From the Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition (MBCC): With the health and well-being of participants, volunteers, and sponsors in mind, Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition (MBCC) announces a new virtual event schedule for its annual, statewide Against the Tide athletic fundraising events for 2020. MBCC will be hosting three virtual events on August 15^th, September 19^th, and September 26^th. The virtual event components include 1-mile recreational or competitive swims, ½-mile recreational swim, 5K or 10K runs, 3-mile walk, ½-mile stand up paddle board, or 2-mile kayak.  For participants who are looking to challenge themselves, there is an Aquathon option, consisting of a competitive 1-mile swim and the choice of 5K or 10K run.

“We are grateful to the many people who come out to support MBCC every year at Against the Tide events and we hope that providing participants with multiple virtual options will give everyone a chance to be a part of the Against the Tide events and to swim, walk, run, paddle, or kayak in support of cancer prevention,” explains Cheryl Osimo, MBCC’s Executive Director. “We’ve tried hard to balance the health and safety of our supporters, while trying to ensure important funds are raised to support MBCC’s programs.” Registration fees are $40 for an individual participant, and $100 for a family registration (up to 5 family members).

Virtual Event Highlights:

• Participate on a course or safe body of water of your choosing.
• Participants will have a three-day window leading up to the event day to complete their activity.
• All virtual participants will receive a Participant Fun Pack, including an event t-shirt, bib or swim cap, participant medal, and sponsor items, along with instructions on how to submit their finish time for those swim, run, and Aquathon participants who would like to have their finish times included on the event results page.
• Exclusive access to training videos from two certified fitness instructors.
• Opportunity to include a flag in memory/honor of a loved one on the online Mural of Honor.
• Share your “event” photos with us to be included in the Against the Tide photo album on the MBCC website and Facebook page.
• Prizes will be awarded top fundraisers.

To learn more about all of the registration options or to make a pledge, please visit the MBCC website at www.mbcc.org/swim or by calling 1-800-649-MBCC (6222).

Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition is the state’s leading breast cancer organization dedicated to preventing the environmental causes of breast cancer through community education, research advocacy, and changes to public policy.

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Updates from state government

• As of Wednesday night, DPH reported a total of 106,128 cases of COVID-19. The state has now confirmed a total of 8,152 deaths from the virus.
• MA has a 1.9% positive test rate. Lynn, Chelsea, Lowell, New Bedford are testing at 3%+ while Lawrence & Fall River are at 6%+. 7 of these 8 communities saw declines (Fall River), with Everett & Marlboro below the state average.
• U.S. Rep. Richard Neal said Wednesday he was confident Congress would agree to a stimulus package before the end of the month that would extend enhanced unemployment insurance benefits for workers who lost their jobs due to the pandemic. Chairman Neal said he thought the opposition of Senate Republicans to a new round of economic relief spending was softening. He believes the next package would extend the $600 per month enhancement of unemployment benefits and offer a new round of stimulus checks for individuals, this time including college students who claim dependency.
• The Senate is scheduled to have a formal session on Thursday to take up the transportation bond bill. Lawmakers filed 275 amendments to the Senate’s $16.9 billion version of a multi-year transportation bond bill (S 2813), the vast majority of which seek earmarks for specific transit or roadway projects in their individual districts. The Legislature is expected to send a nearly $1.1 billion COVID-19 supplemental budget to Governor Baker’s desk Thursday and the House advanced the bill for final passage during its session Wednesday. The Senate agreed to a House-amended version Monday that includes $5 million for COVID-related elections costs and money for personal protective equipment, housing, and homelessness prevention.
• On Wednesday, the Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee advanced the Safe Communities Act. The Senate version (S 1401), filed by Sen. Jamie Eldridge, is pending in the Senate clerk’s office, while Rep. Ruth Balser and Rep. Liz Miranda’s bill (H 3573) was sent to the House clerk’s office. Both bills are now likely to be assigned now to another committee.
• The legislation would bar police and court officers from inquiring about someone’s immigration status, and would stop them from notifying federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement about someone’s impending release from custody unless they were finishing a criminal sentence.
• Democratic leaders in the House said Wednesday they would accept written testimony by email through Friday morning on the Senate’s version of a broad policing reform bill that passed that chamber on Tuesday after an all-night debate and would put Massachusetts among the majority of states in the country that license police. Speaker Robert DeLeo said he hoped to hold a “virtual hearing” this week to allow the public and stakeholders to “provide feedback remotely” on the Senate bill as the House works to craft its own legislation. The lack of a public hearing on the Senate’s bill (S 2800) was a major point of contention for police unions and other critics who felt excluded from the development of the bill, and led to several days of delays.
• House Ways and Means Chairman Aaron Michlewitz and Judiciary Committee Co-chair Rep. Claire Cronin announced Wednesday that they would be taking testimony by email only through 11 a.m. on Friday. Anyone wishing to provide feedback can email Testimony.HWMJudiciary@mahouse.gov.
• Senators have been holding a series of listening sessions to gauge the pandemic’s effects on different segments on the economy and check in on the gradual reopening of businesses. During Wednesday’s session, focused on arts, culture, tourism and small business. According to the advocacy group MASSCreative, audiences for nonprofit arts and cultural events generate $877 million in spending at restaurants and stores. The arts, entertainment and recreation sector employed an average of more than 63,000 people in 2018, with an annual total of $2.5 billion in compensation.

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From Mayor McGee’s office: The Lynn Public Health Department has confirmed that as of today, the number of active, confirmed positive COVID-19 cases is 493 with 4 new cases today. 3,177 Lynn residents have recovered and 104 have died. The total number of confirmed positive COVID-19 cases in Lynn since March 21, 2020, including those who have died and recovered, is 3,774. Please visit the new City of Lynn COVID-19 Data Dashboard which is updated daily.

STOP THE SPREAD Initiative

Next week, there will again be free mobile COVID-19 testing in the parking lot across from Sacred Heart Church on Boston Street from 10:00AM-4:00PM from Monday, July 20 through Friday, July 24. You can also make an appointment for a COVID-19 test at Lynn Community Health Center by calling 781-581-3900.

Please visit http://www.ci.lynn.ma.us/covid19/resources.shtml#p7GPc1_2 for more information on how you can get a free COVID-19 test in the City of Lynn through August 14th.

We will continue to provide regular updates on COVID-19 through the City website (www.lynnma.gov), social media, and the Smart 911 emergency notification system (sign up at www.smart911.com).