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PAGE 8 A Turley Publication • www.turley.com I Thursday, May 10, 2012 Rep. Gobi praises House Budget for commitment to local aid BOSTON – State Rep. Anne Gobi (D-Spencer) and her colleagues in the Massachusetts House of Representatives passed a balanced FY ’13 budget aimed at increasing government effi ciency, cutting costs and preserving essential services across the Commonwealth. The budget, which passed with bipartisan support, closes a projected $790 million budget gap through cuts and adjustments to state spending, one-time revenues, and a $400 million withdrawal from the Rainy Day fund. The budget for fi scal year ’13 once again shows the House’s commitment to the citizens of Massachusetts by including no new taxes or fees. Conversely, the House budget makes a signifi cant investment in Local Aid to help lessen the burden of the recession on municipalities. Thanks to such sound fi scal management, Standard and Poor’s increased Massachusetts’ bond rating from AA to AA+. “As the Chair of the Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture, I was pleased to see a number of my sponsored and co-sponsored amendments adopted in the budget, including additional resources for land protection, funding for bee inspectors, support of local farms in promotion of Buy Local, an increase in the retained revenue account for our parks and the establishment of a trust fund for the Department of Agriculture Resources,” said. Gobi “The House budget for fi scal year ’13 maximizes the value of every last state dollar and strives to implement sensible reforms to position Massachusetts for a bright economic future,” said House Speaker Robert A. De- Leo. “Although we are still challenged by this downturn, we’ve produced a budget that preserves essential services, aids municipalities, strengthens our community colleges and reforms the use of our EBT system so that it serves the most in need.” The budget contains $899M in unrestricted local aid for cities and towns, $168M in new support for every school district in the State, and a new $11.3M source of support for municipalities transporting homeless students. This budget fully funds the Unrestricted General Government Aid that municipalities rely on to balance their budgets each fi scal year. It includes an additional $65M that was sent out last year in the form of a supplemental budget, essentially guaranteeing that money for The HOUSE COMMUNITY CENTER FOR LEARNING Call 413-289-6091 to register for classes 1479 NORTH MAIN STREET PALMER, MA 01069 413-289-6091 CLASSES FOR MAY Excel Basic (begins 5/7) Summer’s Coming, it’s Party Time: 5/7 Whole Foods Market: Simple Changes for Lifelong Health: 5/7 One to One Therapeutic Yoga (by appointment only) Mondays Internet Basics: 5/8 or 5/9 Massage for Caregivers: 5/8 Cake Decorating (begins 5/8) Book in a Box: 5/9 Internet Defense: 5/10 Diabetes and Heart Disease: 5/10 Speaker Series: From Slavery to the White House: 5/10 Reiki I (begins 5/10) Mother’s Day Photo Frame: 5/12 Please contact us to be put on our mailing list so that we may send you our course catalog. yellowhouseccl.com municipalities up front. The House budget also places a high priority on education funding by increasing Chapter 70, special education circuit breaker, McKinney-Vento, and regional transportation funding. This budget guarantees all municipal, vocational and regional school districts an increase over Fiscal Year 2012 Chapter 70 funding for a total increase of $164M. It will assist districts in meeting their special education obligations by funding circuit breaker at $221.5M and for the fi rst time, the House has appropriated funds to offset the expense of the federal mandate (McKinney-Vento) requiring communities to incur the costs of transporting their homeless student population. Furthermore, the House was able to prioritize regional school transportation, funding it at $45.4M. In an effort to create jobs and help cities and towns, the House budget strengthens the Community Preservation Act, a law passed in 2000 that allows Massachusetts cities and towns to establish a fund to support local needs. Over the past decade, the CPA has promoted cost savings and job creation. By increasing the funding available for the statewide CPA Trust Fund in this year’s budget, the House will provide more local aid and support for local jobs. This legislation diversifi es the allowable funding sources that cities and towns can use to fund their local CPA fund. And it will support the small businesses in our state by allowing municipalities to exempt commercial and industrial properties from a portion of the CPA local surcharge. This budget also places the Commonwealth’s community colleges in the best position possible to respond to the changing needs of Massachusetts and its residents, particularly in workforce development and continued higher education. The House budget includes increased coordination among the 15 separate community colleges and the Board of Higher Education in order to provide fl exibility to adapt to new opportunities for the Commonwealth. This is accomplished while still retaining the local involvement in the administration of the schools that