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The state is arranging to have ambulances on standby outside both Nashoba Valley Medical Center in Ayer and Carney Hospital in Dorchester for a week after the hospitals closed Saturday morning and is in talks to repurpose the Ayer hospital in some way, the governor's office said Friday. The two Steward Health Care hospitals closed at 7 a.m. Saturday, leaving about 1,200 people out of work and further limiting the health care options for residents in Dorchester and the Nashoba Valley region. An independent overseer warned this week that the "toxic combination" of longer emergency response and transport times and overtaxed emergency departments "will lead to dire results for patients needing emergency care" in northern Middlesex County.
TOWN OF FRANKLIN
Tues. Sep. 3
Master Plan Update Committee Meeting
6:30pm
Weds. Sep 4
10:00am
5:00pm
Economic Development Subcommittee Meeting
5:45pm
Friends of Franklin Library Meeting
7:00pm
7:00pm
Thurs. Sept 5
Conservation Commission Meeting
7:00pm
Cultural District Committee Meeting
7:00pm
TOWN OF MEDWAY
Tues. Sep. 3
7:00am to 8:00pm
7:00pm
7:00pm
7:00pm
Weds. Sep 4
ZBA-Public Hearing Notice-22 Field Rd-Special Permit/AFDU
7:30pm
Zoning Board of Appeals Meeting
7:30p
Thurs. Sept 5
6:00pm
Conservation Commission Meeting
7:30pm
STATE HOUSE AND BEYOND
Schools across Massachusetts that didn't start up before the holiday weekend are opening their doors this week and Tuesday marks the culmination of the ongoing primary elections, but there's a lot of news that could go down before then. At a time when hospitals are already struggling to meet demand, Saturday brings the closing of Steward Health Care community hospitals in Ayer and Dorchester amid warnings of potentially dire results for patients in the service areas of Nashoba Valley Medical Center and Carney Hospital. Meantime, contracts expire at midnight Saturday for about 4,500 workers at 35 Boston hotels and those workers are prepared to go on strike. Also Saturday, cities and towns across the state hold vigils and other community events to mark International Overdose Awareness Day. Monday's Labor Day holiday brings Democrats together for their traditional Labor Day speeches, which segue into election season. They plan to gather at the Boston Park Plaza Hotel, which is one of the many that employ workers who are ready to strike. Organizers say there are contingency plans in case hotel workers go on strike, including changing the event's location. Secretary of State William Galvin forecasts that only 15 percent of eligible voters will participate in Tuesday's primary elections, with choices sparse on many ballots due to lack of interest in running for public office. The House and Senate, which checked off a pair of major legislative accomplishments in August, are back in session Tuesday. Gov. Maura Healey may at any time this week sign an omnibus bill approved Thursday that addresses concerns in the long-term care industry. Seven other major bills that Democrats couldn't come to agreements on before formal sessions ended July 31 remain in play for possible consideration in informal sessions, or a possible special session in the case of an economic development bond bill, which requires a roll call vote that can't be taken during informals. Sales of four Steward Health care hospitals in Massachusetts that were finalized this week could emerge, along with other issues, during a U.S. Bankruptcy Court sales hearing scheduled for Wednesday. The Healey administration this week continued to keep under wraps the costs associated with keeping Steward hospitals under as they transition to new owners. Those costs appear to be growing as the saga plays out. Similarly, the state's embrace of offshore wind power has been marked by repeated delays and minimal competition among power sector developers. The state has postponed its selection of bidders for the next wave of contracts to erect more turbines south of the islands, but news on that front, including how much more wind power may cost, is currently on track for Friday.
