Page 18 THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, APRIL 23, 2021 IN HOLYOKE House 160-0, approved and sent to A note from Bob Katzen, Publisher of Beacon Hill Roll Call: Join me this Sunday night and every Sunday night in our new time slot between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. for my talk show “The Bob Katzen Baby Boomer and Gen X Show.” Jump in my time capsule and come back to the simpler days of the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. My guest on Sunday, April 25 will be Jamie Farr best known for playing Corporal Max Klinger on the iconic, award-winning television series M*A*S*H. Listeners are invited to call in and talk with the popular 86-yearold actor. There are many ways you can listen to the show from anywhere in the world: • If you have a smart speaker, simply say, “Play WMEX on Audacy.com ” • Download the free www.Audacy.com app on your phone or tablet • Listen online at www.wmexboston.com • Or tune into 1510 AM if you have an AM radio THE HOUSE AND SENATE. Beacon Hill Roll Call record local representatives’ votes on the roll call from the week of April 12-16. There were no roll calls in the Senate last week. HOUSE APPROVES $400 MILLION FOR NEW SOLDIERS’ HOME the Senate a bill authorizing $400 million to fund the construction of a new Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke. The push to construct the new home follows the deaths of 77 veteran residents last year as a result of a COVID-19 outbreak at the current facility. During debate on the House fl oor, Rep. Danielle Gregoire (D-Marlborough) House chair of Committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets addressed what the bill does and does not do. “This bill is solely to fi nance the long overdue construction of a new soldiers’ home in Holyoke to serve our state’s veterans,” said Gregoire. “The myriad issues in governance and oversight and the geographic, racial and gender inequity issues that have been brought to light, though not created by the COVID-19 crisis, and resulting tragedy in Holyoke last year will be addressed in the near future, through a vehicle that will allow for more extensive research, discussion and debate.” Gregoire also outlined a timeline for the project. She noted the “enabling work” for the project is expected to be done in spring 2022; construction will occur between the summers of 2022 and 2026; the move to the new building will be in the fall of 2026; demolition of the existing facility will follow the move and end in 2028; and fi - nal site work and landscaping will take place between the spring and summer of 2028. The Baker administration and House and Senate leaders are all trying to speed the bill’s passage in order to meet deadlines to apply for as much as $260 million in funding from the federal government, which would leave state taxpayers with a $140 million bill. “Holyoke is deeply proud to be home to the Soldiers’ Home and we are grateful to see the House support a bill to prepare the home for the next 50 years,” said Aaron Vega, Director of Holyoke’s Offi ce of Planning and Economic Development and former state representative from Holyoke. “The bonding authorization included in this legislation will allow the commonwealth to move forward with critical upgrades to the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home that will provide our veterans with a state-of-the-art facility that meets their health care and long-term care needs,” said House GOP Minority Leader Brad Jones (R-North Reading). “It also places the commonwealth in a strong position to qualify for significant federal matching funds to complete this work.” Next stop is the Senate where Sen. John Velis (D-Westfi eld), who represents Holyoke in the upper chamber, said, “I am pleased that the House unanimously passed the … bill today. Our commonwealth needs a new facility that will care for our veterans with the honor and dignity that they deserve. Today’s passage was an important step towards that goal, and I look forward to the Senate promptly acting on this bill.” The office of House Ways and Means chair Rep. Aaron Michlewitz (DBoston), the author of the bill, did not respond to questions by Beacon Hill Roll Call which were sent repeatedly directly to Michlewitz and his Chief of Staff Blake Webber. (A “Yes” vote is for the bill.) Rep. Jessica Giannino Ye s 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 fi led. They note that the infrequency and brief length of sessions are misguided and lead to irresponsible latenight sessions and a mad rush to act on dozens of bills in the days immeLICENSING | FROM Page 1 “There will be a dining menu, as well as pizza, which will be the mainstay,” said Jill Mann, the attorney representing the business before the commission. “Obviously, from the name Bianchi’s we all know this.” In addition to the takeout window and the 92-seat dining room, there will be 10 twoseat tables outside the restaurant, said Mann. The proposed hours of operation for the new Bianchi’s will be from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m., seven days per week. “This, to me, is one of the most rewarding circumstances that you can get in being a city councillor, when you can speak in favor of an applicant, someone who has been in Revere all their life,” said Ward 5 Councillor John Powers. “I am 100 percent in favor and I think this is long overdue. There are a lot of people sitting at home waiting to get out of the pandemic and to get out and have a meal or a beverage; I think the sooner this place can GRADUATION | FROM Page 1 ~ Home of the Week ~ SAUGUS...Much-sought-after Ranch style home offers 7 rooms, 2-3 bedrooms, 2 full baths, dining room, beautiful, updated kitchen (2001) kitchen with granite counters, granite island, built-in granite top “bright and sunny” sunroom with glass walls and located on dead-end street. You won’t be disappointed! View the interior of this home right on your smartphone. likely be shorter than it has been in past years, with fewer speakers. “Only students will be speaking, and we will have a smaller ceremony, but we hope it will be very special,” he said. The students will be crossing the stage to pick up their diplomas, although the diplomas will be placed on a table and not handed directly to the graduates. “It’s interesting what the students really want, and what they really wanted was to do it all together as a group, and not broken up into smaller groups,” said Perella. “They wanted to have it at the stadium, and they wanted to walk across the stage, so we’re able to meet all those wants and do it in a safe way.” School Committee members, diately preceding the end of an annual session. During the week of April 12-16, the House met for a total of three hours and 36 minutes while the Senate met for a total of 17 minutes. Mon. April 12 House 11:00 a.m. to 11:03 a.m. Senate 11:14 a.m. to 11:19 a.m. Tues. April 13 No House session No Senate session Wed. April 14 House 11:00 a.m. to 11:35 a.m. No Senate session Thurs. April 15 House 11:01 a.m. to 1:59 p.m. Senate 11:19 a.m. to 11:31 a.m. Fri. April 16 No House session No Senate session Bob Katzen welcomes feedback at bob@beaconhillrollcall.com get open, the better.” While the Licensing Commission did grant approvals, Deputy Fire Chief Paul Cheevers said there is still some work to be done to a second kitchen before an occupancy permit can be granted. However, he said he saw no reason why the restaurant couldn’t begin serving pizza at its takeout window before the occupancy permit is granted. While there was overall support from the commission for the licenses, several neighbors did raise concerns about delivery trucks blocking traffi c and noise coming from the restaurant. Mann said the restaurant owner and principals would work hard to be good neighbors and address any concerns that come up. There were some abutters who said they were happy to see a full Bianchi’s operation at the former Renzo’s. “I am personally happy to have Bianchi’s back as it should be and as we remember Bianchi’s,” said Frank Licata, who lives near the building. teachers and other dignitaries will be sitting in the stands, and the graduation will be livestreamed for those who cannot attend in person. The last day of classes for seniors will be Friday, May 28, with graduation rehearsals in the week between the end of classes and the ceremony. Other traditional end of year events, such as academic and athletic awards, will be done virtually, as they were last year. The total number of graduates in the Class of 2021 will likely be determined in the coming weeks, according to the principal. As many as 509 students could graduate, including students from SeaCoast High School and out of placement students, but Perella said that, typically, not every student who can graduate does.
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