Page 16 THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRiDAy, DECEmbER 30, 2022 Tide boys’ hockey team grounds the Jets again Everett begins 2023 with two road games next week against Somerville, East bridgewater By Joe McConnell P laying just once almost every seven days in the early going is certainly not taking its toll on the Everett High School boys hockey team (21), but they know the schedule will get more demanding as the calendar flips to a new year with at least two games every week throughout the remainder of the season. With that said, the Crimson Tide understands they have to be ready for every challenge on the ice, and so for the second time in three weeks they dominated the Lynn Jets, this time to the tune of 13-1 in the home opener at Everett last Wednesday, Dec. 21. They bested Lynn the first time around, 8-1. The Everett boys also took on host Medford, and were quite competitive against them, before dropping a 7-4 decision. The local sextet actually led after two, 4-3. “It’s been a little tough on them only playing once a week, but we keep the practices fast-paced using a lot of game situations to maintain their sharpness,” said coach Craig Richards. “They know what’s at stake, and the importance of staying focused, while Beacon Hill Roll Call By Bob Katzen GET A FREE SUBSCRIPTION TO MASSTERLIST – Join more than 22,000 people, from movers and shakers to political junkies and interested citizens, who start their weekday morning with MASSterList—the popular newsletter that chronicles news and informed analysis about what’s going on up on Beacon Hill, in Massachusetts politics, policy, media and influence. The stories are drawn from major news organizations as well as specialized publications selected by widely acclaimed and highly experienced writers Keith Regan and Matt Murphy who introduce each article in their own clever and inimitable way. MASSterlist will be e-mailed to you FREE every Monday through Friday morning and will give you a leg up on what’s happening in the blood sport of Bay State politics. For more information and to get your free subscription, go to: https://lp.constantcontactpages. com/su/aPTLucK THE HOUSE AND SENATE: There were no roll calls in the House or Senate last week. This week, Beacon Hill Roll Call continues a series on highlighting the bills that were approved by the Legislature in 2022 and signed into law by Gov. Charlie Baker. $350 MILLION FOR ROADS AND BRIDGES AND MORE (H 4638) House 155-0, Senate 38-0, approved and Gov. Baker signed into law a $350 million package that includes authorizing $200 million in one-time funding for the maintenance and repair of local roads and bridges in cities and towns across the state to be distributed under the Chapter 90 program formula. Thepackage, a bond bill under which the funding would be borrowed by the state through the sale of bonds, also includes $150 million to pay for bus lanes, improvement of public transit, electric vehicles and other state transportation projects. “Chapter 90 provides vital road improvement funding to our communities,” said Sen. John Keenan, the Senate vice-chair of the Transportation Committee. “It is my hope that we will get to the point where we can provide a greater amount in a multi-year appropriation so that municipalities, big and small, will be able to more effectively plan.” Many local officials across the state continue to advocate for additional money to increase the funding and argue that the cost of repairing roads has increased by up to 40 percent while the state has kept this funding flat at $200 million for the past 11 years. (A “Yes” vote is for the bill.) Rep. Joseph McGonagle Sen. Sal DiDomenico Yes Yes ELECTION LAW CHANGES (S 2924) House 126-29,Senate 37-3, approved and Gov. Baker signed into law a bill making permanent the mail-in and early voting options used in Massachusetts in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. The measure requires the secretary of state to send out mailin ballot applications, with return postage guaranteed, to registered voters before each presidential primary, state primary and biennial state election. It also allows registered voters to request a mail-in ballot for all elections in a single calendar year. Other provisions include reducing the registration blackout period from 20 days prior to an election to 10 days; electronic voting options for voters with disabilities and military service members; allowing a voter with disabilities to request accommodations including an accessible electronic ballot application, ballot and voter affidavit that can be submitted electronically; ensuring that non-felons who are incarcerated Craig Richards Head Coach just playing one game a week.” The Tide came out flying against Lynn last week to take a 5-0 lead after one period. They scored four more times and are currently eligible to vote are provided with voting information and materials to exercise their right to vote; and requiring the secretary of state to conduct a comprehensive public awareness campaign to publicize the new voting and registration options. “I’m proud to see the [bill] pass in the House and make its way to the governor’s desk,” said Sen. Barry Finegold (D-Andover), Senate Chair of the Committee on Election Laws and the co-sponsor of the bill. “When more people participate in voting, democracy wins.” “As a general rule, we should be promoting voting in person and on Election Day,” said Paul Craney, spokesperson for the Mass Fiscal Alliance. “Anytime a voter loses control of their ballot before it’s given to an election official, it’s possible it could be lost or altered. The Postal Service cannot