North Shore Health Project 30th Anniversary

Last night at the Beauport Hotel, the North Shore Health Project presented their 10th Annual Health Activist Award to Governor Charlie Baker.

The Health Project is celebrating it’s 30th anniversary this year and they wanted to recognize the efforts that Governor Baker has made to put our state in a leadership role of fighting the opioid and heroin epidemic. We have , doubled spending on prevention, education, treatment, and recovery and he has signed two major bills that have served as models for other states. The Health Project continues to be a vital service agency for the Cape Ann area and greater Essex County.

The program included presentations by Representative Ann Margaret Ferrante, Gloucester Mayor Sefatia Romeo Theken and me. Congratulations Governor.

Sudden Closure of National Fish And Seafood Harms Cape Ann Families

150 families have been directly impacted by the surprising and unwelcome news of the immediate closure of National Fish & Seafood’s Gloucester facility. Mayor Sefatia Romeo Theken has reached out to Governor Charlie Baker and his administration, Representative Rep. Ann-Margaret Ferrante and I to marshal resources to aid all of those who are being impacted.

The state’s Office of Business Development has activated its Rapid Response team to help navigate the process of filing unemployment insurance claims, connections with career resource centers, and more. First steps include:
* Informing them of their eligibility and benefits as laid off workers
* Answering their questions about job search and unemployment insurance
* Registering and refer them to One Stop Career Centers
* Conducting a survey of employee needs (such as retraining and skills upgrading)
* Orieningt them to the content and timetables of the various on-site services

In addition, the Mayor has points of contact Jim Destino, her Chief Administrative Officer at jdestino@gloucester-ma.gov and Jill Cahill, Community Development Director at jcahill@gloucester-ma.gov.

The leaders of the Fishing Partnership Support Services have activated resources to help with insurance information. More information will be developing and I will update this page shortly.

North Reading Selectmen Retirement

Serving in elected public office as a local official takes tireless effort and boundless commitment, two attributes, of many, possessed by Michael Prisco and Bob Mauceri who retired this week from the North Reading Selectboard.

Very appreciative of their many years of dedicated service to North Reading.

Tobin Bridge/Chelsea Curves Rehabilitation Project

Beginning Monday, it is anticipated, weather and other factors permitting, that MassDOT will mobilize crews to expand the current work zone for the Tobin Bridge/Chelsea Curves Rehabilitation Project. The expansion will mean that by the time of the morning commute on Tuesday the following conditions will be in effect. In the northbound direction, the lane reduction implemented on April 1st will be extended beyond the Tobin Bridge and into the Chelsea Curves. In the southbound direction one lane will be closed between County Road in Chelsea and immediately to the north of the Everett Street on-ramp from Chelsea. Mobilization will begin at 10PM on the night of the 13th. At this time, all ramps to and from Chelsea will remain open to traffic.

Combined, the Tobin Bridge and Chelsea Curves structures carry more than 63,000 drivers on Route 1 through Chelsea and over the Mystic River into Boston. Though they are safe to drive on, both are in critical need of repair. MassDOT is carrying out work along both sections of Route 1 at the same time so that highway impacts can be completed by the end of 2020, and without the need for weight restrictions and postings.

Completion of this necessary project will ensure that the elevated section of Route 1 can continue to carry passenger and freight traffic safely and efficiently and eliminate 15% of the structurally deficient bridge deck in Massachusetts, but construction of this nature has inevitable traffic impacts. MassDOT encourages you to leave more time for your trip, exercise caution while traversing the work zone, and if possible, divert to an alternate route or mode of travel in and out of downtown Boston.

For more information on traffic conditions, travelers are encouraged to:
• Visit www.mbta.com/tobinbridge for North Shore transit options
• Dial 511 before heading out onto the roadways and select a route to hear real-time conditions.
• Visit www.mass511.com, a website which provides real-time traffic and incident advisory information, access to traffic cameras, and allows users to subscribe to text and email alerts for traffic conditions.
• Check parking availability at the T’s 8 largest garages, including Wonderland on the Blue Line @MBTA_Parking and Lynn on the Newburyport/Rockport Line @MBTA.
• Download MassDOT’s GoTime mobile app and view real-time traffic conditions before setting out on the road.

Senate Reception for Cape Ann Art Artists

I was delighted to welcome visitors from Cape Ann to the State House’s newly renovated Senate Chamber and Lobby today for a public reception to officially open an art exhibit of Cape Ann artists. We celebrated these amazing Cape Ann artists and their works which are currently on display in the Senate Lobby. Having these pieces in such an historic setting is a wonderful way of showcasing this great talent. The exhibit, curated by Karen Tibbetts, includes the works of artists from Rockport, Essex, Gloucester, and Manchester.

These works of art are available for public viewing and will remain on display until mid-June. Members of the Senate will have an opportunity to admire these works throughout the entirety of the debate on the state's budget. Cape Ann has a long history of attracting talented artists including; Winslow Homer, Edward Hopper, Frank Duveneck, and Childe Hassam, each of whom lived and worked on Rocky Neck in the 19th and early 20th Centuries.

I was happy to individually introduced the Cape Ann artists during today's Senate Session. 

Dog Days of Lobbying

When you meet Janet Waldron there's a good chance you'll meet Louie too. Today, many House & Senate members showed their support for bills that help animals like my "Beagle Bill" S534 which gives lab animals a chance at being adopted. Janet and Louie have been raising awareness about a new chance for a forever homes for these animals. the dogs and cats involved in research make a tremendous sacrifice on behalf of our society, and they deserve every opportunity for adoption when their service is completed

This bill will facilitate relationships between research laboratories and non-profit rescue organizations so that animals are given a chance of life after the lab with a Massachusetts family. More than 60,000 dogs and nearly 20,000 cats are used for animal experimentation in the US. Because the vast majority of the dogs used are beagles which is why this legislation is often called the "Beagle Bill".

Sexual Abuse by Medical Professionals Leaves Victims in a Legal Loophole

Doctors who have sexually assaulted patients have avoided being charged with a crime. Boston 25 News​' Kerry Kavanaugh​ reported last night on sexual abuse by medical professionals.   Victims should never be lost in a loophole of the law. Sexual assault and abuse by medical professionals using fraudulent 'treatment' practices should have serious consequences.  Legislation I filed with Representative Kate Hogan will do just that.    Watch Kerry's story-