Representative Mark Falzone and Senator Thomas McGee complimented the Highway Division on the success of the reconstruction of the Peabody Route 1 jughandle. The recent renovations, which include modifications to traffic signal equipment and a widening of the roadway, have significantly alleviated the traffic at this heavily used junction.

Representative Mark Falzone complimented the Patrick-Murray Administration today for making a commitment to maintain the incinerator moratorium throughout Massachusetts. Since 1990, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection has had a moratorium against the construction of new incinerator capacity in place in its Solid Waste Master Plan. This document, scheduled to be revised in the coming year, outlines the state’s waste management goals for the coming decade. There was concern that, in the revision, the moratorium would be lifted to allow new variations in the burning of municipal waste to be built in Massachusetts. Instead, the administration announced that the moratorium would be strengthened through the promotion of recycling, high performance standards, and producer responsibility.

“The moratorium’s continuation is especially good news since Massachusetts already incinerates 34% of its municipal solid waste, a huge amount when compared to other states,” said Representative Falzone, who filed legislation this year to codify the moratorium into state law. “It is essential that we keep this moratorium on new capacity. Not only is incineration dangerous to our environment and our health, but its alternatives, such as recycling and reuse, will create so many more jobs and opportunities for our local economy.”

Representative Mark Falzone held his 9th Annual Holiday Party at the Saugus Senior Center last Thursday, December 3rd, with over 150 seniors in attendance. The Saugus Federal Credit Union donated funds for the entertainment for the event, which allowed for all the seniors, staff, and volunteers to dance and sing along with the seasonal tunes performed by the lively Tony Barrie Orchestra. Salvy the Florist of Lynn provided the holiday poinsettias that adorned each table, adding to the festive atmosphere. Representative Falzone presided as emcee and also played favorite tunes on the piano while the seniors ate delicious desserts.

Joanne Olsen, Director of the Saugus Senior Center said, “We want to thank Representative Falzone once again for this Holiday Event. The seniors look forward to this festive occasion every year, and we appreciate all he has done for the Senior Center and the community of Saugus. Representative Falzone’s generosity in sponsoring a party is always a yearly event the seniors look forward to, and is a great way to kick off the Holiday Season.”

Representative Mark Falzone announced a decision on furloughs in order to protect his staff from cuts that would otherwise be far more disproportionate than those born by others throughout the Massachusetts House of Representatives.

Representative Falzone said, “For no known reason, my hard-working chief-of-staff was singled out for a pay cut equivalent to 29 days pay when almost all others were cut by only 5 days. No one is more dedicated or effective in the crucial staff work that supports all I am able to do for my constituents, and, therefore, I plan to make up the equivalent of 7 of these days to him through my own furlough decision, which will add back less than 25% of his lost salary. I wish I could do more for him, especially during a holiday season when he is paying to send two children to college.”

State Representative Mark Falzone and Ward 1 City Councilor Wayne Lozzi announced a Design Public Hearing to discuss the reconstruction of a portion of Lynnfield Street in Lynn. The hearing will take place at 7 pm, Tuesday, November 17th, at City Hall, Room 302, 3 City Hall Square, Lynn.

The hearing will solicit views and comments for the Highway Division of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation from all interested parties on roadway and safety improvements from Colonial Avenue to 150 feet south of Floyd Avenue. These will include drainage improvements, granite curbing, cement concrete sidewalks, wheelchair ramps, minor utility relocations, installation of a new flashing beacon at the Lynnfield Street and Great Woods Road intersection, new roadway pavement and pavement markings, traffic signing, and other incidental work.

Representative Mark Falzone lent his support to last Wednesday’s rally of public library workers and users called at the State House in Boston to protest budget cuts during a time of surging demand for library services as people cope with current economic conditions. State Funds for libraries suffered an additional cut of $800,000 last week ordered by Governor Deval Patrick.