guarantee a 100 percent delivery rate.” (A “Yes” vote is for the bill. A “No” vote is against it.) Rep. Joseph McGonagle Sen. Sal DiDomenico $11.3 BILLION TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE PACKAGE (H 5151) House 153-0, Senate 39-0, approved and the governor signed an $11.3 billion transportation and infrastructure package that includes $1.375 billion for the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) modernization and $1.27 billion for non-federally aided roads and bridges. Other provisions include $114 million for airport improvements; $25 million for municipal road pavement improvements; $20 million for municipalities under the Complete Streets Funding Program; $25.5 million for the Mobility Assistance Program; mandating the MBTA to establish a 3-year safety improvement plan with measurable safety objectives; and directing the MBTA to contract with an independent third-party auditor to conduct annual safety audits. “This transportation bond bill Yes Yes in the middle stanza to seal the deal. Freshman Ben Saia of Everett scored his first career varsity goal in this contest. His brother David, a senior on the squad, helped paced the attack with two lamplighters. Revere senior Austin Annuziata also chipped in with two markers. Junior Liam Thompson of Mystic Valley notched his first score of the season. Mystic Valley sophomore Sophia Leung, and Everett seniors Michael Schovanec and Cam Couto stood out on defense for the locals against the Jets, according to Richards. Malden junior backup goalie provides Massachusetts with the key to unlock once-in-a-generation federal funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law,” said Sen. Brendan Crighton (D-Lynn), the Senate chair of the Committee on Transportation. “With these combined state and federal investments, we will be able to complete vital work on our highways, roads, bridges and public transportation systems, improving mobility for all residents of the commonwealth.” (A “Yes” vote is for the bill.) Rep. Joseph McGonagle Sen. Sal DiDomenico Yes Yes SOLDIERS’ HOMES OVERSIGHT (H 5106) House 153-0, Senate 40-0, approved and Gov. Baker signed a bill that would make major changes to the oversight and governance structure of the state’s veterans’ homes in Holyoke and Chelsea. The proposal follows the deaths of 77 veteran residents in 2020 as a result of a COVID-19 outbreak at the Holyoke facility. A key provision would elevate the Department of Veterans Services to a cabinet-level executive office with direct reporting to the governor and the ability to hire and fire the homes’ superintendents Other provisions include requiring superintendents of the two soldiers’ homes to be licensed as nursing home administrators and that they oversee day-to-day management and operation of the homes; requiring two annual home inspections by the Department of Health; creating an independent Office of the Veteran Advocate; maintaining local Board of Trustees and creating a statewide advisory Veterans’ Home Council. “This legislation contains important improvements that will benefit the men and women who have served our nation and will reside at our commonwealth’s Veterans’ Homes for the years to come,” said Sen. John Velis (D-Westfield), Senate Chair of the Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs.“At the same time, Aaron Al-Marayati took over for starter Ben Rosa, a Malden sophomore, in the second and third periods, and came up with 10 saves. Rosa stopped eight first-period shots. “We have shown up for every game so far this year, and know we can’t take anybody lightly,” said Richards. The Everett co-op team will now head to Somerville on Jan. 4 to face the Highlanders, beginning at 5:30 p.m. They will then face non-league host East Bridgewater on Saturday, Jan. 7, at the same time, as the schedule begins to heat up in 2023. we know that this work must continue. The working group established will allow us to have oversight over this implementation, to identify what we need to improve on further, and to continue to work to ensure that the tragedy that took place at the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home never happens again.” (A “Yes” vote is for the bill.) Rep. Joseph McGonagle Sen. Sal DiDomenico Yes Yes BENEFITS FOR MILITARY FAMILIES (S 3075) House 153-0, Senate 39-0, approved and Gov. Baker signed legislation that would support military families who relocate to the Bay State by providing career stability for the spouses of service members and education for their children. Provisions include making it easier for military personnel and their spouses who move to the Bay State to get a Massachusetts professional license, if their job requires one, so that they can continue their civilian careers and provide for their families without interruption; requiring the Commissioner of Education to issue a military spouse a valid certificate for teaching if he or she holds a valid teaching license from another state; allowing children of military members to register and enroll in a school district at the same time it is open to the general population by waiving the proof of residency requirement until the student actually begins school; creating a purple-star campus designation for certain schools that are military-kid friendly and show a major commitment to students and families connected to the nation’s military; and requiring that a child or spouse of an active-duty service member in Massachusetts continue to pay the in-state, less expensive tuition rate at state universities even if the service member is assigned to move out of the state. 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