlin at a State House ceremony where she read her winning essay. Inspired by the work of Attorney General Maura Healey, Caitlin’s essay centered on the value of making contribution, no matter how small, towards improving the lives of others. My staff and I appreciated her efforts and good work in my office this summer. Speaker Robert DeLeo, Representative James Kelcourse, Senate President Stan Rosenberg’s Chief of Staff, and other legislators were present. It was wonderful that Caitlin’s family joined us for the celebration.

Massachusetts Is No Place For Hate

Today, Senate President Stan Rosenberg and I offered a Senate resolution, which the Senate unanimously adopted, condemning the violence and philosophy of organizations espousing racist, anti-Semitic, or anti-immigrant ideologies. We resolved to continue to promote social justice, protect people from hatred and bigotry, and encourage law enforcers to protect and serve those who may be victimized.

We joined Governor Charlie Baker, Lieutenant Governor Karyn Politio, House Speaker Robert DeLeo and House and Senate colleagues at a State House ceremony to stand together to reaffirm that Massachusetts is the birthplace of American liberty and civil rights for all.

I welcome you to read the resolution and join with me in saying “No” to the fomentation of hatred, xenophobia, and bigotry in our Commonwealth and in our country.

Boxford Shines With New Solar Energy Field

This morning I had the pleasure of being invited as a guest of honor to join friends and town officials in Boxford for a celebration and ribbon cutting ceremony for the new solar energy field. I was invited to speak about the state of energy in our Commonwealth and this magnificent project which transforms a capped landfill into a solar farm that will power the equivalent of 200 Boxford homes each year.

The project is outstanding, it turns essentially unusable land into an energy source that will power all or the town’s municipal buildings. In addition, more than 40 locals were employed in the construction as site workers, engineers and electricians.

I was presented a wonderful plaque in recognition of my legislative work that expanded access to net metering credits for solar projects. Join me in congratulating Boxford on this achievement which will cut CO2 emissions by 730 tons, generate, 1.2 million kilowatt hours of electricity each year, and generate tax revenue for the community. Well done.

 

 

 

Support For Retail Task Force Grows

Retailers are an important part of our economy, and the bedrock of main streets in our communities. Yet, they are facing challenges on many fronts and we need to understand their perspective and how best to help them survive and thrive. That is why I worked with the Senate President Stan Rosenberg to create a Senate task force on how best to strengthen local retailers.

Here is a recent editorial in support of task force.

My statement regarding the tragic events in Charlottesville, Virginia

Today, under the rules of the Senate, I was given unanimous consent to make a statement on the floor regarding the tragic acts of intolerance and violence that occurred on Saturday in Charlottesville, Virginia. My statement is posted below:

“We in the Massachusetts Senate work long and hard to ensure that we reject hatred and intolerance and racism in the commonwealth of Massachusetts, in the United States of America and in our society. I rise to make a statement relative to events in Virginia this weekend. On Saturday, there were at least two rallies that occurred, one involving groups that are reportedly white supremacists and in those rallies and in that atmosphere of hatred and intolerance, there was tragedy. A 32-year-old paralegal from Charlottesville died and two State Police officers died in a helicopter crash because their service was required over the rally. Thirty-four other people were wounded in the clashes. It is incumbent on all of us to reject and repudiate acts of intolerance, hatred and violence and racism, whether its source be white supremacy or anything else. That is why I rise to condemn what happened this Saturday in Virginia and to say we must continue to stand as a Senate, as a Legislature, as a commonwealth and as a nation against hatred, violence, intolerance, and racism. I feel it is our solemn obligation to do so as Americans. We share a common sense of virtues that include freedom and justice and liberty for all. I appreciate the ability to rise in condemnation of these events and the sentiments that motivated those acts. I ask that at the conclusion of my remarks the Senate engage in a moment of silence to remember those who have been lost, to remember what is at stake if we do not thoroughly repudiate violence and to ensure our commonwealth does not tolerate those negative things and that the Senate continue to lead in that spirit. Thank you, Mr. President.”