By John Dignam
Telegram & Gazette

January 31, 2008 … The Health Foundation of Central Massachusetts yesterday announced a $210,021 grant to the Webster-Dudley Boys and Girls Club to begin its pilot program to help at-risk teens. 

The grant follows a year of planning how to help teens, funded by a $100,000 grant from the foundation. 

“The number one reason youths get involved with gangs and gang activity is lack of parent supervision,” said Anthony J. Poti, executive director of the club.

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By James Arvantes 
American Academy of Family Physicians

January 30, 2008 ... A major health care reform initiative in Massachusetts has revealed a fundamental truth -- comprehensive health care reform efforts cannot work without adequate access to primary care services.

"We need to do more to get people access to primary care," said Sen. Richard T. Moore, D-Uxbridge. "The whole point of insuring everyone is to not only make sure they get routine care throughout the year but to limit the times they need to go to the emergency room for care."

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January 24, 2008 ... In an effort to continue pushing for affordable housing reform, Sen. Richard T. Moore, D-Uxbridge, has co-sponsored legislation which will help communities more reasonably reach the state’s 10% affordable housing requirement. 

“I have been and will continue to be an ardent supporter of reforming our current affordable housing laws,” said Moore. “This legislation is just another effort to promote the partnerships needed to more effectively promote affordable housing in my district and throughout Massachusetts."

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January 24, 2008 ... During a recent luncheon at the State House, Sen. Richard T. Moore, D-Uxbridge, was honored to welcome Fire Chief Donald Gonynor of Douglas and Fire Chief Peter Ostroskey of Uxbridge.

The chiefs were visiting the State House as members of the Fire Chiefs’ Association of Massachusetts (FCAM) “Legislative Luncheon”.

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January 24, 2008 ... At a recent meeting of the Massachusetts Health Policy Student Forum, Senator Moore met with graduate students in public health, medicine and health policy from colleges and universities throughout the Commonwealth to discuss the workings of state government. 

The theme of this year’s discussion was health care reform implementation within the framework of quality and cost control. 

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By Matt Kakley
Milford Daily News

January 24, 2008 … The town of Milford would receive a 10 percent increase in local aid and Franklin would receive an additional 7 percent under Gov. Deval Patrick's budget proposal.

Under the governor's spending plan, Franklin would receive more than $2 million in increased aid over this year's budget and Milford would get an additional $1.5 million.

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By Kyle Cheney, Michael Norton and Jim O'Sullivan
State House News Service

January 23, 2007 ... For Gov. Deval Patrick, year 2 is beginning to look a lot like year 1.

The Patrick administration, in its second annual budget proposal, again finds itself forced to close a projected $1 billion-plus budget gap, and is again daring a skeptical Legislature to produce $300 million in new revenues by adopting his proposal to increase corporate tax collections by closing several "loopholes" in the tax code.

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By Senator Richard T. Moore

January 22, 2008 ... Sometimes people, especially students, ask me what I do as a member of the Massachusetts legislature. At times, people even mistake my role for that of our United States Senators, Edward Kennedy and John Kerry, or members of Congress, like our Congressman Richard Neal. While our roles are very similar, we represent different groups of constituents and have different areas of responsibility. For example, as a state legislator, I don’t get to vote to declare war, approve a treaty, block immigration, impeach a president, or how much money to print.

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January 22, 2008 ... Need help applying for college financial aid? Confused by the financial aid application forms? Sen. Richard T. Moore, D-Uxbridge, wants parents of high school seniors to know about “College Goal Sunday,” to be held at more than 20 locations across the state on Sunday, January 27, 2008 beginning at 2:00pm. Sen. Moore is a member of the Legislature’s Joint Committee on Higher Education and is a former college administrator.

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January 16, 2008 ... In recognition of their continued efforts to limit ties between physicians and drug or medical device manufacturers, Sen. Richard T. Moore, D-Uxbridge, presented a Resolution from the Massachusetts Senate to UMass Memorial Medical Center administrators last week. 

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January 15, 2008 ... The Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), in conjunction with the Massachusetts Housing Partnership (MHP), has announced the availability of planning grants for local housing authorities interested in participating in an exciting new mixed-finance program to leverage private funds into state funded public housing modernization, expansion, redevelopment or new production, according to Sen. Richard T. Moore, D-Uxbridge. 

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January 15, 2008 ... Sen. Richard T. Moore, D-Uxbridge, has announced a unique and exciting opportunity for constituents to get involved in improving the current way the education system works in Massachusetts.

The Pioneer Institute, a non-profit research group, is sponsoring their 17th Annual Better Government Competition, which seeks ideas from individuals about ways to improve the quality and performance of K-12 education. 

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By Michael McAuliffe
The Republican

January 14, 2008 ... While it would seem to be an error, admitting a mistake may actually keep a doctor out of court. 