Sunday, Sept. 1, 2024
ITALIAN FEAST: Republican candidate for U.S. Senate John Deaton attends the Society of St. Mary Italian Feast. (Sunday, 3 p.m., 44 Oak St., Hingham)
Monday, Sept. 2, 2024
LABOR DAY BREAKFAST: Greater Boston Labor Council holds its annual Labor Day breakfast. Gov. Maura Healey and Attorney General Campbell each give remarks. Campbell will her office's Fair Labor Division. Mayor Wu, U.S. Sens. Warren and Markey, and Congresswoman Pressley also attend. Organizers say there are contingency plans in case hotel workers go on strike, including changing the event's location. (Monday, 8:30 a.m., Boston Park Plaza Hotel, 50 Park Plaza, Boston)
MARLBOROUGH PARADE: Marlborough hosts its Labor Day Parade. Republican candidate for U.S. Senate John Deaton is among those marching. (Monday, 11:30 a.m., Pleasant and Chestnut streets, Marlborough)
LABOR DAY: State House is closed in observance of Labor Day. Registry of Motor Vehicles customer service centers are also closed for the day. (Monday)
Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2024
STATE PRIMARIES: Polls will be open statewide from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. for the state primary elections. (Tuesday, 7 a.m., Legislative Primaries Preview | Other Primaries Preview)
GALVIN VOTES: Secretary Galvin, the state's chief elections officer, casts his primary ballot at his local polling place, the Thomas A. Edison Middle School. He plans to be available to the media after voting. (Tuesday, 9:30 a.m., 60 Glenmont Rd., Brighton)
FITCHBURG AFFORDABLE HOUSING: U.S. Rep. Trahan, state Reps. Kushmerek, Higgins and Zlotnik, Fitchburg Mayor Sam Squailia, and other officials join staff from NewVue to discuss the status and components of NewVue Communities’ new affordable housing project. The group will then cross the street to tour the Fitchburg Arts Community Site, where construction began in November on 68 mixed-income, artist-preference apartments in three former municipal buildings. (Tuesday, 10:30 a.m., Fitchburg Art Museum, 185 Elm St., Fitchburg)
UMASS LOWELL CONVOCATION: UMass Lowell welcomes first-year and transfer students to campus at its convocation. Chancellor Julie Chen addresses students with news on the university’s Lowell Innovation Network Corridor, a public-private partnership meant to transform the city in the next decade. Keynote speaker is Vala Afshar, Salesforce’s chief digital evangelist and a UMass Lowell graduate. (Tuesday, 10:45 a.m., Tsongas Center at UMass Lowell, 300 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Lowell)
HOUSE: House holds an informal session. (Tuesday, 11 a.m., Room A-1 | Livestream)
SENATE: Senate meets without a calendar. (Tuesday, 11 a.m., Senate Chamber | Livestream)
CLINTON AFFORDABLE HOUSING: U.S. Rep. Trahan, Sen. Cronin, Rep. Kilcoyne and other officials join staff from WHEAT for the groundbreaking of the organization's new project in Clinton, which includes eight low-income transition housing units and will be home to the organization’s Community Pantry & Café and Hidden Treasures thrift store. (Tuesday, 12 p.m., 224-230 High St., Clinton)
LAFAYETTE IN WORCESTER: As a stop on the Lafayette Bicentennial Celebration Tour underway in Massachusetts, reenactors will gather in Worcester on Tuesday, on the bicentennial of the French military officers' stop in the city. The Marquis de Lafayette joined General George Washington's Continental Army and was an important figure in both the American and French Revolutions, and was an outspoken abolitionist. “The Lafayette visit to the City of Worcester marks a very important stop on the Massachusetts tour,” said Peter Reilly, the chairman of the Massachusetts committee organizing Lafayette’s tour across the state. “Lafayette enthusiasts often compare it to the reception of a rock star,” Reilly said. “In contemporary terms, Lafayette was not a rock star. He was a superhero.” (Tuesday, 1 p.m., Worcester Common)
Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2024
VETERANS ASSISTANCE EXPO: State and federal officials participate in New England's "VA 1-on-1 Veterans Assistance Expo." Veterans will get help with enrolling in health coverage through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, accessing education benefits, submitting disability claims, and navigating other resources tied to employment and housing. The event runs through 8 p.m. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., Gillette Stadium, W3 Entrance, Suite Level Blue and Red, One Patriot Place, Foxborough | More Info)
