MRBA Meeting with US Army Corps of Engineers | Plum Island | 9.29.23

Productive MRBA meeting last week with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to discuss erosion issues on Plum Island.

Check out my interview with WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Kendall Buhl:

https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1002-wbz-newsradio-1030-news-a-28657113/episode/local-state-officials-address-plum-island-124525775/ 

Also, check out PITA President, Ron Barrett's interview with WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Nightside with Dan Rea from 10.3.23: 

https://wbznewsradio.iheart.com/featured/nightside-with-dan-rea/tab/podcasts/

FY'24 Mass Cultural Council Grant Recipients

Mass Cultural Council announced the FY'24 recipients of the Festivals & Projects grant program.  In total, Mass Cultural Council granted $1,850,000 to 740 cultural projects and festivals statewide. The grants are $2,500 each and go to organizations to support their public activities that incorporate the arts, humanities, or sciences.

Please join me in congratulating the Festivals & Projects Recipients receiving grants in our District.

Mass Cultural Council announced the recipients of the Mass Cultural Council’s FY24 Cultural Investment Portfolio (CIP) and Gateway grant programs. In total, $6,988,800 has been granted to 338 cultural nonprofits this year through these two programs.

The CIP and Gateway provide general operating grants to nonprofit organizations that enrich Massachusetts’ cultural life. The Portfolio works to strengthen a creative and cultural sector that generates $1.2 billion in economic activity, creates thousands of jobs, and delivers programs to more than 20 million a year. 

Please join me in congratulating the CIP and Gateway Grant Recipients in our District.

Gold Star Mothers and Family Day | Knight's of Columbus Rosary Prayer Service | 9.24.23

Sunday, September 24th was Gold Star Mothers and Family Day - a day of recognition of the sacrifices made by those who have paid the ultimate price and the burden the families are left behind to carry.  

I was honored to attend the Rosary Prayer Service led by the 4th Degree Knights of Columbus, alongside the Gold Star Family Memorial Committee and Cape Ann Office of Veterans Services.

Tax Relief for Commonwealth of Massachusetts | 10.4.23

 

With the stroke of Governor Healey's pen, our state government took a major step toward becoming more affordable and competitive with the enactment of “An Act to Improve the Commonwealth’s Competitiveness, Affordability, and Equity” (H.4104).

Tax relief for employers and households has consistently been a major priority for Senate Republicans, and I am glad we have been able to find bipartisan common ground with our colleagues across the aisle to deliver nearly $1 billion in needed and deserved relief from the high costs of living in our state.

We also found a path forward to reward Massachusetts employers for investing in our economy, setting the stage for economic growth.

Today marks a major benchmark for making the Commonwealth more affordable, and I was glad to serve on the 6-member conference committee that produced the final bill that has become law. That law sets the stage for more efforts in the days to come, giving us a good foundation to build on for the future.

Blood Drive on Friday, 10/6 from 9AM-2PM in Ipswich

 

NATIONAL BLOOD SHORTAGE

Blood donors of all types are urgently needed now.

Join me and members of my team as we donate blood at an upcoming American Red Cross of Massachusetts blood drive in our district.

This Friday, October 6th from 9 AM – 2 PM @ John T. Heard Masonic Lodge in Main Hall, 70 Topsfield Rd., Ipswich, MA

Click here to sign up to donate TODAY: https://www.redcrossblood.org/give.html/find-drive

Click here to learn more about hosting a blood drive: https://www.redcrossblood.org/hosting-a-blood-drive/learn-about-hosting/why-host-a-blood-drive.html

OCABR Flash Flooding Impacted Areas Resources for Constituents

On behalf of the Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation (OCABR), see below communication:

Resources for Constituents Given the Recent Storms and Catastrophic Flash Flooding that have Impacted Areas Throughout the Commonwealth.

The mission of OCABR is to protect and empower consumers through education and advocacy. Our office oversees the state’s Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) program as well as several consumer divisions, including the Division of Insurance.

It’s our hope that your constituents will not find themselves in situations where they will need to access these resources; however, OCABR would like to ensure that your offices are aware of them in case they do. Links below to some of our resources that may help and inform constituents should they need to navigate insurance claims and property repairs following a severe flood or storm.

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Division of Insurance

Frequently Asked Questions Following a Disaster: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/frequently-asked-questions-following-a-disaster

Guide to Disaster and Emergency Insurance Preparations: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/guide-to-disaster-and-emergency-insurance-preparations

Is My Flood Damage Covered? https://www.mass.gov/info-details/is-my-flood-damage-covered

Division of Insurance Hotline: (617) 521-7794, (8:45am – 5:00pm)

Home Repairs & Contractors

For most home repairs, contractors are required to be registered Home Improvement Contractors. It’s critical that homeowners look up a contractor’s registration and any complaints filed against their license before hiring them. In the event something goes wrong, and the homeowner needs to seek relief from the State’s Guaranty Fund, HIC registration is required.

Homeowner's guide to hiring a home improvement contractor: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/homeowners-guide-to-hiring-a-home-improvement-contractor

Check a contractor's registration: HIC Registration Lookup https://services.oca.state.ma.us/hic/licenseelist.aspx

OCABR Hotline: (617) 973-8787 (9:00am - 4:30pm)

Auto Repairs

Recognizing that some vehicles may become submerged during a flash flooding emergency and constituents may need to seek repairs, the following is a link to help them select a reliable repair shop and understand their rights:

Massachusetts Consumer Guide – Mechanics of Auto Repair https://www.mass.gov/info-details/massachusetts-consumer-guide-mechanics-of-auto-repair

Gloucester 400+ Naturalization Ceremony | 9.22.23

 

“Citizenship is an attitude, a state of mind, an emotional conviction that the whole is greater than the part…”    - Robert A. Heinlein

Friday, September 22^nd, 2023, was an inspirational and moving day at Stage Fort Park in Gloucester, as 97 people became U.S. citizens at a special naturalization ceremony.  The historic occasion took place in front of Tablet Rock beneath sunny skies and beside the location where early settlers established the first vestiges of Gloucester's fishing industry. Congratulations to those who persevered throughout the journey to citizenship.  Many thanks to the Gloucester 400+ Committee, its Tri-Chair, Bruce Tobey, and all of those who brought this incredible ceremony to the Gloucester community. 

