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Judge Amy Blake, candidate for chief justice of the Appeals Court, was joined by a crowd of supporters at her public interview before the Governor's Council on Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024.
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STATE
HOUSE AND BEYOND
Beacon Hill entered a new dimension this week, shot by senators into an orbit where rules that have long been followed are bent to to help move major bills to Gov. Maura Healey's desk in the days before the biennial election. Stepping around a joint rule that makes formal sessions out of bounds during election season, the Senate adopted an order that suddenly sprung a full-blown formal session on Thursday, culminating with a 38-2 vote to pass a compromise clean energy bill. When the bill arrived in the House, Democrats deflected a Republican plan to facilitate a similar debate and roll call vote on the bill, but didn't have enough of their own members present to muscle the important legislation through in an informal session. House Democrats could turn out for Monday's session and push the bill through, and if they don't, Republicans seem poised to keep the legislation from advancing until there's a quorum or unless Speaker Ron Mariano's team agrees to allow debate on the bill and a recorded vote.
With just over two months left in the two-year session, the Senate under its newly approved order has the option to hold formal sessions for any bill that emerges from a six-person conference committee. That includes significant bills addressing health care oversight, prescription drug pricing and access, and substance use disorder treatment. The Senate on Thursday also approved a fiscal 2024 supplemental budget, and the House next week has the option of sending the so-called closeout budget to yet another new conference committee. A major economic development bill is nearly finished too, according to the lawmakers who are privately assembling it, and Mariano even mentioned getting the jobs bill done before the election on Nov. 5. Having now seen the Senate's approach to circumventing the joint rule on formal sessions, House Democrats may soon need to show their hand on how they plan to execute a formal session to take up an economic development accord, which is required since the borrowing it will call for requires a roll call vote. While elected officials work to keep themselves in the news by taking victory laps with each law they pass during election season, they could have avoided the unusual situation by getting most major work done before formal sessions ended in July 31. That was the custom over the more than two decades since a joint "carryover" rule was passed to keep bills alive throughout the session rather than requiring them to be refiled at the start of the second year of the two-year session.
Now politics is closer than ever to policymaking. The Democrats who couldn't muster a quorum to pass the critical clean energy bill on Thursday issues a statement that seemed straight out of a campaign playbook. "It's incredibly disappointing that House Republicans, consistent with the national GOP playbook that includes denying climate change and opposing all efforts to transition away from fossil fuels, delayed the passage of a clean energy bill that will help to ensure that Massachusetts remains a national leader in the effort to combat climate change," Mariano spokeswoman Ana Vivas said Thursday.
Storylines In Progress
... With early voting underway and the voter registration deadline passing (Oct. 26), it's the last full week for candidates and supporters and opponents of five statewide ballot questions to spread their messages before the election culminates on Nov. 5 ... The Massachusetts Convention Center Authority and the Cannabis Control Commission are set to interview executive director finalist candidates on Monday ... Lawmakers convene a hearing Wednesday to finally respond to the calls for better oversight and potential reforms at the Cannabis Control Commission ... The City of Boston's property tax drama continues to unfold, with plans for a hearing Tuesday and a potential vote on Wednesday to send a redrafted home rule petition to Beacon Hill after the first one stalled out ... State House News Service and MASSterList hold a policy forum Wednesday to talk with experts about the shifting health care landscape in the wake of the Steward Health Care bankruptcy ... A new Greater Boston Chamber series on transportation starts Wednesday with a look at regional transit systems ... Also Wednesday, Judge Amy Blake is poised to be confirmed as the first woman to serve as chief justice of the Appeals Court ... A commission formed to explore ways to fight antisemitism holds its first meeting as lawmakers consider pushing back its reporting deadline ...
Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024
WU ON 4: Boston Mayor Wu talks with Jon Keller about her compromise with business leaders over shifting the property tax burden in Boston onto commercial payers, along with the city's declining status as a corporate headquarters location and the debate over dropping the MCAS test as a requirement for high school graduation. (Sunday, 8:30 a.m., WBZ-TV Ch. 4)
DEATON PATS TAILGATE: Republican U.S. Senate candidate John Deaton attends a tailgate party before the 1-6 Patriots play the 2-5 Jets. (Sunday, 10 a.m., Rodman Ford, 45 Washington St., Foxborough)
MARKEY "ON THE RECORD" | Sen. Ed Markey is the featured guest on WCVB'S weekly "On The Record" program. (Sunday, 11 a.m., Channel 5)
NEWTON DEMS BRUNCH: Senate Majority Leader Creem speaks at the Newton Democratic City Committee's annual brunch, honoring retiring Reps. Balser and Khan. (Sunday, 11 a.m., 295 California St., Newton)
CHELSEA HEALTH SERVICES: WCVB's "CityLine" program looks at Bridge To Health, a new initiative of La Colaborativa and Mass General Brigham to bring health services and prevention programs to the La Colaborativa Survival Center in Chelsea. Services will include screening for conditions like hypertension and diabetes. "Over half of Hispanic adults in the U-S are predicted to develop Type 2 diabetes during their lives, according to the Centers for Disease Control--that's more than 30 million people. Dr. Janine Marie Suarez with the Latinx Diabetes Clinic at Joslin Diabetes Center joins us to discuss the outreach and supports available to these patients," the program said. Hosted by Karen Holmes Ward. (Sunday, 12 p.m., WCVB-TV Ch. 5)
NEW BEDFORD SQUARE DEDICATION: New Bedford dedicates a town square as Saulnier Square in honor of deceased World War II veteran Roland Saulnier. Mayor Jon Mitchell and other elected officials are expected to attend. (Sunday, 12:30 p.m., Saulnier Square, corner of Brock Avenue and Ruth St., South End Public Safety Center, New Bedford)
DEATON HALLOWEEN: U.S. Senate candidate John Deaton, Republican of Bolton, joins his family on the Bolton Halloween Treat Walk. (Sunday, 1:30 p.m., 20 Wattaquadock Hill Rd., Bolton)
RIGHT TO SHELTER PROTEST: Advocates hold a rally to call on Gov. Healey to reverse recent changes made to the state's shelter policy that they say "[forced] children and their families out of shelter with no safe place to sleep at night." UUMass Action, Homes for All, Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless and Massachusetts Law Reform Institute lead the rally. (Sunday, 6 p.m., First Parish Arlington, 630 Massachusetts Ave., Arlington)
Monday, Oct. 28, 2024
HEALTH CARE SUMMIT: Health and Human Services Secretary Walsh is the keynote speaker at UMass Amherst's second annual health care summit. Lawmakers and government officials, health care providers and clinicians, and faculty and students from the Marieb Nursing College are invited to explore solutions to issues around recruiting and retaining health care workers, educating and training workers, and barriers to health care careers. UMass Amherst Chancellor Javier Reyes, Sen. Comerford of Northampton, and Rep. Domb of Amherst are scheduled to speak. "This summit gives us an opportunity to find common-ground solutions to some of our most stubborn and difficult healthcare challenges. The combination of providers and government agencies and officials that attend allow for real, in-depth discussions which are not often easily attainable," Comerford said in an advisory. Light breakfast included. (Monday, 7:30 a.m., Student Union Ballroom, 41 Campus Center Way, Amherst)
CCC EXEC DIRECTOR VOTE: Cannabis Control Commission meets to interview four finalists to be the agency's next executive director, deliberate, and vote. The agency is currently without a permanent executive director while in the spotlight for a series of personnel disputes. The CCC's inaugural executive director, Shawn Collins, resigned in late 2023. The final four candidates are: Travis Ahern, Matt Giancola, Marty Golightly and David Lakeman, according to the CCC's meeting agenda. (Monday, 9:30 a.m., Worcester Union Station, 2 Washington Sq., Worcester | Remote Access and Agenda)
SENATE SESSION: Senate meets without a calendar. Under an order that senators adopted Oct. 24, formal business including roll call votes can occur at any session this fall if a conference committee report comes to the floor. (Monday, 11 a.m., Senate Chamber | Livestream)
