GOOD MORNING – TODAY IS SUNDAY, December 16, the 350th day of 2018 with 15 to follow. Sunrise in the Boston area is @ 7:07 and sunset is @ 4:11. The moon is waxing. The morning stars are stars are Uranus and Venus. The evening stars are Mars, Mercury, Neptune, Saturn & Uranus.
ON THIS DAY IN: 1653 – Oliver Cromwell became lord protector of England, Scotland and Ireland. Continue reading GOOD MORNING – TODAY IS by John Dwyer
Appreciating all the hard work he does with such grace and professionalism on behalf of the City and Board of Aldermen City of Somerville (Official) Thank you!
Continue reading Citation for Somerville City Clerk John Long
By Bob Katzen
Nearly two-thirds of employees who report workplace sexual harassment face retaliation from their employers and 65 percent of employees who file sexual harassment complaints lose their jobs within a year, according to new research from the University of Massachusetts Amherst Center for Employment Equity (CEE). Continue reading COSTS EMPLOYEES FACE IN REPORTING WORKPLACE SEXUAL HARASSMENT
By Bob Katzen
“Massachusetts has the fastest rising cost of public higher education in the nation,” according to a report released today by the New England Board of Higher Education. “These are the shameful results of decades of budget cuts on Beacon Hill that have shifted the cost of a public college education to students and families, especially those who can least afford to pay the fees.” Continue reading REPORT ATTACKS BEACON HILL’S RECORD ON FUNDING PUBLIC COLLEGES
By Bob Katzen
The Housing Committee held a hearing on a bill that would put some teeth into a 2014 law that requires all town housing authorities to have a tenant on the board. The regulations for appointing a tenant were never drafted. Continue reading MUST HAVE TENANT ON ALL TOWNS’ HOUSING AUTHORITY BOARD
By Bob Katzen
The Senate approved and sent to the House a bill aimed at ensuring confidentiality for first responders who seek mental health services from a peer counselor. Current law does not guarantee confidentiality. Continue reading CONFIDENTIALITY OF MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
By Bob Katzen
The Senate approved and sent to the House a bill that allows the Office of the Jury Commissioner to communicate with jurors through e-mail, texting, other electronic and telephonic ways and in-person exchanges. Continue reading JURY DUTY NOTICE APPROVED
By Bob Katzen
The House 116-43, Senate 31-9, overrode Gov. Baker’s veto of an $18 million pay raise package including hiking the salaries of House speaker and Senate president, by $45,000 from $97,547 to $142,547. Continue reading $18 MILLION IN PAY HIKES ON BEACON HILL
The Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) is proud to announce that the Motorcycle Profiling Resolution (S. Res. 154) passed the U.S. Senate with unanimous consent on Tuesday evening, December 11, 2018. Continue reading Senate Profiling Resolution Passes Unanimously
By Bob Katzen
The House 146-3, Senate 32-3, approved a bill raising from 18 to 21 the age to legally purchase cigarettes and electronic cigarettes in the Bay State. Continue reading BILL APPROVED TO RAISE AGE FROM 18 TO 21 TO PURCHASE TOBACCO
By Bob Katzen
The House 136-11, Senate 32-6, approved a bill changing some provisions and adding other provisions to the law, approved by voters on the 2016 ballot, legalizing the possession, growing and sale of marijuana.
By Bob Katzen
The House 150-0, Senate 38-0, approved the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act that prohibits an employer from discriminating against, refusing to employ or firing a woman because she is pregnant or has a condition related to pregnancy. Continue reading SENATE APPROVES FAIRNESS FOR PREGNANT WORKERS
By Bob Katzen
The House 159-0, Senate 36-0, approved $200 million in one-time funding for the maintenance and repair of local roads and bridges in cities and towns across the state. Continue reading $200 MILLION FOR LOCAL ROADS AND BRIDGES
The Marathon Sports “Bill Rodgers Jingle Bell Run” is very pleased to announce that it has donated $2,000.00 to the “Toys For Local Children” program run by Cindy Hickey of Somerville, Mass. Continue reading Marathon Sports “Bill Rodgers Jingle Bell Run” donates $2,000.00 to Toys For Local Children Program
What? Boston Comedy Festival’s New Years Eve Spectacular
When? December 31 8 pm
How much? $30 laughing out 2018 priceless!
Who? Comedian Jim McCue and the Boston Comedy Festival have become a Davis Square tradition! For five years now comedian Jim McCue has brought in the New Year with some of Boston’s Best Comedians. This year promises to be another great way to laugh out the old and laugh in the New. Continue reading Boston Comedy Festival’s New Years Eve Spectacular
Just in time to complete your holiday shopping, the Somerville Historic Preservation Commission has “Preserving Somerville” merchandise available for sale. All merchandise can be viewed on the Commission’s website at www.somervillema.gov/historicpreservation, and a list of available items is below. Continue reading Community Note: Historic Somerville Merchandise on Sale for Holiday Season
Annual celebration of America’s first flag raising to be celebrated by City and State officials, residents, and “George Washington” on horseback. Continue reading Grand Union Flag Raising on Prospect Hill, January 1, 2019
By William Tauro
The Somerville Chamber of Commerce hosted it’s annual Chamber’s Special Holiday Business After Hours event this past Wednesday evening to benefit Toys for Local Children. Continue reading SOMERVILLE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 2018 TLC CHRISTMAS TOY DRIVE EVENT
Our condolences go out to the family and friends of Mary Sillari on her passing this past week. Continue reading Somerville Remembering Mary Sillari
Photos by Paul Upton
By William Tauro
This past Thursday afternoon, the Somerville Kiwanis Club hosted its Annual Tri-meeting Luncheon benefiting Toys for Tots. Continue reading SOMERVILLE KIWANIS HOST ANNUAL HOLIDAY LUNCHEON OF SERVICE CLUBS BENEFITING TOYS FOR TOTS
By Bob Katzen
THE HOUSE AND SENATE: There were no roll calls in the House or Senate last week. This week, Beacon Hill Roll Call begins a series of reports on how local legislators voted on legislation that was approved in the 2017-2018 session by the House and Senate and signed into law by Gov. Charlie Baker. One vote was on the Legislature’s override of Baker’s veto. Continue reading Beacon Hill Roll Call Volume 43 – Report No. 50 December 10-14, 2018
The Marathon Sports “Bill Rodgers Jingle Bell Run” donated $2,000.00 to the Somerville High School Girls Soccer Team on Wed @ Soundbites in Ball Square…..accepting the check was Coach Tony Arias and George Scarpelli.
By Bob Katzen
A law that reduces the income tax rate and long-term capital gains tax rate from 5.10 percent to 5.05 percent will go into effect on January 1. These tax cuts do not need the approval of the Legislature. Continue reading INCOME TAX WILL BE REDUCED ON JANUARY 1
An excellent read! Makes for a perfect gift!
An absolute collectors item!
The book Stealing Somerville has been released! It is available on Amazon now and will soon be available on Barnes & Noble, Kindle and on bookstores shelves worldwide then the movie! 566 pages of telling the Curtatone‘s life story of corruption!
Continue reading Stealing Somerville, Death of an Urban City
