Tuesday, November 30, 2021

Free COVID-19 Testing

No-cost, walk-in COVID-19 testing is now available from Curative at the annex at 26 Emerson Ave. in Gloucester! Testing will continue to be available Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and on Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. through Feb 2022


 


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Monday, November 29, 2021

Kent Circle Tree Lighting

For decades, my brothers Ringo, Brian - who passed away in 2018, and I worked together, along with a hardy group of dedicated volunteers, to decorate Kent Circle and erect and light the Christmas tree. Yesterday, that tradition of teamwork and hard work from outstanding community volunteers continued on with great success and to hardy cheers from cherry-cheeked kids to the young at heart. 

Live entertainment, snacks, songs, and more smiles than lights on the decorated trees kept us all warm and happy. Special thanks to the Peek family for their donation of the 2021 tree. I will share some photos of that tree's journey to Kent Circle in a bit.











 


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Happy Hanukkah!

To all of my Jewish friends and constituents, I wish you all a happy Hanukkah celebration. May you enjoy eight days of peace, happiness, and joy with your loved ones. And, may this season of light fill your heart and home with happiness! 


 


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Thursday, November 25, 2021

Happy Thanksgiving To All

Certainly, we have all been living through some challenging times over the past year, and we have had to confront such impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic as loss, hardship, disruption, and isolation. Yet, despite all of these, we have so much to be thankful for once again on this Thanksgiving. 

From the health care professionals and local boards of health who have worked tirelessly to treat and protect us, to the firefighters, police officers, and other first responders who have answered our calls every day, to the teachers and school staff who have done what it takes to keep our students from losing the opportunity to learn and grow, to those among us whose essential nature we now understand perhaps more than ever before, that drive a delivery truck, staff a grocery store, or otherwise make sure we have what we need, to the countless people who are our neighbors that give us strength and hope through acts of kindness large and small, we are surrounded by blessings in our lives. 

My hope is that on this Thanksgiving Day we will, no matter where we are or who we are able to gather with, hold those we love and care about close in our hearts, remember those who have made our lives better, stronger, and more prosperous. And to those around the world who serve in our armed forces to protect freedom, we express our deepest gratitude for their efforts that carry us forward to a brighter tomorrow. Happy Thanksgiving!


 


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Wednesday, November 24, 2021

Annual North Reading Senior Citizen Thanksgiving Tradition Continues!

House Minority Leader Brad Jones and I have teamed up again to sponsor the annual North Reading Senior Citizen Thanksgiving dinner - it's been a local tradition for decades, and we did what we could to make certain the tradition continued. Although not ready to return to its in-person format this year, the 2021 annual event was a drive-through in the parking lot at the Hillview Country Club.











 


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Friday, November 19, 2021

Greater Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce's Cape Ann Caucus

Today, Rep. Ann-Margaret Ferrante and I gave reports about House and Senate versions of the American Recovery Plan Act and budget surplus spending bills. I also spoke about the Senate's Mental Health bill adopted this week.

The Greater Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce regularly convenes gatherings of members of the Greater Cape Ann legislative delegation and local municipal and school officials, business people, and other stakeholders to discuss current issues and update each other on what is happening in the communities of Gloucester, Rockport, Manchester, Essex, and Ipswich.






 


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North Andover Senior Center Thanksgiving Dinner

We are all getting ready for Thanksgiving and I got to help serve up and sponsor a pre-Thanksgiving meal for seniors for the North Andover Senior Center. There were many compliments on the food and the conversations and entertainments were great!













 


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Blue Moon Estate Sales of Merrimack Valley Ribbon cutting

A happy ribbon cutting in front of the North Andover Town Hall yesterday to help kick off a new venture with Jonathan and Tara Mandell owners of Blue Moon Estate Sales of Merrimack Valley. Wishing them much success on this new path of their business journey. 

With the North Andover Merchants Association,










 


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Baker-Polito Administration Encourages COVID-19 Boosters for All Fully Vaccinated Individuals 18+

The Baker-Polito Administration announced that effective immediately, all Massachusetts residents aged 18 and over are eligible to get a COVID-19 booster six months after receiving the second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines or two months since receiving a Johnson & Johnson single dose vaccine.

Massachusetts residents can access booster doses from more than 1,000 locations, with appointments available now for booking across the Commonwealth. CDC recommendations allow for mixing and matching of different COVID-19 booster doses, and eligible individuals may choose which vaccine they receive as a booster dose. The Administration recommends that residents with questions about which booster is right for them should ask their health care provider for advice. 

How to Get a Booster: 1. Visit the Vaxfinder tool at vaxfinder.mass.gov for a full list of locations to receive a booster. Residents are able to narrow results to search for locations that are offering boosters. Many locations will be booking appointments out weeks in advance.

2. For individuals who are unable to use Vaxfinder, or have difficulty accessing the internet, the COVID-19 Vaccine Resource Line (Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 6:00 PM, Saturday and Sunday 9AM-2PM) by calling 2-1-1 and following the prompts is available for assistance. The COVID-19 Vaccine Resource Line is available in English and Spanish and has translators available in approximately 100 additional languages.

Vaccines are widely available across the Commonwealth. Getting vaccinated remains the most important thing individuals can do to protect themselves, their families, and their community.

The COVID-19 booster is safe, effective, and free. Individuals do not need an ID or health insurance to access a booster and do not need to show a vaccine card when getting a booster. Additional information on the COVID-booster, including FAQs, can be found at mass.gov/COVID19booster.

Massachusetts leads the nation in vaccine administration, with over 94% of adults having received at least one dose, and over 81% of the total population fully vaccinated, over 4.8 million individuals. Over 800,000 residents have received a COVID booster. 

 


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The Open Door Thanksgiving Food Drive

Please consider supporting this important food drive to aid hungry families this Saturday. There are 6 locations available from 9 AM to 3 PM. The Open Door is a non-profit organization that changes lives and helps feed people. Learn more at: https://www.foodpantry.org/

 



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