The vast majority of American business run by Russians and other Eastern European immigrants have been loudly declaring they stand with Ukraine and denouncing Putin’s invasion.
“I speak for the majority of us when I say that we are devastated and condemn the attacks that Russia is inflicting upon Ukraine,” the folks at Newton’s Café St. Petersburg posted on Facebook.
The Russian School of Mathematics, also in Newton, posted a similar strong statement of support for Ukraine on its website and has been actively working to help refugees and connect families in the region.
If you’ve immigrated here from Russia, the Ukraine, or another part of Eastern Europe, I’d be interested in knowing how you and yours are doing and if there's any way our chamber can be helpful to you or your business. Email me or call 617-244-1688.
Removal of bus wires allows for Watertown road work
Say good bye to those electric MBTA buses that have been running on wires between Watertown, Waverly and Harvard Squares for nearly a century.
The buses will be permanently disconnected from their overhead wires this weekend and replaced with diesel buses before the fleet is replaced with battery-powered buses in about two years, reports Taylor Dolven at the Globe.
By 2040 the T's entire fleet of 1,150 buses are scheduled to be battery-powered.
Removing the overhead wires will allow several long-awaitedroadway projects to proceed including:
Reconstruction of approximately 1,100 feet of Belmont Street between Mt. Auburn Street and the Belmont town line. The project will take two years to complete.
Reconstruction of Mt. Auburn Street from the Cambridge line to Patten Street. The project will take about four years to complete.
National Grid will install a new gas main on Mt. Auburn Street from Belmont Street to Watertown Square (approximately two miles). This project will take two years to complete.
The Massachusetts Water Resources Authority will install a new 20-inch water pipeline for 1,000 feet on Mt. Auburn Street in Watertown. This project will take one year to complete.
Keep those face masks handy
The Transportation Security Administration is extending the mask mandate on public transportation until April 18.
The rules apply to airplanes, trains, buses and airports and train stations.
And the Brookings Institutionprojects that long COVID disabilities and workplace absences could account for 15 percent of America’s 10.6 million unfilled jobs.
But many long COVID patients are being denied disability benefits, either by private insurance companies or by the Social Security Administration reports the Washington Post.
Doctors say they’re treating long COVID patients who are clearly too sick to work but who have difficulty meeting the evidence threshold insurers demand.
Then there's this story from Sarah Betancourt at GBH about frustrated Massachusetts families who've lost someone to COVID-19 and are waiting for Beacon Hill to pass legislation to honor them.
Small business relief left out of federal bill
Congress finally reached a bipartisan agreement on a spending bill this week but the $1.5 trillion legislation does not include money to make good on the Restaurant Revitalization Fund to cover restaurants that were approved for grants before funds ran out, or any other small business relief, the BBJ’s Andy Medici reports.
Other need to knows
Volante Farms in Needham is matching all donations up to $5,000 through the month of March for Rosie’s Place in Boston, a sanctuary for poor and homeless women. In years past, the Volante family invited the public to donate fresh produce at their checkout area, and then matched all donations. For safety reasons they’re seeking monetary donations instead. Donate and details.
Massachusetts Export Center will hold a free webinar March 16 at noon to discuss and explain the new sanctions and export controls targeting Russia and will also address ongoing implementation of list-based sanctions as they relate to Russia, including rules for compliance. Register.
Newton CommunityPride’s spring community micro grant application is now open for those organizations whose programs support arts and culture, beautification or service in Newton. Details.
If there’s any graduating high school seniors in your orbit let them know that the deadline for the chamber’s scholarship program is March 31.
To qualify a students must either live in Needham, Newton, Watertown or Wellesley or attend school in Needham, Newton, Watertown or Wellesley. Details.
How about an outstanding Needham business or business person?
Our Needham Business Alliance committee is seeking nominations for the Needham-based businesses and individuals who've had a special impact in town in 2021.
Your nominations will be forwarded to our awards committee for consideration at our annual Needham Night later this spring. Submit your nominations here by Tuesday.
That’s today’s Need to Knows except for this need to watch video of the Kyiv-Classic Symphony Orchestra performing in Kyiv’s central square this week.
The musicians had been rehearsing inside their homes, or in their basements, as explosions reverberated in the streets above, waiting for the moment they could play together again (read about it here).
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