March 31, 2010 ... Recently, Sen. Moore was joined by Rep. John Fernandes in celebrating the 100th Anniversary of Boy Scouting in America. Here, kids from Milford's Pack 32 celebrated with Pack Director James Dorval, Sen. Moore and Rep. Fernandes, in their win at the Milford Annual Pinewood Derby--a longstanding tradition for Cub Scouts. Sen. Moore called the races for the day, and awarded the trophies to the jubilant pack. Last month, in recognition of the Boy Scouts of America's 100th anniversary, Sen. Moore offered a Senate Resolution that officially recognized the occasion in Massachusetts.

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March 30, 2010 ... As part of their annual meeting at the State House, the Greater Federation of Women’s Clubs of Massachusetts were recently welcomed by Sen. Richard T. Moore, D-Uxbridge, to Beacon Hill. The day’s events began with a legislative luncheon in the Great Hall, where Sen. Moore was joined by Rep. Paul Kujawski, D-Webster, in greeting members of the Dudley Woman’s Club. (L-R) Rep. Kujawski, member and Dudley Selectwoman Nancy Runkle, Public Affairs Director Maryellen Huck, Treasurer Joan Gardecki, and President Elaine Gould dined with Sen. Moore and his wife, Joanne Moore, who is a past president of the Uxbridge Women's Club and a former Chairwoman of Directors of the Massachusetts General Federation of Women's Clubs. 

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March 30, 2010 ... Governor Deval Patrick has signed into law a bill to designate the Uxbridge bridges on Route 146 over Quaker Highway near the McDonald’s plaza, as the “Titus Ebbeling Memorial Bridge.” Now officially titled Chapter 55 of the Acts of 2010, the legislation was sponsored by Sen. Richard T. Moore, D-Uxbridge, along with Representatives Paul Kujawski, D-Webster, and Jennifer Callahan, D-Sutton.

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March 30, 2010 ... Recently, Sen. Richard T. Moore, D-Uxbridge, announced that the Massachusetts Bar Association (MBA) will be hosting its annual Dial-A-Lawyer programming on Thursday, April 29. The program is dedicated solely to veterans’ legal questions and is part of the MBA’s “Serving Our Veterans in the Law” initiative. The program will take place via telephone from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. 

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Local Chambers and county leaders invite Quinsigamond Community College to expand in Blackstone-Milford region

March 29, 2010 ... Together with Sen. Richard T. Moore, D-Uxbridge, Congressman Richard E. Neal, MA-2, Rep. John V. Fernandes, D-Milford, and additional state and local elected officials, President Gail Carberry of Qunisigamond Community College and the Blackstone Valley and Milford Area Chambers of Commerce hosted an update on expanding access to higher education in the region this morning, March 29, at the Doublt Tree Hotel in Milford.

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March 23, 2010 ...  In a letter sent today by the three state legislators who represent Uxbridge, the Massachusetts School Building Authority ( MSBA) was encouraged to work cooperatively with town leaders in advancing the preferred school option to consideration by town meeting and, if approved by town meeting, to all voters in the town.  Read the letter sent by Sen. Moore below:

Read the letter sent to the MSBA 

March 23, 2010 ... Rallying for smoking cessation amongst adolescents, students from Oxford High School recently met with Sen. Richard T. Moore, D-Uxbridge, for “Kick Butts Day” at the State House. Sponsored by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, Kick Butts Day is an annual celebration of youth leadership and activism in the fight against tobacco use. Oxford had special recognition at the event, receiving an award for their exemplary leadership in raising awareness within Oxford High, and across the Commonwealth. Leading the effort, and granted co-hosting honors of the event with Public Health Commissioner John Auerbach, was Oxford student Colin Hudzik (pictured far left). Sen. Moore applauded the group for their “continuing efforts in tobacco cessation, and for setting an example for youths across Massachusetts.” Sen. Moore, as Senate Chairman of the Legislature’s Joint Committee on Health Care Financing, has long been a champion of smoking cessation programs, advocating for their success rates and contributions to reducing health care costs. 

