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Opinion

Tales from Tri-Town: Curing the mid-winter blues

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Are you over your cold? Your cough? Your sniffles and sneezes? Did you get over that and then get more? Welcome to mid-winter blues, and take solace in the fact that when it does bother to show up, the sun is visiting us for minutes longer every day.

Fortunately, many folks in the greater Tri-Town area are firing up their kettles, and putting on their chef’s toques to make healing soup. Or ramen, the popular Asian soup mixes, as the case may be.

Danny Nhan of Fitchburg owns Millbury Fish Market at 60 Bemis Road. Fitchburg has literally dozens of varieties of ramen soup, beef, fish, shrimp, spicy, mild, medium, some that come with bowls and spoons, others that come a dozen to the box.

“People buy a lot of ramen in the wintertime,” he explained. “You can feed a whole family, easy. Nice hot soup!”

As we loaded a bag of ramen in our mom van — including the top-selling item: “Buldak, spicy chicken flavor,” we wondered what soups were most popular in another hemisphere.

So off to visit Carmen Guzman at at Mi Rinconcito Salvadoreño, 444 Main St., Fitchburg. Her store has items from all over Central and South America, and she’s happy to walk visitors through a recipe.

“In El Salvador, my country, people make ham soup, or bean soup,” Though El Salvador is in the tropics, “we have cold and rainy winter,” she explained.

Carmen has soup packets for flavoring, which are sought after by many customers, to have “the taste of home,” she said, adding that there are many kinds of soup people enjoy in the winter which will have onion, tomato or garlic as a primary flavor.

Of course, many area restaurants are happy to make your soup for you, and this winter, whenever a virus found me, my first stop was for soup, preferably hot and sour, whether I was Fitchburg (Gold Bowl, 22 Ashby State Rd., Jade, 345 Main St.) or Leominster (Jade II, 40 Mechanic St.). ‘Tis the sneezin’ – indeed!

A modern day Thoreau

I have a lifelong friend. Let’s call him Hollis the Mountain Man, a close observer of nature, weather, and the human spirit. Imagine if Henry David Thoreau lived today and had a dismantled car engine on his table in that shack at Walden. Hollis lives in the greater Tri-Town area, by the shore of “Lake Magoonamitchusimaug,” a mash-up of English, French and Algonquin which means: “my idiot friend who lives by the bog — he likes it.”

Hollis stayed healthy this winter because of a natural inclination to isolate. However, winter takes a mental toll, especially when it’s overcast, day after day.

“I love that bright sunny day – the pure white light reflecting off the snow,” he said. “But more often, it’s that weak, grey light, that sneaks around your curtain. You wake up and feel like Rip Van Winkle — with no idea what season it is.”

“Then you remember: It’s the 43rd of January and you hope there’s gas in the snowblower. When I go out, I wave to my neighbor engaged in a similar activity. That provides enough social interaction for days.”

The season of reading

As endless as winter days seem, this is truly the season for reading — especially newspapers. My joy this year was boundless, when I came across a pile of mint Fitchburg Reveille newspapers from the 1850s. I look forward to sharing items. Here’s a heartwarming news story that appeared 170 years ago, this very week:

“SLEIGH RIDE. The schoolars of Leominster District School No. 1 numbering some 70 or 80 under the care of Mr. Perley Davis visited this town yesterday, on runners. They spent a few hours at the Fitchburg Hotel, and to all appearance enjoyed themselves right heartily.”

Leominster historian Mark Bodanza noted, “District 1 was in Garner Hall — today the site of City Hall. It was also the first public high school from 1850 to 1865.”

It’s clear that Davis had to have been a remarkable educator to organize a field trip of that scale!

We’ll close on a slightly more recent item. Here’s a gag from 70 years ago, the 1953 winter edition of the “Red and Gray,” Fitchburg High School’s literary magazine: “Teen-ager: “Mom! Dad! What happened to my new record — the one I played all day yesterday?”

Sally Cragin is an award-winning writer, and city councilor-at-large in Fitchburg.