HOUSE SESSION: House holds an informal session, where Democrats have another chance to try to advance a conference committee report proposing a sprawling new clean energy law. Democrats on Thursday blocked a Republican attempt to put an order on the floor enabling the bill to be considered in a formal session environment where a roll call vote could have been held. Republicans then brought the session to an end by doubting the presence of a quorum, which was not present. (Monday, 11 a.m., House Chamber | Livestream)
EARLY ED GRANTS: Department of Early Education and Care holds a bidders conference to discuss the application process for grants through the Early Education and Out of School Time Capital Fund. The session is focused on large capital grants for non-profit programs, and officials say grants of up to $1 million can be awarded. The money can be used to acquire property or buildings and rehab eligible facilities, among other development costs. (Monday, 11 a.m. | Register)
MAYORS FOR QUESTION 4: West Springfield Mayor William Reichelt, Holyoke Mayor Joshua Garcia and Easthampton Mayor Nicole LaChapelle will talk about their support for Question 4 dealing with access to and the growing of natural psychedelic medicines. (Monday, 1 p.m., West Springfield Town Hall, 26 Central St, West Springfield)
MASSTALENT: Labor and Workforce Development Secretary Jones launches "new, significant enhancements" to the MassTalent platform which connects employers and jobseekers. She is joined by MassCEC CEO Emily Reichert and other officials. (Monday, 1:15 p.m., National Grid Headquarters, 170 Data Dr., Waltham)
MCCA EXEC DIRECTOR VOTE: Massachusetts Convention Center Authority meets and could possibly vote on its next executive director, according to its agenda, almost a full year after former director David Gibbons stepped down. The board is about five months late on the timeline its board leader originally laid out to choose a new director. Since last December, Gloria Cordes Larson has been temporarily leading the agency. At the time, Board Chair Emme Handy said Larson would serve in the role for six months. The MCCA Board has been meeting frequently and in long sessions over the past several months to try to choose its next director. On Monday's agenda is a review of the executive director selection process, interview and consideration of two candidates, and a possible vote. (Monday, 1:30 p.m., MCCA Meeting Room 162A, 415 Summer St., Boston | Teams)
PUBLIC CONTRACTING MOU: Mayor Michelle Wu joins Cambridge City Manager Yi-An Huang and Cambridge Mayor E. Denise Simmons to sign a memorandum of understanding to increase public contracting for minority-owned, veteran-owned, and women-owned business enterprises. (Monday, 1:45 p.m., Eagle Room, 5th Floor, City Hall, Boston)
WHITE STADIUM STANDOUT: Advocates against the City of Boston's plan to renovate White Stadium in Franklin Park for Boston Public School teams and a professional women's soccer team, BOS Nation Football Club, hold a standout. They say the renovation will require as many as 150 trees to be cut down in the park. Organizers say the rally will feature a costumed "Lorax," the Dr. Suess character who "speaks for the trees." (Monday, 5 p.m., White Stadiu, North Entrance, Boston)
EV CHARGING STATIONS: MassDOT holds an open house to provide updates and take questions on its Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Deployment Plan designed to deploy charging stations and establish an interconnected network across Massachusetts. (Monday, 6 p.m., Greenfield Public Library, 412 Main St., Greenfield | More Info)
PUBLIC SERVICE COMMITTEE: Joint Committee on Public Service continues to receive written testimony until 5 p.m. Friday relative to five late-file bills that affect individual public employees. (Monday | More Info)
PARTIAL ORANGE LINE CLOSURE: The Orange Line is closed for track work between Oak Grove and North Station from Oct. 28 through Nov. 1. Free shuttle buses will travel the full length of the closure, and riders can take the Haverhill commuter rail for free between Oak Grove, Malden Center and North Station. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts and the City of Boston offer Bluebike unlock codes to provide people with an alternative method of transportation during the closure. The code, MBTAORANGEOCT26, offers riders five free 30-minute Bluebikes pedal rides or ability to unlock ebikes (a per-minute charge will apply for ebike usage after the unlock), and are available for use only during the closure and while supplies last. (Monday through Friday)
Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024
EXPLORE POSSIBILITY SUMMIT: MassAbility, formerly known as the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission, holds the annual Explore Possibility Summit. There will be workshops and activities to "inspire, connect, and empower the disability community." Commissioner Toni Wolf delivers opening remarks at 9 a.m. Registration and breakfast starts at 8 a.m. (Tuesday, 8 a.m., Marriott Boston Quincy, 1000 Mariott Drive, Quincy | More Info)
BOARD OF ED: Board of Elementary and Secondary Education meets. Secretary Tutwiler plans to comment on Question 2 which would eliminate MCAS as a high school graduate requirement, a ballot question opposed by him and the Healey administration. Acting Commissioner Johnston discusses the tuition rate for Commonwealth of Massachusetts Virtual Schools as well as resources related to antisemitism and societal bias. The board receives an update on the search for a new commissioner, as it has been without a permanent department head since the spring when former Commissioner Jeff Riley stepped down. They also make a number of accountability decisions for certain schools and districts based in part on recent MCAS results. Other agenda items include: reports on chronically underperforming schools, a report on student learning time waivers for certain programs, report on grants approved by the commissioner. (Tuesday, 9 a.m., 135 Santilli Hwy., Everett | Livestream)
OFFICE, SCHOOL CONTRACT: The state Operational Services Division holds a contract kickoff for furniture, accessories and services in office, school and library settings. Attendees can meet with vendors and learn about available products, including "environmentally preferable options." (Tuesday, 9:30 a.m., Best Western Royal Plaza Hotel, 181 Boston Post Road, Marlborough | Register
ENTREPRENEURSHIP SUMMIT: Syracuse University's D'Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families holds a regional "Mission to Marketplace: Entrepreneurship Summit," featuring networking opportunities and resources for businesses owned by veterans and military spouses. Representatives from Fortune 500 companies will be on hand for the event, which organizers say is "powered by Amazon." There will be panels, breakout sessions and other programming focused on topics such as trends in entrepreneurship and small business, leadership, access to capital, and certifications. (Tuesday, 9:30 a.m., AC Hotel Worcester, 125 Front St., Worcester | Register)
HERO ACT DISCUSSION: Veterans' Services Secretary Santiago and Rep. LaNatra sit down with veterans to discuss the recently passed HERO Act. The veterans' services bill increases benefits for disabled veterans, supports businesses that hire veterans, and updates the legal definition of a veteran to expand benefits qualifications. (Tuesday, 9:30 a.m., American Legion Post 40, 199 Federal Furnace Rd., Plymouth)
MERIT RATING BOARD: Merit Rating Board meets and hears an update from its director, Sonja Singleton. (Tuesday, 10 a.m., Zoom | Access Info)
MAYOR WU TAX PLAN - CITY HEARING: Boston City Council's Government Operations Committee, chaired by Councilor Gabriela Coletta Zapata, holds hearing on the second version of a home rule petition proposed by Mayor Wu, and now pre-negotiated with business leaders, to temporarily shift a greater burden of city property taxes onto commercial payers. Members of the Wu administration and the business community are invited to testify, and "members of the public are encouraged" to share their opinions at the hearing, Coletta Zapata told the News Service Friday. If advanced by the committee, the soonest the local petition could come before the full City Council is Wednesday. It's on a potential glide path to Beacon Hill but some councilors appear eager to hear feedback and offer their own opinions before anything reaches the State House. (Tuesday, 11 a.m., Iannella Council Chamber, 5th floor, City Hall, Boston | More Info)
YES ON 4 PRESSER: Campaign supporting Question 4 holds a Beacon Hill press conference. The ballot question would set up regulated therapeutic access to psychedelics and allow Bay Staters ages 21 and older to use, cultivate, and share small quantities of certain substances. Advocates say the presser will "push back on fearmongering" from the opposition campaign. Scheduled speakers include Bessel Van Der Kolk, president of Trauma Research Foundation and author of "The Body Keeps The Score: Brain, Mind, and Body In The Healing From Trauma"; Dr. Franklin King of Massachusetts General Hospital and instructor at Harvard Medical School; and Dr. Hannah McLane, founder of SoundMind, a psychedelic facilitator training initiative. (Tuesday, 11:30 a.m., State House steps)