NEW PROSECUTORS: Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan welcomes the 2024 class of new prosecutors to her office. (Wednesday, 9:30 a.m., Middlesex District Attorney’s Office, 15 Commonwealth Ave., Woburn)
FIRE TRAINING COUNCIL: Massachusetts Fire Training Council Subcommittee meets ahead of the full council meeting. Agenda includes a review of the recruit assistance program policy. (Wednesday, 10 a.m., 1 State Road, Stow)
ENERGY EFFICIENCY: Executive Committee of the Energy Efficiency Advisory Council meets virtually. (Wednesday, 10 a.m. | Agenda and Access)
STEWARD SALE HEARING: Deals related to the sale of three Steward Health Care hospitals on four campuses in Massachusetts are expected to be presented to Judge Christopher Lopez at a long-delayed sale hearing in U.S. Bankruptcy Court. Steward announced Thursday that it finalized asset purchase agreements for Lifespan to buy Morton Hospital in Taunton and Saint Anne's Hospital in Fall River, and for Lawrence General Hospital to buy the Holy Family Hospital facilities in Methuen and Haverhill. Lifespan is buying the two hospitals for $175 million and Lawrence General is paying as much as $28 million for the Holy Family hospitals. Steward said it had more than $9 billion in liabilities when it filed for bankruptcy protections in May, and the company said in a court filing that the Lifespan and Lawrence General deals are each "the highest or otherwise best bid" and "presents the best opportunity to realize the maximum value" of the hospitals in order to pay back creditors. The hospital sales are expected to close by Sept. 30, and Steward expects Massachusetts state government to provide $42 million in bridge funding to keep the hospitals open during the month. In addition to court approval, the deals are also subject to various state and federal regulatory approvals. Steward is still working to finalize an agreement related to the sale of Good Samaritan Medical Center in Brockton and the operations of St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center in Brighton to Boston Medical Center. The company said Thursday that it wanted to reserve its right to also seek approval of the yet-to-be-detailed BMC deal at Wednesday's sale hearing. (Wednesday, 11 a.m. ET, Courtroom 401, 4th floor, 515 Rusk St., Houston, Texas | More Info)
GOVERNOR'S COUNCIL - HEATH ANTONIO: Governor's Council interviews New Bedford sole practitioner Heath Antonio, whom Gov. Healey nominated to the District Court bench on Aug. 23. Antonio was a Bristol County prosecutor from 1999 to 2004 including two years as chief of the office's Civil Rights Division. He is a Suffolk Law alumnus and past board member of the Bristol County Bar Advocates Program. (Wednesday, 11 a.m., Council Chamber | Livestream)
FIRE TRAINING COUNCIL: Massachusetts Fire Training Council meets. Agenda includes a fiscal affairs report, a legislative update, a Department of Fire Services update, nominations for new chairman, and a presentation on the recruit assistance program policy. (Wednesday, 11 a.m., 1 State Road, Stow | More Info)
SAFE ROUTES: MassDOT hosts an informational webinar as it launches a new round of funding through the Safe Routes to School program. The program will provide design services and up to $10,000 in construction funding to selected municipalities for low-cost infrastructure projects around public elementary, middle, or high schools. MassDOT said the goal of the projects should be to eliminate small barriers that students encounter when walking, bicycling, or using a wheeled mobility device to get to school. (Wednesday, 12 p.m., More Info)
MCB REHAB COUNCIL: Massachusetts Commission for the Blind's Rehabilitation Council meets virtually. Agenda items include a budget update, the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act plan, and an executive order. (Wednesday, 1 p.m. | Agenda and Livestream)
DISABLED PERSONS COMMISSION: Advisory Council for the Sexual Assault Response Unit within the Disabled Persons Protection Commission meets. For more info, contact Kathleen.Barthe@mass.gov. (Wednesday, 1:30 p.m.)