Tales from Tri-Town: Ice, snow and a whole lot of memories

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Despite the arrival of the motor car in our region well over a century ago, the practice for many families of means was to have a vehicle — but keep the horse and carriage.

With the onset of winter, the family mechanic (usually father), drained the crankcase and all fluids from the engine, and put the vehicle up on blocks for the winter months. The next step was replacing the wheels on the horse carriage, with sleigh runners. Since Fitchburg and Leominster were in the practice of ‘”rolling” the snow on the streets, which created a flat, icy surface, a horse and carriage could travel easily during the most difficult months. (And, as we know from ”Jingle Bells,” “the horse knows the way/to carry the sleigh/through ice and drifting snow.”)

The late Eleanora West, longtime director of Fitchburg Historical Society told me about this dual-transportation practice decades ago — also about the custom of being “sewn into your long johns,” after the first frost in the fall. This was an era in which your mittens were knitted by a family member, and your leather boots needed to be oiled and treated carefully to stay waterproof.

Children were expected to spend hours playing in the snow, and ice skating was a rite of passage, given the many small ponds in our region which would freeze over. Making snowmen — having snowball fights — building snow forts — were all pastimes enjoyed by girls and boys. And so was sliding. (“Sliding” or “sledding,” is the term I heard the most growing up in Lunenburg — “coasting” happened elsewhere).

Fitchburg has impressive hills, and one city practice earlier in the 20th century was declaring certain hilly streets were approved for kids to bring their sleds to.

Paula Moran Gorrell of Ashby grew up in Fitchburg, where her father George B. Moran became an electrician in the 1940s, and was the first installer of Christmas decorations on Main Street. The family home was near Lawrence Street, the big hill off Lunenburg Street.

“My father put sawhorses on Winter Street,” she explained. “So kids could slide, and not land on Boutelle Street. That was fun, but as snow plowing got more technical, they didn’t close it off anymore.”

Paula also remembers her mother, who grew up on the north side of Main Street, telling her stories about how in the 1920s, she with Paula’s aunt would “slide from Essex Street all the way to the old police station on Elm.”

And what did children receive for a present in the 1920s? Paula’s mother would receive a china head, for a new doll (the presumption was that the child or a parent would sew a new body).

“Over the year, the doll’s heads might be damaged from use,” Paula said. The china head, and an orange “was a big deal in your stocking.”

But this generation of youth were as much in search of entertainment as any. “My mother and her friends would walk all the way to Ashby or Lunenburg if there was a party. And they’d carry the Victrola with them to Turner Hall, in Fitchburg.” All on rolled streets of course.

We hope everyone had a wonderful end of the year, and wanted to draw your attention to a very successful toy and gift drive organized by Fitchburg Public Schools and Fitchburg Fire Department, with support from First Baptist Church and Elite Construction. According to FPS Family and Community Engagement Director Luisa Fernandez, 327 children received gifts during the holiday season. All were low-income, some had recently moved, others are homeless, but not one child was turned away.

Luisa said, “This experience filled my heart, I received so many hugs from these families and so many beautiful words that filled me with energy and helped me to start 2023 with a new focus. Next year my goal is to serve 500 vulnerable students in our district.”

If you’re done with sliding and snowman construction, warm up with soup at your local diners and restaurants. We are regulars at virtually every diner in Fitchburg and can thoroughly recommend: Chili and other soups at Fifth Street Diner, chowder at Slattery’s and chicken noodle soup at the Cozy Corner, all in Fitchburg. (And a member of the iPhone generation in our family would be happy having French Toast at the 50/50 diner several times a week.)

Sally Cragin is an award winning writer and a city councilor at-large in Fitchburg.

Tales from Tri-Town: The traditions that shape Christmas

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My family always celebrated Christmas Day at our grandparents’ house in Fitchburg. With many young aunts in residence, the toy selections for my brother Hal, and cousins Douglas and Jennifer were always thoughtful and up-to-the minute. But there was one toy that completely terrified my brother Hal, and made me queasy too: a bizarre Ideal Toys creation called the Odd Ogg.