Medal of Fidelity Presentations in North Andover | 9.22.23

 

I was honored to join my legislative colleagues, members of the Massachusetts National Guard, and local officials at a ceremony at North Andover Town Hall organized by District Director of Veterans Services, Joseph Leblanc, for the presentation of the Massachusetts Medal of Fidelity to the loved ones of 8 Veterans who served our nation in the armed forces and who have passed away. This moving and important ceremony served as a powerful reminder of the courage, sacrifice, and dedication to our nation of such veterans and their families, and our solemn obligation to capture every opportunity to recognize their service on our behalf and to thank them for all that they have given to our country and the principles that we share.

The Medal of Fidelity was recently created to recognize service members or veterans from the Commonwealth who died as the result of combat-related post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, or combat-related diseases and illnesses.  To learn more, reach out to your local Veterans Service Officer or visit the Medal of Fidelity page at https://www.massnationalguard.org/index.php/quick-links/medal-of-fidelity.html.

Salisbury Days SHINE Awards Ceremony | 9.21.23

 

Celebrated Salisbury Days by honoring SHINE Award recipients.  Tabitha Beebe was awarded the ‘Here and Now’ award and Louis Masello was awarded the ‘Lifetime’ award for being exceptional role models by participating in volunteer and humanitarian activities that continue to make a difference in town of Salisbury and surrounding towns in our community. 

Boxford, Hamilton & Rowley Council on Aging BBQs | 9.21.23 & 9.27.23

 

Had the pleasure of attending Boxford, Hamilton and Rowley's Council on Aging BBQ.  Thank you to Secretary Elizabeth Chen from the Office of Elder Affairs for joining as the special guest speaker.

HOWLETT BROOK FISHWAY OFFICIALLY OPENED | 9.21.23

 

It was an honor to join the Howlett Brook Fishway Ribbon Cutting Ceremony in Topsfield.

Agree wholeheartedly with the below sentiments shared by the Ipswich River Watershed Alliance:

"Thanks to everyone who came out to celebrate the upgraded fishway that now provides migratory fish passage between the Howlett Brook Watershed and the Ipswich River. This fish ladder has been defunct since the 2006 Mother's Day Flood - after 17 years fish can have better access to the Howlett Brook Watershed! We are so grateful to our restoration community - from legislators to conservation agents to fish biologists - your support is imperative.

Special thanks to State Senator Bruce Tarr, State Representative Kristin Kassner, State Representative Sally Kearns, NOAA Fisheries Service, SumCo Eco-Contracting, LLC, and the folks at the Town of Topsfield!"

Beauport Financial Services LLC | Ribbon Cutting 9.21.23

 

Congratulations to Beauport Financial Services, LLC on their grand re-opening and the official ribbon cutting of their newly renovated offices!

North of Boston Fall Tourism Marketing Grant Ceremony

Local Tourism Organizations Receive Mini-Grant Awards From North of Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau 

Recently celebrated the local organizations, with The North of Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau (NBCVB), receiving almost $48,000 in mini-grant funding as part of its mission to encourage the 34 cities and towns of Essex County as a tourism destination. Members, local chambers of commerce, and destination marketing organizations gathered with local officials at the Maria Miles Visitor Center to honor the tourism and hospitality industries that drive the local economy.  

The NBCVB is providing a portion of its funding from the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism as mini-grants to our member partners to further their marketing efforts. Congratulations to the Fiscal Year 2023 Fall Tourism Marketing Grant recipients from or supporting tourism in our District:

·     Discover Gloucester Gloucester Seaport Trail

·     Essex National Heritage Commission Photo Library of Essex National Heritage area

·     Greater Newburyport Chamber of Commerce Fall and Winter Marketing Initiatives

·     Wolfe Adventures and Tours, in partnership with Historic New England for a new tour
       entitled History in the Making: Unveiling Essex County

         

         

         

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month 2023

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month

Domestic violence is a critical health issue that impacts thousands of families in our state and across the nation. We must continue to raise awareness to prevent these kinds of acts from occurring and support those who need help. Together, we can end relationship violence.

Multifaceted - it may include verbal, physical, psychological, sexual, or financial abuse of a victim and is often hidden from public view.

Although it's not limited to women, domestic violence is the root of more injuries to women than car accidents, muggings, and rapes combined. Abusers impact men, women, and children in a dynamic that distorts power over peace.

This observance helps bring awareness across the nation about domestic violence and its effects. Together we can break the silence and end the violence.

For information, services, and help for yourself or someone you care about:

Safelink: 1-877-785-2020 is a 24-hour, free, and confidential multi-lingual domestic violence hotline in Massachusetts

To find the domestic violence program nearest you outside of Massachusetts, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline: 800-799-SAFE (800-799-7233)

Jane Doe Inc., the Massachusetts Coalition Against Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence – (617)557-1807; www.janedoe.org

Massachusetts Office for Victim Assistance https://www.mass.gov/orgs/massachusetts-office-for-victim-assistance

The National Domestic Violence Hotline offers assistance and safety planning 24/7. Call 1-800-799-7233 for live support. If you’re unable to speak safely, you can log onto www.thehotline.org to chat online.