MassDOT Dedicates Framingham Bridge to Greg Vilidnitsky

The MassDOT engineer was struck and killed in 2010, while working on Route 9 in Framingham.

MassDOT Secretary and CEO Richard A. Davey, Highway Administrator Frank DePaola, State Rep. Chris Walsh, and other elected officials attended a bridge dedication ceremony Wednesday for Greg Vilidnitsky, a MassDOT Engineer, who was struck and killed on Sept. 14, 2010, while working on Route 9 in Framingham.   Vilidnitsky started working with MassDOT in 2008 and was immediately noticed by his colleagues and supervisors for his superior work ethic and talent.  Almost immediately, his supervisors began grooming him to become a Resident Engineer for MassDOT's Highway Division.   “By all accounts, Greg Vilidnitsky was a true leader and an outstanding example of the kind of qualities we, at MassDOT, strive toward each day,” said Secretary Davey …

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CONSTRUCTION & ROAD WARRIOR

Houses Passes Transportation Bill; $2.84 Million Set Aside for Framingham

On Wednesday, the Massachusetts House of Representatives passed a $300 million transportation funding bill, that gives Framingham $900,000 more than last year. The bill must still go before the Senate.

On Wednesday, the Massachusetts House of Representatives passed a $300 million transportation funding bill that will dedicate $2.84 million to Framingham. State Rep. Tom Sannicandro, who represents one-third of Framingham's 18 precincts joined his colleagues in passing the bill. The transportation revenue represents a $100 million increase over last year, including $900,000 more for Framingham. “A functioning transportation system is one of the most critical ways the state can support economic growth,” Sannicandro said in a press release. “As an innovation center and a big resource of the state’s, the MetroWest needs to maintain our infrastructure so businesses can operate, people can travel, and the area can continue to grow.” With the …

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News From Your State Representative

House Budget Increase Framingham School Funding by $930,000

The additional funding means Framingham would receive $30,436,960 in school funding in fiscal year 2014, up from $28,083,629 last year.

As the House wrapped up its first day of budget debate, Framingham received an additional $937,110 in school funding as Framingham representatives Chris Walsh, Tom Sannicandro, and Tom Conroy joined colleagues in passing an amendment boosting aid for local schools. The additional funding means Framingham would receive $30,436,960 in school funding in fiscal year 2014, up from $28,083,629 last year. “While working together as a Framingham delegation we were able to give a much needed increase in education funding to the district.” Rep. Walsh said in a press release. “The increase in funding for Framingham represents the commitment we must continue to uphold, in order to bring communities that in the past have been underfunded in education …

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Photo of the Day

Immigrants Day at the State House

Monday, April 8 is Immigrants Day at the Massachusetts State House, and Framingham was well represented.

Today, April 8 is Immigrants Day at the Massachusetts Statehouse. Thanks to Kira Gagarin for the photo. Pictured are Gagarin, Dan Schullman and Ilma Paixao as well as Framingham State Representatives Tom Sannicandro and Chris Walsh.

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Elected Officials, Staff Members Holding Office Hour Friday Morning

Staff members from Sen. Warren and Rep. Markey and Sen. Karen Spilka, and Representatives Conroy, Sannicandro and Walsh will hold a joint office hour this morning at 10:30 a.m.

Staff members from the offices of U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and U.S. Representative Edward J. Markey (D-MA) will be joined by Massachusetts Sen. Karen Spilka (D-Ashland), State Representatives Tom Sannicandro (D-Ashland), Chris Walsh (D-Framingham), and staff from the office of State Representative Tom Conroy (D-Wayland) today at the Congressman Markey's office at 188 Concord St., Suite 102, from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. “These office hours are a great way for people to share their concerns about what’s happening in Washington or to ask for assistance with the federal government,” said Sen. Warren in a press release. “This is a chance for us to hear from local residents about the issues that matter to them, so I can best represent …

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Lawmakers: Don't Plan On State Aid Increasing

Three of the four members of the town's legislative delegation urged Framingham officials to budget conservatively.

State lawmakers told Framingham officials not to count on sizeable increases in state aid as they prepare next year's budget, but expressed optimism that state education funding at least would continue to climb.   "If I were a prudent fiscal manager in your shoes, I would not plan on an increase in state aid," Rep. Thomas P. Conroy (D-Wayland) told Framingham Selectmen Tuesday night. Conroy, whose district includes the Saxonville section of Framingham, said budgetmakers used a one-time windfall of more than $500 million to balance this year's budget. "That hole will have to be addressed again." "That is not what we wanted to hear," said Selectmen Chair Charles Sisitsky. Earlier this month, Town Manager Bob Halpin unveiled a $236 million …

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Rep. Sannicandro Wants State To Drink Tap Water Not Bottled Water

Sannincandro: "It is important that we lead by example and do our part to reduce bottle waste and save the Commonwealth money."

News From Your State Representative

Sannicandro Files Bill To Prohibit Bottled Water To Be Purchased With State Funds

This bill does not affect Massachusetts residents’ ability to purchase bottled water.

The following is a press release from Rep. Tom Sannicandro's office: Rep. Tom Sannicandro (D-Ashland), one of Framingham's three state representatives, filed a bill that would prohibit the use of public funds to purchase bottled water, a bill that would reduce waste, energy use, and costs. “There is no reason we should spend taxpayers’ money on a product that is unnecessary, expensive and harmful to the environment when there are clean and cheap alternatives,” Rep. Sannicandro said in a press release. “It is important that we lead by example and do our part to reduce bottle waste and save the Commonwealth money.” In December, the MetroWest Daily News ran a story about how the state had expended $300,000 in half the fiscal year on bottled …

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Framingham Receives S.A.F.E. Grant To Educate Students on Fire Safety

The mission of the S.A.F.E. program is to provide students with the information needed to recognize the dangers of fire, including the fire hazards that smoking-related materials pose.

Town of Framingham will receive a $7,625 grant through the Student Awareness of Fire Education (S.A.F.E.) Program, to help educate students about fire prevention and safety. The grant was announced in a joint press release from Sen Karen Spilka, Rep. Chris Walsh and Rep. Tom Sannicandro. “The S.A.F.E program is a great way to increase fire education and allows local fire departments to show our students how to prevent fires and what they should do in an emergency,” said Spilka in the release. “This grant will ensure our students have the skills they need to be safe and prepared in their everyday lives. I am pleased that the towns in my district that applied for funding have been awarded grants through this invaluable program.” “S.A.F.E. is…

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Legislators Serve Soup, Dinner at Downtown Cafe

Sen. Karen Spilka, Sen. James Eldridge, Rep. Chris Walsh and Rep. Tom Sannicandro put on an apron and lent a hand serving hungry families and individuals at the Pearl Street Cupboard & Café Tuesday night.

MetroWest state senators and representatives spent an hour serving up chicken noodle soup and chicken parm Tuesday night. Sen. Karen Spilka, Sen. James Eldridge, Rep. Chris Walsh and Rep. Tom Sannicandro put on an apron and lent a hand serving hungry families and individuals at the Pearl Street Cupboard & Café in downtown Framingham Tuesday night, Jan. 15. Spilka, Walsh and Sannicandro all represent Framingham. Besides serving food, the legislative delegation spent time lending an ear to those in need. "We are delighted that our local elected officials are helping shine some light on our Pearl Street Cupboard & Café. The number of those in need of food has increased by 400 percent at our Pearl Street Cupboard in the last year alone. The …

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