You can help make sure the Blue Hills Trailside Museum and the Blue Hill Observatory have the funding they need to continue to serve thousands of visitors each year.
Take Action
Please write, call or email your state senator and urge them to include funding for the Trailside Museum (Amendment 271) and the Blue Hill Observatory (Amendment 274).
Tell your state senator that you support Amendment 271, filed by Senator Walter Timilty (D-Milton), which will fund Trailside in the FY2022 Massachusetts state budget and Amendment 274, also filed by Senator Timilty, which would fund the Blue Hill Observatory.
If you have a personal connection to Trailside or Observatory, make sure to include it in your message!
Please note: if you live in Senator Timilty’s district, please thank him for his leadership! He is sponsoring this amendment and already working to secure funding for both the Trailside Museum and the Blue Hill Observatory. If you are in the district of any of the below co-sponsors, please thank them as well for their leadership and support of these important resources.
Background
The state Senate is now debating amendments to the budget, including Amendment 274 sponsored by Senator Walter Timilty, and co-sponsored by Senators John Keenan, Paul Feeney, James Eldridge, Michael Barrett, Ryan Fattman, Patrick O’Connor and Julian Cyr, which includes $125,000 in for the Blue Hill Observatory. The senate is also debating Amendment #271, sponsored by Senator Walter Timilty, and co-sponsored by Senators John Keenan and Patrick O’Connor, Susan Moran, Paul Feeney and James Eldridge which includes $250,000 for the Trailside Museum.
Both amendments would provide needed operating funds to ensure the Blue Hill Observatory and Blue Hills Trailside Museum will continue to operate and provide educational and scientific programs.
Please contact your Senator and let them know you value the Trailside Museum and Observatory and ask them to support funding through Amendments 271 and 274.
Look up your state senator here.
Sample letter
Dear Senator xxx:
As you work to finalize the FY22 state budget, I urge you to support Amendments 271 and 274, both filed by Senator Timilty, to provide much-needed funding to the Blue Hills Trailside Museum and the Blue Hill Observatory in Milton.
[Tell a personal story about the importance of the Blue Hill Observatory and Trailside Museum.]
Both the Trailside Museum and the Blue Hill Observatory offer thousands of people an opportunity to learn about the importance of our natural world and our changing climate. Please vote to support Amendments 271 and 274 when budget amendments are brought to the Senate floor.
Thank you for helping to support these important local resources.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[City, State ZIP]
[Your Email]
Photo credit: Ronald Reynolds
