Framingham Council on Aging 3rd Annual Senior Heroes Award recipients Norma Shulman, William Rabkin, Margaret Kelley and Peggy Holland.
FRAMINGHAM, MA — Peggy Holland has been answering suicide hotline calls since 1986.
A decade ago, she became one of the first volunteers for Framingham-based Call2Talk.
This month, she was one of four senior citizens honored by the Framingham Council on Aging at the 3rd Annual Senior Heroes Awards. Holland was honored for her efforts in health/healthcare. Other recipients included Margaret Kelley, William Rabkin, and Norma Shulman.
More than 75 individuals attended the ceremony at the Callahan Center on Thursday afternoon, May 25. In 2020, Framingham Council on Aging member Glenda Thomas came up with the idea to recognize “seniors who promote diversity and inclusion.”
Audrey Hall, Vice Chair, Massachusetts Commission on Status of Women.
FRAMINGHAM, MA — Framingham resident Audrey Hall was recently elected by the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women (MCSW) to the office of Vice Chair.
Hall was appointed to the Commission in 2018 by Senate President Karen E. Spilka. She served as Vice Chair of the MCSW’s Legislative and Public Policy Committee from 2019 to 2020 and as Chair of the MCSW’s Budget and Personnel Committee from 2020 to 2021.
Logo of the newly established Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women, (Oct. 2, 2014)FRAMINGHAM, MA – The Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women is pleased to announce the appointments of nine commissioners to the MetroWest Commission on the Status of Women. The Commissioners are as follows: Cathy Ashton of Wayland, Leonor Filipe of Framingham, Patricia Hohl of Framingham, Kelly Love of Norwood, Jennifer Maseda of Natick, Suzanne Reynolds-Alpert of Norfolk, Nancy Rosenblum of Ashland, Denise Schultz of Franklin, and Heather Wightman of Hopkinton.
The Commissioners will be sworn-in at the Inauguration of the MetroWest Commission on the Status of Women at the D. Justin McCarthy Center at Framingham State University in Framingham, MA on (more…)
Logo of the newly established Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women, (Oct. 2, 2014)FRAMINGHAM, MA – Governor Deval Patrick recently signed legislation establishing the MetroWest Commission on the Status of Women. The legislation was filed by Senator Karen Spilka at the request of women in the MetroWest area and organized by the United Way of Tri-County.
The MetroWest Commission on the Status of Women will consist of nine commissioners appointed by the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women who will represent the strength and diversity of the region in regard to geography, age, professional background and personal experience. The commissioners will share a common commitment to the improvement of the status of women in the MetroWest area.
Victoria A. Budson, chair of the MCSW, stated: “The newly formed commission will provide insight to identify the challenges and opportunities for women of the Metrowest region with the goal of improving the lives of women, their families, and communities. I am confident the commissioners appointed to serve on the Metrowest Commission on the Status of Women, each with her own skills and base of knowledge, will be able to move us toward this goal.”
Per its enabling legislation, the Commission will be charged with conducting an ongoing study of matters concerning women within the MetroWest area. The Commission is mandated to report its findings to the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women annually and to recommend solutions to the challenges facing the women and girls of the MetroWest area.
“This commission will amplify the voices of women and girls in the MetroWest region and identify specific ways to advance women’s rights here and across the state,” Senator Karen Spilka (D-Ashland) said. “We are promoting equality and opportunity for all women in our communities and helping to inspire the next generation of female leaders in the Commonwealth.”
There are currently five women’s regional commissions across Massachusetts, which include, Berkshire County, Bristol County, Cape Cod and the Islands, Essex County, and Worcester County. Additionally, there are nine independently-functioning municipal commissions across the Commonwealth with which the MCSW and regional commissions maintain a working relationship.
The creation of the MetroWest Commission on the Status of Women augments these well-established commissions and broadens the reach and scope of organizations committed to improving women’s access to opportunities, rights, and equality in all areas of life. “Building a better community for women in MetroWest begins with understanding the issues facing women in our region,” said Jen Maseda, Senior Vice President of United Way of Tri-County. “Greater women’s representation and involvement in advisory commissions like the newly established MetroWest Commission, corresponds with a more equitable distribution of community resources, advancing programs related to health, financial stability, nutrition, and education.”
For additional information or to request information regarding the application process, please contact The Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women at 617-626-6520 or online at mcsw@state.ma.us.
Framingham, MA – The Senate and House have agreed to a final transportation bond bill authorizing $12.7 billion in capital spending over the next five years for improvements to the Commonwealth’s transportation system, Senator Karen Spilka (D-Ashland)announced. The Senate and House each passed different versions of the spending bill in March and accepted the compromise report released by a conference committee this week. The bill will receive a final formal vote in both branches before heading to the Governor’s desk to be signed.
“Reliable, well-maintained transportation infrastructure is key for quality of life and economic development across the Commonwealth,” said Senator Spilka. “This bill supports many important transportation projects in MetroWest and state-wide to address accessibility, safety and traffic issues. This is a significant step in our continuing efforts to improve our roads, bridges and public transportation.”
The bill includes funding for repairs, improvements and construction of highways, roads, bridges and parks across the state, as well as rail and bus projects. The bill also includes a $300 million spending authorization in Fiscal Year 2015 for the Chapter 90 program to fund local road repairs.
