Denise Andrews State Represenative 2nd Franklin District Massachusetts: In the News

The founding sponsors, Mission Covenant Church of Orange, Second Franklin State Representative Denise Andrews’s Office, Millers River Café of Orange, Art for Life of Orange, have been working together for several months to design and launch North Quabbin Films.

North Quabbin Films believes community gatherings and access to the arts will enhance our vibrant communities. The objectives of NQ Films are offer free PG-13 films year round and second to initiate a fall NQ Film Festival.

The following North Quabbin Films are scheduled to show at 7 pm as follows:

May 20- Chariots of Fire, Mission Covenant, 53 Pleasant Street, Orange
June 3, Invictus, New Salem
June 10, Toy Story 3, Athol YMCA-Pool Flicks-float and enjoy the film
June 29, Lion King, Deja Brew, Wendell
July 13, Wall-E, Orange Town Hall
July 27 Casablanca, Deja Brew, Wendell
August 26, Marley & Me, Warwick Old Home Days
Sept 9-Lorenzo’s Oil, Orange Town Hall
Nov 11-Veterans Day -Guns of Navarone, Athol
Dec 9 –Mama Mia, Erving

Films and location are subject to change.

There will be more information on the fall film festival in the coming months. NQ Films is grateful for recently receiving a grant from the Garlic and Arts Festival to help with equipment and outreach.

If you are interested becoming a NQ Films Supporting Member for a $10-$20 donation or a NQ Sponsor to help underwrite this initiative please contact Jeanie at the Millers River Café at 978.633.4433.

Additional free films will also be shown at Mission Covenant Church Films, 53 Pleasant St at 7:00 PM on:

June 10th: Miss Potter
July 6th: Seabiscuit
August 5th: Secondhand Lions
August 12th: The Soloist
September 2nd: We Are Marshall
October 7th: Faith Like Potatoes
October 28th: Little Manhattan
November 4th: An Unfinished Life
December 2nd: Midnight Clear

For more information on the North Quabbin Films please contact Jeanie at the Millers River Café at 978.633.4433 or visit North Quabbin Films on facebook. Looking forward to seeing you at the North Quabbin Films.

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Representative Andrews Seeks Input from Voters
Casino Gambling and Fiscal Management are Keys Issues

Representative Denise Andrews (D-Orange) is interested in hearing from constituents on some key issues being addressed in the Legislature. “It is my hope that constituents will regularly contact me with their concerns on pending legislation or budget matters. At the moment, I am particularly interested to hear perspectives on two key issues – casino gambling and ideas for improving fiscal management.”

While ideas for improving fiscal management are always welcome, the casino gambling issue is likely to be taken up soon, so a timely response is encouraged. “Your desire and choice to share your perspective, allows me to better represent you and our district on key decisions and improvement opportunities,” shared Andrews. “My office strives to acknowledge every constituent that weighs in on a legislative matter.” Constituents are asked to provide complete contact information including a telephone number, in case we have additional questions.

“During last week’s budget process my office received significant constituent engagement in support of preserving collective bargaining rights and from others against budget language seen as preferential to biomass energy projects. The message from constituents was clear on these two issues. As a co-sponsor of the Walsh amendment to restore collective bargaining rights for municipal employees, I know that both management and unions must partner together to craft solutions that work. In the end, I voted against the leadership’s proposal because it did not address health care costs while preserving collective bargaining. Also, I opposed the budget amendment that was seen to give preferential consideration to energy generation projects such as large-scale biomass plants, needing only to show short-term cost savings – an amendment that was ultimately withdrawn.”

Although state revenues have begun to show modest gains, the budget will remain a challenge for years to come. Going into this year’s budget process, legislators needed to fill a gap of nearly $2 billion to balance the loss of short-term federal stimulus funds. “In order to generate sufficient resources to make key investments or to pay for essential services and programs that create vibrant communities, I am seeking input and ideas from constituents on generating revenue, improving services and making programs more efficient.” Ideas are sought in writing and can be made by either mailing to State House Room 443, Boston, Mass 02133 or by email to yourvoice@deniseandrews.org, please put "Casino Gambling" or “Fiscal Management” in the subject line. Additional information is available at www.deniseandrews.org.

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Press Release: March 17, 2011
Box Car Re-Opens!

Box Car on Rte 2 in Erving reopens on St. Patrick's Day!

Great news that one of our district's special businesses is back in operation. Jobs regained, community connections reactivated, historical building preserved,resting spot for travelers open, tax base increased and all this makes a vibrant community brighter.

Erving Town Crier Kim Gregory, Proprieter Sharon Porlier and State Representative Denise Andrews enjoy opening day and invite all to drop in and support the re-opening of one of our local businesses.

