Open Door oF Gloucester Working to Lessen Hunger

I was happy to see such a huge crowd this morning at Open Door's Autumn Breakfast in Gloucester. The Open Door works hard to alleviate the impact of hunger in our community.

We have every reason to be proud of Massachusetts’ place in the history of our great nation. In so many ways we have led the country from the very beginning with the war to win our independence having started right here. In support of the Revolutionary Army our state also was the birthplace of the American Navy.

Yesterday, I had the great pleasure of helping to show appreciation and praise for the men and women who command and sail the USS Constitution. “Old Ironsides”; the turns 220 years of age on Saturday and her skipper and several other navy officers came to the Senate Chamber to celebrate this amazing vessel’s heritage.

The Constitution is the oldest commissioned ship afloat in the world, named by General George Washington, the three-masted frigate just sailed for the first time today since restoration work which started in 2014.

By tradition, the birthday cake was cut with a sword by the oldest sailor and the youngest sailor. I hope you will visit this ship and learn about its magnificent history.

Honoring Excellence and Leadership

Today, I was honored to present a Senate Citation to Gloucester High School Senior Soo Ae Ono, a Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps cadet, who was awarded the Region 1 Legion of Valor Bronze Cross for Achievement this morning at a ceremony in the school’s Benjamin A. Smith Field House. The Legion of Valor Bronze Cross is awarded to the top JROTC cadet in a region that spans from Maine to the Virginia-North Carolina line.  She is an inspirational student, who not only leads as a commander in the JROTC program but is also the President of the National Honor Society. You can read a great article about her in the Gloucester Daily Times here: http://www.gloucestertimes.com/news/local_news/gloucester-high-senior-to-receive-jrotc-s-legion-of-valor/article_efbb8f0f-4215-5743-b614-9a165760c3a7.html

Congratulations also to Marine Corps. gunner Rick Muth, who directs the JROTC program at GH, who does an outstanding job of working with the students to achieve excellence.

 

 

 

An Important Study on Regional Schools

Today, State Auditor Suzanne M. Bump released an important study on regional schools in our commonwealth. The report can be found here: https://www.mass.gov/files/documents/2017/10/18/RegionalSchoolDistrictsMunicipalImpactStudy_0.pdf

Good News For Cape Ann Commuter Rail Riders

I attended the MBTA's Fiscal Management and Control Board meeting to advocate for action on the Annisquam River Commuter Rail Bridge located in Gloucester. The T has decided to move forward with the project by selecting one winning bid from five entries.

The J.F. White Contracting Company was awarded the contract set at $56.9 million. I will have more details, such as expected start and completion dates soon.

Kids Ride Rolls in Money to Support Pan-Mass Challenge

Recently I had the honor of attending a great fundraising event in Manchester-by-the-Sea in support of the Pan-Mass. Challenge Kids Rides program. This was the final event of more than 30 of the year in Massachusetts for the Kids Ride program.

The PMC supports the work and patients of the Dana-Faber Cancer Institute, in fact, every dollar raised by PMC bike riders goes to Dana-Faber. You can still offer your support for PMC and help fight cancer by donating at http://www.pmc.org/…/…/pedal-power-pmc-kids-rides-are-coming

The Manchester ride had a great turnout of parents, kids – some riders were as young as three, and awesome community supporters.

Today, the people of Nevada have been besieged with unimaginable pain caused by the violence that took place in Las Vegas.

At our Senate session today I asked the Senate to stand together and unite and observe a moment of silence for those who lost their lives, those who were wounded, and for all of those who are experiencing the consequences of these devastating and tragic actions.

At 2:45 this afternoon in Memorial Hall in the State House I joined with Governor Baker, Lieutenant Governor Polito, Attorney General Maura T. Healey, Speaker DeLeo, Senate President Stan Rosenberg, and several other colleagues for a somber moment of reflection. What matters most now is to remember that we are all Americans, and to stand in solidarity and support with and for those experiencing terrible pain because of this horrendous violence.