TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2009 Mayoral candidate Joe O'Brien wins by an overwhelming majority over incumbent Mayor Konstantina Lukes. Go here for election results. MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2009 Worcester has a new website. Go here to log on and check out the new design. SATURDAY, AUGUST 1, 2009 In an effort to combat slumping collected revenues, the sales tax in Massachusetts increases from 5 percent to 6.25 percent today, the first change to the rate since 1979. It is estimated that the increase will generate some $900 million annually while the new sales tax on liquor will pump another $95 million annually into the state. Here is how the sales tax in Mass compares to other New England states: Rhode Island is at 7 percent; Vermont and Connecticut are at 6 percent tax; Maine has a 5 percent sales tax, and New Hampshire, of course, comes in with no sales tax. FRIDAY, JULY 31, 2009 Worcester agains plays host to the Eastern Regional Softball Tournament, which will attract almost 200 athletes and their families for a week of softball play at Rockwood Field, 486 Chandler St., adjacent to Worcester State College. for schedule details and and the latest standings, go to http://www.madistrict4softball.com/ . MONDAY, JULY 27, 2009 Lt. Gov. Tim Murray, U.S Rep. James McGovern and Democratic Party Chairman John Walsh announce that Worcester is the site of the 2010 Democratic State Convention. GET CREATIVE. GET INVOLVED. ATTENTION LOCAL ARTISTS: State Representative Robert Spellane, representing the 13th Worcester District, and chairing the Joint Committee on Public Service, is offering a unique opportunity to artists who live in his district. Rep. Spellane would like to promote local artists by displaying their wall art in his Statehouse Office, Room 156, and his district office at 255 Park Ave., Worcester, for a six-month period. Gain recognition for your creative work and become civically engaged. Please call Representative Spellane at his Statehouse Office (617.722.2240), his district office (508.799.3948), or email him at Rep.RobertSpellane@hou.state.ma.us REP. SPELLANE SPEAKS OUT ON PENSION REFORM State Rep. Bob Spellane, Chairman of the Joint Committee on Public Service advocates for pension reform, supporting the Commonwealth government's efforts to fundamentally change public employee practices. Click here to read the article in the Worcester Telegram & Gazette. PACT MEETINGS IN RECESS FOR THE SUMMER July 6, 2009: PACT meetings at the Pleasant Street Neighborhood Network Center will resume the first Thursday in September. Mary Keefe, PSNNC executive director, wishes everyone a restful and healthy summer. FORMER US PRESIDENT VISITS WORCESTER! State Representative Bob Spellane joined in welcoming the Former US President Bill Clinton to the DCU Center in Worcester on Friday, June 12, 2009, for Congressman Jim McGovern's re-election campaign fundraiser. Those who were in attendance can attest to the success of the event.   2009 FARMER'S MARKETS! Interested in purchasing locally grown products and supporting area businesses? Check out these farmer's markets in the 13th Worcester District: 1. 306 Chandler St., Worcester and 2. Town Common, Rt. 122, Paxton.Go here to learn more! FOLLOW BOB SPELLANE ON FACEBOOK! Bob recently joined the Facebook networking community.Click here to join Facebook and see Bob's page.   HYDROGEN FUEL TECHNOLOGY - NOVEMBER 12, 2007 Read the Worcester Business Journal's November 12 article, "Fuel Cells to Fuel Growth in Worcester". Bob filed legislation this session to establish the Massachusetts Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Institute at WPI, which already has a Fuel Cell Center. Bob sees Worcester as playing a major role in developing this exciting, emerging, clean energy concept. To read WBJ's editorial on the subject, "Capitalizing on Worcester's Strengths," Go here to search articles on the Worcester Business Journal site. ICE STORM DEVASTATION, DEC. 13, 2008 Bob toured Paxton after the devastating December 11, 2008 ice storm. Follow this link to read the story in The Landmark regarding his anticipation that the state will tap into its rainy day fund to help towns deal with storm clean up.                     FAMILY HEALTH CENTER LEADS THE STATE "You are trying to change the culture of folks who've been walking into emergency rooms for the last 20 years looking for health care. Changing the rate by 15 percent is an enormous achievement in such a short period of time," said State Rep. Bob Spellane about Family Health Center's achievement in reducing patient use of ER visits. Family Health Center on Queen Street in Worcester led the state in decreasing the number of emergency room visits while providing high-quality appropriate patient care. At an October 28 press conference, Family Health Center CEO Frances Anthes explained that when the center realized patients were using hospital emergency rooms instead of visiting a doctor, they were able to redirect patients to urgent care appointments. The rate of ER use fell from 752 per 1,000 members in 2006 to 636 per 1,000 members in 2007.The efforts were part of a pilot program supported by a grant from the state Executive Office of Health and Human Services.

