On Monday, January 31, 2022, while working a First Half shift, assigned to marked unit West 7, at approximately 6:38 PM marked Unit West 6 (Officer Kevin Goulart) and I, were dispatched to 139B Alewife Brook Pkwy for a suspicious person call. Continue reading Real Life Somerville Police Stories: James FLYNN (Motor Vehicle Vandalism, Attempt to Commit Crime) →

ELINOR’S OBITUARY

McLaughlin, Elinor Theresa – Born April 26th 1945, known to many as Petty, passed away January 26th 2022.
Elinor was born in Boston to parents Charles and Eleanor, survived by her brother Charles McLaughlin Jr and his three sons Brian, Kevin and Sean McLaughlin and their families.
Elinor was raised in Somerville, Massachusetts where she attended Somerville High School, Class of 1962. Continue reading Somerville/Medford Remembering Elinor T. McLaughlin →

By Bob Katzen

“The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will deliver billions in funding to the commonwealth, helping to build on the investments our administration has made over the past seven years to improve our roads and bridges, and make our public transportation system more reliable and resilient.” Continue reading This Week’s QUOTABLE QUOTES on Beacon Hill →

By Bob Katzen

The House gave initial approval to a bill that would allow some personnel from city and town school districts to work for educational collaborative where services are needed. Continue reading EDUCATIONAL COLLABORATIVES →

By Bob Katzen

The House gave initial approval to a measure that would double fines for motor vehicles speeding in the breakdown lane. Continue reading DOUBLE FINES FOR SPEEDING IN THE BREAKDOWN LANE →

By Bob Katzen

The House gave initial approval to a proposal that would require a professional land surveyor working on a preliminary design for a new facility or renovation where excavation is necessary to pre-mark the proposed excavation.

Continue reading EXCAVATION SAFETY BILL (H 3297) →

The House approved legislation that would require EMS personnel to provide emergency treatment to a police dog and use an ambulance to transport the dog injured in the line of duty to a veterinary clinic or veterinary hospital if there are not people requiring emergency medical treatment or transport at that time. The Senate has already approved its own version of the measure and the House version now goes back to the Senate for consideration. Continue reading ALLOW AMBULANCES TO BE USED FOR INJURED POLICE DOGS – NERO’S LAW →

By Bob Katzen

The House gave initial approval to a proposal that would require every city and town that receives transportation funds from the state, to conduct a study to expand the number of bicycle routes on public roadways within the city or town. Reports from each city and town’s study would be due in six months. Continue reading STUDY EXPANDING BICYCLE LANES →

By Bob Katzen

The House and Senate approved and sent to Gov.Baker a $101 million COVID-19 response bill. Key provisions include increasing the number of COVID-19 testing sites and COVID-19 tests; the acquisition and distribution of high-quality personal protective masks, including N95s and KN95s, to be distributed to health care workers and children and faculty in elementary and secondary public-school districts; increasing vaccination rates among kids ages five to 11 whose vaccination rates remain low in comparison to older residents; and recapitalizing the COVID-19 Paid Sick Leave Program. The measure also mandates that the Baker administration pursue the highest allowable rate of federal reimbursement for the $101 million package. Continue reading $101 MILLION FOR COVID-19 RESPONSE →

By Bob Katzen

The House 29-128, rejected an amendment that would require that any voting software or voting machine that is used to process early, absentee or mail-in voting prior to Election Day must be secured at all times once the processing has begun. At the end of each processing period, the machine, software and ballots must be secured by a police officer and an election official either in a secured vault at the city or town hall or at the police station in a private cell—and must remain under video surveillance. Continue reading SECURE VOTING MACHINES →

By Bob Katzen

The House 28-130, rejected an amendment that would require that any polling place that requires a voter to prove he or she is vaccinated, by presenting his or her vaccination card, to also show suitable identification to demonstrate proof of residence to the local election officer. Continue reading MUST PROVIDE PROOF OF RESIDENCY →

By Bob Katzen

The House 32-126, rejected an amendment to a current law that imposes up to a $10,000 fine and/or up to a 5-year prison sentence on anyone who knowingly engages in any type of voting fraud including illegally registering to vote; illegally voting or attempting to vote; voting more than once; and aiding and abetting a person who is illegally voting. The amendment would raise the fine to up to $20,000. Continue reading RAISE PENALTIES FOR VOTER FRAUD →

Going Track by Track with Joe Viglione

Artist: Bird Mancini

CD: The One Delight Continue reading Bird Mancini GOING TRACK BY TRACK →

For those who enjoy extreme drama and outer space battle, Moonfall will fit the bill with some captivating moments that outweigh the excesses. See the first five minutes of film here on YouTube: https://youtu.be/RKtcfFrLuC0
Continue reading MOONFALL… Directed by: Roland Emmerich – a Joe Viglione Film Review →