Representative Falzone noted, “Libraries are important resources, especially in hard times, and in addition to assisting with education, they provide vital information regarding jobs, starting a business, occupational training, and understanding the latest economic conditions and how these relate to business and employment decisions. As the Chairman of the Legislative Library Caucus I know that this is the worst time to be cutting back on these needed library services, and I call upon everyone in state government to work toward restoring to our libraries the resources they need to do their job. Libraries in Massachusetts are a model of how well regionalization works to create efficiencies in government, and we should support their efforts and services as an example of the best work we do in our communities for those who live here.”

State Representative Mark Falzone joined his colleagues in the Massachusetts House of Representatives in passing legislation that provides veterans of the Commonwealth with improved services and support as they return from war during these difficult economic times. The bill establishes the Massachusetts Medal of Liberty to honor fallen service members and offers increased housing opportunities for veterans.

Representative Falzone emphasized the importance of this legislation. “I am pleased to be involved with passing such an extensive piece of legislation that not only honors our men and women in service to our nation, but also creates additional support for them as they return to their lives and families. We owe these brave individuals a debt of gratitude, and this legislation provides a small part in repaying that debt.”

State Representative Mark Falzone joined his colleagues in the Massachusetts House of Representatives in passing legislation today that will establish a saltwater fishing licensing program in the Commonwealth and ensure that any fees collected for licensing be retained for programs concerning the conservation and preservation of saltwater ecosystems in the state.

Representative Falzone emphasized, “By creating this state-wide program, Massachusetts will benefit directly from the funds collected. Our money will stay in-state and will support efforts to protect and preserve our treasured Massachusetts ocean resources.”

State Representative Mark Falzone helped pass legislation in the Massachusetts House of Representatives to preserve affordable housing and protect tenants living in publicly-assisted housing.

The bill allows the state and localities to purchase affordable housing units before they hit the open market. The legislation also protects tenants of affordable housing units by requiring that they be given 24 months notice of affordability termination.

Representative Falzone noted, “During the current economic climate it is essential that we do all we can to keep people in their homes. For those who need affordable housing, I am pleased that this legislation has passed the House of Representatives. It should help preserve affordable units and protect publically assisted tenants by giving them adequate advanced notice if affordability is being terminated.”

State Representative Mark Falzone helped pass mixed martial arts (MMA) legislation in the Massachusetts House of Representatives that creates mandatory statewide safety standards as well as age and insurance requirements for MMA events.

Representative Falzone noted, “The new sport of mixed martial arts combines elements of many different fighting disciplines. As this sport has come into greater prominence, it is important that we ensure that it operates under reasonable guidelines of safety and that the participants are protected in the same fashion as similarly combative sports”.

Representative Mark Falzone held his first Annual Halloween Party at the Wakefield Senior Center last Monday, October 26th. The Wakefield Senior Center provided the venue and decorations and the Square One Mall donated the entertainment for the event. Seniors, staff, and volunteers in costume danced and sang along with the classics performed by the lively Tony Barrie Orchestra and ate dessert while Representative Falzone presided as emcee. Rep. Falzone also played favorite tunes on the piano while the seniors and staff enjoyed their Halloween treats.

Judy Luciano, Director of the Wakefield Senior Center said, “We want to thank Representative Falzone for his generosity in sponsoring the first Halloween Party here at the Senior Center. I know that everyone had a really great time at the party.”

The dessert menu was ample with choices. There were two beautifully decorated sheet cakes provided by Super Stop in Shop in North Reading, dozens of cookies and punch provided by Shaw’s Supermarket. The desserts most certainly put smiles on the seniors’ faces.

On Tuesday, October 13, the Wakefield 11 Year-Old Baystate Team visited Representative Falzone, Representative Clark, and Senator Tisei at the Massachusetts State House to receive recognition for their victory in the Baystate Baseball Tournament of Champions.

The team had an impressive record, with 15 wins and only 4 losses, and won the B Division Gold. During their visit, they had an opportunity to tour the State House and receive citations for their achievement from the Wakefield Delegation.

