Tuesday, April 29, 2014

State Senator Anthony Petruccelli Endorses Leland Cheung for Lt. Governor

(Boston, MA, April 28, 2014)-- State Senator Anthony Petruccelli, who represents the First Suffolk and Middlesex District in the Massachusetts state senate, today announced his support for Leland Cheung’s campaign for Lt. Governor.

"As a city councilor in a community with great diversity such as Cambridge, Leland has shown that he has the right combination of skill and passion to represent all communities in Massachusetts,” said Senator Petruccelli.

Petruccelli’s district includes parts of Cambridge and Boston, including his home neighborhood of East Boston, as well as Revere and Winthrop.

“I’m honored to have the support of Senator Petruccelli. He is someone who understands what it takes to build strong communities and who would be a strong ally on Beacon Hill,” said Cheung.

Cheung has also been endorsed by State Senator William Brownsberger and Governor’s Council member Terry Kennedy.

First elected to the Cambridge City Council in 2009, Leland Cheung has been a leader in creating jobs by driving the innovation economy, making Cambridge more progressive, and using technology to modernize government. Before assuming his role as City Councillor, Leland worked at a Cambridge-based venture capital firm focusing on digital media, mobile, and Internet infrastructure. Leland is a graduate of Stanford, the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, and the MIT Sloan School. He currently lives in Cambridge with his wife and infant daughter.

Source: Cheung campaign.

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

East Boston Main Streets and the City of Boston Announce This Year’s East Boston Main Streets’ Volunteer of the Year Recipients

BOSTON, MA (April 21, 2014) – On Monday, April 21, East Boston Main Streets and the City of Boston announced the 2013 recipients of the East Boston Outstanding Business Award and Outstanding Volunteer Award.  “I feel honored to be able to announce this year’s winners of business and volunteer of the year,” says Max Gruner, Executive Director of East Boston Main Streets.

This year’s winner of the East Boston Main Streets Volunteer of the Year Award is Marygrace Gravallese.  “Marygrace has been an invaluable member of the Board of Directors of East Boston Main Streets.  She transformed the public face of EBMS through her brilliant and diligent design; her creativity is visible in all materials EBMS publishes on behalf of the East Boston’s micro-business community,” says Max Gruner. 

The Law Office of Manuel Macias is this year’s recipient of the Outstanding Business Award.  “The Law Office of Manuel Macias has been an integral part of the East Boston community consistently providing generous support to programming in East Boston in general and to our micro-business community in particular,” says Max Gruner.

Both recipients will be honored by Mayor Walsh at the Annual Awards Ceremony which will take place on Thursday evening, June 26th at the Strand Theater in Upham's Corner at 6:00pm.  “We would encourage members of the East Boston community to join us for this truly fabulous event and to cheer on these two outstanding and well deserving award recipients,” says Liz Tanefis, EBMS board chair.

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EBMS is a non-profit corporation. Our mission is to create a more vibrant business district by initiating private and public improvements, promoting commerce, and supporting efforts to improve the quality of life for all who live, work and do business in East Boston.

Source: M. Gruner 4/21

June 14: Joe Avati award winning bilingual Italian stand-up comedy show ‘Back to Basics’.

When: Saturday, June 14, 2014 at 7:30PM
Where: Regent Theatre, 7 Medford Street, Arlington, MA
Ticket Information: Box Office: 781-646-4849 or online at www.regenttheatre.com

After an 8 year absence Boston Concepts is proud to present, Joe Avati with his brand new award winning bilingual Italian stand-up comedy show ‘Back to Basics’.
Joe Avati’s comedy is unique in that he performs both English and Italian. He has that unique ability to be able to say the things that everyone thinks but no one articulates in their everyday speak. At the end of his concerts you will hear his audiences in the lobby belt out “everything he says is so true” and on the way home they will recount and hence re live their own childhood stories so in essence the Joe Avati experience continues long after the curtain has come down.

His energy is electrifying, creating an instant affiliation with him; making the audience feel proud of their heritage and he made being Italian cool again. His comedy brings families together where often three generations of one family will sit side by side enjoying his show. This brings us to one other important point about his comedy. Joe works completely clean – free of profanities and avoids any material which may offend. A unique feat which has drawn comparisons to Jerry Seinfeld and Bill Cosby.

A native of Australia, his family hails from Calabria, Italy. His Italian upbringing resonates with Italians globally. He has developed an astonishing fan base worldwide, which has initiated his World Tour with stops in Australia, North America, and London.

For more informat\ion about Joe log onto www.joeavati.com

Monday, April 14, 2014

Forum with Councilor Michelle Wu in East Boston Postponed

BOSTON, MA  (April 14, 2014) – Due to an unforeseen scheduling conflict, the Forum with Councilor Michelle Wu, originally scheduled for April 28 at the East Boston Public Library, will have to be postponed.  No new date has been identified as of yet.  East Boston Main Streets is working with the councilor’s office to identify a new date very soon.  “We are sorry to have to reschedule the councilor,” says Max Gruner, Executive Director of East Boston Main Streets, “but we are absolutely committed to getting councilor Wu to East Boston very soon to have an opportunity to talk to our small and micro business community.”

For more details or questions please call Max Gruner, Executive Director of East Boston Main Streets at 617-561-1044.

