Sorry about your rim John, our road repair equipment was in Lynnfield that day,but you knew that already,you rascal!!!

The administration is scared to death of this site, both now, and in it's prior incarnation. Why else do you think XXXXXX banned access to it, a practice that continues to this day?

Noah Hano with seven tablets he later donated to local hospitals. –Maddy Allen

Many patients dying of COVID-19 never get to say goodbye.
Related Links

Live updates: The latest news on the coronavirus outbreak in New England
An updating overview of coronavirus in Massachusetts
How to find help and access resources if you’re impacted by the coronavirus

In an effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus, hospitals are not allowing family and friends to visit and comfort their loved ones in their final hours. One volunteer is trying to give families those final moments back — using tablets.

For the last two weeks, Noah Hano has been buying tablets to donate to local hospitals, so that dying coronavirus patients can connect with their families. He has purchased, set up, and delivered roughly 50 tablets to eight hospitals around New England, including Brigham and Women’s in Boston, Mercy Hospital in Springfield, and Newton-Wellesley Hospital in Newton.

The idea came from Hano’s friend who works as a nurse practitioner at Beverly Hospital and posted a call for donations of tablets, phones, or anything else that would enable families to communicate with isolated COVID-19 patients. Some doctors and nurses have also called for cell phones and chargers. Hano initially bought seven tablets and set them up with basic video calling platforms, like FaceTime, Skype, and Zoom. He delivered them to the hospital the next day, and decided to use the momentum he’d already gathered to start a fundraising campaign to purchase and distribute more tablets. Hano’s goal is to raise $30,000.

“People are all alone when they arrive at the emergency room, because there aren’t any visitors allowed in the hospital, and some come with phones that the battery might be dead, or they might not come with a phone at all, especially some of the elderly patients,” said Hano. “There’s no way for families to communicate…[a video call] really is the only way to say goodbye to their loved one.”

Hano says that he’s heard of nurses in some hospitals using their own personal phones to facilitate these goodbye calls. He says this is an imperfect solution, as sharing their personal phones with patients could increase their own risk of infection. Using donated tablets also means that hospitals can conduct some internal operations virtually — for instance, a doctor inside a contaminated zone could use it to consult with a doctor outside the contaminated zone without having to remove or waste personal protective equipment.

Currently, Hano is using the funds from his Facebook campaign to purchase Amazon Fire 7 tablets, which he can get for $49 and set up himself, occasionally with some help from his daughters. He’s ordered over 150 tablets, and has also connected with volunteers in Washington state and New Jersey who are interested in replicating his donation efforts. Hano works as a real estate developer, and he says this is the first time he’s organized a charity campaign like this.

“If we’re going to make it through this, everybody can do something. We’re not powerless,” said Hano. “Whether it’s staying at home and that’s the most important thing, or reaching out to somebody that’s elderly that might be alone — everybody has something to give, and that’s kind of what I’ve learned from this process. And just give it a shot.”

Posting the same thing in multiple threads is annoying. Like a child In the backseat that won’t stop repeating the same thing over and over.

The economy is slowing, the market is in turmoil and heading for a "correction", and some pundits have predicted a slowdown so severe that it threatens recession.

Is there enough time to get another override on the ballot in November, just in case the schools need more money?
Aren't all the old people going to get some extra money? They can't complain about not being able to afford it this time!

When you woke up this morning, if you're like me, you thought about your kids right off the bat. Where are they, are they safe, are they feeling loved, and what can I do to help them.
For my kids:
-They're at home.I shower them with love and kisses everyday
But what can I do to help them? As a parent, what can I do to ensure my child's success and safety in Melrose? What do they NEED from me?There's only one real answer.You all know who I mean.We all elected him in 2019 I'll admit, back then even I was still in the dark about his inner self. Just like all of you, I was dazzled by his newfound success in Melrose politics. I was under his spell.
Little did I know it was dark magic.
His charm.
His quick wit.These are his weapons. He preys on the weak, on the impressionable, and takes advantages of the innate human quality that is compassion. He had me fooled. He has all of you fooled.
It's time to wake up.Mayor is pretentious. He is arrogant. He has taken credit for the success of our great city. He has taken credit for what you all have done for our home. You made Melrose what it is. Do not let him trick you into thinking this was through his doing.Stop letting him fool you.It is up to us.