CLEAN WATER TRUST: Clean Water Trust Board of Trustees meets. Treasurer Goldberg chairs the meeting. (Wednesday, 1:30 p.m., Zoom)
BLIND VENDORS: Massachusetts Elected Committee of Blind Vendors meets remotely. (Wednesday, 5 p.m. | Agenda and Livestream)
OFFSHORE WIND COMMENT PERIOD: Massachusetts Interagency Offshore Wind Council opens a period of public comment on its draft Offshore Wind Strategic Plan's recommendations, including the strategies and actions intended to achieve the plan's goals. Energy & Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper established the council in April 2023 to develop a plan for the sector that Massachusetts hopes will provide a major economic boost while also providing an avenue for the state to live up to its carbon emission reduction commitments. Comment deadline is Sept. 18. (Wednesday, More Info)
GOVERNOR'S COUNCIL: Governor's Council meets and could vote on whether to confirm Assistant Attorney General Julie Green to a Superior Court judgeship. Green is deputy chief of the Constitutional and Administrative Law Division in the AG's office. (Wednesday, Time TBA, Council Chamber | Livestream)
Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024
SENATE: Senate meets without a calendar. (Thursday, 11 a.m., Senate Chamber)
MONEY TRAIN: Transportation for Massachusetts hosts the latest panel event in its "The Money Train: A Learning Series on Transportation Funding" series. Panelists will focus on congestion and "road pricing." Panel includes Director of Transport Accessibility for the Swedish Transport Administration Jonas Eliasson; Sreyus Palliyani, a consultant for Arthur D. Little in Dubai; Betsy Plum, executive director of New York-based Riders Alliance; and Matt Woodhouse, assistant vice president for engineering and professional services firm WSP USA Advisory. Kathryn Carlson, executive director of Harvard Kennedy School's Rappaport Institute for Greater Boston, moderates. The series examines how other states have made progress on funding their transportation systems and what the results have been. (Thursday, 12 p.m., Register)
STATE REHAB COUNCIL: Executive Committee of the State Rehabilitation Council meets virtually. (Thursday, 1 p.m. | Agenda and Livestream)
MCCA RETIREMENT TRUSTEES: The Massachusetts Convention Center Authority Retirement Liability trustees meet. Their agenda includes a vote on a custodial bank agreement. (Thursday, 2:30 p.m. | Agenda and Access)
STEWARD AND FUTURE OF CARE: Progressive Mass hosts a panel discussion about the Steward Health Care bankruptcy crisis and what it means for the future of health care in Massachusetts. Panelists include Paul Hattis, senior fellow at the Lown Institute; Katie Murphy, president of the Massachusetts Nurses Association; Alan Sager, director of the health reform program at BU School of Public Health; and Bill Walczak, founder of Codman Square Health Center. Enid Eckstein of JP Progressives moderates. (Thursday, 7 p.m., Register)
ONE FAIR WAGE FUNDRAISER: One Fair Wage, the national group pushing a ballot question in Massachusetts that would increase what businesses must pay tipped workers, hosts a fundraiser in West Hollywood where celebrities "will trade the limelight for aprons." Attendees including event chair Chrissy Teigen will serve tables to highlight the work One Fair Wage is doing to increase wages in the service industry, according to organizers. One Fair Wage said money raised will support its national efforts to raise both state and federal minimum wages and end the separate minimum wage for tipped workers. The group is pushing a ballot question that will go before voters in Massachusetts in November and similar efforts in several other states. (Thursday, 9 p.m. ET, West Hollywood, California | RSVP)
Friday, Sept. 6, 2024
DCR STEWARDSHIP: Stakeholders Committee of the DCR Stewardship Council meets virtually. (Friday, 8 a.m. | Agenda and Livestream)
BILLBOARD RESTRICTIONS: MassDOT holds a public hearing on a proposed regulatory amendment that "clarifies ambiguities about where billboards are permitted as it relates to roadway interchanges and ramps on MassDOT roadways," the department said. (Friday, 10 a.m., MassDOT Board Room, 2nd Floor, 10 Park Plaza, Boston | More Info and Access)