CITIZENS' LEGISLATIVE SEMINAR: Senate President Spilka speaks at the 88th Citizens' Legislative Seminar. CLOSED PRESS. (Tuesday, 12 p.m., Senate Reading Room)
REP. SUSAN WILLIAMS GIFFORD: Family of the late Rep. Susan Williams Gifford holds a celebration of life for the Wareham Republican, a member of the House for more than 20 years who died of cancer on Oct. 22. (Tuesday, 1 p.m., Boston Tavern Restaurant, 58 East Grove St., Middleboro)
COMBATTING ANTISEMITISM COMMISSION: Commission on Combatting Antisemitism, which was created by the fiscal 2025 budget, holds its first meeting. Commission co-chairs Rep. Cataldo of Concord and Sen. Velis of Westfield start the meeting with opening statements. Anti-Defamation League gives a presentation on relevant data, commissioners plan to review the White House National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism, and the agenda features discussion of Combined Jewish Philanthropies' Center for Combating Antisemitism. The commission currently faces a Nov. 30 deadline to report back to the Legislature with an evaluation of Massachusetts hate crime statutes "and whether any amendments would better protect residents from antisemitism and other similar forms of hatred." A spending bill approved by the Senate on Oct. 24 includes language to extend the reporting deadline to Nov. 30, 2025. (Tuesday, 1 p.m., Microsoft Teams, Meeting ID: 275 759 632 210, Passcode: z44sYm | Full Agenda)
GAMING COMMISSION TOUR: Gaming Commission tours the Marilyn Rodman Performing Arts Center and then receives a briefing on the Foxborough Plainville Wrentham Tourism Initiative, which received funding from the Community Mitigation Fund grant program. The grants are administered by the commission to help communities mitigate the impact of the construction and operation of casinos in the state. The fund has awarded nearly $57 million in grants since its inception in 2015, $18 million in the last funding cycle. (Tuesday, 1:15 p.m., Marilyn Rodman Performing Arts Center, One School St., Foxborough)
NEW BEDFORD ECO DEV: New Bedford Economic Development Council holds its annual meeting. Laura Douglas, president of Bristol Community College, is the featured speaker. (Tuesday, 4 p.m., New Bedford Whaling Museum, Cook Memorial Theatre, 18 Johnny Cake Hill, New Bedford | Register)
HAMPSHIRE-FRANKLIN UNIONS: Hampshire/Franklin Labor Assembly meets, and hears from a panel of tipped workers and representatives from the Yes on 5 campaign. Other meeting topics include new union organizing in the Hampshire-Franklin region and upcoming contract campaigns. (Tuesday, 5 p.m., 8 Railroad St., Hadley)
EEA, DPU PLANS: Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs and the Department of Public Utilities holds an in-person listening session to seek input on their public involvement plans. Officials say they want to ensure Bay Staters can access services, activities and programs, as well as participate in decision-making processes. (Tuesday, 6 p.m., 300 Broad St., Lynn | Register)
LEWIS TOWN HALL: Sen. Lewis holds a virtual town hall about the five statewide ballot questions before voters this fall. Lewis, who co-chairs the Education Committee, supports Question 2 to eliminate the MCAS exam as a high school graduation requirement. An advisory from his office says he will answer questions on all five questions before voters at the town hall. (Tuesday, 7 p.m. | Livestream)
Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024
SHNS/MASSTERLIST HEALTH CARE POLICY FORUM: State House News Service and MASSterList host a policy forum: "Urgent Treatment: Mass. Health Care After Steward." Networking from 8 a.m. until 9 am. President and CEO of Massachusetts Association of Health Plans Lora Pellegrini offers keynote before a panel discussion moderated by SHNS reporter Chris Lisinski. The panelists are Dr. Abha Agrawal of Lawrence General Hospital, Steve Walsh of the Massachusetts Health & Hospital Association, John Fernandez of Brown University Health (formerly Lifespan), and Greg Wilmot of NeighborHealth. (Wednesday, 8 a.m., MCLE Conference Center (Downtown Crossing), 10 Winter Place, Boston | Register)