It was obviously a poor attempt at humor, not an attempt to pretend I was indeed "you" (but you knew that). And OF COURSE I was being facetious, we certainly can't afford another override, for anything, particularly for a school system in free fall!

Maybe the bigger question is recession going to us city and all us her in melrose and the businesses.

How about 1960.

Is what?

When is the so-called Mayor ever going to give a straight-forward, honest answer to a question?

https://melroserecycles.wordpress.com/2020/04/10/updates-on-yard-waste-pickup/

Why didn’t we enact stay at home policies and wear face masks in 2017-2018 when there were 70,000 flu deaths in the United States?

Apples and oranges, but you know that, just looking for someone like me to call you a koolaid drinking buffoon. But I’m not gonna do it!

The welfare of humanity is ALWAYS the alibi of tyrants.

Exactly. Did you know the average age of death from covid-19 in MA is 82. That’s incredible considering the average life expectancy is 80.

98 % of these folks had underlying causes.

It is absurd that we’re destroying the economy and countless lives by blindly following these dimwits.

Those numbers are crap Mel, of course, which means we probably know what buffoon you're getting them from!

True partnership is all of us helping each other at this time.It is not easy being home everyday.Many people been followed from the jobs or layoffs. No one wins when you have no jobs are lost. This is about time it something that none of us been through .Yes employment checks don:t cut it.Life changes Go from working everday to no work.Not easy on anybody.Check on your neighbors.Call or text your neighbors.Especially elderly neighbors to make sure they"re doing will. make sure to stay socially connected.Wake around your neighborhood.Develop a support system within your community.Reach out but do it safely.

And here's the midweek weekly update of COVID-19 stats by town/city:

https://www.mass.gov/doc/confirmed-covid-19-cases-in-ma-by-citytown-january-1-2020-may-6-2020-0/download

And the daily dashboard update:

https://www.mass.gov/doc/covid-19-dashboard-may-7-2020/download

Golf is back in Massachusetts, but only under strict conditions.
Related Links

Golf courses in Massachusetts can open, effective immediately

Gov. Charlie Baker’s administration updated its emergency rules Thursday to allow golfers to return to the links during the coronavirus outbreak, as the state begins easing certain nonessential services.

The experience won’t be like the typical 18 holes.

According to the state’s website, golf courses are still prohibited from having any employees present, besides staff for security purposes. Payments must be taken online or over the phone. And club facilities, from pro shops to restaurants, are required to remain closed. Tee times will also have to be spaced out by 15 minutes, and groups will be limited to four players, among other social distancing measures on the course — which the security personnel will enforce.

While staff are required to wear a face covering, the rules do not mention masks for players. However, Baker’s statewide order requiring people to wear face coverings in public whenever they can’t maintain six feet of distance from others took effect Wednesday.

The new guidelines come after Massachusetts became the only state in the country on Wednesday that hadn’t moved to allow golf courses to reopen — and some local course owners were beginning to get restless. Baker noted Thursday that Massachusetts has been working to coordinate its general reopening plans with other northeastern states.

“We basically took a model that was being used in several of the states around us … and applied it,” he said.

