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Thursday, April 28, 2011

Bates Bridge Traffic Management Plans - Stage 2 - Groveland

This week the Bates Bridge Reconstruction traffic management plans moved into its second stage on the Groveland side, altering the traffic flow.

To create a work zone, Jersey barriers have been installed along Main Street from the post office to the existing bridge.

As you may have noticed, the barriers have taken the right turn lane near the bridge for use as a sidewalk for pedestrians. For the duration of Stage 2, stop signs will be replacing the existing flashing signals at the intersection. This phase of the construction process on the Groveland side is estimated to last until spring 2012.

Below you can see the traffic management plan. (click to enlarge)



Wednesday, April 27, 2011

State House Column


We’re in the midst of my 17th state budget, which has always been a really rewarding part of this job. Numbers are my forte and knowing where $30 billion of state dollars went was always heady stuff.

Not so much this time.

When I first came to Beacon Hill, budget week was a blast. The Flaherty-Finneran process was (barely) controlled chaos with groups of representatives huddling everywhere in the Chamber. We took up about 600 amendments individually and decisions were made before your eyes. Legislators actually had to cast up or down votes.

About a decade ago, that changed. The budget moved to Room #348 and amendments were “consolidated.” At first, the Finneran-Rogers approach seemed to make some sense: the volume of amendments was skyrocketing and the process was unwieldy. The intent was to streamline the process; the result was to centralize the process. 600 amendments shrank to 60.

Then came DiMasi-DeLeo, DeLeo-Murphy and now DeLeo-Dempsey. This year, we’re doing about 15 super-consolidated amendments, all written behind closed doors.

Right now, I’m in my State House office on the third of four days of budget debate. Eight hours of House session on Monday and thirteen on Tuesday (not to mention the eight hours we’ve been in session today) has only yielded two hours of debate.

A major change in how public unions bargain over health care with municipalities was decided behind closed doors, then brought to the floor, debated, and passed in 30 minutes.

Today, controlled chaos looks pretty good. Yes, it was hard to get budgets done and the final document contained dozens of typos and misprints. But we were all part of the process. We all left the State House exhausted and exhilarated.

Now we leave exhausted and debilitated.

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Groveland Boy Scouts Electronics Collection Fundraiser

Groveland Cub Scout Pack 113 and Boy Scout Troop 87 will be hosting an Electronics Collections Fundraiser at Perry Park, Route 113, and King Street in Groveland. This event takes place Saturday, May 14, from 9 AM to 1 PM.

Obsolete and outdated electronics from monitors to laptops to TV screens can be dropped off, and for a small fee (see below) the Scouts will recycle them safely and environmentally responsibly. All are welcome to participate in the recycling program!

For further information and contact information for local pick-up for the elderly/disabled, please visit the
Groveland Boys Scouts website.



Groveland Boy Scouts Electronics Recycling Drive Price List

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Children's Hospital Blood Drive

This Thursday, April 21st, the Georgetown Knights of Columbus will be hosting a blood drive at 73 East Main Street from 2 P.M. to 7 P.M. benefiting the Children's Hospital.


To make an appointment to donate blood, please call Ray McManus at 978-352-3828.

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Monday, April 4, 2011

Spring Office Hours

Rep. Stanley's office will be holding Spring Office Hours in Newbury and Rowley on Tuesday, April 12.


All area residents are invited to come by the Newbury Town Hall from 10:30 AM to 12:00 PM or the Rowley Town Hall Annex from 2:00 PM to 3:30 PM.

Residents who cannot come are always welcome to call the office at 617-722-2030.