Friday, August 30, 2019

35th annual Gloucester Schooner Festival

The 35th annual Gloucester Schooner Festival In the harbor and nearby waters of America’s oldest seaport vessels will be arriving in Gloucester throughout the day today.

From 5 to 7:30 tonight the I4C2 Schooner dock will be open to the public for viewing, it’s on Rogers Street (Route 127) between Building Center and the The Gloucester House. Starting at 6 PM there will be a block party downtown on Main Street. Maritime Gloucester Heritage Day begins Saturday at 10 AM, with live entertainment on Stacy Boulevard from 5 PM to 10 PM both before and after the Parade of Lights and Fireworks. Look for the Boat Parade of Lights beginning at 7 PM. A must see on Sunday is the Parade of Sail on Sunday morning from 10:30 to Noon. The Mayor’s Race for the Esperanto Cup, Columbia Trophy, Ned Cameron Trophy; and Betty Ramsey Trophy takes place at 1 PM.

https://gloucesterschoonerfestival.net

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Lucy Frederiksen Social Services and Shine Coordinator Counselor for the Town of Hamilton Retirement

A wonderful celebration today for Lucy Frederiksen as she formally ends her contributions as Hamilton Council on Aging and Senior Center's social services maven.

I presented here with a citation from the State Senate recognizing her many years of public service to area elders. Lucy has helped many people and I was glad to be able to join with her colleagues and many friends to help her celebrate.

With Mary Beth Lawton the Director of the Hamilton Council on Aging, Representative Brad Hill, and my staff members Dick Curran and Mary Ann Nay.






 





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Thursday, August 29, 2019

Let's Stay Connected

There are lots of ways to follow, like and share –
• @SenatorBuceTarr on Facebook,
• @SenBruceTarr on Twitter,
• TarrTalk.com for my blog,
• Bruce.Tarr@MaSenate.gov also, directly with my office-
• Senate Minority Leader, Room 308, State House, Boston, MA 02133

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Wednesday, August 28, 2019

Pentucket Regional High School Is Ready

I enjoyed the opportunity to say a few words at this morning's back to school staff meeting at Pentucket Regional High School.

This freshman group of students will be the Class of 2023 and I wish them, their fellow students and the staff a great school year.











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Tuesday, August 27, 2019

Manchester-By-The-Sea

Friends, Sun, Sand, And Sea, That Sounds Like Summer To Me

A wonderful day today with Manchester senior for the August luncheon at Tuck's Point Chowder House.The Manchester Council on Aging organizes this summer cookout at Tuck's Point each year. We enjoyed an outstanding meal which was accompanied by great conversations, and terrific live entertainment. The turnout, weather, and food were all wonderful. With Representative Brad Hill.







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Back-To-School Safety

This is the time of year when summer vacations come to an end and school officially begins. That means there are lots of children on and near roads. The start of school is not only a great time to teach children how to cross streets and ride school buses safely, it’s also a good time to remind adults how to use street smarts when it comes to obeying speed limits, stopping for buses, and yielding to pedestrians – young and old alike – at crosswalks.

Here are some good resources that drivers, parents, and school students can use to keep kids out of harm’s way throughout the school year.

According to the Registry of Motor Vehicles, 1 in 5 motor vehicle deaths involved a pedestrian. When driving near crossing guards and children follow these tips:
• Look out for signs that you are near a crosswalk, such as pedestrian crossing signs, hand-held stop paddles, and the reflective vests that crossing guards wear,
• Slow down when approaching a crosswalk,
• Avoid distracted driving — don’t do things that will take your attention off the road like texting, emailing, surfing the web, or playing games on your phone,
• Look out for pedestrians at all times. Take extra care when you’re in areas with lots of pedestrians like school zones, parks, playgrounds, and bus stops,
• Try to make eye contact with pedestrians so you know that they see you. Just because you see them doesn’t mean they see you,
• Be aware that children and crossing guards may be blocked from view by buses or cars. Use caution around other vehicles.

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Monday, August 26, 2019

Boxford officials have been advised by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health that mosquitoes from Boxford have tested positive for the Eastern Equine Encephalitis virus.

Health officials warn that human exposure to EEE can be life-altering. In fact, sadly, a woman from our state died yesterday from EEE. The state's DPH has confirmed 36 communities this year with EEE exposure.

State agencies, the Boxford Board of Health, and other local officials are working to minimize the mosquito population.

Boxford has issued an order to close all playing fields, outdoor recess and outdoor sports at school until barrier spraying has been completed.

