Baker Signs Order to Review Contracts, Agreements With Russia
Governor Charlie Baker signed Executive Order 597, which directs all executive branch agencies to review and terminate any contracts with any Russian state-owned company. The executive order also directs agencies to review any partnership, affiliation, or exchange with any Russian state-owned company, Russian government controlled entity, or Russian governmental body.
“With this order, we hope to build on the sanctions the federal government has already placed on Russia for their unjustified attack on Ukraine,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “The Commonwealth of Massachusetts condemns the actions of Russia and stands firmly with the free and democratic nation of Ukraine.”
“The Commonwealth will continue to offer its support Ukraine and stand with them in the face of Russian aggression,” said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito. “My thoughts are with all the Ukrainian people during this horrific time.”
The Governor’s executive order encourages independent agencies and authorities, public education institutions, and other constitutional offices to adopt similar policies.
The order also directs the Office for Refugees and Immigrants to work with the Federal Office of Refugee Resettlement and other stakeholder agencies to support Ukrainian immigrants and refugees fleeing the conflict.
Northeast Metro Tech to Dismissed Early after Vandalism Discovered
Superintendent David DiBarri and Wakefield Police Chief Steven A. Skory report that Wakefield Police are actively investigating after an act of vandalism was discovered Thursday morning at the Northeast Vocational High School.
On Thursday, as employees and students were arriving for the school day, school officials discovered a broken window and damage to a school conference room. The Wakefield Police Department and WPD School Resource Officer were immediately notified.
An initial investigation indicates that a vandal broke the window, damaged the room and threw or broke a glass bottle filled with an unknown substance made to resemble a Molotov cocktail, according to investigators.
Out of an abundance of caution, given the attempted arson and vandalism, Superintendent DiBarri has made the decision to dismiss students early on Thursday. Families were notified and the school’s transportation partner is working with Northeast Metro Tech to facilitate an orderly early dismissal, which occurred at approximately 11 a.m.
The school and police department are following the established policies and procedures that are in place to guide decision-making during these types of incidents.
The incident is being actively investigated by Wakefield Police. Additional information will be released as it becomes available.
FEMA Awards Nearly $23.4 Million to MBTA
The Federal Emergency Management Agency will be sending almost $23.4 million to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to reimburse the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) for the additional costs of operating safely during the pandemic.
The MBTA will recive a total of $23,379,695 in federal funding through FEMA’s Public Assistance grant program to reimburse some of the costs associated with keeping public transportation services operating safely between March and June 2020.
Those measures included:
• Purchasing and distributing personal protective equipment (PPE) to staff;
• Overtime costs for employees;
• Buying disinfecting supplies;
• Dissemination of essential public health and safety information as barriers, signs, safety yellow paint & barricade tape; and
• Providing testing equipment for staff and the public such as privacy screens, thermal cameras, and thermometers.
“FEMA is pleased to be able to assist the MBTA with these costs,” said FEMA Region 1 Regional Administrator Lori Ehrlich. “Keeping public transportation operating during this time period was critical to allow emergency workers, medical personnel, and others to continue getting to work.”
FEMA’s Public Assistance program is an essential source of funding for states and communities recovering from a federally declared disaster or emergency.
So far, FEMA has provided nearly $867 million in Public Assistance grants to Massachusetts to reimburse the commonwealth for pandemic-related expenses.
Additional information about FEMA’s Public Assistance program is available at https://www.fema.gov/public-assistance-local-state-tribal-and-non-profit. To learn more about the COVID-19 response in Massachusetts, please visit https://www.fema.gov/disaster/4496.
JPNA Meeting Agenda
The Jeffries Point Neighborhood Association monthly meeting is on March 14, from 7-8:30 p.m.
Zoom Video Conference
Registration Required.
In order to speak aloud as an abutter, you must live within the 300’ radius from the subject property AND you must register for this meeting by Sunday, March 13th at 7pm.
***PLEASE NOTE***In order to qualify to vote at a voting meeting each person must be registered and join the meeting as an individual. You will not be counted as an attendee at a meeting should you participate in the Zoom call as a couple or family.
