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Tag: Karen Spilka

  • Spilka Files Gambling Bill Amendments

    Spilka Files Gambling Bill Amendments

    Senator Karen Spilka
    Sen. Karen Spilka

    FRAMINGHAM, MA – In an effort to protect municipalities concerned about negative impacts from a bill to expand gaming in the Commonwealth, Senator Karen Spilka, (who represents Framingham and other area towns in the Massachusetts 2nd Middlesex & Norfolk districts), filed amendments today with the Senate Clerk’s Office to strengthen safeguards and provide additional protections for surrounding communities.

    “The legislature has debated and voted on expanded gambling in Massachusetts for several years now, and this year it looks closer to becoming a reality than ever before,” said Spilka. “Throughout this entire process, my main priority has always been to protect and support my district’s residents, communities, neighborhoods, and local businesses. I have filed these amendments to (more…)

  • Framingham Folks in Natick 4th of July Parade (2011)

    Framingham Folks in Natick 4th of July Parade (2011)

    Nancy Kelly Dancers from Natick and Framingham pose for a picture before the parade.
    Dancers from the Nancy Kelly Dance Studio pose for a picture before the 2011 Natick 4th of July parade.

    FRAMINGHAM, MA – Many residents of Framingham got up early this morning to take a short drive over the town line to Natick.

    Some got up early just to make sure they had a good spot to watch Natick’s Annual 4th of July Parade — and others to get ready to be in it.

    As a town, we should thank our neighbors to the east for putting together a first-class, traditional, all-American Independence Day parade — and for being unselfish enough to include Framingham performers, musicians, politicians, classic car owners, fire engines as well as parade watchers.

    (more…)
  • Redistricting Hearing at FSU, Saturday June 18th

    Redistricting Hearing at FSU, Saturday June 18th

    Map of Massachusetts Congressional Districts (2011)
    Map of Massachusetts Congressional Districts (2011)

    FRAMINGHAM, MA – Following the results of the 2010 Census, the State of Massachusetts is losing one congressional district. District lines need to be redrawn to reduce the total from ten districts to nine.

    The current legislators representing Framingham; State Sen. Karen Spilka, (D-Ashland), a Member of the Special Joint Committee on Redistricting, along with State Reps. Tom Sannicandro (D-Ashland),  and State Rep. Chris Walsh (D-Framingham), US Rep. Ed Markey (MA-7th), and several other other MA legislators will be holding a public forum to discuss redistricting, Saturday, June 18, 2011, (more…)

  • Senate Adopts Spilka’s ‘Gift of Life’ Tax Deduction for Living Organ Donation

    Senate Adopts Spilka’s ‘Gift of Life’ Tax Deduction for Living Organ Donation

    FRAMINGHAM, MA – (PRESS RELEASE) Today, the Senate adopted Senator Karen Spilka’s (D-Ashland) amendment ‘Gift of Life’ to the Senate budget, which creates an income tax deduction for citizens of Massachusetts who donate an organ, while living, to another human being.

    ‘Gift of Life’ will allow living organ donors a state income tax deduction of up to $10,000 in related expenses that include travel expenses, lodging expenses, and lost wages that are incurred by the donor and related to his or her organ donation that are not reimbursed in any way.

    “It is vital to ensure that living donors do not incur financial loss for their altruistic organ donation” Stated Senator Spilka. “This legislation will (more…)

  • Super Seniors Expo at Office Depot May 5th

    FRAMINGHAM, MA – Office Depot is hosting a special Super Seniors Expo this Wednesday, May 5th, from 10 to 3 at its location in Shoppers World, Rt. 9W, Framingham.

    State Senator Karen Spilka and State Rep. Pam Richardson, the Callahan Senior Center, Soar 55 and other area organizations will be on hand.

    This will also be a great chance to learn about area businesses that offer products and services that 50+ seniors may find useful at home, work, or business. About 25 businesses will offer information about organizing, downsizing, assisted living options, errands, homecare services, mortgages, longterm care insurance, volunteering, and more.