DPH suggests ways you can avoid mosquito bites
• Be Aware Of Peak Mosquito Hours - Dusk To Dawn,
• Wear Skin Covering Clothing,
• Apply Insect Repellent,
• Drain Standing Water At Your Home,
• Install or Repair Window Screens.

More info here - https://www.mass.gov/mosquito-borne-diseases. Here’s a link to where spraying is scheduled. https://www.mass.gov/guides/aerial-mosquito-control-summer-2019

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Traffic Alert - Gloucester

A fatal crash this morning between a passenger vehicle and a truck on Route 128 North Bound is under investigation. Police are diverting all traffic from the highway at exit 13 on to Route 133. Also, one lane of traffic is closed on the South Bound side at the accident scene.




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Friday, August 23, 2019

Nero’s Bill

I would like to let you know about a bill that I have co-sponsored called Nero’s Bill, otherwise known as An Act Providing For The Care And Transportation Of Police Dogs In The Line Of Duty.

Nero the police dog, was the K9 partner of the late police sergeant Sean Gannon, a member of the Yarmouth Police Department, who was shot and killed last year while serving a warrant. Nero was also severely wounded in this attack. He was shot in the face; the bullet which ripped through his head left holes in his throat and stopped in his shoulder. He was covered in blood at the scene for hours before receiving medical care.

Existing state law prohibits police animals, injured in the line of duty, from being treated or transported by emergency personnel. Even though Nero’s injuries were life-threatening and trained safety officials were available at the scene staff were all prohibited, by law, from giving Nero what he needed. The bill I am supporting will change that -- provided of course, that there is no other injured person that is in need of medical care or transportation first.

K9s have been proven to be immensely effective in police work for drug detection, first responder operations, and search and rescue situations – each of these are hazardous and make these dogs exposed to risk of grave bodily harm. There is much more to Nero’s story and subsequent recovery and I encourage you to find out more. Effective police work is vital and potentially dangerous; I am appreciative of all of those who entered the field even those with four legs. I thank Senator Montigny and Representative Crocker for championing this change.



 
 

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Thursday, August 22, 2019

Commuter Rail Train and Traffic Alert - Gloucester

A person was struck and killed by a commuter train this morning near the Gloucester MBTA Commuter Rail station.

The MBTA cancelled several trains and there are significant delays in both directions across major hubs including the Haverhill and Lowell lines, Newburyport line, Fitchburg and Rockport and Newburyport lines. Road traffic in the area of the accident will be impacted as officials investigate further.

Rockport line trains from North Station will terminate at West Gloucester and passengers will be provided with shuttle buses for service.


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Wednesday, August 21, 2019

National Weather Service Tornado Warning

The National Weather Service has issued a tornado warning for Northwestern Essex County. Please use caution. Quarter sized hail is possible with this storm.

There is a continued risk for scattered strong to severe thunderstorms this afternoon and evening to 10 PM. Damaging wind gusts are the primary threat, along with the potential for torrential downpours that may produce localized flash flooding.

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Tuesday, August 20, 2019

The Wall That Heals

Thursday, I was honored to be invited as a guest speaker for the opening ceremony of the Wall That Heals Vietnam Veterans Memorial exhibit at Ipswich River Park in North Reading. The Wall That Heals, a three-fourths scale replica of The Wall in Washington, is a mobile memorial created and supported by the same non-profit organization, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund that originated the D.C. memorial.

The experience of being near the 375 foot long Wall That Heals, with more than 58,000 names of missing and killed service members, is humbling. Although it is mobile, it is constructed in a chevron like the original, with 140 numbered and engraved panels so that visitors can do name rubbings, and the feelings it inspires are as powerful as caused by any memorial.

The Veterans, Parks and Recreation Department of North Reading, Massachusetts has succeeded in arranging for the Wall to return here once again – it will only be seen in 3 places in New England this year. In order to support North Reading’s efforts to display the Wall That Heals, I authored legislation supported by Representative Brad Jones and signed into law by Governor Baker, which directed $10,000 to defer expenses for the memorial’s display in North Reading.

When offloaded, the trailer that carries The Wall That Heals becomes an education center with a timeline, maps, photographs and information about the Vietnam War and the Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C. Everyone who visits leaves with a deeper understanding of the sacrifices that these men and women made and the due respect that all of our veterans deserve.

To Susan Magner, Director of Veterans Services for North Reading, the Veterans, Parks and Recreation Department, the many volunteers who labored to offload, erect, stand watch over, and pack the Wall, and to our veterans I say, thank you.



















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