Spend, Gift and Support City of Everett Local Businesses
Everett Chamber of Commerce is proud to announce the new Everett Chamber E-Gift Card, a community-based digital gift card that makes it fun and easy to keep local spending local. Purchase an Everett Chamber E-Gift Card to use at any of the participating shops in the neighborhood. With this card, you can write a personal message and send it to family, friends and colleagues via email, text, or physical copy. Recipients can choose to spend it at one of many (and growing) participating merchants in the City of Everett Community—or mix it up and spend flexibly at multiple locations. All-digital and always available on your phone, the Everett Chamber E-Gift Card is great for birthdays, holidays, teacher appreciation, coach gifts, or just to show your appreciation to a friend. Now you can give back to the community while you celebrate Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and graduations coming up soon.
Participating in this program means supporting the heart of what makes our community unique. The purchase of an Everett Chamber E-Gift Card creates a pool of cash that local businesses in Everett can rely on. Studies have shown that local independent retailers recirculate 47% of their revenue back into the community, while only 14% of national chains’ revenue stays in the community. More dramatically, restaurants recirculate 73% of their revenue back into the community, versus only 30% for national chains.
By supporting local businesses, more money continues circulating through the local community—this is achieved through a combination of profits paid to local business owners, wages paid to local workers, goods and services procured locally for internal use or resale, and charitable giving within the community. If you’re looking for a way to do some good or want to know how you can help the community you love, send an Everett Chamber E-Gift Card E-Card today! For more information or to participate as a merchant in the program, please contact the Everett Chamber of Commerce – [email protected].
New City of Everett Website
The City of Everett’s new website launched on November 1, 2021. In redeveloping the website, Mayor Carlo DeMaria’s goal was to provide a more helpful and user-friendly experience for our community. Our new website offers a more streamlined experience for Everett residents and those interested in finding out more about our community. The front page boasts all of the most pertinent information which includes, but is not limited to, applications for jobs and licenses, paying bills, and contact information. With the ever-changing needs and events within our community, the website is constantly updated to keep our residents informed about things such as Covid-19 testing, snowstorm parking, and other public events.
On the front page you will see a calendar that allows the user to see all city meetings along with the necessary information to accompany them, including agendas .The search feature, located on the top right of the home page, allows you to search exactly what you are looking for and will even provide you with related suggestions. In an effort to be user-friendly, the new website has a mobile version which includes branding that we have all come to know and love.
City receives Bond Bids
Mayor Carlo DeMaria is pleased to announce that that the City of Everett received competitive bids from bond underwriters on Thursday, January 13, for a $13,450,000 20-year tax-exempt bond issue and a $10,455,000 20-year taxable bond issue. Raymond James & Associates, Inc. was the winning bidder on both the Tax-Exempt and Taxable Bonds with an average interest rate of 1.637% on the Tax-Exempt Bonds and an average interest rate of 2.568% on the Taxable Bonds. The City received a total of 7 bids on the Tax-Exempt Bonds and 6 bids on the Taxable Bonds. Bond proceeds will be used to finance various municipal projects.
Prior to the sales, S&P Global Ratings, a municipal credit rating agency, affirmed the City’s ‘AA+’ long-term debt rating and assigned the ‘AA+’ rating to each series of the Bonds. S&P cited the City’s strong economy, strong financial management with good financial policies and practices, record of robust financial performance and fund balance levels over the last three years, and strong debt-and-contingent-liability position as positive credit factors. Bids for the Bonds were accepted at the offices of the City’s Financial Advisor, Hilltop Securities Inc., at 54 Canal Street in Boston, Massachusetts.
Supreme Judicial Court Further Pauses Jury Trials
The Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) issued an order extending the current pause on all jury trials in Massachusetts state courthouses for an additional two weeks, until February 14, 2022. All courts otherwise remain open for in-person business, with a continued emphasis on conducting matters remotely whenever possible.
“While we are encouraged by the trend in COVID-19 cases in the Commonwealth, the additional two week pause on jury trials is necessary to protect the health and safety of all who enter and work in our courthouses,” said Supreme Judicial Court Chief Justice Kimberly Budd. “Assuming the number of COVID-19 cases continues to decline as expected, we do not anticipate any further pause beyond February 14. As throughout the pandemic, however, all plans and expectations regarding the resumption of jury trials may be adjusted at any time in the ongoing effort to balance the safety of court users and personnel with the fundamental constitutional right to a trial by jury.”
Today’s order partially amends the existing order regarding court operations during the pandemic, which was issued by the SJC on July 1, 2021, and supersedes a prior amendment issued on December 31, 2021.
Mystic Valley Elder Services Seeks Donations of New Blankets
With winter upon us and plenty of cold weather still ahead, Mystic Valley Elder Services is seeking donations of new blankets, all sizes, for its Emergency Closet. The Emergency Closet provides its care managers who work with low-income older adults and people with disabilities a place to access not only new blankets but new towels, new sheets, toiletries, and large print puzzle books for their consumers who need them. Having these items in the agency immediately available can make a huge difference in someone’s life and they depend solely on donations.
If you are interested in donating blankets to the Emergency Closet, please contact the Mystic Valley Elder Services Development office at 781-324-7705 or [email protected].