Read the updated guidelines, which took effect immediately, below:

Are golf courses considered essential? NO

Golf courses are not essential businesses and cannot have employees working on-premise. Notwithstanding this restriction, essential services, such as groundskeeping to avoid hazardous conditions and security, provided by employees, contractors, or vendors are permitted.
Private operators of golf courses may permit individuals access to the property so long as there are no gatherings of any kind, appropriate social distancing of six feet between individuals is strictly followed, and the business operator and golfers abide by the specific guidelines for golf courses outlined below.
Municipalities may decide to open municipal courses under these guidelines, if they so choose.
The specific guidelines for golf courses are:
Security personnel can be delineated by each club (ex. a pro and the head starter) and will be present to enforce social distancing. There can be no other employees working at the recreational component of the golf operation.
All staff must wear face coverings while on the property
Club facilities including but not limited to the club house, pro shop, restaurant, bag room and locker room must remain closed
No caddies allowed
No golf carts allowed
Push carts may be used. Players must either carry their own bag or use a push cart
All golfers must maintain proper social distancing of at least 6 feet at all times
Groups of players are restricted to no more than 4 players at one time.
Members-only clubs can allow guests as determined by the security personnel on the golf course
Private clubs that allow non-members to make reservations can do so at their discretion
Maintenance personnel are permitted to work on the golf course
Tee Time Policy must be 15 minutes between groups
Golfers must stay in their car until 15 minutes before their tee time and must return to their car immediately following play
Online and remote payment options must be utilized
All golfers must use their own golf clubs. Sharing golf clubs or rental golf clubs is not allowed.
Flag sticks must remain in the hole. Hole liners must be raised so picking a ball out of the hole doesn’t occur
Bunker rakes must be removed, and ball washers must be removed or covered.
Practice putting green, driving range, and chipping areas must be closed.
Facilities must have readily accessible hand sanitizer.

For more information, the United States Golf Association has issued guidance on how these sort of restrictions may affect playing rules and scoring

It’s Mother’s Day, which is a great time to remember that moms don’t have to be martyrs.

When you’re out socially distanced, wear a mask,And when you get behind the wheel, slow down.

Social Distancing and When you’re out socially distanced, wear a mask,And when you get behind the wheel, slow down.Maybe you get lucky you will have to pay a fine for speeding.Yes you. This is Melrose Mass 02176.Speeding fine with a surcharge on your car insurance company will notify you and the Merit Rating Board MRB if you are ...is involved in an accident subject to surcharge if the Accident.I thought through Melrose citywide speed limit changed to 25 mph in Melrose.think having the speed limit enfoced on our street would make all feel safe.At some point the question here is how are you going to send a signal to people driving through the community that we want them to slow down.I get the feeling there are quite a few of us and We"re all kind of unified in wanting to have a little bit safer experience in waking our kids around and riding our bikes and doing all the things that people that live her in Melrose environment want to do.Citywide speed limit changed to 25 mph in MELROSE.

Going a bit stir crazy I see!

The midweek update by the MA DPH of COVID cases by town/city (Melrose is listed with 206 cases, an increase of > 30% over last week, and ~ a rate of 712 per 100,0000):

https://www.mass.gov/doc/confirmed-covid-19-cases-in-ma-by-citytown-january-1-2020-may-13-2020-0/download

And the MA DPH's daily dashboard - MelWake's COVID census has declined noticeably to 33:

https://www.mass.gov/doc/covid-19-dashboard-may-13-2020/download

When you’re out socially distanced, wear a mask,And when you get behind the wheel, slow down.Yes that car you drive.

Oh, you mean the CAR I drive. Thank you for clarifying that. I thought you meant the wheel of fortune.

True partnership is all of us helping each other at this time.It is not easy being home everyday.Many people been followed from the jobs or layoffs. No one wins when you have no jobs are lost. This is about time it something that none of us been through .Yes employment checks don:t cut it.Life changes Go from working everday to no work.Not easy on anybody.Check on your neighbors.Call or text your neighbors.Especially elderly neighbors to make sure they"re doing will. make sure to stay socially connected.Wake around your neighborhood.Develop a support system within your community.Reach out but do it safely.Not easy going what"s next.How do you know if you are doing the right thing?Doing whats right is never easy.Does doing the right thing ever lead to worse overall circumstances than doing ?