The efforts of Wakefield girl Brownie Troop 7391 and the Wakefield delegation have once again brought the matter of the Charleston Chew before the Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight. Today's hearing was the official introduction of the legislation before the committee, although an informal hearing was held earlier in the session, at which the Brownies lobbied and danced the Charleston for legislatiors. The outcome of today's hearing is not yet certain, but the girls have all learned a valuable lesson about the passage of bills and the impact individuals can make on the legislative process. Coverage of the hearing can be found online from the Boston Globe and the Boston Herald.

Juliana Catanzariti recently joined Representative Mark Falzone’s State House office as a summer intern. Juliana, who grew up in Saugus and graduated from Saugus High School in 2006, is a senior at Emmanuel College where she will receive a BA degree in Political Science and a minor certificate in Art History. She is planning on attending law school upon graduation and hopes to have a successful post-graduate career as an attorney.

“This has been a great experience for me.” says Juliana, “The staff in Representative Falzone’s office and throughout the State House are full of knowledge and experience and are always willing to teach you new things and help you along. In a few short months in the office I have learned more about the legislative process and the inner workings of politics than any secondhand experience could teach me, and I am privileged to have this opportunity.”

Juliana is in good company. As a State House intern, she is one of many other top high school, undergraduate and graduate students participating in the summer internship program. The program allows students to work in a professional office setting while simultaneously learning about legislative process.

Representative Falzone has just launched a new bi-monthly email newsletter! In an effort to keep constituents informed about topics in the neighborhood and on Beacon Hill, the newsletter will discuss local issues, pending legislation, and state and federal programs of interest to the district. If you did not receive the first email newsletter and would like to sign-up, please send an email with your Name and Address to newsletter@falzone.org.

Daniel Muise, a Babson College student who has just finished up his sophomore year, recently joined Representative Mark Falzone’s State House Office as an intern for the summer. Daniel, who grew up in Wakefield and graduated from Wakefield High School, is a candidate for a BA in Business Management with a concentration in Business Law from Babson. He plans on going on to law school following graduation and is looking forward to his summer on the Hill.

“This has been a great opportunity for me.” says Daniel, “It has really allowed me to broaden my experience in writing and will be an invaluable resource as I move forward through my college education and into my law school search. Especially in this economy, it is a privilege to have opportunities like this available to those that will shortly be ascending to the workforce; gaining experience now will surely pay off for me later.”

Daniel joins hundreds of other top high school, undergraduate and graduate students from across the state to participate in the State House’s summer internship program. The internship is designed to give students the opportunity to work in a professional office while also learning about the legislative process from a behind-the-scenes perspective.

State Representative Mark Falzone joined his colleagues in the Massachusetts House of Representatives in passing legislation that will bring Massachusetts into compliance with the federal law that requires all mortgage loan originators to be licensed through the Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System and Registry. A mortgage loan originator accepts a residential mortgage loan application or negotiates terms of a residential mortgage loan in exchange for compensation.

Representative Falzone emphasized, “By bringing Massachusetts into compliance with this critical federal law, we are extending important consumer protections to residents of our community for the most important purchase of their lives. And by licensing loan originators we hold them to standards that avoid deceitful and incompetent practices which have led to so much heartache and financial distress from unnecessary home foreclosures. The housing crisis has helped trigger our current financial crisis, and this is one important step to ensure that it will never happen again.”

State Representative Mark Falzone announced the passage of landmark legislation that strengthens current ethics, lobbying and campaign finance laws, enhancing the integrity of the political process and helping to restore public trust. This completes an historic cycle of legislative reform, which includes recent approval of landmark pension and transportation reforms. The consensus bill not only bans gifts to public officials, but also increases the authority of the Ethics Commission to investigate and prosecute alleged ethics violations.

Representative Mark Falzone announced passage by the Massachusetts House of Representatives of legislation that paves the way for Massachusetts to receive up to $8.7 billion in federal stimulus money from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009. This federal act provides states such as Massachusetts with funding for numerous programs and projects, including infrastructure projects designed to create jobs and spur economic growth. The enactment of the complementary state legislation will help Massachusetts streamline this federal funding, so that it is more efficiently available on a timely basis to create jobs and meet the urgent needs of the municipalities of the Commonwealth.