Massachusetts is among 34 states that have some kind of apology law covering physicians, however the Bay State statute provides doctors a shield from liability only for expressing apology or regret for a poor medical outcome - not for also admitting responsibility for what occurred. 

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January 14, 2008 ... On Monday, January 28th, Sen. Richard T. Moore, D-Uxbridge, will be in Mendon to host “Coffee with Constituents.” Constituents are welcome to visit with the senator, have a cup of coffee and take the opportunity to discuss current issues and concerns.

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January 11, 2008 .. Sen. Richard T. Moore, D-Uxbridge, and the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) today released statements regarding the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) release of finalized Real ID regulations.

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January 11, 2008 ... In a State House briefing consisting of health care advocates, legislative aides, and officials from the Consumer Health Quality Council, Senator Moore led discussion of his legislation to reduce hospital acquired infections. 

“I appreciate that some hospitals throughout the Commonwealth have taken the initiative to implement such bold steps to reduce the threat of hospital acquired infections, but there is still room for improvement” said Moore.

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January 11, 2008 ... Councils on Aging (COA) throughout the Worcester & Norfolk District will soon be receiving significant state funds from the Executive Office of Elder Affairs, according to Sen. Richard T. Moore, D-Uxbridge. 

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January 10, 2008 ... In an effort to keep constituents informed of his work on Beacon Hill and throughout the Worcester & Norfolk District, Sen. Richard T. Moore, D-Uxbridge, is inviting constituents to sign up for his newly implemented e-updates, such as his “Weekly Digest” and “Moore from the Hill” monthly newsletter.

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January 9, 2008 ... During Wednesday’s formal session, Sen. Richard T. Moore, D-Uxbridge, voted for sweeping changes in the use and implementation of energy resources as the Senate passed its version of energy reform legislation.

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January 9, 2008 ... Senator Richard T. Moore, D-Uxbridge, announced that two communities in the Worcester & Norfolk have been approved for low interest loans through the 2008 clean water funds totaling approximately $26.5 million. The money awarded to Webster and Southbridge is in the form of 2% loans payable over 30 years for which both the towns applied.

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January 9, 2008 ... Paying for college is a daunting challenge, but help is available, according to Sen. Richard T. Moore, D-Uxbridge. Last year, Massachusetts students secured more than $1 billion in grants and low-interest loans from federal and state governments, as well as millions of dollars in scholarships from colleges and universities. Students and their families need to know these resources exist and many need assistance navigating the complex process of seeking out and applying for financial aid. Fortunately, free guidance is available to help applicants through this process. 

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January 8, 2008 ... The Town of Hopedale, on behalf of the Draper Reuse Committee, has been awarded $50,000 from the Department of Housing and Community Development’s (DHCD) Priority Development Fund, according to Sen. Richard T. Moore, D-Uxbridge, and Rep. John V. Fernandes, D-Milford. The funding award is to support planning for a Smart Growth Zoning Overlay District, which has the potential to produce up to 500 units of housing. 

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January 8, 2008 ... Sen. Richard T. Moore, D-Uxbridge, will hold office hours on Wednesday, January 16, 2008 from 6:30-8:00 p.m. at the Southbridge Town Hall, 41 Elm Street.

Sen. Moore holds monthly office hours in area towns to meet individually with constituents who need assistance with matters involving the state government. No appointment is necessary and residents are met individually on a first-come, first served basis. 

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By Lindsey Parietti
Milford Daily News 

January 7, 2008 ... State Sen. Richard Moore, D-Uxbridge, is sponsoring a bill that would make it illegal for police and public officials to seize legally owned weapons during a state of emergency.

"The law enforcement should not use a state of emergency as an excuse to violate people's rights, whether it be this one or any others," he said, calling the bill a message that needs to be sent.

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January 7, 2008 ... Sen. Richard T. Moore, D-Uxbridge is pleased to inform constituents of a recruitment campaign currently under way for the upcoming entry-level Firefighter’s Civil Service Examination, scheduled for April 26, 2008.

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January 7, 2008 ... At last week’s session of the Massachusetts Senate, Sen. Richard T. Moore, D-Uxbridge, and his colleagues announced that residents can now watch the Senate’s formal sessions through a live webcast on the Internet.  With this new tool, the public will be able to watch each session in real time, and will also be able to view archived sessions.

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January 7, 2008 ... During a recent stop in Uxbridge, Senator Moore and Congressman Richard Neal, D-Springfield, toured the employee owned Lampin Corp., which has been 100 percent employee owned for just over a year. 

The visit was arranged by Senator Moore and the Massachusetts Office of Employee Involvement and Ownership.

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January 2, 2008 ... The Northbridge Housing Authority has been awarded $116,015 in emergency capital improvement bond funding from the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) according to Sen. Richard T. Moore, D-Uxbridge and Rep. George N. Peterson, R-Grafton. The funding award is to reimburse the housing authority’s own capital reserve funds for the cost of emergency replacement of the gas lines at their 667-1 Lake Terrace development. 

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