THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRiDAy, MAy 16, 2025 Page 25 BEACON | FROM PAGE 24 equitably in education and transportation across the commonwealth,” said Senate Ways and Means Vice Chair Jo Comerford (D-Northampton). “The Senate bill passed today will provide transportation solutions for small, rural towns, will begin addressing the debilitating backlog of deferred maintenance on public higher education campuses, will provide meaningful help to school budgets pushed to the breaking point, and more.” (A “Yes” vote is for the $1.3 billion budget.) Sen. Sal DiDomenico Yes ALSO UP ON BEACON HILL R E CO G N I Z E H I G H SCHOOL CHEERLEADING AS A SPORT (H 639) – The Education Committee held a hearing on legislation that would designate and treat high school cheerleading as a legitimate sport and have it governed by the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) which currently governs 19 other high school sports. “Cheering is a highly competitive and athletically challenging sport,” said sponsor Rep. Marc Lombardo (R-Billerica). “It should receive the same recognition and resources as any other sport in the commonwealth and as such, needs to be classifi ed properly.” Supporters said that Bay State high school cheerleading is currently governed by the Massachusetts Schools Administrators’ Association which only supports Cheer/ Game Day, Dance and eSports. They argued it would be more appropriate to have the MIAA run and support this highly athletic and competitive sport. THE BEAN NEW DEAL (S 922) – The Higher Education Committee held a hearing on a bill, dubbed the Bean New Deal, designed to help more people understand the climate, health and environmental benefi ts of diets that involve plant-based protein sources, whether exclusively or just occasionally. It also would ensure that public food establishments and public programs provide access to plant-based protein sources to those who want them. Provisions include ones that would require all state dining halls, cafeterias and canteens to provide at least one plant-based protein source with every meal; ensure that all culinary arts programs at public institutions of higher education provide instruction about plantbased protein sources; direct the Department of Elder Affairs to offer plant-based protein sources to low-income seniors who participate in the Senior Nutrition Program; direct the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) to off er voluntary training and resources concerning plantbased protein sources to organizations participating in the National School Lunch Program and other food programs it oversees; and direct DESE, in awarding food-related grants, to consider whether proposals will increase awareness of and access to plant-based protein sources. “Eating more plant-based proteins is benefi cial to human health, to the climate and to the environment, but many of us don’t know about those benefits and don’t have access to healthy options like beans, lentils, whole grains, nuts and chickpeas,” said sponsor Sen. Cindy Creem (D-Newton). “I fi led the Bean New Deal legislation to promote awareness of the benefi ts of plantbased eating and to increase access to plant-based options at public institutions and within public nutrition programs. Massachusetts residents should be able to choose food options that foster healthier communities and promote sustainability. This bill would give them that choice.” GIVE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS COLLEGE CREDITS FOR HIGH SCORES ON ADVANCED PLACEMENT PLANS – Another proposal heard by the Higher Education Committee would direct the Department of Higher Education to establish regulatory standards allowing high school students who have achieved a score of 3 or higher on their Advanced Placement (AP) exams to receive college credit at Massachusetts’ state universities. “The American Council on Education and the College Board both recommend granting college credit to students who score a 3 or higher on their AP exam because those who achieve a score in this range are generally more prepared for subsequent coursework than students who only completed the introductory course and did not take the exam,” said sponsor Rep. Brad Jones (R-North Reading). “Providing college credit for AP classes taken in high school allows students to be rewarded for their hard work by giving them much more fl exibility to pursue a double major or study abroad, provides a less confusing college application process by setting a uniform standard and saves students tuition money due to the reduced number of classes they have to take.” BAN HOTELS FROM PROIVIDING PLASTIC-PACKAGED TOILETRIES TO GUESTS (S 609) – The Environment and Natural Resources Committee held a hearing on legislation that would ban, beginning in January 2027, hotels, motels and boarding houses from providing small plastic-packaged toiletries to guests. Toiletries are defi ned as a prodCITY OF EVERETT ~ Legal Notice ~ ~ Legal Notice ~ PUBLIC HEARING FOR PETITION FROM MASSACHUSETTS ELECTRIC COMPANY D/B/A NATIONAL GRID OF NORTH ANDOVER, MASSACHUSETTS & VERIZON, NEW ENGLAND To all parties interested in the public hearing. Be it hereby ordered: Massachusetts Electric Company d/b/a National Grid of North Andover, Massachusetts and Verizon New England requests permission to locate poles, wires, fixtures, including the necessary sustaining and protecting fixtures, along and across the following public way or ways hereinafter named. The following are the streets and highways referred to: No. # 31118422 – Silver Road - National Grid to relocate 1 JO pole on Silver Road. National Grid to relocate pole# 844-0 approximately 25 feet at 24 Silver Road. Everett MA Also, for permission to lay and maintain underground laterals, cables and wires in the above or intersecting public ways for the purpose of making connections with such poles and buildings as each of said petitioners may desire for distributing purposes. Your petitioner agrees to reserve space for one cross-arm at a suitable point on each of said poles for fire, police, telephone, and telegraph signal wires belonging to the municipality and used by it exclusively for municipal purposes. Wherefore it prays that after due notice and hearing as provided by law, it be granted a location for and permission to erect and maintain poles and wires, together with such sustaining and protecting fixtures as it may find necessary, said poles to be erected substantially in accordance with the plan filed herewith marked: Silver Road - Everett - Massachusetts. Hearing to be held with the Everett City Council, held on Tuesday at 7:00PM, on the 27th of May, 2025 at the Everett City Council Chambers, 3rd Floor, Everett City Hall. May 16, 2025 uct provided by a hotel “intended to be applied to or used on the human body or any part thereof for cleansing, conditioning or moisturizing including, but not limited to, shampoo, conditioner, lotion and liquid soap.” “For healthier people and a healthier planet, it’s important that we continue shifting away from using plastic materials,” said sponsor Sen. John Keenan (D-Quincy). “Their production and disposal contribute to greenhouse gas emissions, their usage leads to microplastic contamination and they continue to be among the most harmful materials littered through our neighborhoods and our natural resource areas. Because there BEACON | SEE PAGE 26
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