Rolling Shock’ as Job Losses Mount Even With Reopenings

Nearly three million new unemployment claims brought the two-month total to more than 36 million, even with some still frustrated in seeking benefits.

Gov. Charlie Baker says his administration is intentionally taking a “go-slow” approach to reopening the Massachusetts economy.

Some local lawmakers are still worried he may be going too fast.

In a letter Friday, seven state representatives called on Baker to extend his stay-at-home advisory and order requiring nonessential businesses to close their workplaces until “at least” June 1, citing concerns that the coronavirus outbreak is not adequately contained.

With a total of 83,421 COVID-19 cases and 5,592 reported deaths due to the disease as of Friday afternoon, Massachusetts is one of the hardest-hit states in the country. Baker’s shutdown orders have been in place since March 24.

“While we are cognizant of the hardships people continue to endure, we think it would be premature to allow the Stay-At-Home Advisory to expire on Monday, May 18,” read the letter Friday, led by Rep. Mike Connolly, a Cambridge Democrat.

This morning, I joined with House colleagues to call on @MassGovernor to extend the #StayAtHome advisory and to do more to prioritize the needs of those most impacted by #COVID19. Because of the urgent nature of the situation, we didn't have time to do a broad call for sign-ons. pic.twitter.com/debqzIBBpg

— Mike Connolly (@MikeConnollyMA) May 15, 2020

Baker’s reopening advisory board is expected to release a report on its four-phase approach to gradually relaxing restrictions Monday, which is the same day that the stay-at-home advisory and nonessential business closure order are scheduled to expire. And while the Republican governor announced new mandatory safety standards for businesses earlier this week, it remains unclear what — or when — businesses and activities the report will allow to resume.

In a technical fix, Baker did announce Friday that the business closure order and stay-at-home advisory — which were set to expire at midnight Sunday — will be extended 24 hours, through the end of Monday.

But the governor gave no indication of what his plans were beyond that. During a press conference Friday, he said officials would have “a lot more to say” about the stay-at-home advisory Monday.
Related Links

Health equity coalition asks Charlie Baker to prioritize voices of essential workers in planning state’s reopening
Charlie Baker explains why he isn’t tipping who will be in the first reopening phase in Massachusetts
Gov. Baker announces the 4 phases Mass. will follow to reopen the economy

“That has to be dealt with in the context of the rest of the report,” Baker said.

The letter was co-signed Northampton Rep. Lindsay Sabadosa, Somerville Rep. Christine Barber, Brockton Rep. Michelle DuBois, Boston Rep. Nika Elugardo, Framingham Rep. Jack Lewis, and Framingham Rep. Maria Robinson — all of whom were part of a group that called on Baker to issue a stay-at-home order in mid-March during the early days of the outbreak. Connolly suggested that they were hardly the only lawmakers who supported the new letter.

“Because of the urgent nature of the situation, we didn’t have time to do a broad call for sign-ons,” he tweeted Friday

While they recognized that Massachusetts has seen positive downward trends when it comes to the rate of positive COVID-19 tests and hospitalizations, the letter echoed some scientists’ fears that relaxing rules too soon could result in a worse, second wave of infections and deaths.

The seven Democrats also noted that the 12 percent, seven-day average of positive COVID-19 tests in Massachusetts remained slightly shy of a the 10-to-1 ratio of negative tests to positive tests that the World Health Organization says is a benchmark for sufficient testing. Federal guidelines say that states should not begin reopening until they have seen a “two-week downward trajectory of documented cases or positives as a percent of total tests,” which Massachusetts appears to have met, despite day-to-day variations in the numbers.

Baker has repeatedly stressed that his administration will “follow the data” before it reopens, with an emphasis on hospitalizations and the percent of positive test as the most meaningful trends to follow. Asked about that on Friday, Baker said that the state has had “very positive tracking.”

“For some of those measures, it’s been for almost a month,” he said.