Fueled by a battalion of large “C” batteries, this plastic monster roared and crept across the floor like a proto-Roomba. When you bowled plastic balls towards Odd Ogg, his mouth would open, and a large plastic tongue protruded as he gobbled his treat. Simply ghastly at the time.

Fast forward many decades: My friend, Rick Paige of Atomic Dimestore in Hyannis actually came across an Odd Ogg, mint in its box. I remembered it as menacing, but as you can see from Rick’s photo, it was actually pretty cute. Rick is my “go-to” guy for mid-century pop culture economics, and should be yours too — especially if you’re looking for a comic book.

Emily MacRae grew up in Philly where “my favorite Christmas present as a child was art supplies, crayons, and coloring books.” As an adult, her favorite presents are “books and time. I love it when a meeting is cancelled.” We know that feeling – it’s a snow-day without the shoveling.

Robin Maston of Ubidtobuy, the on-line auction house based at Park Hill, Fitchburg noted that a high bidder brought home minerals including malachite, turquoise, amethyst and quartz. “He spent $200 on these beautiful crystals to give his wife Christmas morning,” she said with admiration. We both agreed this was a very romantic gesture. (Visit “Ubidtobuy.com”)

Family feasting

Joel Serrano of Fitchburg learned how to cook from his mother and creates savory rice with pigeon peas and pasteles. Wash this down with a “Coquito,” a cocktail with coconut milk, coconut, cinnamon, nutmeg and light rum. Puerto Rico also gets the prize for the longest celebration. “Three Kings is the Puerto Rican Christmas,” he said. “It’s a very long holiday and we celebrate from Thanksgiving to Jan. 10.”

Gayane Tagvoryan Seppelin of Westminster grew up in Gyumri, Armenia, where Armenian Christmas (Jan. 6) comes after Santa Claus’s visit (Dec. 31 and Jan. 1)

“You set up a huge table with food, and visit everybody,” she said. “Dolma and puff pastry is a must. We visit the elders first, Then the families  where they lost someone.” On Jan. 6, families go to church, “Where the service is long. Every family stays as long as you want to. Some people stay three hours,  some stay 20 minutes. Then you go home and eat fish.”

The gift of generosity

The Central Massachusetts Faith Based Community Coalition serves more than 2400 hot meals a month. “We serve indoors on the second and fourth Sunday morning at the Y,” said Executive Director Emily MacRae. “Wednesdays and Fridays, we serve a “to-go” meal at 5 p.m.” (Call or email 978-868-8857. emily.macrae.ent@gmail.com)

We can give a gift to others when we sign up for organ donation. Your kidneys, liver, lungs, heart, pancreas, intestines, hands and face, eyes, and tissues can save another’s life. (Organdonor.gov)

Last spring, former Fitchburg High School exchange student Tanya Tretyak of Chicago talked to Fitchburg High students on Zoom about Russia’s war on Ukraine, and wanted our community to understand that “Ukraine is still hurting, and in need of support. Americans have been incredibly understanding and supportive,” she says. “One place to donate is Nova Ukraine- where I am a volunteer” ( https://novaukraine.org/donate.)

The simple things

Finally, one of my earliest memories is a charming act of kindness. When we were children in Lunenburg, our next-door neighbor was Ida “Gram” Ellis, a kind and gentle widow, who lived a simple life in a house her family had lived in for generations. Our across-the-road neighbor Robbie Ebersole (later Bob Ebersole, town clerk of Lunenburg) always decorated the big evergreen in his yard with colored lights so Gram could see a Christmas tree from her front window.

Sally Cragin is an award winning writer, and city councilor-at-large in Fitchburg.

Fitchburg DPW Alerts: Week of Nov. 7, 2022

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FITCHBURG — The Department of Public Works advises residents of the following work that will be done, weather permitting, during the week of Nov. 7.

Road Construction

Monday – Friday, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Expect road closures, delays and detours.

• P.J. Albert Inc. will be working on punch-list and contract close out items along Main Street, Boulder Drive, Mill Street, and Cushing Street.

Due to building construction at the Dickenson Building located at 37 Boulder Drive, Cushing Street is closed to pedestrian traffic.