SURGERY, ANESTHESIA RATES: Executive Office of Health and Human Services holds a public hearing on updating rates for surgery and anesthesia, medicine and radiology services. One of the changes looks to boost the reimbursement rate for certified nurse midwives. Written testimony will be accepted through 5 p.m. (Friday, 10 a.m. | More Info and Access)
WIND PROJECT SELECTION: Friday is the latest deadline for an evaluation team led for the first time by the Department of Energy Resources to select an offshore wind project or multiple projects to advance to the contract negotiation phase of the state's latest procurement and for Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut to pick projects to advance in the tri-state procurement process. Massachusetts is seeking as much as 3,600 megawatts of offshore wind capacity in its fourth procurement round, and the tri-state partnership aims to coordinate selections for a combined 6,000 MW of offshore wind energy capacity. Massachusetts received proposals from three developers who also submitted their proposals for the multi-state solicitation: Vineyard Offshore, Avangrid Renewables and SouthCoast Wind. At their maximum, the projects that were bid to Massachusetts in March would represent a cumulative 4,270 MW of capacity. The developer Orsted also bid a 1,184 MW project to Rhode Island and Connecticut, making approximately 5,454 MW available for the multi-state effort. The trio of states will have discretion to cover their entire procurement authority with a multi-state project, or instead to combine single-state and multi-state projects within their allowable capacity. Friday could also answer a key question -- how much more expensive than the last projects selected (and then canceled) will the next projects cost? The companies submitted detailed pricing information with their bids in March, but they were allowed to redact many details around pricing and project specifics from the public versions of their documents. Long-term contracts for Massachusetts-selected projects are to be executed by Nov. 8 and submitted for Department of Public Utilities approval by Dec. 18. This offshore wind procurement process has already been delayed by months. Originally, projects were to have been selected to proceed to contract negotiations by June 12, contracts were to be executed by Aug. 14 and were supposed to be submitted to DPU by Sept. 18. Massachusetts is not currently receiving any energy from offshore wind installations since the federal government shut down power production at the under-construction Vineyard Wind 1 project amid an investigation of a wind blade that shattered and later detached from its turbine. (Friday | More Info)
BALLOT QUESTION FUNDRAISING: Campaigns supporting or opposing any of the five ballot questions that will go before voters in November must submit their first campaign finance reports of 2024 by Friday. The reporting deadline will give the public a glimpse at which groups are bankrolling the initiative petitions, which tend to generate pricey, intense political fights. Questions on the ballot this cycle deal with unionization for app-based drivers, increasing what businesses pay tipped workers, explicitly allowing the state auditor to audit the Legislature, eliminating MCAS exams as a graduation requirement, and decriminalizing some psychedelic substances. (Friday)
Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024
GROVELAND DAY: The annual family-friendly Groveland Day features rides and games, animals, craft, music, food, a vendor fair, a cornhole tournament and entertainment. This year, the town is adding an "Anything With Wheels Parade" that starts at 9:30 a.m. Auditor DiZoglio attends at 2 p.m. (Saturday, 10 a.m., Pines Recreation Area, Groveland)
MUSLIM WOMEN CIVIC ENGAGEMENT: Nazdam Alam Foundation hosts its first annual fundraiser dinner, focused on the "global empowerment of Muslim women through civic engagement." Speakers include Malik Nadeem Abid, secretary general and ambassador at large to the International Human Rights Commission, and Hena Zuberi, editor in chief of MuslimMatters.org. Auditor DiZoglio attends. (Saturday, Sept. 7., 6:30 p.m., Islamic Center of Boston, 126 Boston Post Road, Wayland)
