Question:
I'm hoping you can direct me to the right persons..I would like to inquire about Births,marriages and deaths for a certain ancestor....
Unfortunately, it was a very long time ago...My information indicates this person was born in 1786, and died in 1820. I'm not sure when he was married, but the woman he married was from Bennington Vermont
jason davis
North Adams
Senator Nuciforo:
If your ancestor was born in Massachusetts, you can contact the Massachusetts Archives Division, which is the state agency responsible for the custody, preservation, and management of the records of the Commonwealth. Records of note include legislative materials dating from 1629 to the present, military muster rolls, census records, and birth, marriage and death certificates. You are welcome to call the Archives Division (617)727-2816 and request that a Reference Archivist research the specifics you request, or you might patronize the Archives and conduct your own research. Their hours of operation are Monday through Friday from 9am to 5pm, and Saturdays from 9am to 3pm.
Locally, the Berkshire Athenaeum's Local History and Genealogy Department has an extensive collection of materials covering all of New England and New York dating back to the early 1700s. While they do not have staff at hand to research your family history, they will assist you in any way that they can. If appropriate, they may refer you to the Berkshire Family History Association. This group will conduct up to two hours of research for you for a $12 fee. You could stop in at the Berkshire Athenaeum at 1 Wendell Avenue in Pittsfield or call (413)499-9486.
Their hours of operation are Monday through Thursday from 9am to 9pm, Fridays 9am to 5pm, and Saturdays 10am to 5pm. I hope this information is helpful and leads you to the information you seek. Good luck.
Question:
How much is the St. Lawrence Cement Plant effecting the environment? And is there a way that the plant could cut down the amount of pollution that the plant is producing?
Andy Lipmonos
Sheffield
Senator Nuciforo:
As you may know, I represent 48 cities and towns in this pristine region of the Commonwealth, and am concerned that the proposed St. Lawrence Cement plant in Greenport, NY might result in negative health and environmental impacts here. For the past two and a half years, I have been working closely with the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to identify the potential impacts this proposed coal-burning facility could have in western Massachusetts.
DEP has recognized that emissions from the cement plant will travel well beyond the New York State border. More specifically, DEP has identified two pollutants—Particulate Matter 10 and Sulfur Dioxide—that could be further reduced though the use of Best Available Control Technology standards by St. Lawrence Cement. Additionally, the use of natural gas, rather than coal, would reduce the emissions released from the plant. However, the company has resisted these common sense approaches, and appears willing to fight them in court.
Working with DEP, the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission, and the Berkshire Friends of Clean Air, I will continue to monitor this important issue, and will join with state agencies and environmental groups to fight to make the plant as clean as possible, should it be permitted by New York State regulators.
Question:
I would like to know what you think about the tax the state has added to already strapped elders and other people on their prescription drugs; it is a $1.30 on each prescription. There are people that can not afford their prescriptions now, with this increase they will not be able to get their own prescriptions, never mind paying for someone else to get theirs for 50 cents I think this is a disgrace.
I was standing behind a man in Brooks Pharmacy and he paid $450 for his and his wife's prescriptions and now he will have to pay more or go without! I for one will go to Vermont or the internet before I pay tax on mine
Helen
Adams
Senator Nuciforo:
In September 2002, I co-sponsored a bill that would repeal the regressive prescription assessment fee and require a study on the impact of the fee. Unfortunately, this bill was not adopted during the 2001-2002 Legislative Session. However, this bill has been re-filed for consideration during the current 2003-2004 Legislative Session, and I continue to support its passage.
The prescription assessment fee was included as part of the Fiscal Year 2003(FY03) budget and requires pharmacies to pay an annual fee of $36 million on non-Medicare and non-Medicaid prescriptions. The Division of Health Care Finance and Policy assess pharmacies on a quarterly basis and has determined that in order to raise the $36 million, the individual assessment fee will be $1.30 per prescription for the remainder of FY03.
The division does not determine how the pharmacies are to pay the fee, but many pharmacies have chosen to pass on the assessment to the consumer. Prescriptions dispensed at pharmacies not located in Massachusetts, including many mail order companies, are not assessed the fee. The $36 million raised by the assessments will be credited to the Health Care Security Trust Fund and be used to fund MassHealth expenditures for prescription drugs.
I am concerned that the cost of prescription drugs may have increased because of the assessment. However, the projected revenue shortfall for the current FY03 state budget is at least $500 million. A repeal of this provision now would further exacerbate the state's fiscal situation, and will likely require a further cut to the MassHealth program or other state funded programs. If the fee provision is not repealed by the Legislature, the fee will be lowered to 65 cents per prescription on July 1, 2003.
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