    Free coffee and refreshments will be available, including a complimentary brunch by John Harvard’s Brew House.

    Free PC Checkups and certificates for $5 worth of free shredding services will be offered, as well as raffles, giveaways, and coupons.

    There will be vendors and store staff there to answer questions, and make recommendations on products and services to help you use your computers, printers, cameras, phones, and other items to get the most out of them.

    This event is free. Come and bring a friend. All welcome.

    For further information, call the Framingham Office Depot store at 508-620-5570.

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  • French Biotech Company CYTOO Opens U.S. Subsidiary in Framingham, Massachusetts

    Massachusetts Lieutenant Governor Timothy Murray and other state officials participated in ribbon-cutting ceremony

    FRAMINGHAM, MA (Dec. 11) – CYTOO Cell Architects, a French biotechnology company focused on applications in cell based assays, high content analysis and cell screening for life sciences research, announced today that it is expanding its operations to serve researchers in the United States by opening a U.S. subsidiary headquartered in Framingham, Massachusetts.

    The company officially opened its United States headquarters in Framingham today. The company’s main offices are in Grenoble, France. Company officials were joined at the ribbon cutting ceremony by Massachusetts Lieutenant Governor Tim Murray, Massachusetts Life Sciences Center President and CEO Dr. Susan Windham-Bannister, Massachusetts Department of Business and Technology Director George Ramirez representing the Massachusetts Office of International Trade & Investment, MassBio Economic Development Director Peter Abair, Senator Karen Spilka, Representative Tom Sannicandro, Representative Pam Richardson and Selectmen Ginger Esty, Laurie Lee and Dennis Giombetti.

    “It is outstanding that CYTOO, an international company on the cutting edge of Life Sciences research, has sought out Framingham for its US headquarters,” Representative Pam Richardson said. “Framingham is already home to a host of Life Sciences companies and I am pleased to welcome yet another.”

    CYTOO provides innovative enabling technologies and products for high content cell analysis. CYTOO chips streamline cellular analysis by decreasing cell variability. The chips are composed of four square inches of 20,000 concave geometric micropatterns, which standardize cell position, shape, and organization when the cytoskeleton architecture and organelle morphology adapt to the shape of the micropattern. By April 2010 the company hopes to release a new technology, CYTOO plates, which hold up to 384 wells of 1,000 micropatterns. The company is the first to offer a technology that standardizes cells, streamlining analysis and speeding up discoveries. By opening a US subsidiary in Massachusetts, the company hopes to better address the worldwide market for cell-based assays in life sciences research.

    In June of 2008, Governor Patrick signed into law the Massachusetts Life Sciences Initiative, a ten-year, $1 billion commitment to maintaining and strengthening the life sciences as a major economic engine for the Commonwealth. Conversations with CYTOO began at the BIO International Convention, held in Atlanta in May, 2009. Company officials cite their meetings with MOITI and the Life Sciences Center, and subsequently with Governor Deval Patrick directly, as having been key to their decision to locate in Massachusetts.

    “It is terrific to see our state’s Life Sciences initiative, and our presence at BIO International, bringing new companies to Massachusetts,” said Lieutenant Governor Timothy Murray. “We warmly welcome CYTOO to the Commonwealth, to Framingham and to the diverse group of pioneering companies that make Massachusetts a global leader in the life sciences industry.”

    CYTOO’s decision to locate in Framingham is part of a growing trend of foreign life sciences companies locating their regional headquarters in Massachusetts. Last week Systagenix Wound Management, a British company, opened its headquarters for the Americas in Quincy, Massachusetts. Biocell Center, an Italian company, recently opened their US headquarters in Medford, Massachusetts. The companies have cited the state’s Life Sciences Initiative as a key factor in their decision to locate here.

