THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – Friday, May 3, 2019 Page 3 Third annual Solidarity for All 5K slated for May 18 By Christopher Roberson A s the warmer weather returns to Everett, more than 100 runners are expected to step up to the starting line for the third annual Solidarity for All 5K on May 18. “The race was inspired by an amazing group of kids from Central America, Brazil, Haiti and Bangladesh,” said race organizer Shane McNally. “We wanted to celebrate them and the diversity of our city in a big way; a run is the perfect community event. We also aimed to raise money to positively impact people in our community.” He said that for the second year, race proceeds will be donated to the Strongbacks Long Distance Riding Club, a nonprofit organization operated by Everett resident John Whelan. “The Strongbacks organization was chosen because of their trade school scholarship program,” said McNally. “With the proceeds, a scholarship will be given to an Everett resident for the purposes of attending trade school.” McNally described the course fi nish line at Glendale Park. McNally said Anthony Almeida won the men’s race last year with a time of 19 minutes, six seconds while Sarah Alyson won the women’s race in 2017 and 2018. McNally also said new prizes have been added for both the faster and slower runners. Looking back, he said that one year a four-year-old boy and a fi ve-year-old girl received medals for being the top fi nishers in their age group. He also spoke about a participant who used the race as a “springboard” to eventually compete in a full marathon. Lastly, McNally recalled three women from El Salvador who were top fi nishers in their age group. “We really enjoy seeing people engage in friendly competition for a great cause,” he said. McNally wanted to thank David LaRovere of Messinger Insurance, Exelon Generation and the Everett Police Department as well as Everett resident Stephanie Martins and Ward 5 School Committee Member Marcony Almeida Barros for their continued support. 8 Norwood St. Everett (617) 387-9810 www.eight10barandgrille.com Kitchen Hours: Mon-Thurs: 12-10pm Fri-Sat: 12-11pm Sunday: 1pm-10pm A map of the Solidarity for All 5K, which begins at the Everett Recreation Center and ends at Glendale Park. (Courtesy Photo) as being “predominantly fl at and fast” with the only exception being Cemetery Hill on Washington Street. From there, McNally said, participants pick up speed as they run downhill toward the DiDomenico’s Bill to Lift the “Cap on Kids” becomes law B OSTON – Last week the Massachusetts Legislature took the fi nal steps needed to end the state’s family cap policy by overwhelmingly voting to reject a Governor veto and enact State Senator Sal DiDomenico’s legislation to lift the Cap on Kids. The Cap on Kids – also called the family cap – denies benefi ts to children conceived while, or soon after, a family began receiving benefi ts. As a result of the Cap on Kids, Massachusetts does not provide benefi ts for nearly 9,000 children living in poverty. Their parents struggle to provide even the most basic essentials for their children, causing everyone in the family to suff er. “Lifting the ‘Cap on Kids’ is simply the right thing to do to ensure that families are not denied basic benefi ts simply because of when their children were born,” said DiDomenico. “I have heard many personal accounts from families who have been hurt by this cap on kids – parents who struggle to meet their families’ basic needs because of this policy. Today, I am proud to say that we have put an end to this ineff ective and unjust policy and show that we value all children equally, regardless of the circumstances of their birth.” This was the sixth time the Massachusetts Senate took bipartisan action to pass DiDomenico’s policy proposal. This session, legislation to lift the Cap on Kids was a top priority for the Massachusetts Senate, with the Senate passing DiDomenico’s bill in March and also including the family cap repeal in its FY19 supplemental budget. In his remarks on the Senate fl oor, DiDomenico thanked his colleagues for their support and expressed his gratitude to Senate President Karen Spilka for her ongoing commitment to repeal the Cap on Kids: “This is a critical policy change that will help thousands of children across the Commonwealth, and I would like to especially thank Senate President Spilka for continuing to make this a Senate priority and addressing this issue at the very beginning of our session.” Massachusetts’s ‘Cap on Kids’ policy was established in 1995 and has been detrimental to families across the state. Since fi ling this legislation, DiDomenico has passionately disputed certain erroneous assumptions about our Commonwealth’s low-income families: “The facts are crystal clear – this policy hurts our children which is why so many states have already taken action to repeal their family cap policies. For over two decades, the Cap on Kids has done nothing but move us backward and make it harder for low-income families to meet their baLunch Menu! Enjoy our Famous $10 Served Mon. thru Fri. ‘til 3:30 PM Choose from 16 Items! sic needs, such as food, housing and warm clothes.” The new policy begins on Sept. 1, 2019. The repeal of the family cap is also retroactive to Jan. 1, 2019. Children who are, or would be, excluded from grant calculations will now be included. The fi scal year 2019 budget already provides funding for this change, which was included in the House and Senate’s Conference Committee report. Grilled Rib Eye Steak! Only $22.00 includes Two Sides Every Friday FRESH HADDOCK DINNER Prepared Your Way! 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