December 31st 2024 The Somerville Medford News Weekly Print Edition Online

By Bob Katzen

Special Snowplow Edition

   The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) announced the winners of the third annual “Name A Snowplow” contest for elementary and middle school students in Massachusetts. 

   The contest received entries from public school classrooms located all across the state to name the 12 MassDOT snowplows that will be in service during this 2024-2025 winter season. The purpose of the contest is to celebrate the snow and ice season and to help recognize the hard work and dedication shown by public works employees and contractors during the winter season.   

By Bob Katzen

The Senate approved and sent to the House legislation that would change the name of the Executive Office of Elder Affairs to the Executive Office of Aging and Independence. The proposal also replaces outdated language in the state’s lawbooks, including changing “elderly persons,” to “older adults” and “handicapped” to “adults with a disability.” The new legislation also incorporates gender-neutral language into current law. The original version of the bill was filed by Gov. Healey in May.

The Senate approved a House-approved proposal, originally sponsored by Gov. Healey, which would prevent commercial drivers from losing their licenses due to passenger vehicle offenses they committed prior to September 30, 2005.

The Registry of Motor Vehicles recently notified hundreds of bus and truck drivers that they were ineligible for commercial licenses due to at least two past major offenses, blindsiding many motorists who for years thought their infractions were behind them.

   “Over time, the relevance and predictive value of these older offenses has diminished, particularly for those drivers who have remained offense-free since,” said Healey. “In most circumstances, a commercial driver who meets the safety requirements of federal law should not be disqualified from driving due solely to passenger vehicle offenses that occurred 19 or more years ago.” She noted her bill would remove consideration of pre-September 30, 2005 passenger vehicle offenses from our disqualification law, except for multiple instances of operating under the influence.

By Bob Katzen

The Senate approved a House approved proposal, originally sponsored by Gov. Healey, which would prevent commercial drivers from losing their licenses due to passenger vehicle offenses they committed prior to September 30, 2005.

By Bob Katzen

The House approved and sent to the Senate legislation waiving, for six years, until 2030, a law that requires businesses and groups to have a 35 percent participation rate in order to qualify for group auto and home insurance discount rates. The measure permits groups with less than the 35 percent participation to take advantage of group rates, which supporters said will save members between 5 percent and 8 percent. The law has been waived since 1997. The 35 percent requirement was first included in a 1973 law.

By Bob Katzen

Gov. Healey signed an Executive Order to increase the participation of women and historically underrepresented groups in construction.

   The Executive Order establishes a Diverse and Equitable Construction Workforce Participation Committee to facilitate interagency collaboration on this work. It also identifies and encourages best practices for state agencies to encourage equitable workforce participation in construction, such as utilizing registered apprentices, hiring local businesses and those with a record of hiring women and underrepresented groups, and encouraging contractors to provide supportive services like childcare. The committee will also work with state agencies on data collection to measure the workforce participation of women and underrepresented groups.

By Bob Katzen

Gov. Healey signed into law legislation that supporters say would expand non-opioid pain treatments; establish licenses for recovery coaches; support pregnant women and their children who have been exposed to substances; and vastly expand access to opioid-reversal drugs.

By Bob Katzen

The Senate approved a House-approved bill that would require that student ID cards include the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline phone numbers and text message numbers. 

Interested in a role helping to protect your community? Take the 2025 Police Officer Exam. Applications are being accepted through Tuesday, January 28.

Have you noticed sand barrels around your neighborhood? The City of Somerville Department of Public Works has distributed sand citywide for residential use.

The City’s Inspectional Services Department and the SomerViva Office of Immigrant Affairs invite community members to attend a virtual workshop about rodents on Thursday, January 9, from 5 to 6 p.m. online via Zoom.

Mayor Katjana Ballantyne and the SomerViva Office of Immigrant Affairs, in collaboration with Saint Benedict Church, invite community members to a festive Three Kings Day celebration on Sunday, January 5, at the Prospect Hill Charter School cafeteria (17 Franklin St.) from noon to 3 p.m. 

The City of Somerville warmly invites community members to attend its Mid-Term Ceremonies and Addresses on Monday, January 6, in the City Hall Council Chamber (93 Highland Ave.). Speeches will begin at approximately at 5:30 p.m.

Obituary

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of David Elliott Denny from cancer on the morning of December 21, 2024. A Senior Design Engineer at Boston Water and Sewer Commission, David had an insatiable love for learning that led him to additional pursuits as a land surveyor, an enthusiastic volunteer for Habitat for Humanity (for which he was awarded a Golden Hammer), classes toward a nursing degree, and even occasional piano lessons.

Obituary

James K. Cafferky Jr., affectionately known as Jimmy, passed away peacefully on December 29, 2024, in Medford. He was the beloved son of Carole J. Cafferky and the late James K. Cafferky Sr. Jimmy was a cherished brother to Carolyn Brosnan of Medford, Elizabeth Sudkin of Natick, Christopher Cafferky and his wife Erin of Medford, John Cafferky and his wife Traci of Winchester, Stephen Cafferky of Somerville, and Jennifer Cafferky of Somerville. He is also survived by many nieces, nephews, and cousins.