    “CYTOO’s decision to locate in Framingham is a direct return on investment for our state’s presence at the BIO International Convention in Atlanta this past May,” said Dr. Susan Windham-Bannister, President & CEO of the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center, the quasi-public agency charged with implementing the state’s Life Sciences Initiative. “Massachusetts is a great place to do business for life sciences companies, both international and domestic, and we welcome CYTOO to the world’s leading life sciences Supercluster.”

  • Route 126 Corridor Transportation Improvement Study Approved

    FRAMINGHAM, MA – On May 20, 2009 the Metrowest Legislators announced that the Boston Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) has approved a Route 126 Corridor Transportation Improvement Study that will encompass the towns of Bellingham, Medway, Holliston, Ashland and Framingham. Work is set to begin immediately.

    The objectives of the study are to identify mobility, access, safety, and other transportation-related problems at selected locations along Route 126 and to identify and evaluate multimodal transportation solutions to the problems, with the goal of improving accessibility to the towns’ shopping, commercial, educational, and service centers.

    “Route 126 is extremely important to the towns included in this study, as well as the greater MetroWest region, connecting as it does to 1-495, Route 16, Route 109, Route 135, and Route 140,” stated Senator Karen Spilka. “This study is great news for these towns and the region as a whole, as we continue our efforts to grow smart and grow strong.”

    The first step in the project will be the formation of an advisory task force that includes town officials, affected residents, members of the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC), the Massachusetts Highway Department, and the Executive Office of Transportation and Public Works, as well as local Senators and Representatives. This task force, which is scheduled to meet once in mid-June and once again within twelve months, will participate in the study by offering advice and input on data, study location selections, and recommendations.

    “The Route 126 corridor is a main thoroughfare in the Town of Framingham,” stated Representative Pam Richardson. “It is a crucial component in the economic development and revitalization of our downtown. I am looking forward to working on the task force, the outcome of the study and the subsequent improvements to this important corridor.”

    The end result of the study will be recommendations for geometric, traffic control, and other changes for improved traffic operations, with special emphasis on the effective and safe accomodation of pedestrians and bicyclists. Bus service improvement recommendations may also be developed. A long-term vision for the Route 126 corridor compatible with the land use and economic development in the area is also expected.

    “The development of Route 126 is a quality of life issue for the people of my district” stated Representative Tom Sannicandro. “The jobs and economic development that will come from these proposed transportation improvements will not only transform much of Ashland and Framingham, but all of Metro West.”

    All results will be presented for discussion and input at the second meeting of the advisory task force. A final report documenting all of the project’s tasks and products, including its recommendations, will be submitted to the Transportation Planning and Programming Committee of the MPO for final approval.

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  • Memorial Day Observances in Framingham 2009

    FRAMINGHAM, MA – This year’s theme at the Framingham Memorial Day ceremonies will be, “Let us not forget our fallen veterans.”

    Assemble at 8 a.m. at the rear of the Memorial Building.

    At each location the service will include: Officer of the Day Abbey Anderson; Prayer by unit Chaplain Robert Anspach; Placing of the wreaths: Cmdr. Pinsley Post 157 (more…)

  • Framingham Featured on CNNMoney.com

    FRAMINGHAM, MA – CNNMoney.com is featuring special reports and a brief online video about the impact of the recession on Framingham.

    A CNNMoney reporter visited Framingham and interviewed State Senator Karen Spilka, Alison Steinfeld, Director of (more…)

  • Legislative Delegation Announces Framingham Receives $500K for Bowditch

    FRAMINGHAM, MA — Senator Karen Spilka, Representative Tom Sannicandro and Representative Pam Richardson announced Friday, November 7, 2008 that Framingham has received a $500,000 grant from the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) for renovations to Bowditch Field.

    The grant was awarded under EEA’s Parkland Acquisitions and Renovations for Communities (PARC) Program.

    “This is a great opportunity for Framingham to revitalize an existing asset and give a whole new (more…)