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March 23, 2010 ... As part of an event recognizing the work of Massachusetts’ economic development councils, Sen. Richard T. Moore, D-Uxbridge, recently met with Paul Matthews, Executive Director of the 495/MetroWest Corridor Partnership. The organization, established in 2003 as a public-private association, acts as an advocacy group focused on economic development, transportation, and water supply issues that proliferate the 495/MetroWest Corridor. The towns of Bellingham, Milford, and Hopedale in Sen. Moore’s Worcester & Norfolk District are part of the Partnership’s economic development efforts.

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March 23, 2010 ... Taking notice of Sen. Moore's dedication to increasing government efficiency and curbing unnecessary costs across the Commonwealth, the WBZ I Team recently interviewed the Senator about his legislation that would require paper-filed state agency annual reports to be submitted electronically.  As part of a government efficiency package that includes a sunset provision for state agencies, a required review for state-leased parking lots (prompted by another I Team report), a proposal to have state programs assessed by an independent organization using national standards of quality, and a public forum that administers a process for receiving suggestions from state employees and retirees for improving state programs and services, the mandatory electronic filing of agency reports would not only reduce the costs of printing, but would allow the reports to be commented on by the public through the online postings.  As the I Team reports, passage of Sen. Moore's provision could potentially save the state in the tens of millions of dollars. 

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March 22, 2010 ... Massachusetts residents interested in the operations of the state government were recently welcomed to the State House by veteran legislator and perennial speaker of the Citizens’ Legislative Seminar, Sen. Richard T. Moore, D-Uxbridge. Established in 1976 through a collaborative effort of the Massachusetts Senate and the University of Massachusetts, this two-day workshop at the State House in Boston features presentations by senators and staff on aspects of the day-to-day experience of legislators in the Commonwealth. The topics include the formal and informal legislative process, the budget, the parliamentary role of the Clerk of the Senate, and the future of the Legislature.

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Hears from Uxbridge voters

March 22, 2010 ... In the most recent installment of his annual “District Days” in Uxbridge on March 19, Sen. Richard T. Moore, D-Uxbridge, learned about a wide variety of concerns from Uxbridge residents. The Senator, accompanied by his Constituent Services Director Timothy Greene, made a number of stops during the day—the fourth of several “listening” events in the towns that he represents on Beacon Hill. He began the 2010 series in Webster on February 5, followed by Milford on February 26, and Southbridge on March 12.

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March 18, 2010 ... Recognizing “Teen Parent Lobby Day” at the State House, Sen. Richard T. Moore, D-Uxbridge, recently met in the Senate Chamber with teenagers and activists that are part of the Southern Worcester County Pregnant & Parenting Teen Program. The group who met with Sen. Moore represented the towns of Southbridge, Dudley, Oxford, Webster and Uxbridge—all in the Senator’s Worcester & Norfolk senatorial district. 

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By Senator Richard T. Moore

Massachusetts, based on our landmark health care reform efforts, has the highest rate of residents with health insurance in the country. However, it would be premature for any of us to raise the “Mission Accomplished” banner over the Golden Dome!

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March 17, 2010 ... Opening the state's historic health care cost transparency hearing, a key state lawmaker called for prompt action to cut health insurance costs hurting small businesses and the state's elderly residents. Sen. Richard T. Moore, D-Uxbridge, who is the Senate Chairman of the Legislature's Joint Committee on Health Care Financing, told those before the transparency hearing, that "The rapidly increasing costs of health care in this state make the goal of small businesses to stay open, and our goal of successful health insurance reform, increasingly elusive."

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March 16, 2010 ... Marking the 8th Annual Legislative Luncheon of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Massachusetts, Sen. Richard T. Moore, D-Uxbridge, recently welcomed both the Blackstone Valley and Webster-Dudley Boys & Girls Clubs to the State House.  Joining Sen. Moore from the Blackstone Valley Boys & Girls Club was Executive Director Bruce Paterson and volunteer member Gerry Kennedy.  From the Webster-Dudley Boys & Girls Club, Executive Director Tony Poti, and volunteer members Brian Germain and Robert Bouchard met with Sen. Moore.