has been a critical part of the success of the community colleges. In a demonstration of the House’s commitment to serving elders and the disabled, this budget preserves CLUES ACROSS 1. Irish mother of gods 5. Provides weapons 10. Hyperbolic cosecant 14. Kilt nationality 15. Mexican artist Rivera 16. Circle of light around the sun 17. What a clock tells 18. To condescend to give 19. Chocolate cookie with white cream fi lling 20. Harry Potter star 23. Without (French) 24. A dissolute man 25. Resecure a book 28. Blanketlike shawl 32. Opaque gem 33. Biblical name for Syria 34. Mail call box abbreviation 35. Mined metal-bearing mineral programs such as elder nutrition enhanced home care services and elder protective services. Recognizing the high cost of our home services, this budget increases in-home supports for families of the developmentally disabled and makes investments in the areas of transportation and Turning 22. These signifi cant investments ensure there will be a continuum of services to these populations. Finally, the House seeks effi ciencies and re-procurements in many areas of state government, such as Mass Health and the Department of Corrections, in order to achieve savings and maximize our investments. In addition, the budget provides the tools needed to seek out fraud, waste and abuse in state funded programs. The budget includes a provision banning any individual from knowingly using, transferring, acquiring, altering or possessing an electronic benefi t transfer card or access device in any manner not authorized by federal or state law. 36. Mild yellow Dutch cheese 38. After a prayer 39. Baseball’s world championship 42. Knights’ tunic 44. Small pigeon shelter 46. Meredith, Johnson & Shula 47. 20th U.S. President 53. Pitcher Hershiser 54. Sans _____: typeface 55. High water tide 57. Sew up a falcon’s eyelids 58. Mexican plant fi ber 59. Taxis 60. Fermented rice beverage 61. A mode of living 62. Formerly (archaic) CLUES DOWN 1. Fall back time 2. Has a sour taste 3. Gangrenous infl ammation WALKING FOR A CAUSE 4. Spoon or fork 5. What is added to the augend 6. Cambodian monetary units 7. Golda __, Israeli P. M. 8. “Walk Don’t Run” actress Samantha 9. Often the last movements of a sonata 10. Contaminated water disease 11. Indian dress 12. Musical pitch symbol 13. Horse foot sheath 21. 007’s Flemming 22. A billiards stick 25. Catches with a lasso 26. 3rd part of a Greek ode 27. Elephant’s name 29. Distinctive odor that is pleasant 30. A small sharp fruit knife TURLEY PUBLICATIONS COURTESY PHOTO BELCHERTOWN - Several Quaboag Regional Field Hockey players participated in the Walk of Champions on Sunday at the Quabbin Resevoir. “Cougars Crush Cancer”. Left to Right, Sarah Duff, Madison Messier, Dani Sweet, Paige Guzik, and Meaghan Cassavant. SEE ANSWERS ON PAGE 19 31. Improve by critical ediiting 37. Droplet in a colloidal system 38. Failure to be present 40. Winged goddess of the dawn 41. Static balance between opposing forces 42. Treacle candy 43. Black tropical American cuckoo 45. Discharge from the body 46. Training by multiple repetitions 47. A Chinese image in a shrine 48. Length X width 49. Mild and submissive 50. Affectedly artistic 51. Tragic Shakespeare king 52. Taps gently 56. Time in far western states
PUBLIC MEETINGS BROOKFIELD Tuesday, May 15 • Board of Selectmen public hearing on Quaboag River Bridge, 7 p.m. • Conservation Commission, 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 16 • Recreation Committee, 7:30 p.m. EAST BROOKFIELD Monday, May 14 • Board of Selectmen, 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 15 • Conservation Commission, 7:30 p.m. • Parks and Recreation Committee, 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 16 • Planning Board, 7:30 p.m. HARDWICK Monday, May 14 • Capital Planning Committee, 4 p.m. • Board of Selectmen, 6:30 p.m. • Wheelwright Water District, 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 15 • Gilbertville Water District, 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 16 • Conservation Commission, 6:30 p.m. NEW BRAINTREE Monday, May 14 • Board of Selectmen, 7 p.m. • Finance Committee, 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 16 • Board of Assessors, 7 p.m. NORTH BROOKFIELD Tuesday, May 15 • Board of Selectmen, 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 16 • Board of Health, 6 p.m. • Planning Board, 7 p.m. STURBRIDGE Monday, May 14 • Burgess Elementary School Council, 3:15 p.m. • Board of Selectmen, 6:30 p.m. • TRSD/Union 61 Superintendent Negotiation Subcommittee, 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 15 • TRSD School Committee, 6:30 p.m. • Design Review Committee Meeting, 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 16 • Municipal Flagger Recertifi cation, 8 a.m. • Economic Development Committee, 6 p.m. Thursday, May 17 • Elderly and Disabled Tax Assistance Committee, 8:30 a.m. • TRSD Negotiations Subcommittee, 6:30 p.m. • Conservation Commission, 7 p.m. • Sturbridge Lakes Advisory Committee, 7 p.m. WARE Monday, May 14 • Special Town Meeting, 6:30 p.m. • Annual Town Meeting, 7 p.m. WARREN Monday, May 14 • Mobile Rent Control Board, 9 a.m. Wednesday, May 16 • Pathfi nder Regional Vocational Technical High