EXPLORE POSSIBILITY SUMMIT: The second day of MassAbility's Explore Possibility Summit is focused on boosting collaboration among providers, vendors and other stakeholders in the disability community. Attendees will learn about new marketing and messaging for the agency, formerly known as the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission, and opportunities to collaborate with agency leaders. (Wednesday, 8:30 a.m., Marriott Boston Quincy, 1000 Marriott Drive, Quincy | More Info)
NAIOP COFFEE: NAIOP Massachusetts, the Commercial Real Estate Development Association, hosts a morning coffee to discuss the group. Prospective and longtime members can learn about NAIOP's advocacy work, networking opportunities, education programs, DEI focus, and member benefits. (Wednesday, 8:30 a.m., Allsteel, 200 State St., 4th Floor | Register)
HOME HEATING AID: Sen. Lovely of Salem, Rep. Walsh of Peabody, and Rep. Parisella of Beverly help launch an annual awareness campaign for home heating aid. MASSCAP fuel assistance said the Home Energy Assistance Program, which includes heating aid along with energy efficiency and weatherization offerings, is "crucial not only to help pay for the rising cost of heat during cold New England winters, but also to ensure public safety and health throughout the region." Strategy and Climate Undersecretary Amy Stitely and Peabody Mayor Edward Bettencourt take part in the program, along with MASSCAP executive director Joseph Diamond, Mariel Stocker of the Stocker Oil Company, and John Maihos of the Peabody Municipal Light Plant. Bay Staters can apply for home heating aid at heatinghelpMA.org. (Wednesday, 10 a.m., NSCAP Inc., 119-Rear Foster Street, Building 13, Peabody | Livestream)
SURGEONS ADVOCACY DAY: The Massachusetts Chapter of the American College of Surgeons holds its annual advocacy day at the State House. The chapter is supporting H 4918 to eliminate out-of-pocket costs for breast imaging. The bill cleared the House in July and this week began moving through the Senate. (Wednesday, 10 a.m., State House)
SCHOOL BUILDING AUTHORITY: Massachusetts School Building Authority Board meets. Treasurer Goldberg chairs the meeting. (Wednesday, 10 a.m. | To access, email Maria.Puopolo@MassSchoolBuildings.org)
MASS MARKETING PARTNERSHIP: Board of Directors of the Massachusetts Marketing Partnership meets. Agenda includes a welcome from Economic Development Secretary Yvonne Hao, an economic impact report, and an MA 250 update. (Wednesday, 10 a.m., 1 Ashburton Place, Suite 2101, Conference Room A, Boston | Agenda and Livestream
FIRE PREVENTION: The General Requirements Code Committee of the Board of Fire Prevention Regulations meets. Agenda includes a review of new language in the Massachusetts Comprehensive Fire Safety Code. (Wednesday, 10 a.m., Department of Fire Services, 1 State Road, Stow | Agenda and Livestream)
GOVERNOR'S COUNCIL - LAUREN REZNICK: Governor's Council interviews Land Court assistant deputy court administrator and legal counsel Lauren Reznick, whom Gov. Healey has nominated to a judgeship in the same court. Reznick has worked there since 2015 and was previously an administrative attorney and judicial law clerk. Councilor Kennedy presides. (Wednesday, 10:30 a.m., Council Chamber | Livestream)
CANNABIS POLICY COMMITTEE: Joint Committee on Cannabis Policy holds informational hearing as it reconsiders the 2017 law that created the Cannabis Control Commission, which has been plagued by personnel disputes including the firing of Chair Shannon O'Brien. "The Committee foresees a legislative path forward addressing the sources of concerns about the CCC's administrative function," co-chair Rep. Donahue of Worcester wrote in a July memo that announced a series of hearings to probe the CCC. This is the first of the planned hearings. Meantime, Treasurer Goldberg, who fired O'Brien, said this month that she was starting to search for the panel's next chair. Cannabis industry stakeholders will be invited to testify Wednesday and can request an invitation by submitting an online form. Written testimony can be submitted to meriah.metzger@mahouse.gov. Contact Doug Botelho with questions at (508) 818-8886. (Wednesday, 11 a.m., Room A-2 | Livestream)