• Unitil will be conducting natural gas pipeline replacement projects in the areas of High Street, Elm Street, Grove Street, Webster Street, Aimees Way, Montrose Street, and Mt. Vernon Street from Ryefield Road to Blossom Street. The contractors Neuco, S. Fors, Feeney Brothers and O.G. Croteau, plan to work 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday thru Friday. Expect temporary road closures and delays. Residents will be given notice on any planned service interruptions associated with the gas work.

Combination Sanitary Sewer/Storm Drain Separation Project

Monday – Friday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.  Expect detours, lane shifts, road closures, and traffic delays.

On-going Combination Sanitary Sewer/Storm Drain Separation Project

• Trenchless rehabilitation work will be conducted on Boulder Drive, Rainville Ave, Thomas, Brigham, South, Water, Laurel, and Clarendon Streets. Expect detours and road closures.

• Milling and paving (weather permitted) will be conducted on Nashua, Walnut, Payson, Crown, Providence, South Streets and Birch Street Passway. Expect detours and road closures.

Minor Traffic Impacts

Monday – Friday, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

• Pothole repairs in all wards.

• Spot sweeping around the city.

• Repair water gate boxes at various locations throughout the city.

• Wall repair at 155 Milk St.

• Installation of handicap ramps on Boutelle Street and Goodrich Street.

• Unitil will have their tree contractor Asplundh working on Arlington Street.

• Arcadis will be conducting stormwater infrastructure inspections in the following areas: Rollstone Road, Franklin Road, and Causeway Street. The contractor will work with residents if access is needed to their property. Inspections of the infrastructure may include the use of dye and residents should not be alarmed.

Hydrants

• Hydrant maintenance citywide.

Use SeeClickFix to report maintenance requests or concerns including potholes, sidewalks, signs/signals, lights, parks, catch basins or manholes.

Call the DPW Dispatcher at 978-829-1900 with any immediate request including weather related events (snow, wind, ice, flooding) or sewage backups.

Jacob Vitali: How can we stop real news from resembling fake news?

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At least once a year, I make a pilgrimage across Route 2 west to the city of North Adams.

While these pilgrimages have often been for reconnecting with close friends and soaking in the radiant fall foliage, I had something to learn on my recent trip.

Enter Scott Dikkers, an original co-founder of The Onion, who was delivering the annual Hardman Lecture at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, my alma mater. He isn’t the typical choice to give a serious lecture on journalism, but that was the point.

“In a world that seems to make less and less sense, as time goes on, it makes sense that the newspaper of record should also not make sense,” Dikkers said at the opening of his talk.

Through a plethora of real examples of recent headlines Dikkers shared, it isn’t hard to see how much our news currently resembles the satirical publication. When I started down a path of journalism, I never imagined a sitting president would incite an insurrection on our nation’s capital, there would be a global pandemic, or that the governor of Florida would fly unwanted immigrants unannounced from his state to Martha’s Vineyard.

Our politics are more polarized than they’ve ever been and we’ve slowly lost the ability to communicate with one another in the process.

Dikkers said the rise of The Onion came around the same time as the rise of USA Today, one of the nation’s largest newspapers. USA Today’s parent company Gannett is also the largest publisher of local newspapers in the U.S.

But is USA Today to blame with its focus on news nuggets and a reliance on infotainment tactics as Dikkers would argue? In my opinion, we as a collective society should accept responsibility.

According to Pew Research Center, about 36% of Americans “regularly” get their news from Facebook — more than any other social media platform. Meanwhile, 53% of Americans admit they “sometimes” get their news from social media.

The blessing and the curse of social media is that everybody has a platform. While stories that would otherwise go overlooked can be amplified, it can also be a breeding ground for disinformation. Social media is a tool but should not be treated as gospel.

As we engage with algorithms on sites like Facebook, they begin to understand our preferences and curate information for us we are prone to agree with. When we receive positive attention on social media, our brain gives us dopamine, the same chemical we released when doing something pleasurable like eating a fantastic meal. The dopamine can make us feel euphoric and we crave more. It’s a problem Jaron Lanier, a pioneer behind virtual reality, details all too well in his book “Ten Arguments for Deleting Your Social Media Accounts Right Now.”