School • District Committee, 7 p.m. WEST BROOKFIELD Monday, May 14 • Planning Board, 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 15 • Board of Selectmen, 6:15 p.m. Thursday, May 17 • Regional Selectmen’s Meeting, 6:30 p.m. Five Star Gardens Landscaping & Design • Water Features • Garden Center Five Star Gardens is in Full Bloom Rte 32 North • Palmer MA Call 413-283-4900 or Visit fi vestargardens.com A Turley Publication • www.turley.com I Thursday, May 10, 2012 PAGE 9 - business - Standing up at the right time – REGION – By Emily Thurlow Staff Writer Looking back on the unexpected devastation that descended upon towns throughout Western and Central Massachusetts almost a year ago to date, if it weren’t for the selfl essness and determination of volunteers offering up themselves in an effort to help those that were affected to recover, the wounds suffered would continue to be felt physically and emotionally. And to make sure that these altruistic actions were recognized, the Quaboag Hills Chamber of Commerce (QHCC) recently paid homage to two women whose deeds fi t the defi nition of what they felt a true volunteer is with their annual “Citizen of the Year” award. Traditionally, QHCC President Lenny Weake said that one nominated individual stands out amongst the rest, but this year, Gina Lynch, director of the Brimfi eld Senior Center and coordinator of tornado relief effort in that town, and Monson realtor Karen King who founded the “Street Angels,” were equally deserving. “The hours, upon hours, upon hours that these women put in, in their communities to help their fellow townspeople was remarkable,” he said. “The anonymous committee that selected the two women felt that it was important to commend both of them.” In Monson, King’s efforts going doorto-door with the group she formed, “Street Angels” informed residents of the help that was available said Carol Szarlan, the chairwoman of the QHCC Board of Directors and vice president of information technology at Monson Savings Bank. “On June 1, the tornado ripped through my town with tremendous force,” she said. “It tore down houses and trees, but never King’s spirit. She never hesitated, she just got to work.” She further described the help that King provided as ranging from an ear to listen and arms to hold all the way to fi nding housing and bringing some residents into her own home. “With a grant from the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts, the Angels in collaboration with the First Church have been able to pay for rental equipment and machinery for the fi rst clean-up effort. The angels also sold t-shirts and bracelets to raise money toward the relief effort,” she said. “All of this was done by the group – but every group needs a leader. She has touched the hearts of all who come in contact with her and she inspires all of us to be more like her. I’m glad she is our ‘neighbor.’” In response to even being nominated, King have more credit to those who had worked around her, saying the she was merely a “conduit” for many different Chamber honors tornado response facilitators needs. “I’m humbled by this award,” she said. “I honestly wish it could be a group award for everyone who has helped.” Moments after the storm swept through Brimfi eld, “Lynch stepped into action immediately,” recalls Executive Director of Hitchcock Free Academy Sue Gregory. “Gina lives her compassion through her daily choices and action,” she said. “Gina knew what people needed right away. She knew the volunteers and rescue workers would be coming to town, and would need to be fed. She knew people needed places to stay, needed toothbrushes, food and bins to collect their remaining belongings before the rain ruin them…she knew how to organize relief efforts.” Gregory said that Lynch – whom she describes as a “treasure to the townspeople of Brimfi eld” – became the go-to person, who ensured that every question had an appropriate answer. “Gina, an unbidden good Samaritan, has touched more hearts and mended TURLEY PUBLICATIONS STAFF PHOTOS BY EMILY THURLOW This year the Quaboag Hills Chamber of Commerce decided to award Gina Lynch of Brimfi eld and Karen King of Monson with the prestigious “Citizen of the Year” award. more spirits since June 1, than most people do in a lifetime,” said Gregory. Tears of gratitude streamed down Lynch’s face after hearing Gregory’s kind words. And even as she was being recognized, she seemed reluctant to take the credit for herself, instead praising the team of volunteers, members of the town and other surrounding communities. Amidst her praise for the continued help, she reminded everyone that help is still needed. “We’re not done yet,” she said. “We still need volunteers. Come see me at the church and I’ll put you to work any day of the week.” QHCC is an organization completely supported by business membership and is an advocate for economic growth in the Quaboag Hills region through development, promotion and advancement of business as well as being the leader for business and community development by providing members with a voice in political, social and economical issues. For more information about QHCC visit www.quaboag.com.
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