It is with great sadness that we inform you of the passing of Frank Palmisano. Frank passed away peacefully this Monday morning surrounded by his family. Frank was a wonderful person with a heart of gold and a million dollar personality. Continue reading Somerville/Medford Remembering Frank Palmisano →

Our sincere condolences, thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of George R. Eberlein on his passing.

He was always a big part of Saint Joseph’s Church in Union Square, a great man who helped anyone. He also helped with Pop Warner in his earlier days.

George R. Eberlein was a wonderful person who will be sadly missed here both in Somerville and Medford.

Obituary: Continue reading Somerville/Medford Remembering George R. Eberlein →

City also Secures $293,000 per Year Grant to Hire Two Additional Social Workers at Police Department

(MEDFORD)—Mayor Breanna Lungo-Koehn and Medford Police Chief Jack Buckley signed a 5-year contract for $330,000 last week with Motorola Solutions to equip the entire 100-person department with body-worn cameras. Continue reading City of Medford to Equip Police Officers with Body-Worn Cameras →

On Wednesday, January 5, 2022, I, Officer Sergio Costa was working patrol in full-uniform on the West District in cruiser (W-6) during my assigned 12AM-8AM shift. At approximately 1:00 AM, I, was dispatched to 247 Elm St, for a report of man hitting the door of the Burrem with a chair. Officer Jorge Morel (W-7) and Officer J. Brown (W-5) responded as back-up. Continue reading Real Life Somerville Police Stories: Brendan KEEFFE (ABPO, Disorderly, Resisting) →

Deborah Byrne
Relocation Director, Government Certified
Continue reading Congratulations to Deborah Byrne for Who has been awarded for the Highest Sales in Berkshire Hathaway for Month of December! →

Attached you will find our Press Outreach for January.
Please we did not get the grant for the taxi rides so rides will no longer be booked.
Any assistance in helping us get the word out would be much appreciated.
Thanks,

EVENTS

Bingo – Tuesdays at Ralph & Jenny Center starting at 10:00 a.m. and Thursdays at Holland Street starting at 10:00 a.m. Grab and Go lunch available following Bingo. RSVP to Debby Higgins by calling 617-625-6600, ext. 2321 or email Debby at DHiggins@Somervillema.gov Continue reading Somerville COA Press Outreach for January →

By Bob Katzen

“This study serves to reinforce what we have been saying for years: keeping flavored tobacco products, including menthol flavored cigarettes, off the shelves here in Massachusetts is making a measurable difference in slowing the state’s tobacco epidemic. Continue reading QUOTABLE QUOTES ON BEACON HILL →

By Bob Katzen

Here are three proposals that were the subject of a hearing by the Education Committee last week:

MENTAL HEALTH OF STUDENTS (H 572) – Adds mental health of students to the current list of physical illnesses that qualify as a legitimate reason for a student’s absence from school. Rep. Carol Doherty (D-Taunton) sponsored the legislation that was initiated and backed by the Class of 2021 at Oliver Ames High School in Easton.
Continue reading On Beacon Hill: SEVERAL BILLS HEARD BY THE EDUCATION COMMITTEE: →

By Bob Katzen

Another bill heard by the Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities Committee would require restaurants to make available to customers a photographic or visual menu that contains a written description and a photograph of each food and drink item to assist individuals with communication impairments with ordering. The state would be required to develop a program for restaurants to be designated as “Communication Impairment Friendly” and maintain a listing of restaurants receiving that designation on its website. Continue reading RESTAURANTS MUST MAKE A PICTURE MENU AVAILABLE (H 4027) →

By Bob Katzen

The Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities Committee held a hearing on legislation that would expand the current law that allows most family members, except spouses, to serve as a paid caregiver for relatives with disabilities who are eligible for nursing home care under MassHealth—the state’s Medicaid program that provides health care for low-income and disabled persons. The bill would allow a spouse to be a paid caregiver. Continue reading ALLOW SPOUSE TO BE A PAID CAREGIVER →

By Bob Katzen

The House 157-0, Senate 40-0, approved and Gov. Baker signed into law on April 1, 2022 a bill that supporters said will stabilize the state’s unemployment system and provide targeted tax relief to employers and workers. Continue reading HELP BUSINESSES AND WORKERS →

By Bob Katzen

The House 160-0, Senate 40-0, approved and Governor Baker signed into law a bill that includes authorizing $200 million in one-time funding for the maintenance and repair of local roads and bridges in cities and towns across the state. The $350 million package, a bond bill under which the funding would be borrowed by the state through the sale of bonds, also includes $150 million to pay for bus lanes, improvement of public transit, electric vehicles and other state transportation projects. Continue reading ROADS AND BRIDGES →

By Bob Katzen

The House 160-0, Senate 40-0, approved and Gov. Charlie Baker on July 16, 2021 signed into law, after vetoing several items, a $48.1 billion fiscal 2022 state budget for the fiscal year that that began on July 1.

The budget was based on new estimates that tax collections in fiscal year 2022 will increase by more than $4.2 billion above the amount originally predicted by the governor, the House and the Senate. In light of the pandemic, elected officials had for months braced themselves for a substantial decrease in tax revenues and a cut in some programs and/or even a tax increase. Continue reading $48.1 BILLION FISCAL 2022 BUDGET →