The following is the agenda for our upcoming monthly meeting:
AGENDA (subject to change):
Boston Police – Community Update
New Mayor’s Liaison Nathalia Benitez Perez – Introduction and how to contact
Candidates for Boston City Council Special Election – Gabriela Coletta and Tania Del Rio
306 Sumner Street – VOTE
Open Community Questions – Ask the JPNA Board questions or for updates
As a reminder, all questions will be handled via the Zoom chat feature. We ask all attendees to remain muted unless called upon to speak. Looking forward to “seeing” you all there!
We are using eBallot to manage the voting process. Within 48 hours after the meeting, eligible voters will be emailed a link that will allow them to vote online. All votes must be cast by Friday, March 18th at 7pm. Late votes will not be accepted, no exceptions. Please be sure to check your spam folder as the e-mail frequently ends up there for many residents.
We hope you and your loved ones are well. We are all in this together as neighbors and friends. Please don’t be afraid to reach out.
2022 meeting dates are posted at jeffriespoint.org.
Old North Foundation to Hold Re-Enactment
“One if by land, two if by sea.” On Wednesday, April 13, the Old North Foundation in Boston’s North End will re-enact the famous signal that illuminated the path for the American Revolution. The commemoration celebrates the events of April 18, 1775 when two men hung two lanterns from the steeple of the Old North Church, the city’s oldest surviving church building and one of the most visited historical sites along the Freedom Trail. After passing critical information to the signal holders, Paul Revere began his midnight ride warning rural patriots that the British troops were marching to Lexington and Concord. The act of defiance that inspired a nation to collectively win our independence from Britain is a reminder of the power of active citizenship to create a more perfect union that reflects the promise of liberty and justice for all. This year’s event will be held in-person from 6 to 9:30 p.m. at Old North Church & Historic Site, located at 193 Salem Street in Boston, and livestreamed for a virtual audience. The celebration will feature the Middlesex County Volunteers Fife and Drums, a reading of the poem “Paul Revere’s Ride” by Michael J. Bobbitt, Executive Director, Mass Cultural Council, and remarks by the 2022 Third Lantern Award recipient, Michael R. Bloomberg, Founder of Bloomberg Philanthropies and Bloomberg LP and 108th Mayor of New York City. A reception with live music and food will follow. Proceeds from the event will support the Old North Foundation’s virtual and on-site programs, which aim to inspire children and adults alike to consider the ways in which they can build a more just and equitable world. Individual tickets range from $25 to $200 and must be purchased in advance. All attendees must show proof of vaccination and wear masks when indoors. To register, visit: www.oldnorth.com/Lantern2022.
Johnson Participates in Emerson Stage Production of As You Like It
Emerson College student Caitlin Johnson of East Boston, participated in Emerson Stage’s production of As You Like It.
As You Like It is a comedic play that showcases adventure and love. A new spin on Shakespeare’s play, this radically queer version features acceptance and joy at the center of this adaptation by Eddie DeHais.
The play was performed February 17-20 in the Semel Theater at Emerson College in Boston, MA.
Johnson is majoring in Theatre Education and is a member of the class of 2022.
Photos available upon request.
Emerson Stage and the Department of Performing Arts are where the next generation of actors, designers, stage managers, technicians, administrators, and educators work alongside distinguished faculty, professional staff, and visiting artists to bring skills learned in the classroom to vibrant life on stage.
About Emerson College
Based in Boston, Massachusetts, opposite the historic Boston Common and in the heart of the city’s Theatre District, Emerson College educates individuals who will solve problems and change the world through engaged leadership in communication and the arts, a mission informed by liberal learning. The College has 3,780 undergraduates and 670 graduate students from across the United States and 50 countries. Supported by state-of-the-art facilities and a renowned faculty, students participate in more than 90 student organizations and performance groups. Emerson is known for its experiential learning programs in Los Angeles, the District of Columbia, the Netherlands, London, China, and the Czech Republic as well as its new Global Portals, with the first program launching this fall in Paris. The College has an active network of 51,000+ alumni who hold leadership positions in communication and the arts. For more information, visit emerson.edu.