Dear Friends,

Thank you to all who attended the Community Forum that Senator Jehlen and I hosted on June 7 at the Jenks Center in Winchester. We discussed a wide range of issues important to our community and the state, including the state budget, school funding, flood mitigation, healthcare costs, safe driving, and shared parenting.

We received good news recently that the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) has selected the Friends of Flynn Rink to manage the Flynn Rink in Medford. This ensures that Winchester youth hockey will continue to have access to affordable and convenient ice time.

On Beacon Hill, the legislature has completed its work on the Fiscal Year 2011 state budget (the new fiscal year starts on July 1). A very challenging budget has been made even more difficult because the U.S. Senate recently reversed its previous support for federal stimulus funds and unemployment benefits that Massachusetts and most other states had been expecting to receive. You can still voice your support by contacting Senator Scott Brown as he is the only member of the Mass delegation who has been opposed to this critical funding.

Best wishes,