Representative Mark Falzone announced that, continuing the Legislature’s ambitious reform agenda, the Senate and House approved landmark legislation last week that will eliminate the worst offenses in the state pension system. The final bill, which now goes to the Governor for his expected signature, shuts down loopholes in current law, saves taxpayer money, and helps restore public trust in the state oversight of public pensions.

Thinking about tossing a burnt out light bulb, dead iPod or an old vinyl shower curtain into the trash? Once an item is thrown away it is “out of sight and out of mind,” but is it really gone? Unfortunately, these products have a way of making their way back into our lives in the form of dioxin, mercury, lead and other hazardous chemicals in our air, water, soil and food. On Thursday, the Massachusetts’ legislature’s Joint Committee on the Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture will hold a hearing on several bills designed to address this problem.

Representative Mark Falzone announced that the commemoration of Greek Independence Day will take place at the Massachusetts State House on Friday, April 24th at 3:00 pm. Alongside many state legislators of Hellenic descent, he invites all Massachusetts residents to join the celebration. The ceremony will mark the 188th anniversary of the independence of Greece and commemorate the support given by the Commonwealth in the revolution which led to that independence.

Representative Mark Falzone announced the allocation of $134,696 in additional Title 1 federal education funds to be distributed to Saugus Public Schools in July. These funds are part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and go to school systems selected by a formula applied state-wide. This money is in addition to the Title 1 support that Massachusetts currently receives annually, and represents the first half of new funds to be distributed, with the second half anticipated for allocation in the fall.

Representative Mark Falzone announced the release of a new directory and guidebook for homecare services available to senior citizens, “The 2009 Guide to Private Home Care: a Directory of Private Home Care Agencies in Massachusetts.” Copies of this new, helpful guide can be found at www.thinkhomecare.org, or by calling (617) 482-8830.

Representative Mark Falzone announced that the House of Representatives unanimously approved legislation that will maintain an independent appeals board for consumers to appeal the determination fault for auto accidents. The legislation, approved 157 – 0, comes on the heels of the Division of Insurance reversing their previous decision to do away with the appeals board. The bill would create via statute, a motor vehicle surcharge Board of Appeals. This would ensure that the current Board of Appeals remained an option for any driver to appeal what they believe was a wrongful determination of a surchargeable incident due to an at-fault accident.

Representative Mark Falzone proudly announced the successful continuation of chapter 90 funding. Lynn will receive $1,123,792 to be used for transportation improvements such as, resurfacing roads and reconstruction. The funding, a part of the 2008 Transportation Bond Bill, was drastically increased last year and, despite the Commonwealth’s economic stress, will continue at the enhance rate.

Representative Mark Falzone proudly announced the successful continuation of chapter 90 funding. Lynnfield will receive $283,644 to be used for transportation improvements such as, resurfacing roads and reconstruction. The funding, a part of the 2008 Transportation Bond Bill, was drastically increased last year and, despite the Commonwealth’s economic stress, will continue at the enhance rate.

Representative Mark Falzone announced the successful level funding without cuts of Chapter 90 Transportation Funds for Saugus for Fiscal Year 2010. Saugus will receive $455,294 to be used for transportation improvements such as resurfacing roads and reconstruction of bridges. This funding, as part of the 2008 Transportation Bond Bill, was significantly increased last year and will continue at the new enhanced rate, despite the Commonwealth’s economic stress.

Representative Mark Falzone announced the successful level funding of Chapter 90 Transportation Funds for Wakefield for the Fiscal Year 2010. Wakefield will receive $518,891 to be used for transportation improvements such as resurfacing roads and reconstruction of bridges. This funding, as a part of the 2008 Transportation Bond Bill, was significantly increased last year and will continue at the enhance rate, despite the Commonwealth’s economic stress.

Representatives Mark Falzone is encouraging constituents to contact Energy Bucks (1-866-LESS-COST, a href="http://www.energybucks.com">www.energybucks.com) to see what cost-saving and energy efficiency services they qualify for. Energy Bucks is an integrated campaign that creates “one-stop-shopping” for energy assistance services and enables Massachusetts residents to better understand and apply for programs that can help them manage their energy costs.