Councilor Connolly asks for support for Autism Insurance Bill
June 25, 2010
The Massachusetts Legislature is considering a bill entitled: An Act Relative to Insurance Coverage for Autism. This bill will require health insurers to provide the coverage necessary for individuals to be screened and treated for Autism Spectrum Disorders. As Chair of the Boston City Council’s Committee on Education, a former teacher, and a parent, I care deeply about the education of all of our students and I make no exception for the 11,520 Boston Public School students with special needs of which more than 500 are diagnosed with ASDs.
Beyond providing life-changing medical assistance to those affected by Autism, this bill will improve the effectiveness and quality of our classrooms and provide much needed support to families. Currently, lack of early detection places students in inappropriate learning environments. By increasing health coverage to include Autism diagnosis, affected students can be quickly identified and placed into the appropriate classrooms with the support and attention that will provide them with the best education possible. The current system places the financial and social burden of identifying and treating special needs students on the school districts. Autism Speaks, the nation’s largest autism science and advocacy organization, projects that the Commonwealth of Massachusetts would be able to save approximately $7 million dollars in early intervention costs, should insurance companies be required to expand their coverage.
On April 27, 2010, I sponsored a City Council resolution urging the State Legislature to quickly vote in favor of this vital bill. I’m proud to report that the City Council unanimously supported this resolution. Please join me in encouraging our state lawmakers to support this important legislation.
At-Large Councilor John Connolly, Chair, Committee on Education
June 23, 2010
Boston City Councillor John M. Tobin, Jr. (pictured at podium) today honored the members of the UMASS/Boston Beacons baseball team for completing the best season in the school’s history with a 32-17 record.
The Beacons were ranked 12th by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association and, for the first time, appeared in the Division 3 College World Series. The Beacons also won the Little East Conference Tournament and the NCAA Division 3 New England Regional Tournament, and set records in many other categories.
Councillor Tobin, a graduate of UMASS/Boston, presented the team with a resolution at the Council’s weekly meeting at Boston City Hall. UMASS/Boston Chancellor Dr. J. Keith Motley is also pictured (second to the left of Councillor Tobin) with members of the team and City Council President Michael Ross and Councillors Bill Linehan and Maureen Feeney.
New Flag Pole at Billings Field
June 22, 2010
You may have noticed the new flag pole at Billings Field in West Roxbury. It was put up by the Corrib Charitable Trust prior to the Corrib 5k this year. Make sure you stop on by to see it, and make sure to pop in to the Corrib to say thanks.
Bark for the Arc, This Weekend
June 22, 2010
Technology For Autism Now, Inc and the ARC of Greater Boston have teamed up for a wonderful canine event! Bark for the Arc and Technology For Autism Now. Please check out the link for more info 1.5 mi walk with or without a dog, entertainment KISS 108, Flea-Less market, tons of childrens entertainment and fun, bouncies, clowns, facepainting, food, raffles, prizes. Walk your dog for a child with a disability around the Chestnut Hill Resevoir on June 27th!! It will be a great time for the kids and all, silent and live auction too!! Please help us reach our goal! Our children are our future please let’s help them get the services they deserve and have a day of family fun too.
Thank you. For more info contact Marie at kidsarecool@me.com
Roslindale Green & Clean Honored at City Hall
June 17, 2010
Caption: June 16 - Members of Roslindale Green & Clean were honored by Councilor At-Large John Connolly and Councilor Rob Consalvo at City Hall for the group's receipt of the American Horticultural Society's Urban Beautification Award. Pictured are Assistant City Clerk Alex Geourntas, Councilor Rob Consalvo, Maggie Redfern, Cynthia Donnelly, and Councilor John Connolly.
Gov. Patrick to Hold Town Meeting at West Roxbury Pub
June 17, 2010
On Saturday June 19, Boston City Councillors John Tobin and John Connolly will sponsor a town hall-style public meeting with Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick. Governor Patrick will take questions from residents on a wide range of issues concerning the Commonwealth. The event is being held at the West Roxbury Pub (1885 Centre St, WR). It is free and open to the public. Doors open at 9:30 a.m.
CONNOLLY, CIOMMO move for Compromise Meeting. Call for City, Firefighters to meet apart from Council Hearing
June 7, 2010
At this morning’s third session of the Boston City Council’s hearing regarding the City’s contract with Boston firefighters, Boston City Councilors John Connolly and Mark Ciommo moved for the Council to require the firefighters and the Mayor’s administration to meet separately and negotiate a workable compromise before the Council votes on Wednesday.
“The parties need to meet and negotiate a settlement that is fiscally responsible to taxpayers and results in a fair contract for the firefighters.” Connolly said.
Councilor Ciommo cited the compromise offer made by firefighter Union President Ed Kelly last Thursday and the proposal put forth by MIT Professor Thomas Kochan, the third party neutral expert, a proposal the City embraced at last week’s session. Ciommo quoted the City’s response to the firefighter concession as being “meaningful and significant” and asked for the two sides to come together.
City Council President Ross accepted the Ciommo-Connolly Compromise recommendation and recessed the hearing so the two sides could meet in the Council’s conference room (the Curley Room). The Council will reconvene tomorrow at 2 PM to receive an update on the compromise meeting.
Catholic Memorial School’s Grand Reunion This Friday June 12
June 7, 2010
Alumni from the Catholic Memorial graduation classes ending in ’5′ and ’0′ are invited to this year’s CM Grand Reunion, to be held on the campus of Catholic Memorial School on June 12 at 2pm. Alumni will be invited to the tour the school (2pm), hear a presentation from President Paul Sheff ’62 (3pm), celebrate Mass together (4pm), and take class pictures and reminisce over a clambake dinner with classmates and faculty (5pm).
For more information on this year’s reunion or to join a reunion committee, please contact Alumni Director David Erwin at 617-469-8052 or DavidErwin@CatholicMemorial.org. Alumni can also register for this year’s reunion at www.CatholicMemorial.org
Michael Walsh Announces Candidacy for State Senator
June 4, 2010
Attorney Michael (“Mike”) Walsh has announced his candidacy for the State Senate seat in the Suffolk/Norfolk District, which includes Boston (ward 20, sixteen precincts of ward 18 and two precincts in ward 19), and the towns of Dedham, Norwood and Westwood.
In announcing his candidacy, Walsh said he is “running for State Senate because hard-working families are struggling in these challenging economic times and strong leadership is needed. Massachusetts is tired of the arguments, innuendos, gamesmanship, deals and patronage that have come to characterize the state legislature.”
Walsh was born the son of a retired Boston Police Officer and a retired Vice President of Meetinghouse Cooperative bank in Dorchester, both of whom were from Mission Hill. He grew up in Dorchester, the oldest of four, and lived in West Roxbury for eleven years. He moved to Westwood four years ago. Read more
CM sophomore Jhovani Vonleh wins National Championship
June 4, 2010
(L-R) CM sophomores Andrew Rogantino, Marcus Jackson, Jhovani Vonleh, and Kevin Donnelly celebrate their accomplishments. Photo credit: Steve Murphy.
The last words of Catholic Memorial School sophomore Jhovani Vonleh’s declamation, which he recited at tournaments all year, were simple ones, authored by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
“On that day, our victory will serve as a double victory,” King wrote in “Christmas Hope,” a sermon he delivered in 1967 about his hope that one day, both black and white America would recognize one another as equals. Read more
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