Saturday, May 18, 2013
Recap and analysis of the week in state government.
Like pieces of a puzzle that don't quite fit together yet, the Big Three may have been separated at birth, but with each incremental step their destinies seem to grow more intertwined. No, we're not talking about those Big Three - Gov. Deval Patrick, Senate President Therese Murray and Speaker Robert DeLeo - though they play major character roles in this thickening plot. Instead, three bills have come to define the early months of the 2013 legislative agenda and resolutions on tax hikes, local road funding and the annual state budget continue to be elusive and dependent on one another. Patrick spent the early part of his week welcoming British Prime Minister David Cameron to Boston for a few quick meetings and a visit to the Copley …
Thursday, May 16, 2013
USPS sent a representative to a selectmen's meeting last month, possibly eliminating the chance for residents to voice their opinions on the subject.
Almost a year ago, the United States Postal Service let postal workers and officials in town know that they were considering selling the Haven Street post office. USPS coordinator for the project Michael Foley told the Chronicle that they would need to find a buyer first. Then last month, USPS started the official process for closing the office, savethepostoffice.com said. Some services may be relocated to the Woburn facility if the building is sold. To sell the post office, USPS has to go through two legal processes, according to savethepostoffice.com. One process for making the decision to move the retail services and another for selling a historic building. The regulations on re-locations allow for public input before any decisions are …
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Governor Deval Patrick announced the judicial nominations of five experienced attorneys, one to the District Court and four to the Probate and Family Court.
Saturday, May 11, 2013
Results from a recent executive survey ranked Massachusetts 47th for business.
A CEO magazine ranks Massachusetts as one of the worst states in the nation for business. Chief Executive Magazine ranked Massachusetts 47th based on a survey of corporate leaders. Survey respondents reported the Bay State is one of the worst for taxation and regulation. The state Republican Party is pointing to the survey and saying that Gov. Deval Patrick and the Democratic-led Legislature are bad for the economy and business. What do you think about Massachusetts’ business climate? Is this a good state in which to do business?
Recap and analysis of the week in state government.
Massachusetts' problem is now Virginia's. After a macabre, around-the-clock stakeout of a Worcester funeral home this week by frenzied reporters and furious protestors, the remains of alleged Boston Marathon bomber Tamerlan Tsarnaev were secreted out of central Massachusetts and buried in a small Muslim cemetery in rural Virginia. No cemetery in Massachusetts, or public official for that matter, wanted Tsarnaev's body. And Gov. Deval Patrick just seemed relieved the tense standoff was over. "No. I have enough to do," Patrick said, when asked if he wished he had gotten involved to end the theatrics sooner. The April 15 attacks on the finish line of the Boston Marathon threw Beacon Hill policymakers off stride, quieting the raging debate …
Friday, May 10, 2013
David Mancuso was appointed to the board Tuesday night, and will take Marsie West's seat.
David Mancuso ran for the RMLD Board of Commissioners in this year's election, but did not win. However, he was appointed to the board Tuesday evening and will be a member until 2015. There was an open seat on the Board of Commissioners as Marsie West had to step down after being elected to the Board of Selectmen. Mancuso was appointed to the board by both the selectmen and existing commissioners Tuesday. Mancuso served as a regional vice president for external affairs for a Fortune 50 company and has experience in strategic planning; executive, legislative and regulatory branches of government; and the oversight of municipal community affairs, he said. He has served as the vice chairman of the Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce and is a …
The celebration will take place on May 23.
Residents are invited to celebrate the career of Town Manager Peter Hechenbleikner on Thursday, May 23. The celebration will take place at the Hillview Country Club. Hechenbleikner has been Reading's town manager since 1986, and the first to hold the position. He will retire on June 1 and Assistant Town Manager and Finance Director Robert LeLacheur will take over. Join other residents and town employees to celebrate his career at the Hillview Country Club on May 23. There will be a social hour at 5:30 and dinner at 6:45 p.m. There is limited seating, so RSVP to LeLacheur as soon as possible. Send your name, email address, choice of statler chicken or baked haddock and check for $45 per person made out to Robert LeLacheur to 47 County Road…
Thursday, May 9, 2013
Congressman leads Gabriel Gomez by 17 points.
A new Suffolk University/7NEWS (WHDH) poll shows a strong lead for Democratic U.S. Congressman Edward Markey over Republican businessman and former U.S. Navy SEAL Gabriel Gomez in the race for the U.S. Senate special election. The poll of 500 likely voters has Markey at 52 percent and Gomez at 35 percent. Eleven percent of voters in the poll were undecided. A third-party candidate, Richard Heos of the Twelve Visions Party, got 1 percent and another 1 percent refused to respond. David Paleologos, director of the Suffolk University Political Research Center in Boston, said along with the announcement of the poll that Markey has "a large lead over his Republican opponent who voters are unsure about." Indeed, 32 percent of those polled said …
The selectmen were in favor of a moratorium Tuesday evening.
Last Fall, Town Meeting voted for a zoning bylaw that prohibited medical marijuana dispensaries in town. However, Attorney General Martha Coakley did not approve the bylaw given that it conflicts with state law. The selectmen are now in favor of imposing a temporary moratorium for dispensaries. The Community Planning and Development Commission and Town Meeting will have to be in favor of the moratorium as well before it is finalized. After Coakley's decision to overturn the zoning bylaw, the town had four choices, according to Town Manager Peter Hechenbleikner: Selectman Daniel Ensminger was not in favor of joining Wakefield in the appeal. "I would not want to see us join the law suit," he said. He was leaning toward the zoning …
Donate food items to the food pantry this weekend.
Reading's Stamp Out Hunger event is this Saturday, according to the Chronicle. Residents can make a donation to the Reading Food Pantry without leaving home. Place your groceries outside near your mailbox and your mail carrier will bring them to the food pantry at Old South United Methodist Church. Once mail carriers drop off the donations at the food pantry, the food will have to be sorted and shelved. If you would like to volunteer to help, stop by the food pantry between 11:30 a.m. and 5 p.m, the Chronicle said. Refreshments will be available. Here is a list of items that are most needed:
Matt
1:00 pm on Saturday, May 18, 2013
Oh come on Rob C you don't to spend $14 to take a train ride to beautiful down town New Bedford? And John doe III give that money back to tax payers oh man your so funny. Its a good idea but you have a better chance of seeing the Pats, Red Sox ,Celtics and Bruins win the championship all in the same year. more ›