THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRiDAy, NOVEmbER 3, 2023 Page 23 BEACON | FROM PAGE 21 ination in traditional healthcare settings.” “PrEP is a true example of how preventative healthcare saves lives,” said Senate President Karen Spilka (D-Ashland). “By allowing pharmacists to prescribe PrEP in Massachusetts, we are expanding equitable access to healthcare by breaking down another barrier that our residents—and especially our LGBTQ+ community—face when they act to protect themselves from HIV.” (A “Yes” vote is for the bill.) Sen. Sal DiDomenico Yes ALSO UP ON BEACON HILL SIGN UP FOR THIS SPECIAL EVENT ON NOVEMBER 9: BUILDING THE ENERGY GRID OF THE FUTURE - Massachusetts has set leading goals for slashing greenhouse gas emissions. While clean energy generation and consumer technologies receive the lion’s share of attention, the grid infrastructure can’t support a sharp increase in megawatts without historic investments. Join MASSterList and the State House News Service at an in-person event on Nov 9 at the Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) in Downtown Crossing, with leading energy experts and business and energy executives to dive deeper into the sheer scale of needed investments and how regulators can ensure that the commonwealth keeps pace with its goals and the opportunities the transition can provide. Learn more/sign up: https://www. eventbrite.com/e/buildingthe-grid-of-the-future-tickets-741550075237?aff=BHRC REQUIRE TRAINING COURSES FOR MEMBERS OF SEVERAL LOCAL BOARDS IN CITIES AND TOWNS (H 2047) – The Municipalities and Regional Government Committee held a hearing on legislation that would require new members of local boards of health, conservation commissions, planning boards and zoning boards of appeals to attend a free state-sponsored program of education and training annually. “Members of local regulatory boards and commissions make consequential decisions that directly impact their communities,” said sponsor Rep. Chris Flanagan (D-Dennis). “There are many members steeped in town bylaws and state regulations. However, there are many appointed and elected members who do not have this expertise or knowledge base. [The bill’s] objective is to support local board and commission members in their work and give members a baseline understanding of laws and procedures to assist them in their deliberations.” FENTANYL STRIPS (H 2009) – The Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery held a hearing on a proposal that would create a pilot program for the purpose of implementing and studying the efficacy of fentanyl testing strips in combating the increasing rate of opioid-related deaths of individuals addicted to opioids and other substances. These small strips of paper are used to detect the presence of fentanyl in many different kinds of drugs including cocaine, methamphetamine and heroin. “I decided to sponsor this bill because there were 2,301 opioid-related overdose deaths [in Massachusetts] in 2021 and according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, synthetic opiates, mainly fentanyl, accounted for 90 percent of all opioid-related deaths in Massachusetts,” said sponsor Rep. Smitty Pignatelli (D-Lenox). “Fentanyl testing strips – and the pilot program that this legislation creates – can protect against the pervasive threat of fentanyl exposure in our neighborhoods, our homes, our schools and our communities.” MAG I C MUSHROOM THERAPY (S 1263) – Another measure heard by the Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery Committee would establish a psilocybin-assisted therapy pilot program operated by the state Bureau of Substance Use Addiction Services to provide qualified patients with the funding necessary to receive psilocybin-assisted therapy as part of any expanded access program approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration. Psilocybin is a hallucinogenic substance found in magic mushrooms and is used to treat mental health disorders including major depressive disorder and substance abuse. “There is mounting evidence from over 50 years of medical studies that suggest psilocybin has potential as a form of treatment for a variety of disorders, particularly substance use disorder,” said Sen. Susan Moran (D-Falmouth). “This bill is a proactive step towards establishing a framework for the medicinal use of psilocybin and bringing a potentially revolutionary therapy to those suffering from mental health disorders.” ELECTRIC VEHICLE (EV) CHARGING STATIONS IN CONDO PARKING SPACES (S 852) – The Housing Committee’s hearing included a bill that would prevent condominium associations from prohibiting or unreasonably restricting owners from installing EV charging equipment in or near an owner’s parking space. Restrictions that significantly increase the cost of the equipment, decrease its efficiency or effectively prohibit its installation would not be permitted. The bill would also require owners to pay the costs of installing and maintaining the charging equipment and for the costs of the electricity consumed during charging. “The commonwealth needs to install hundreds of thousands of residential electric vehicle charging stations to meet its goals for EV adoption, but at the moment, condominium associations can prevent owners from installing them,” said sponsor Sen. Cindy Creem (D-Newton). “We need to clear away unreasonable obstacles to installing EV charging stations at condominiums, not only because we will need those charging stations to reach our climate obligations, but also because condo owners deserve the right to charge.” OPT OUT OF YOUR TAX DOLLARS GOING TO ABORTION SERVICES (H 2887) BEACON | SEE PAGE 28 425r Broadway, Saugus Located adjacent to Kohls Plaza Route 1 South in Saugus at the intersection of Walnut Street We are on MBTA Bus Route 429 781-231-1111 We are a Skating Rink with Bowling Alleys, Arcade and two TV’s where the ball games are always on! PUBLIC SKATING SCHEDULE 12-7 p.m. Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday $9.00 Price includes Roller Skates Rollerblades/inline skates $3.00 additional cost Private Parties 7:30-11 p.m. $10.00 Price includes Roller Skates Adult Night 18+ Only Private Parties Private Parties 4-7 p.m. $9.00 12-9 p.m. 7:30-11 p.m. $10. 18+ Adults Only After 7 PM $9.00 Everyone must pay admission after 6 p.m. Sorry No Checks - ATM on site Roller skate rentals included in all prices Inline Skate Rentals $3.00 additional BIRTHDAY & PRIVATE PARTIES AVAILABLE www.roller-world.com For Advertising with Results, call The Advocate Newspapers at 617-387-2200 or Info@advocatenews.net
24 Publizr Home