Monday, April 7, 2014

East Boston - Malden Youth Hockey Season Round-up

Faster than you can say Rocket Richard, the 2013-2014 Malden/East Boston Youth Hockey season has come to a close. A great year of hockey for all players, coaches and families comes to an end. 

MITES (4-8 Years Old)

Valley League Champions!

Malden/East Boston 3, Methuen 2
Valley Rink, Haverhill MA

SQUIRT (9-10 Years Old)

Valley League Champions!

Semi-Finals

Malden/East Boston 5, Dedham 1
O’Brien Rink, Woburn MA

Division Finals

Malden/East Boston 6, Stoneham 1
Breakaway Ice Center, Tewksbury MA

Cross-League Finals

Malden/East Boston 7, Reading 2
Breakaway Ice Center, Tewksbury MA

PEEWEE (11-12 Years Old)

Defeated in the Quarterfinal round.

Malden/East Boston 3, Lexington/Bedford 9
The Edge, Bedford MA

BANTAM AA (13-14 Years Old)

Defeated in the Championship round.

Semi-Finals

Malden/East Boston 4, SMS 2
Valley Rink, Malden MA

Division Finals

Malden/East Boston 0, Belmont 2
Valley Rink, Malden MA

BANTAM AAA (13-14 Years Old)

Defeated in the Championship round.

Semi-Finals

Malden/East Boston 3, Reading 1
O’Brien Rink, Woburn MA

Division Finals

Malden/East Boston 1, Methuen 3
Valley Rink, Lawrence MA

MIDGET (15-18 Years Old)

Valley League Champions!

Semi-Finals

Malden/East Boston 3, Woburn 1
O’Brien Rink, Woburn MA

Division Finals

Malden/East Boston 3, Shrewsbury 2
Valley Rink, Lawrence MA


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Tuesday, April 1, 2014

House, Senate Pass VALOR Act II: Legislation strengthens 2012 VALOR Act and enhances commitment to Commonwealth’s veterans

Source: Office of State Representative Carlo Basile

(BOSTON) – Representative Basile joined his colleagues in the Legislature to pass the VALOR Act II which builds upon existing legislation to expand opportunities and services for military personnel, veterans and their families.

The legislation provides increased property tax relief and enhances employment, educational and healthcare support services. It creates a home modification program to help injured veterans stay in their homes and function independently, and authorizes the Secretary of Veterans’ Services to establish enhanced training and certification for veterans’ benefits and services officers.

“This legislation sends a message to our veterans that we appreciate their bravery, sacrifice and service,” House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo (D-Winthrop) said. “Most importantly, it aids those who have supported America during some of the country’s most difficult times by providing resources to help them build a bright future. I’m incredibly proud that Massachusetts leads the nation in aiding veterans and military personnel and I believe this bill furthers that commitment.”

“Massachusetts has long led the nation in recognizing and providing for our veterans, and I am proud that this bill will further these efforts,” Senate President Therese Murray (D-Plymouth) said. “By working to expand benefits and services for veterans, we remind our men and women in uniform that their sacrifice does not go unnoticed and that the Legislature will continue to support them both abroad and at home.”

“Thanks to my colleagues in the House, the Senate and on the Committee of Veterans and Federal Affairs, today, with the passage of the VALOR Act II, we as a legislature have done more for our veterans and their families over the past few years than at any other period in last quarter century,”

Representative Carlo Basile, Chairman of the Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs (D-East Boston) said. “I am very proud of the process we have undergone to craft this bill. This legislation allows us to do our small part in helping those who put themselves in harm’s way to protect our families and our way of life. The VALOR Act II is our way to honor veterans, the bravest men and women of the Commonwealth, and offer them in some small manner, our sign of appreciation.”
 

 “This bill expands on Valor Act I to provide benefits and services to our veterans, service members and their families,” said Senator Michael F. Rush (D-West Roxbury), Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs. “This legislature has enacted more meaningful services for our veterans’ community in the past few years than any other legislature in the country.   Our commitment to our veterans and their families has kept Massachusetts at the forefront in providing for those who serve.”
 

“Supporting our military should not end when service members return home from deployment,” said Senator Stephen M. Brewer (D-Barre), Chair of Senate Ways and Means. “With a high unemployment rate among veterans, this bill will establish more training programs and career opportunities for those who have already sacrificed so much for our country.”
 

“This bill reaffirms our state’s commitment to all those who have worn the uniform,” said Mike Sweeney, Legislative Chair for the Massachusetts Veterans’ Service Officers Association. “We owe it to veterans and their families to not only maintain but strengthen these critical services at the local level. The VALOR Act II does this by providing enhanced training for our veterans agents and ensuring that every Massachusetts veteran can go into a city hall and find a knowledgeable veterans agent.”
The bill also includes the below provisions:

  • Allows students currently enrolled in college, who are called to active duty, to either complete their coursework without penalty following duty, or to withdraw and receive a tuition refund;
  • Increases penalties for disturbing military funerals or services;
  • Enacts provisions to guard against charity fraud;
  • Requires the Division of Professional Licensure to waive the initial application or certification fee for licensure for any veteran;
  • Establishes a post-deployment council to make recommendations and study mental health issues to support military members transitioning to civilian life after deployment;
  • Requires the Department of Public Health to issue guidance to acute hospitals and ambulance service providers to ensure the identification of veterans in emergency settings.