THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRiDAy, DECEmbER 22, 2023 Page 21 BEACON | FROM PAGE 20 money. We could save 45 lives, prevent 500 injuries, and save $525 million over 5 years with a primary seat belt law in effect. According to a recent study in the New England Journal of Medicine, the single greatest opportunity to improve health and reduce premature deaths lies in personal behavior and seat belt use is yet another form of impaired driving that must be addressed.” “There are so many highway deaths in the news where people have been ejected from their cars,” said Rep. Jim Hawkins (D-Attleboro), sponsor of H 2340). “It’s not so corny to say seatbelts save lives. This bill makes not wearing seatbelts a primary offense meaning that you can be pulled over for that. There would have been issues with the possibility of racial profi ling but those issues were taken care of recently when we passed the hands free driving law.” Supporters of the bill have been trying to get it passed for years and have been unsuccessful. The original secondary enforcement law was approved in 1985, repealed on a ballot question in 1986 and then reimposed in 1994. Opponents of the primary enforcement bill say that they have warned for years that creeping incrementalism would inevitably lead to these attempts to impose primary enforcement. They say this bill is another example of unnecessary government intrusion and argue people should have the personal freedom to make their own decisions. They express concern that primary enforcement will result in racial profi ling and more minorities being pulled over for suspected violations of the law. MASSACHUSETTS LAW ENFORCEMENT MEMORIAL FUND (H 2417) – Would establish the Massachusetts Law Enforcement Memorial Fund to maintain the Massachusetts Law Enforcement Memorial in Ashburton Park outside of the Statehouse. The memorial honors Massachusetts law enforcement personnel killed in the line of duty. “I sponsored [this bill] to provide for the sale of specialty license plates with the proceeds directed towards the stewardship and upkeep of the memorial,” said sponsor Rep. Tom Walsh (D-Peabody). “Having attended the annual Massachusetts Law Enforcement Memorial Foundation ceremony for fallen offi cers, I can attest to the deep appreciation the commonwealth has for our law enforcement families as well as the need for this legislation to provide a stable, off -budget funding source to properly maintain this monument to our police offi cers.” QUOTABLE QUOTES “Farmers are on the front lines of an increasingly volatile climate. When the farming community is hurting, we are hurting. Our administration has been committed to helping these farms in their time of need. The agricultural industry is instrumental in our food system and the overall economy. We hope this funding will go a long way towards ensuring this sector remains resilient.” ---Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll announcing $20 million in grants to Massachusetts farms that experienced signifi cant crop what American humanitarian organization? 13. In the movie “Frozen,” who says, “Some things are worth melting for”? 14. On Dec. 26, 1966, what holiday began in the USA? 1. On Dec. 22, 1989, the Brandenburg Gate was opened in what city? 2. What is the translation of “O Tannenbaum”? 3. What city was Al Capone from: Chicago, NYC or St. Louis? 4. On Dec. 23, 1947, Bill Rodgers was born; he won how many Boston Marathons? 5. The fi rst artifi cial Christmas trees used feathers dyed green from what bird that is a traditional Christmas dinner in much of Europe? 6. On Dec. 24, 1912, Hartford, New York City and what other city lit the fi rst city public Christmas trees? 7. The Feast of the Seven Fishes originated in what country? 8. What is another word for reindeer? 9. Reportedly, in what century did gingerbread originate: 9th, 12th or 16th? 10. What does noggin mean (besides a person’s head)? 11. According to Guinness World Records, 219 dogs were invited to attend a screening of what 2023 fi lm? 12. On Dec. 25, 1821, Clara Barton was born in Oxford, Mass.; she later founded ANSWERS 15. In what Christmas song would you fi nd “a jolly happy soul”? 16. What Canadian musician became known as “Mr. New Year’s Eve”? 17. On Dec. 27, 1932, what venue opened in NYC’s Rockefeller Center? 18. How are Eagle, Tenderfoot and Star similar? 19. What is it called when a legal dispute is resolved before trial? 20. On Dec. 28, 1973, who signed the Endangered Species Act into law? 379 Broadway Everett 617-381-9090 All occasions florist Wedding ~ Sympathy Tributes Plants ~ Dish Gardens Customized Design Work GIFT BASKETS Fruit Baskets www.EverettFlorist.net losses due to a deep February freeze, a late May frost event and catastrophic fl ooding in July. “The disruption of the pandemic hurt students in every corner of the Commonwealth, and the data is clear: if we do not act with urgency to mitigate that learning loss, its negative impacts will be with us for years and generations to come.” --- Jay Ash, president and CEO of Massachusetts Competitive Partnership, on recent data that has found signifi cant learning loss since the start of the pandemic, with Massachusetts student achievement scores falling by 12 percent in reading and 8 percent in math. “Every year, vehicle emissions are linked to thousands of deaths in the Northeast. Large bus companies must be held accountable for ignoring idling laws designed to limit toxic emissions and protect public health.” --- Heather Govern, Director of Conservation Law Foundation’s Clean Air and Water program. “Cash has to be accepted everywhere.” ---Attorney General Andrea Campbell on reports that some businesses have refused to accept cash for payment for services or items. HOW LONG WAS LAST WEEK’S SESSION? Beacon Hill Roll Call tracks the length of time that the House and Senate were in session each week. Many legislators say that legislative sessions are only one aspect of the Legislature’s job and that a lot of important work is done outside of the House and Senate chambers. They note that their jobs also involve committee work, research, constituent work and other matters that are important to their districts. Critics say that the Legislature does not meet regularly or long enough to debate and vote in public view on the thousands of pieces of legislation that have been filed. They note that the infrequency and brief length of sessions are misguided and lead to irresponsible late-night sessions and a mad rush to act on dozens of bills in the days immediately preceding the end of an annual session.. During the week of December 11-15, the House met for a total of one hour and six minutes and the Senate met for a total of 34 minutes. Mon.Dec. 11 House 11:02 a.m. to 11:16 a.m. Senate 11:18 a.m. to 11:22 a.m. Tues. Dec. 12 No House session No Senate session Wed.Dec. 13 No House session No Senate session Thurs. Dec. 14 House 11:01 a.m. to 11:53 a.m. Senate 11:15 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. Fri.Dec. 15 No House session No Senate session Bob Katzen welcomes feedback at bob@beaconhillrollcall.com Bob founded Beacon Hill Roll Call in 1975 and was inducted into the New England Newspaper and Press Association (NENPA) Hall of Fame in 2019. 1. Berlin (to signify the reunion of West and East Germany) 2. “O Christmas Tree” 3. NYC (Brooklyn) 4. Four 5. Goose 6. Boston 7. Reportedly in the USA (among Italian-Americans) 8. Caribou 9. 16th 10. A small mug or small drink (in olden times, often eggnog or strong ale) 11. “PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie” (Record title: most dogs attending a film screening.) 12. American Red Cross 13. Olaf 14. Kwanzaa 15. “Frosty the Snowman” 16. Guy Lombardo (With his Royal Canadians he played “Auld Lang Syne” on New Year’s for about 50 years.) 17. Radio City Music Hall 18. They are Boy Scouts of America ranks. 19. Settlement 20. Richard Nixon
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