Still, the governor stressed that Massachusetts is already taking a cautious approach. Other New England states — which have seen fewer COVID-19 cases — have already announced plans to begin easing business restrictions and lifting stay-at-home orders.

“Part of the reason we’ve talked about a phased reopening and go-slow reopening is because we want to be conservative and careful and cautious with respect to the way we do this,” Baker said Friday, adding that the state’s plans to ramp up testing and contact tracing were key parts of the equation.

“We’ve said from the beginning that you need to respect the virus,” he added.

Despite the overall positive trends, Connolly’s letter highlighted the fact that some cities and towns are still struggling with disproportionately high rates of COVID-19.

“The improvements we’ve seen in our state have not been felt in all communities — some of the most vulnerable communities in our state continue to face alarming circumstances that demand more of our attention,” they wrote

The letter added that reopening advisory board “largely consists of corporate executives and CEOs” and lacks representation for frontline workers and lower-income groups that have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19, including people who are homeless, incarcerated, or do not have legal status.

The 17-member board is composed of three public health officials, three municipal officials, and 11 members of the business community, including six CEOs. The advisory group has previously been criticized for its composition, though Baker says it is soliciting input from a wide variety of stakeholders. During the press conference Friday, he said the board had met with between 50 and 70 different groups.

The letter also criticized the current plan, which Baker has refused to preview ahead of the May 18 report, for being “confusing to many of our constituents and businesses” that could result in “poor public health choices.” The Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce has also repeatedly called on Baker to provide more details so that businesses can prepare.

The governor has remained unswayed. During a press conference Wednesday, he didn’t want the proverbial “starting gun” to go off ahead of the report Monday.

“I want this to be done in a deliberate way, and you don’t do something in a deliberate way if you start leaking it out and issuing it out before you actually release the report,” he said.

While nearly half of Massachusetts residents have seen their incomes diminished in the wake of the pandemic, more than 85 percent said they support Baker’s decision to extend his business closure order and stay-at-home advisory until May 18, according to a Suffolk University/Boston Globe/WGBH News poll last week. The same decision also attracted a vocal group of protesters outside the State House.

Baker said Friday that he thought the board’s reopening report was “a tremendously well-developed and well-thought out piece of work.”

He also said he expected criticism.

“I absolutely know that people who think we’re going too fast are going to say we’re going too fast and people who think we’re going to slow are going to say we’re going too slow,” he said. “I mean, that’s kind of where we are here, folks — and that’s where we’re going to be for a while.”

This week's midweek update on a per town/city basis - Melrose is listed with 216 cases (cumulatively counted since March) at a rate per 100K of ~747, an increase of only 10 cases over last week):

https://www.mass.gov/doc/confirmed-covid-19-cases-in-ma-by-citytown-january-1-2020-may-20-2020/download

And MelWake's census has declined from 33 to 21 in the last week, about 40% of its sustained peak during the surge:

https://www.mass.gov/doc/covid-19-dashboard-may-20-2020/download

When you woke up this morning, if you're like me, you thought about your kids right off the bat. Where are they, are they safe, are they feeling loved, and what can I do to help them.
For my kids:
-They're at home.I shower them with love and kisses everyday
But what can I do to help them? As a parent, what can I do to ensure my child's success and safety in Melrose? What do they NEED from me?

Please don't just be rubbers stampers . On this City Budget for The City Melrose.We are going through the Coronavirus a lot of people are at home not going to work.That is the state of Massachusetts and many other states. Coronavirus affecting all life.May be not you Politicians.

We are getting together on a zoom meeting to discuss the plan for a second Override this November. The pandemic has created needs for the City that require additional revenue. Respond to this thread with your email and I will get you the invite.

"Needs", I'm sorry, but that's not even a funny joke!

Maybe the bigger question is recession going to us city and all us her in melrose and the businesses?

Zip it, Ted. I hear enough of you at the darn public comment periods. Your shtick is tiresome.