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PRESS RELEASE: February 24, 2011
Subject: Representative Andrews Testifies Adult Day Services at Rate Hearing-Boston

Over 550 people attended today’s rate hearing for the Massachusetts Adult Day Care Services. The hearing was hosted by the Division of Health Care Finance & Policy, Stephen McCabe, Assistant Commissioner and Nancy Panero, General Counsel.

Second Franklin District State Representative Denise Andrews (D) testified regarding the proposed cuts in
reimbursement rates for Adult Day Health services.

“If Adult Day Care Services were no longer available due to rate cuts there will be a dramatic negative impact on individuals and families I represent. Without a program such as this many of the clients who access this cost effective and high quality service would have no other choice but to enter a much more costly nursing home care facility. My input for your consideration is to maintain the current reimbursement rates and when possible in the future to increase the investment in expanding Adult Day Care Services since they are a lower cost and higher quality of life option for individuals, families and our Commonwealth, “Andrews shared.

Rep Andrews concluded comments were, “In these challenging times we must invest in to models that show the greatest return on investment and create the vibrant communities that we want to live in, age in and be proud of as a Commonwealth.”

Representative Andrews’s full testimony can be viewed on her web page at www.deniseandrews.org.

Denise Andrews

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V-Day Docudrama "Until the Violence Stops" Sunday at AOTV
February 24, 2011

Thursday evening's showing of the docudrama, "Until the Violence Stops" kicked off activities for the North Quabbin V-Day Campaign 2011. V-Day is a global activist movement to stop violence against girls and women. According to Marie MacDonald, chair of the North Quabbin V Day Campaign 2011, the next showing of this film will be this Sunday at 2 pm at AOTV, 163 South Main Street, Athol.

"Tickets are available at the door and the suggested donation, if possible, is $5.00 per person, "MacDonald stated. "Please come with a friend. The proceeds will be used to benefit NELCWIT which stands for the New England Learning Center for Women in Transition. Since 1976, NELCWIT has been working to build safety, justice, and dignity for all."

NELCWIT serves Franklin County and the North Quabbin region of western Massachusetts and offers counseling, safe homes, advocacy, and education to women and children who have survived domestic violence or sexual abuse, and prevention education for area schools, professionals, and other groups. Telephone (978).544.9857 for further information or assistance.

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Published on GazetteNET (http://www.gazettenet.com)
Legislators want region to have voice in future of Vermont Yankee license
By Ben Storrow
Created 02/17/2011 - 5:00am

Area lawmakers joined the chorus of concern about the future of Vermont Yankee [1] nuclear power plant this week, saying western Massachusetts needs a voice in the debate over whether to extend the plant's operating license beyond its March 2012 expiration date.

In a letter to Democratic Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin, state Sen. Stanley Rosenberg, D- Amherst, called for the addition of nonvoting seats to the Vermont Yankee Reliability Oversight Committee [2] to represent the interests of Franklin and Hampshire counties in the debate over the license extension. "Our constituents have grown increasingly concerned about the potential for contamination arising from the reactor's continued operation," the letter reads. "We respectfully request that you consider adding ex officio, nonvoting seats to the Reliability Oversight Committee to represent these downwind and downriver communities."

Shumlin, a leading opponent of relicensing, formed the five-person committee recently to provide his office with additional expertise and oversight in the months leading up to Vermont Yankee's anticipated closure. The letter was signed by nine other western Massachusetts lawmakers: state Sens. Stephen Brewer, D-Barre, and Benjamin Downing, D-Pittsfield, and state Reps. Denise Andrews, D- Orange, Gailanne Cariddi, D-North Adams, Peter Kocot , D-Northampton, Stephen Kulik, D- Worthington, Paul Mark, D-Hancock, John Scibak, D-South Hadley, and Ellen Story, D- Amherst.

Legislators want region to have voice in future of Vermont Yankee license. The lawmakers' letter appears to reflect growing unease in western Massachusetts over its nuclear neighbor to the north. The plant has recorded a number of leaks of radioactive material in the last 12 months, in which high levels of tritium, a radioactive isotope, were found in test wells near the reactor, which sits on the bank of the Connecticut River. The first leak was found in January 2010, and the most recent was found last month. Investigators are still trying to determine the source of the most recent leak. "Many western Massachusetts communities are downriver from the plant and there are a growing number of concerns about its operations," Rosenberg said Wednesday in a phone interview from Washington, where he is attending a convention of state legislators from across the country. "With the growing number of problems being experienced at the plant, western Massachusetts residents are become more wary of the plant."

Rosenberg, who opposes Vermont Yankee's license extension, said he had not yet heard from Shumlin, but would be seeking out Vermont legislators at the Washington conference to discuss the issue. The Amherst legislator conceded it was "unusual" to seek Massachusetts representation on a Vermont board, but said it seemed "appropriate for western Massachusetts representatives to be in the room when these issues are being discussed and decisions are being made."