Senator Spilka has been working for many years to increase state support for a number of local transportation infrastructure projects that are funded in the bill, including:
$7,000,000 for projects to mitigate impacts at the at-grade rail crossings in Ashland and Framingham
$2,000,000 for the planning, design and reconstruction of the Route 126/Pond Street corridor in Ashland
$5,000,000 for a parking garage in downtown Natick
$1,000,000 for improvements to Route 109 in Medway
Senator Spilka is also pleased that projects addressing infrastructure needs throughout MetroWest are funded in this bill, including:
$3,000,000 for the Cochituate Rail Trail in Natick
$750,000 for the Upper Charles Rail Trail in Holliston
$750,000 for planning, design and infrastructure of Route 135, Route 85 and West Main Street in Hopkinton
$4,100,000 for improvements to the Route 27 and Route 9 intersection in Natick
$2,358,000 for the new Marion Street Bridge in Natick
$300,000 for safety study and improvements at the intersection of Route 140 and Panther Way in Franklin
Senator Spilka’s initiative to fund in-state repair facilities for the state’s fleet of mass transit vehicles is also included in the bill. This proposal will support the construction of maintenance, manufacturing and assembly facilities within Massachusetts, in order to encourage the creation of new in-state jobs and cut down costs associated with shipping vehicles to out-of-state repair facilities.
The Senate anticipates a final vote on the bill Thursday before sending it to the Governor for his signature.
FRAMINGHAM, MA – Join Senator Karen Spilka and Puja Mehta, Senator Spilka’s District and Constituent Services Director, for district office hours on Friday, April 18th in Framingham and Natick and on Friday, April 25th in Franklin and Medway.
Senator Spilka and/or staff members will be available to update constituents on the latest news and events from the State House and in the district. Constituents will also have the opportunity to discuss their concerns, questions and policy priorities.
Senator Karen Spilka accepts the Champion for Change award from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation’s Models for Change initiative, in recognition of her leadership on a broad range of juvenile justice reforms in Massachusetts. From left to right: Cecely Reardon, Attorney in Charge, Youth Advocacy Division; State Senator Will Brownsberger; Hon. Paula Carey, Chief Justice of the Trial Court; Joel Loitherstein; State Senator Karen Spilka; Ed Kelley, President and CEO, Robert F. Kennedy Children’s Action Corps; Tom Grisso, Director of Psychiatry and Director of the Law-Psychiatry Program, University of Massachusetts Medical School; Anthony Benedetti, Chief Counsel, Committee for Public Counsel Services; Naoka Carey, Executive Director, Citizens for Juvenile Justice.
FRAMINGHAM, MA – State Senator Karen Spilka has been named a Champion for Change in juvenile justice reform by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation’s Models for Change initiative. She was recognized at the 8th annual Models for Change national conference on Monday, December 16th, 2013 in Washington, D.C. for her leadership on a broad range of juvenile justice reforms in Massachusetts.
The Models for Change Executive Committee selected Senator Spilka from 16 nominees from across the country in the Champion for Change in State Leadership category. Senator Spilka was nominated for the award by a group of Massachusetts advocates, researchers and organizations representing a wide array of stakeholders in the juvenile justice system. In nominating Senator Spilka, they praised (more…)
Karen Spilka kicks-off her campaign for U.S. Congress, July 1st, 2013.
FRAMINGHAM, MA – On Monday, July 1st, 2013, Karen Spilka launched her congressional campaign in front of over 200 supporters who braved the weather and the heat to show their support for her run for U.S. Congress.
Karen was introduced by Bobby Bower of the Massachusetts AFL-CIO, who referred to Karen as a champion of the middle class and someone who knows how to get things done. Her remarks focused on her ability to deliver results and her desire to get to Washington to (more…)
Senator Karen Spilka and Dr. Timothy Flanagan at Framingham State University, (5/19/2013).FRAMINGHAM, MA – On Sunday morning, May 19th Senator Karen Spilka was presented with the Citizen Laureate Award at the Framingham State University graduate commencement ceremony. The award, given annually to an individual who has consistently supported the University, was awarded to Spilka in recognition of her advocacy on behalf of the MetroWest region. President Flanagan praised Spilka for her leadership in advancing public transportation and strengthening public higher education in the Commonwealth.
Accepting the award, she remarked on the importance of the University in her career. “In my many years as a MetroWest resident and legislator, I have had a long and extremely rewarding relationship with Framingham State University – we are truly partners in advancing higher education,” Spilka said. “FSU is a prime example of what makes my work as a public servant worthwhile: the opportunity to invest resources, creativity and new ideas into an institution that prepares the next (more…)
Sen. Karen Spilka Named to Head-Up Conference Committee on State Finance Reform, Modernizing and Improving Efficiency, Transparency, and Accountability of State Government
Senator Karen Spilka
FRAMINGHAM, MA – Today, Senator Karen Spilka announced that she was named to serve as the Senate Chair of the six member conference committee tasked with resolving the differences between the Senate and House versions of the state financial and administrative reform legislation.
“This legislation improves efficiency and accountability by updating the Commonwealth’s finance laws and requiring our agencies and programs to start measuring performance and outcomes,” said Spilka. “I am thrilled to have the opportunity to work with my colleagues on the conference committee on a final bill that will increase oversight and require smart and effective management of the state’s finances.”
The provisions of the Senate bill include:
Requiring regular reviews and analysis of state agencies through (more…)
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![[photo] Senator Spilka and Dr. Timothy Flanagan at Framingham State University (5/19/2013)](https://framingham.biz/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/20130519-fsu-comencement-karen-splika.jpg "Senator Karen Spilka and Dr. Timothy Flanagan at Framingham State University, (5/19/2013).")