 

WINSLOW STREET PEACE PARK RIBBON CUTTING On Sept. 9, Bob celebrated the ribbon cutting of the Winslow Park "Peace Park" with elected officials, members of the Pleasant Street Neighborhood Network Center, and Women Together. This pocket park at the corner of Winslow and Pleasant streets is in memory of the young neighborhood men who have died from violent crime. The once trash-strewn vacant lot will now serve as a gathering place for the neighborhood.

FRIENDS OF NEWTON HILL RECOGNIZED WITH GRANT -
The Mass. Dept. of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) in partnership with the Federal Highway Administration selected the Friends of Newton to receive a Recreational Trails Grant of $25,400. DCR received 60 grant applications requesting $1.7 million. They awarded 25 grants totalling $600,000. As DCR Commissioner Sullivan wrote to Bob, "We believe these projects will result in important recreational, public health and enviornomental benefits to your district."

BOB AND WAL-MART TEAM UP TO SAVE SUMMER JOBS FOR YOUTH -
When Bob heard that Worcester youth would not be able to particiapte in a summer job program because they didn't have the necessary tools, he reached out to Wal-Mart for help. While funds were in place for the jobs to clean brush and clear trails on Newton Hill, there were no monies to buy the tools. "It was the classic Catch-22," said Bob "Fortunately, Wal-Mart stepped up to the plate and now these kids can get to work, earn a good day's pay, and provide a great community benefit." Wal-Mart donated rakes, saws, hedge clippers, brush bags and other tools. Rick Miller, president of Friends of Newton Hill, thanked both Bob and Wal-Mart. "Newton Hill is a great resource for the residents of Worcester and now we can keep it up to make sure people can enjoy the park and trails."


NEED HEALTH INSURANCE?
You may qualify for free or low-cost state health coverage - even if you work. Come to two UMass Memorial Medical Center locations -- either at the Hahnemann Campus Lobby, 281 Lincoln St. or the Financial Counseling Offices at 370 Main St. -- on Saturday, June 7 from 9 am-1 pm. Enrollment counselors will meet with you privately to see if you qualify for state health insurance - with no obligation to sign up. Free parking at both locations, refershments, cash prizes, gas cards, Red Sox tickets and more!. Can't come? Call 508.334.9300 or email needinsurance@umassmemorial.org

HAZARDOUS HOUSEHOLD WASTE FACILITY WINS DEP GRANT - NOVEMBER 26
Working in conjunction with the Paxton Municipal Light Department, the nonprofit Wachusett Earth Day Group has been awarded a $25,000 grant from the state Department of Environmental Protection to assist in the development of a hazardous waste facility on land owned by the Department of Conservation and Recreation off of Raymond Huntington Highway in West Boylston. Paxton Light will receive a $25,000 grant in fiscal year 2008 and another $25,000 grant in fiscal year 2009. The facility will serve the towns of Paxton, Boylston, West Boylston, Holden, Princeton, Rutland, and Sterling.

ENGINEERING DESIGN WORK TO BEGIN IMMEDIATELY AT NEWTON SQUARE - NOVEMBER 6
After months of meetings between the state and city, Bob is happy to announce that the Department of Conservation and Recreation will begin engineering design work in the Newton Square area to hopefully address why area basements and homes have been beseiged by sewer backups over the past couple of years. Read more here.

BOB HONORED BY MASSACHUSETTS COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS
Bob was honored with the 2007 Public Service Award at the October meeting of the Massachusetts League of Community Heath Centers.
This statewide association represents and serves the 52 nonprofit, community health centers in the Commonwealth, which provide primary and preventive health care to one out of nine residents in the state.
The Public Service Award is presented to a public official who demonstrates a commitment to the founding mission of community health centers, which is to ensure that any patient in need, regardless of health status, language, culture or ability to pay, receives high quality comprehensive primary care services. Last March, Bob was the lead sponsor in the House to pass historic community health cener omnibus legislation.
"Rep. Spellane is a rising star in Massachusetts politics," said Frances M. Anthes, Chair of the League and CEO of Family Health Center in Worcester. "And although he has been a friend to the Worcester health centers for many years, we are thrilled that the entire health center network will now have the benefit of his support and leadership."

WORCESTER RECEIVES GRANT FROM MASS. TECHNOLOGY COLLABORATIVE RENEWABLE ENERGY TRUST FUND
OCTOBER 12 2007
Continuing his efforts to explore the potential for Green Energy opportunities for the City of Worcester, Bob is pleased to announce that the City will receive up to $96,257 for a Community Wind Collaborative Feasibility Study and Business Development Award. Find out more.

FRIENDS OF NEWTON HILL RECOGNIZED - OCTOBER 10 2007
Rick Miller and the Friends of Newton Hill have been selected as a recipient of the 2007 Massachusetts Recreation and Parks Associations Special Citizens Award, givven to a person or organization that has in some special way helped to promote recreation and leisure services in the Commonwealth. The Friends were specifically selected for their role in improving Newton Hill. "Your efforts went far beyond a willingness to get involved and show the results of folks who are committed to excellence," reads the award letter. Congratulations to this grassroots group that continues to improve Newton Hill.