BOSTON CITY COUNCIL: Boston City Council meets, with tentative plans to vote on the mayor's just-filed home rule petition reflecting a revised approach to reclassifying city property taxes. City officials want to gain the ability to temporarily adjust rates beyond limits allowed under state law to mitigate impacts of declining commercial values, and Mayor Wu submitted a redrafted plan this week reflecting compromise with business groups. The measure needs to get through the council and the state Legislature to affect upcoming tax bills. "We are under a time constraint if there are going to be changes made to the tax assessment," City Council President Ruthzee Louijeune said at a virtual council meeting Friday where the petition was referred to the Government Operations Committee. "There are time limitations for both here in the city of Boston, we have time limitations because this has to go to Beacon Hill for approval, for further debate. So I'm trying to get us to act as quickly as possible and with not wanting any further undue delays so that we can deal with this matter." (Wednesday, 12 p.m., City Hall, Boston)
WESTERN MASS. EDUCATION: Massachusetts Business Alliance for Education, Rennie Center, and Western Mass Economic Development Council host a discussion on the condition of education in Western Massachusetts. The event puts a local focus on findings of the Rennie Center's Condition of Education in the Commonwealth report. Education Secretary Tutwiler gives the keynote address. Panelists include Sonia Dinnall, superintendent of Springfield Public Schools, Tara Romeo, of Lenox Memorial Middle and High School, Bill Spirer, director of Springfield Prep Charter School, and Rebecca Thompson, executive director of academics at Holyoke Public Schools. (Wednesday, 12 p.m. | Registration)
WOMEN VETERANS: Massachusetts Women Veterans Network holds a virtual "Wednesday wellness" event with the Red Cross about defusing anger. Attendees will learn how to recognize triggers, watch reactions, and reduce emotional responses. (Wednesday, 12 p.m. | Register)
GOVERNOR'S COUNCIL: Governor's Council meets, and is expected to vote on confirmation of Judge Amy Blake of Peabody as chief justice of the Appeals Court. Councilors praised Blake, a former Probate Court judge and onetime Middlesex County prosecutor, at an Oct. 23 hearing. (Wednesday, 12 p.m., Council Chamber | Livestream)
AUTHOR TALK: State Library hosts an Author Talk with Linda Coombs on her book "Colonization and the Wampanoag Story." The book, which is geared toward young readers, "provides an accessible history of the Indigenous peoples of New England." It explores how the Wampanoag experienced the first European settlers. Coombs, a historian and museum curator, worked for 30 years at the Wampanoag Indigenous Program of Plimoth Plantation. (Wednesday, 12 p.m., Room 341 | Livestream)
GOVERNOR'S COUNCIL - STUART HUROWITZ: Governor's Council holds hearing on the nomination of Stuart Hurowitz, a District Court judicial candidate who has worked for more than a decade as supervising attorney in the Committee for Public Counsel Services' Worcester County office. Councilor DePalo chairs the interview. (Wednesday, 1:30 p.m., Council Chamber | Livestream)
TRANSPORTATION FIRST: Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce launches an event series called "Transportation First." The kickoff features Transportation Secretary Monica Tibbits-Nutt and MBTA General Manager Phil Eng, with discussion slated to focus on the status and future plans of regional transit systems. The chamber says the series "will also help raise broader awareness among employees and employers who are affected by the transit system every day." Networking starts at 2 p.m., ahead of the program at 2:30 p.m. (Wednesday, 2 p.m., 265 Franklin St., 17th Floor, Boston | Register)
GOVERNOR'S COUNCIL - CHAUNCEY BRAINERD WOOD: Governor's Council interviews Appeals Court candidate Chauncey Brainerd Wood, a criminal defense lawyer at Wood & Nathanson, LLP on Union Street and a former Maryland public defender. Councilor Kennedy presides. (Wednesday, 3 p.m., Council Chamber | Livestream)
MEDFORD PURPLE HEART: Medford is recognized as a Purple Heart City during a dedication ceremony that will honor local veterans, particularly Purple Heart awardees. City officials say the designation is given to municipalities that honor Purple Heart military personnel, and that municipalities "must have residents, either living or deceased, who have received this military award." Veterans Services Secretary John Santiago participates in the ceremony, which starts at the Killed in Action memorial. (Wednesday, 4:30 p.m., Front lawn of Medford City Hall, 85 George P. Hassett Drive, Medford)