Lanier contends that over time, these algorithms can also radicalize us and strip us of our ability to think critically. We no longer question where our information is coming from or what more there could be to a story. We just want our own beliefs to be reinforced.

As local newsrooms shrink and shutter across the country, we see a frightening trend of all politics becoming national. It used to be that all politics were local. The local level is where decisions are made on what is taught in our schools, how our roads and infrastructure is maintained, and how our emergency services are managed — among much more.

As one of my colleagues once told me, there are never two sides to a story. There’s probably more like 25 sides. In a good news organization, it is the job of a journalist to figure out what those sides are and discern who is credible in order to deliver good information.

Our jobs and our reputations depend on us getting the story right and being accountable when we are wrong.

In these times that make “less and less sense” it only makes sense that we need to reinforce news literacy and critical thinking skills so that we and the generations after us can evaluate information critically, especially when we’re being told something we’re not inclined to agree with.

Those of us working in this industry have a duty to give you news worth caring about. It is on us, to the best of our abilities, to have a newspaper that reflects our communities well.

The spirit of community journalism is embodied by the small team who work diligently on the Sentinel & Enterprise every day. For example, take the work of our full-time staff reporter Danielle Ray, who is prominently featured on our page one just about every day of the week.

Not only is she adept at finding stories worth telling and putting community at the forefront, she writes in a style that only she knows how to. People like her, in newsrooms all over the world, are unsung community heroes who often don’t get the recognition they deserve. They also rarely ever ask for it because they’re selfless.

If we want our news to stop resembling a satirical newspaper, it is going to take all of us. We need to make a conscious effort to reconsider where we get our information from and how we respond to the information we have. We need people to invest in their local newspapers so reporters can have the tools and support they need.

We also need more bold people who are willing to make the sacrifices that a career in journalism comes with. I am quickly becoming a tired, old man. The future belongs to the youth. I promise you, it is worth it.

Jacob Vitali is the city editor of the Sentinel & Enterprise. He studied Digital Media and Innovation at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts in North Adams. Email him at jvitali@lowellsun.com.

Beacon Hill Roll Call: Ballot question seeks to put teeth into dental care rules

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THE HOUSE AND SENATE: There were no roll calls in the House or Senate last week. This week, Beacon Hill Roll Call continues its look at the questions that will be on the November ballot. This week: Question #2: Dental Insurance.

BALLOT QUESTION #2: REQUIRE DENTAL INSURANCE PLANS TO SPEND AT LEAST 83 PERCENT OF THEIR PREMIUMS ON DENTAL CARE – The second question on the November ballot asks voters if they support a requirement that dental insurance plans spend at least 83 percent of their premiums received from members on dental care for the members and quality improvements rather than the administrative expenses of running the company.

The proposal is sponsored by the Committee on Dental Insurance Quality. Chief opposition to the proposal is being led by the similarly named Committee to Protect Public Access to Quality Dental Care.

“Dental insurance pays too little of patient costs, so families, seniors and individual patients with insurance struggle to cover their dental costs,” Chris Keohane, a spokesperson for the “Yes on 2” campaign told Beacon Hill Roll Call. “Requiring insurance companies to put more money into actual patient care will mean a better deal for patients. Similar to medical insurance laws, this law would require dental insurance companies to allocate at least 83 percent of paid premiums to patient care or refund premiums to patients to meet this standard. Simply put, a ‘Yes’ vote is a value guarantee for voters.”

“Delta Dental has funded roughly 90 percent of the ‘No’ side of Question 2 and have spent several hundred thousand dollars in legal fees trying to silence the voters who signed to have this placed on the ballot,” continued Keohane. “The facts are simple. Delta Dental doesn’t want people in Massachusetts to know that they spent only $177 million in actual patient care the same year they ‘gifted’ $291 million to their parent company. These are verifiable facts on their own IRS 990 Tax Form. Now they are spending millions to confuse voters with blatant lies and it is shameful.”

The “No on 2” campaign did not respond to repeated requests by Beacon Hill Roll Call to answer questions about its campaign. The following information is from the campaign’s website.

