Sen. Karen Spilka

FRAMINGHAM, MA - In an effort to protect municipalities concerned about negative impacts from a bill to expand gaming in the Commonwealth, Senator Karen Spilka, (who represents Framingham and other area towns in the Massachusetts 2nd Middlesex & Norfolk districts), filed amendments today with the Senate Clerk's Office to strengthen safeguards and provide additional protections for surrounding communities.

"The legislature has debated and voted on expanded gambling in Massachusetts for several years now, and this year it looks closer to becoming a reality than ever before," said Spilka. "Throughout this entire process, my main priority has always been to protect and support my district’s residents, communities, neighborhoods, and local businesses. I have filed these amendments to ...[read more]

Candidates in the 2010 Mass. Gubernatorial Race

MASSACHUSETTS - On November 2, 2010, the people of Massachusetts will elect their next Governor. Four candidates have made it onto the ballot; Deval Patrick, Charlie Baker, Jill Stein and Tim Cahill.

The table below provides additional information about the candidates and their Lieutenant Governor hopeful running mates. We have also provided political party affiliation, links to campaign websites, as well as each candidate's respective state and national party websites, (for those who are ...[read more]

Twelve-year-old Brett Nasuti's multiple severe food allergies have brought him unexpected fame in recent months. He is the first person to successfully complete a treatment that appears to have eliminated the threat of dangerous reactions that he and his family have ...[read more]

New program gives each community a chance to spotlight its special places

FRAMINGHAM, MA - "1,000 Great Places in Massachusetts" is a new cultural tourism program that celebrates what is unique about our state, its communities, and its people, and also to stimulate cultural tourism. The program seeks to increase visitation to the state's wide range of exceptional historic sites, cultural venues, and natural landscapes.

Nominations will be considered for a final list of 1,000 Great Places in Massachusetts to be announced in May.

"Framingham is full of special historic sites, cultural landmarks, and natural landscapes", said Representative Pam Richardson. "I hope residents of Framingham will take advantage of this opportunity to highlight these places, and tell their stories about why these places deserve to be included on the list."

The Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism (MOTT) has established a website to accept nominations from the public:  www.massvacation.com/1000/
All Great Places that are nominated must be open and available to the public. Only one nomination per person will be accepted. The nomination period will close April 1, 2010. The Commission will meet later that month to draw up a final list of 1,000 Great Places in Massachusetts, which will be announced in May.

The 1,000 Great Places Commission was created by the Legislature in 2009. It is chaired by Eric Turkington of Falmouth, a former state representative and first House Chair of the Joint Committee onTourism, Arts, and Cultural Development.

METROWEST, MA - The Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) is sponsoring five public forums in February to discuss draft recommendations on the future stewardship and management of forest lands within the Massachusetts state parks system.

The upcoming public forums will be at the following dates, times, and locations:

Thursday, February 4, 2010 - 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.

Saturday, February 6, 2010 -10 a.m.- Noon

Saturday, February 6, 2010 -2 p.m. - 4 p.m.

Tuesday, February 9, 2010 -5 p.m. - 7 p.m.

Thursday, February 11, 2010 -5 p.m. - 7 p.m.

DCR began the Forest Futures Visioning Process last spring to determine how best to manage the myriad public benefits and values of forest land within the agency's parks system,

including recreation, tourism, aesthetics, renewable forest products, habitat diversity, and landscape ecology, and how to strike the appropriate balance among them.

The process has several components, including the formation of an advisory group of stakeholders and the Technical Steering Committee. The Technical Steering Committee,which includes academics, practitioners, and scientists, is developing the draft recommendations with input from the public and the stakeholders.

"We are committed to having an open, wide-ranging, public conversation about forests in Massachusetts," said DCR Commissioner Richard K. Sullivan Jr. "We had three public forums and forest tours over the summer, and we look forward to the Technical Steering Committee's recommendations and hearing public comment."

DCR contracted with the Massachusetts Office of Dispute Resolution & Public Collaboration(MODR) at the University of Massachusetts in Boston to develop a design for the public process, act as facilitators throughout its implementation, and ensure that the discussion and processes are unbiased.

The Technical Steering Committee is composed of 11 individuals who have a high level of expertise in the issues, trends, and best practices of forest conservation and ecology, landscape ecology, natural resource economics and law, recreation, silviculture, aesthetics, watersheds, and wildlife habitat.

The draft recommendations will be posted soon on the DCR website, WWW.MASS.GOV/DCR The public is encouraged to review the recommendations and comment on them by email to MODRDCRFFVP@umb.edu. The Technical Steering Committee is expected to make its final recommendations to DCR in late winter 2010.

For more information on this public process, visit: http://www.mass.gov/dcr

###

The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), an agency of the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, oversees 450,000 acres of parks and forests, beaches, bike trails, watersheds, dams, and parkways. Led by Commissioner Richard K. Sullivan Jr., the agency's mission is to protect, promote, and enhance our common wealth of natural, cultural, and recreational resources. To learn more about DCR, our facilities, and our programs, please visit www.mass.gov/dcr. Contact us at mass.parks@state.ma.us.