ARTESANI PARKING LOT: Department of Conservation and Recreation holds a public meeting to outline design concepts for improving the Artesani Parking Lot at Herter Park in Boston. Officials say they are aiming to "address circulation and accessibility; stormwater management and green infrastructure; and provide upgrades to utility infrastructure, all of which are intended to enhance connectivity to recreational opportunities while protecting environmentally and culturally sensitive areas." (Wednesday, 6 p.m. | More Info and Register)
NEW ARCHBISHOP HENNING - PRAYER SERVICE: Cardinal Seán O'Malley, outgoing archbishop of Boston, presides over a customary evening prayer service on the night before the Most Rev. Richard Henning is installed as the Archdiocese of Boston's 10th bishop and seventh archbishop. "Archbishop Henning has expressed his wish for this service to be in the Spanish language (with some elements in English), as a recognition of the archdiocese's increasingly multicultural population, with Hispanics being among the largest communities," the archdiocese said. Worship at 7 p.m. will be followed by evening prayer at 7:30 p.m. and light refreshments at 8 p.m. Archbishop Henning will preach. Praise and worship will be led by Hermanos Queliz Music Ministry of Lawrence. Hymn to be led by an Interparochial Music Ministry including talent from St. Mary of the Annunciation, Cambridge; St. Mary, Waltham, St. Anthony of Padua, Revere; St. Charles Borromeo, Woburn; St. Mary of the Sacred Heart, Lynn; and St. John the Baptist, Peabody. Media planning to cover the service must email tdonilon@rcab.org. (Wednesday, 7 p.m., St. Anthony of Padua Parish, 250 Revere St., Revere)
Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024
RETIREMENT BOARD: Massachusetts State Retirement Board meets. Treasurer Goldberg chairs the meeting. (Thursday, 10 a.m., To access, email MSRBCommunications@tre.state.ma.us | More Info)
HOUSE SESSION: House plans to hold an informal session. (Thursday, 11 a.m., House Chamber)
SENATE SESSION: Senate meets. (Thursday, 11 a.m., Senate Chamber)
APPRENTICE-READY WORKPLACE: Massachusetts Apprentice Network holds an event about creating an "apprentice-ready workplace," featuring a panel discussion about how employers can improve programs to "better serve nontraditional talent." Speakers include Carla Abate of Bunker Hill Community College, Adrienne Palomeque of Franklin Cummings Tech, Emma MacLean of Apprenti, and Asianna Milord Cuevas of Accenture. (Thursday, 12 p.m. | More Info and Register)
NEW ARCHBISHOP HENNING - INSTALLATION: The Most Rev. Richard Henning is installed as the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston's 10th bishop and seventh archbishop. Participants include outgoing archbishop Cardinal Seán O'Malley; Cardinal Christophe Pierre, the Apostolic Nuncio to the United States; five other cardinals, five archbishops, more than 50 bishops, and nearly 500 priests. "Knock on the door" and procession at 1:30 p.m. is followed by a Mass at 2 p.m. Media pools have been designated. Media interested in attending should contact tdonilon@rcab.org before noon on Wednesday. (Thursday, 1:30 p.m., Cathedral of the Holy Cross, 1400 Washington St., Boston | Livestream)
Friday, Nov. 1, 2024
CHARLES RIVER CHAMBER: The Charles River Regional Chamber hosts its annual fall business breakfast. Steve Gross, social worker and founder of the Playmaker Project, will give the keynote address. The Playmaker Project, the social mission of the Life is Good brand, started by using "the power of joyful play to heal and strengthen homeless and impoverished children throughout Greater Boston," according to the chamber. (Friday, 7:15 a.m., Program starts at 8 a.m., Boston Marriott Newton, 2345 Commonwealth Ave., Newton | Register)
SOCIAL MEDIA & YOUTH WEBINAR: Liza Hirsch, director of the Attorney General's Children's Justice Unit, and Boston University professor Jill Walsh discuss social media safety and youth mental health. Attorney General Campbell last month joined 41 state attorneys general in calling for a U.S. surgeon general warning on algorithm-driven social media platforms, and also recently sued TikTok alongside 15 other states for alleged harms to young people. The webinar will address "the evolving landscape of social media and its influence on young people, potential benefits and risks, the role of parents and educators in promoting healthy usage, implications of the proposed Surgeon General warning, strategies for addressing social media-related challenges." (Friday, 12 p.m. | Registration)
