By Bob Katzen

The House gave initial approval to legislation that allows police to tow away and keep in storage for 12 hours the vehicle of anyone who is incapacitated following the use of drugs. The measure defines “incapacitated” as “disorderly, unconscious, in need of medical attention, likely to suffer or cause physical harm or damage property.” Continue reading TOWING CAR AFTER DRUG OVERDOSE →

By Bob Katzen

Governor Charlie Baker ordered all Massachusetts executive branch agencies to review their contracts and terminate any agreements with any executive department agency that is currently contracting with any Russian state-owned company or otherwise engaged in any partnership, affiliation, or exchange with any Russian state-owned company, Russian government-controlled entity or Russian governmental body. Continue reading STATE SANCTIONS AGAINST RUSSIA →

The Senate 40-0, approved and sent to the House legislation designed to ensure that pregnant and postpartum mothers get necessary and potentially life-saving health care by extending MassHealth insurance coverage to 12 months after pregnancy. MassHealth is the state’s Medicaid program that provides health care for low-income and disabled persons. . Continue reading PREGNANT AND POST PARTUM MOTHERS →

By Bob Katzen

The Senate 40-0 approved and sent to the House a bill that would require primary and secondary schools, homeless shelters and prisons to provide free disposable menstrual products in a convenient and non-stigmatizing way. Continue reading FREE MENSTRUAL PRODUCTS →

By Bob Katzen

The House 28-127, rejected an amendment that would eliminate a new charge that would add an estimated $1.37 to the average gas customer’s monthly bill. The estimated $23 million in new revenue would be used to fund training programs, tax credits and incentives for companies. Continue reading ELIMINATE THE ESTIMATED $1.37 PER CUSTOMER CHARGE TO FUND TAX CREDITS AND JOB TRAINING →

By Bob Katzen

The House 133-12, approved and sent to the Senate a bill to further develop and expand the offshore wind industry in Massachusetts. Provisions include investing hundreds of millions of dollars over the next decade in infrastructure, innovation, job training, supply chain capacity and transmission upgrades; providing job training, tax incentives, grants and loans; investing in long-term energy storage to help the state’s transition to renewable energy; and implementing a new charge that would add an estimated $1.37 to the average gas customer’s monthly bill to raise an estimated $23 million in new revenue that would be used to fund the programs, tax incentives and grants. Continue reading OFFSHORE WIND INDUSTRY →

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 & Organizational Outreach for 3-1-2022 →

Residents, landlords, business owners, and all members of the Medford community invited to participate ongoing Comprehensive Planning process. Continue reading Medford-Third Comprehensive Plan Community Meeting Scheduled for March 16th →

BOSTON – Today, in an audit of the Massachusetts Office for Victim Assistance’s (MOVA), the Office of State Auditor Suzanne M. Bump (OSA) found that none of MOVA’s employees received cybersecurity awareness training, as required by the Executive Office of Technology Services and Security. The audit, which examined the period of January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2020 recommends that MOVA establish policies and procedures requiring all staff members to receive mandatory cybersecurity awareness training. Continue reading Audit Recommends Improvements in Cybersecurity Practices at Massachusetts Office for Victim Assistance →

Mayor Katjana Ballantyne and the City of Somerville Housing Division are pleased to announce an income-restricted homeownership opportunity. Continue reading Affordable Homeownership Opportunity at 13 Alpine Street Condominiums →

Nwajei previously served as Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and as the Director of the Office of Human Rights for the State Department of Developmental Services Continue reading Mayor Lungo-Koehn Appoints Frances N. Nwajei as Medford’s Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion →

SOMERVILLE – With COVID-19 health indicators improving, the City of Somerville Board of Health has voted to end Somerville’s face covering mandate for indoor public spaces. Effective Saturday, March 5, the City will no longer require masks in privately owned indoor locations such as restaurants, stores, theaters, and gyms. Businesses, however, remain free to maintain their own mask requirements to best serve their health and safety needs. Continue reading Somerville Mask Mandate for Indoor Public Spaces to End Saturday, March 5 →

SYHA Alumni –

SYHA is hosting their 1st annual Somerville Youth Hockey Alumni Tournament at Veterans Rink in Somerville and we need you there! Teams of ~10 players will face off on the ice for the afternoon of games. Each team is guaranteed 2 games. Each game will be 2 15-minute running time periods. Continue reading Somerville Youth Hockey Assosiation (SYHA) Hosting 1st Annual Somerville Youth Hockey Alumni Tournament at Veterans Rink →

Our sincere condolences, thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of Mary A. Doherty on her passing.

Mary A. Doherty was a wonderful person who will be sadly missed here in both Somerville and Medford.

Obituary:

Mary A. Doherty, a resident of Melrose and formerly longtime of Somerville, passed away peacefully on Friday, March 4, 2022 at Glen Ridge Nursing Care in Medford, at age 82. Continue reading Somerville/Medford Remembering Mary A. Doherty →

Dear Billy T and Somerville/Medford News Weekly Speakup Line,

I seldom write on International issues or political parties but share important facts and comments sometimes. But, This week is the “…times that try men’s souls.” But not our Government..save for a few Senators. Ukraine needs BIG weapons, missiles LAST WEEK. Continue reading Somerville/Medford Speakup Line: Stop! In the Name of Soul →

PHILLIPPE’S OBITUARY

U.S. Veteran, Mr. Phillippe R. Flannery, of Somerville, passed away on March 2, 2022, he was one week shy of his 99th birthday. Born March 9, 1923 in Boston he was the son of Marie (Paquette) and Francis Flannery. He was the beloved husband of the late Doreen (Dionne) Flannery and a devoted father of 9 children. Kathleen Canney and her husband Edward, the late Rita Gotham and her surviving husband Edward, Beatrice Wood and her husband Ron, the late Claire McAskill and her late ex-husband Paul, Paul Flannery and his wife Valerie, Doris Walsh and her late husband Joseph, Ralph Flannery, Irene Flannery and her husband Jeffrey Blanz, Dan Flannery and his wife Maureen. He also leaves his only brother Ovide Flannery, 11 loving grandchildren and many great grandchildren. Continue reading Somerville/Medford Remembering Mr. Phillippe R. Flannery →

IRENE’S OBITUARY
Irene Marie (Caruso) Batastini, also known as “NANA”, 87, peacefully passed on March 2,
2022 in Boston.
Born in Boston on November 7, 1934, Irene resided in Somerville, Ma. Continue reading Somerville/Medford Remembering Irene Marie (Caruso) Batastini →

Album: SNAPSHOTS
Artist: June Millington
Make Me Happy 2:51
1)June Millington’s Snapshots CDs starts off with a pure pop confection that sounds as if Laura Nyro and Paul McCartney decided to create a combination of their skills. At two minutes and fifty-one seconds it would fit on 2022 radio as easily as it would the year 1965. Fun production too. Continue reading Joe Vig’s First Impressions …inside the Hotline to the Underground →

Click on link below to read March 1st, 2022 The Somerville Medford News Weekly Print Edition OnlineMarch 1st, 2022 The Somerville Medford News Weekly Print Edition Online (1)

Our sincere condolences, thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of Henry Szeto on his passing.

Henry was the founder of the Boston Chinatown Lion’s Club as well as a mentor and very good friend to many of us here at the Somerville Lion’s Club for decades. Continue reading Somerville/Medford Remembering Henry Szeto →