“Question 2 will increase dental costs for Massachusetts families and employers — by 38 percent, according to an independent study by Milliman Research,” says the “No on 2” campaign on its website. “A recent survey of Massachusetts consumers and businesses found that if such increases occur, more than half of consumers would likely drop their dental insurance and 90 percent of businesses indicated that they would be likely to make changes to coverage – including decreasing employer contributions and employee benefits or dropping dental coverage for employees altogether.”

“A ballot question is no place to decide such a complicated issue that will force consumers to pay more for the same level of care while only benefiting providers,” continued opponents. “Question 2 is an end-run around experts and the Legislature.”

Keohane told Beacon Hill Roll Call that he disputes the characterization of the study by Milliman Research as “independent.” “The ‘No’ side has peddled this study as ‘independent,’ but the insurance industry funded it, provided the data for it and their advertising is highlighting a specific portion of the ‘study’ that the authors themselves say is not possible. Their lies are a slap in the face to all voters.”

“We are extremely optimistic that ‘Yes on 2’ will win in November,” continued Keohane. “With well over 700 endorsers from patients, dentists, elected officials and organizations, we have assembled a grassroots movement that is fed up with insurance executives getting paid outrageous salaries and the exorbitant corporate waste that their own tax forms prove.”

Here are the official arguments of the supporters and opponents as they appear in the Redbook – the book, distributed by the Secretary of State to households across the state, which provides Information to voters on ballot questions.

IN FAVOR:

Written by Dr. Patricia Brown

The Committee on Dental Insurance Quality

www.fairdentalinsurance.org

“A ‘Yes’ vote ensures better coverage and value for patients, instead of unreasonable corporate waste.

For example, according to its own 2019 Form 990, Delta Dental (in Massachusetts alone) paid executive bonuses, commissions, and payments to affiliates of $382 million, while only paying $177 million for patient care.

A ‘Yes’ vote would eliminate this inequity. Similar to medical insurance, this law would require dental insurance companies to allocate at least 83 percent of paid premiums to patient care, or refund premiums to patients to meet this standard.

Insurance companies will try to confuse voters by saying that dental insurance premiums will increase. This is false, because Section 2(d) of the law specifically disallows increases above the consumer price index without state approval.

Stop the corporate waste.

Vote ‘Yes’ for fair dental insurance.”

AGAINST:

Written by Louis Rizoli

Committee To Protect Public Access To Quality Dental Care

www.Protectmydentalcare.com

“This question will increase costs for Massachusetts families and employers — a 38 percent premium increase in one recent independent study — and could result in thousands of people losing access to dental care. With consumer prices soaring, we don’t need a new regulation that will increase costs and decrease choice.

There is no law like this ballot question anywhere in the nation. The Massachusetts Legislature actually repealed a similar law in 2011 because it proved overly burdensome and provided no real benefits for consumers. Federal lawmakers excluded it from Obamacare, and a special commission in Massachusetts reviewed and rejected a similar provision. Further, the state already requires reporting from dental plans.”

ALSO UP ON BEACON HILL

ALLOW CITIES AND TOWNS TO COLLECT CONDO FEES ACCUMULATED DURING FORECLOSURE PROCESS (H 3022) – The House gave initial approval to a bill that applies to cities and towns which have put a tax lien on a condominium property for the owner’s failure to pay property taxes. The measure allows cities and towns to collect, at the time of the foreclosure sale, any condo fees owed to the condo association, during the foreclosure process. Under current law, the city or town can collect only the back taxes but not the condo fees.

Sponsor Rep. Brian Murray (D-Milford) recounted a case in which several commercial condos in Milford were placed into tax title because of failure of the owners to pay taxes. He said it took six years until the property finally went to foreclosure, auction and sale. Following the sale, the condo association successfully sued the town for the back condo fees and the town had to pay $60,000 out of its pocket because under current law, it was precluded from recovering the condo fees in the foreclosure and auction process.