State Oversight
The debate over the licensing of Vermont's sole nuclear power plant is especially complex, given the fact that the Green Mountain State is the sole state in the country with a role in the nuclear regulatory process. The regulation of nuclear power plants traditionally falls to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, a federal entity.

However, the simple facts of the case are this: Vermont Yankee's 40-year operating license from the NRC is due to expire in March 2012. Plant owner Entergy Corp., of New Orleans, has applied to the NRC for a 20-year extension of the Vernon plant's operations. The complications begin with something known as a Certificate of Public Good, which is issued by the Vermont Public Service Board. When Entergy bought Vermont Yankee in 2002, the state required as a condition of the sale that the plant's certificate expire the same year as its operating license, 2012. The certificate gives the PSB "jurisdiction under current law to grant or deny approval of operation of (Vermont Yankee) beyond March 21, 2012."

However, before the PSB can issue a new certificate it must be approved by both houses of Legislators want region to have voice in future of Vermont Yankee license the Vermont Legislature. Last February, the Vermont Senate voted overwhelmingly not to reissue the certificate. Wayne Leonard, Entergy CEO, told Vermont Public Radio last week that his company was considering challenging Vermont's regulatory authority in court.

"We strongly believe that this is federal jurisdiction," Leonard told VPR. "We have choices that need to be made and we'll make them at the appropriate time."

Local lawmakers are not the first western Massachusetts officials to voice concern about the plant. Select boards in eight Franklin County towns, along with communities in Vermont and New Hampshire that surround Vernon, have written to Entergy and to the NRC expressing their concerns about how the shutdown of the reactor would affect them. Prompted by the three-year-old, grassroots "Safe and Green Campaign [3]," selectmen in New Salem, Wendell, Warwick, Montague, Leverett, Colrain, Gill and Buckland have raised concerns that were outlined in a prototype letter circulated by the group. "This scheduled closure is likely to affect nearby towns and cities in the tri-state area in a number of ways," the letter says. "Because it is the responsibility of local select boards ... to protect and enhance the safety and well-being of our towns and cities, we are writing this letter to urge all the appropriate authorities to take whatever steps may be necessary in order to minimize any negative impacts that Vermont Yankee's closure may have on its workers, local residents and the environment." Seven Massachusetts towns - Bernardston, Colrain, Gill, Greenfield, Leyden, Northfield and Warwick - are in the emergency planning zone that falls within a 10-mile radius from the nuclear plant.

Gazette contributing writer Richie Davis contributed to this story.
Daily Hampshire Gazette © 2011 All rights reserved
Source URL: http://www.gazettenet.com/2011/02/17/vt-yankee-worrying-legislators
Links:
[1] http://www.safecleanreliable.com/
[2] http://governor.vermont.gov/blog-yankee-oversight-committee
[3] http://www.safeandgreencampaign.org/

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Press Release: February 6
Representative Andrews Chief of Staff Named
Ms. Avery Oldach, of Athol, will serve as Chief of Staff for the office of State Representative Denise Andrews. Ms. Oldach will be responsible for hiring and supervising several interns from throughout the Second Franklin District to assist with constituent services, research, and special projects.

Ms. Oldach received a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst in 2008. She has worked recently in Orange and Greenfield as a Mobile Resource Specialist for Community Action. She served on Representative Andrews' campaign team leading up to the 2010 election, and is interested in pursuing a career in law and public policy.

For more information on internship opportunities, please send an email to avery.oldach@gmail.com.

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Press Release: January 10
Representative Andrews names Eno to be Legislative Aide
2nd Franklin District State Representative, Denise Andrews has chosen Brian Eno of Orange as her legislative aide to work both in the district and at her office at the State House.

Eno worked for five years with Community Action of Franklin, Hampshire and the North Quabbin region with both the former Healthy Connections and First Call for Help programs. Most recently, Eno was the program coordinator of the Community Action Resource Center, overseeing the operation of offices in Greenfield, Orange, Northampton and Ware.

While at Community Action, his work focused on advocacy and assistance to residents in need of basic services such as health care, nutrition, utility and fuel assistance. “Brian brings a strong social service background, his connections with agencies and programs across the region and beyond will be a tremendous asset to residents of the 2nd Franklin district,” Andrews said.

A 2005 graduate of the Friends World Program at Long Island University, Eno is excited to work alongside a legislator concerned with social justice and the health of our safety net programs.

“I’m very excited to have been selected by Denise Andrews to assist in her work for this region. I grew up in Orange and like Denise love this area and want the best for our friends and neighbors,” Eno said.

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