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March 15, 2010 ... In light of recent news that legislative leadership in Massachusetts is considering a cut to local aid up to as much as 4%, at least one local legislator is fighting to protect municipalities from further budget cuts. In a letter sent to Senate President Therese Murray, D-Plymouth, Sen. Richard T. Moore, D-Uxbridge, expressed that “For many communities that I represent, even level funded local aid will result in serious cuts in public safety, public education, library services, and other vital services for my constituents in the Worcester & Norfolk Senatorial District.”

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Hears from Southbridge voters

March 15, 2010 ... Continuing his annual “District Days” in Southbridge on March 12, Sen. Richard T. Moore, D-Uxbridge, learned about a wide variety of concerns from Southbridge residents. The Senator, accompanied by his Constituent Services Director Timothy Greene, made a number of stops during the day – the third of several “listening” events in the towns that he represents on Beacon Hill. He previously visited Webster on February 5 and Milford on February 26 to listen to the concerns of residents in those communities.

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March 11, 2010 ... Sen. Richard T. Moore, D-Uxbridge, joined his colleagues in the Senate on Thursday in advancing measures to ban bullying and update nutritional standards in schools with a pair of bills aimed at promoting a safe, healthy and productive learning environment for all students.

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"Distinguished Support for Health Care and Great Culture"

March 8, 2010 ... Milford's renowned Claflin Hill Symphony Orchestra, now in its Tenth Anniversary Season, brought a sold-out crowd at historic Milford Town Hall to its feet Saturday evening with an impressive performance of Mozart's “Requiem,” and Carl Orff's “Carmina Burana.” The orchestra, led by principal conductor Paul Surapine, was joined by the New World Chorale, under the direction of Holly MacEwen Karfka.

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Bans texting; establishes safe guidelines for seniors

March 3, 2010 ... Sen. Richard T. Moore, D-Uxbridge, joined his colleagues in the Senate on Tuesday, in passing safe driving legislation that bans texting while driving and makes it a primary offense. While police officers will be able to pull persons over specifically for texting, Sen. Moore voted against making cell phone calls a primary offense, along with a requirement for motorists to use “hands free” technology. Moore’s colleagues joined and ultimately rejected those proposals from the final legislation.

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Sen. Moore announces funds for education programs

March 2, 2010 ... Sen. Richard T. Moore, D-Uxbridge, recently announced that the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is offering two grants designed to help prepare legal, permanent residents for citizenship and to advance integration in the United States. The “Citizen and Integration Grant Program” has been allocated nearly $7 million for citizenship education in communities across the country.

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March 1, 2010 ... Sen. Richard T. Moore, D-Uxbridge, recently welcomed Blackstone’s Hartnett Middle School Choir to the Massachusetts State House. Sen. Moore annually hosts the students, who perform a selection of their songs for legislators, staff and passerby, under the direction of Ms. Paula Ryan. In addition to performing, the students were offered a tour of the historic State House, and were provided complimentary lunch by Sen. Moore.

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Hears from Milford-Hopedale voters

March 1, 2010 ... Continuing his annual “District Days” in Milford and Hopedale on February 26, Sen. Richard T. Moore, D-Uxbridge, learned about a wide variety of concerns from Milford and Hopedale residents. The Senator, accompanied by his Constituent Services Director Timothy Greene, made a number of stops during the day – the second of several “listening” events in the towns that he represents on Beacon Hill.

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By Senator Richard T. Moore

The week of March 7 – 13, 2010 has been designated as “Patient Safety Awareness Week” by the National Patient Safety Foundation (NPSF), a non-profit based in Boston. “Patient Safety Awareness Week” is a national education and awareness-building campaign for improving patient safety at the local level. Hospitals and healthcare organizations across the country, and here in our region, are encouraged to hold events to promote patient safety within their own organizations. Educational activities should center on educating patients on how to become involved in their own health care, as well as working with hospitals to build partnerships with their patient community.

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By Danielle Ameden/Daily News staff 
Milford Daily News 

MILFORD — State Sen. Richard Moore came to town yesterday to talk casinos, taxes and good and bad news from Beacon Hill - and he heard back from frustrated local officials.

Moore said state aid could be slashed by 5 percent when lawmakers vote soon on a new budget, but he is hoping for less of a cut.

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