“I filed this bill to prevent such an occurrence from happening in the future, by providing a municipality the right to recover these [condo fee] costs as an addition to the tax title account and part of the terms of eventual redemption,” said Rep. Murray. “The bill seeks equity for cities and towns to be able to recover all known costs in situations where foreclosures of condominiums, which can take a great deal of time that translates into expense, become necessary due to the failure to pay real estate taxes.”

ELECTION LAWS BILLS SENT TO A STUDY COMMITTEE – Several bills affecting the state’s elections laws were sent to a study committee where bills are rarely actually studied and are essentially defeated. It is a way to kill a proposal without holding a vote on the bill itself. Here are some of the election law bills that were sent off to a study committee:

MAKE IT ILLEGAL TO PAY SOMEONE TO ATTEND TOWN MEETING (S 467) – Makes it a crime to bribe someone to attend or not to attend their local town meeting and imposes up to a 1-year prison sentence on violators. Current law makes it illegal to pay someone to vote at an election but does not apply to town meetings.

“For the integrity of our local government, it is crucial there be no incentive for attendance or absence at a town meeting,” said sponsor Sen. Paul Feeney (D-Foxboro). “There remains a loophole in the statute that we must work to close. [The bill] does just that by ensuring no payments, or compensation of any kind is exchanged for attendance or absence to a town meeting, similar to a prohibition on compensation in exchange for a vote at the ballot box. I will continue to support this measure in the upcoming legislative session and hope to see this oversight addressed.”

ALLOW RESIDENTS TO REQUEST ANONYMITY ON STREET LISTINGS (S 456) – Under current law, all Massachusetts households receive in the mail and must fill out an annual street listing (census) form that includes each resident’s name, address, date of birth, occupation, veteran status and nationality, if not a citizen of the United States, in January of each year. The information is used to maintain voting and jury lists, aid in school enrollment projections and for many other things including veterans’ benefits and proof of residency for state universities.

This bill would allow any resident of a city or town to request that his or her information from each city or town’s annual street listing not be posted publicly and not be disclosed to anyone without the person’s permission.

Current law allows a few people, including those who are under a court order granting protection or living in a protective shelter, law enforcement and public safety personnel, to request their information be kept confidential. The bill allows anyone to request the exemption.

“This straightforward bill would allow town clerks to refrain from making public personally identifiable information about voters if they receive a request from said voter,” said sponsor Sen. Jo Comerford (D-Northampton). “I was happy to introduce this bill on behalf of a constituent of mine. This bill will not become law this session, but I look forward to further action in this space in subsequent sessions.”

REGULATE “PUSH POLLING” (H 821) – Would require anyone conducting a “push poll” to identify the candidate or organization for which he or she is working and inform the interviewee that the telephone call is a paid political advertisement.

A push poll is a political campaign technique in which an individual or organization attempts to manipulate or change voters’ views under the guise of conducting an opinion poll. During the call, the “pollster” asks questions related to an opposing candidate for public office which state, imply or convey negative and often untrue information about the candidate’s character, status or political stance or record, with the intent of “pushing” the interviewee toward adopting an unfavorable opinion of the candidate. Anyone violating the law would be fined up to $1,000.

Supporters say that push polls are misleading and should be highly regulated. Sponsor Rep. Jim Murphy (D-Weymouth) did not respond to repeated requests by Beacon Hill Roll Call to comment on why he filed the bill and how he feels about its defeat.

ALLOW SOME FELONS TO VOTE (H 829) – Would allow jailed felons to vote in elections unless they were convicted of indecent assault and battery on a child; attempt to commit murder by poison, drowning or strangulation; murder; manslaughter or assault with intent to commit rape; or any other crime for which the person may be punished by imprisonment in a state prison for life. Currently, the state’s constitution prohibits all convicted felons currently in prison from voting.

Supporters say the current law goes too far and should only apply to the worst of felons. Sponsor Rep. Dave Rogers (D-Cambridge) did not respond to repeated requests by Beacon Hill Roll Call to comment on why he filed the bill and how he feels about its defeat.

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 Oct. 3-7, the House met for a total of 23 minutes and the Senate met for a total of 40 minutes.

Bob Katzen welcomes feedback at bob@beaconhillrollcall.com.