Fresh Garlick – April 14, 2022

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

As many of you know, April is a unique time in the House of Representatives as this is the month the House considers and debates the upcoming fiscal year’s budget. This week marked the beginning of this process with the House Committee on Ways and Means releasing the $49.6B FY23 Budget Recommendation, to which Representatives have until Friday to submit amendments. The budget and its amendments will be debated by the House during the week of April 25.

The House Ways and Means budget targets investments into early education and childcare, developmental services, the environment, workforce development, criminal just reform, and many other areas across the Commonwealth. Notably, this budget increases funding for childcare providers, funds a year-long extension of the Universal School meals program for k-12 students, eliminates all probation and parole fees, and increases funding for environmental justice and climate adaptation and preparedness in the Commonwealth.

To view the budget, click here.

Yours in Service,

Denise

• In Needham, Youth and Family Services is partnering with the Lighthouse Initiative to offer multiple support groups for parents centered around various topics affecting children today including, eating concerns, self-harm, social isolation, LGBTQIA+ identity, and neurodiversity. Groups are $25 per family for all three sessions. For more information, click here.

• In Dover, the Annual Dover Town Meeting will be held on Monday, May 2 at 7:00 PM in the Mudge Auditorium at the Dover-Sherborn School District Campus. Information on Town Meeting, draft articles, and related documents can be found on the Town Meeting webpage. For this information, click here.

• In Medfield, the Medfield State Hospital Development Committee held a listening session on April 6 regarding Trinity Financials’ proposed redevelopment of the Medfield State Hospital. A recording of the listening session is available on the Medfield TV YouTube page. To learn more or to submit written comments to the Development Committee, click here.

• This morning, my office attended a briefing from the Boy Scouts of Massachusetts. In 2021, Scouts provided over 230,000 hours of community service, including in Needham, Dover, and Medfield, where I have had the honor of seeing many individuals earn their Eagle Scout award for their service. I honor and respect all public service.

• On Tuesday, the Massachusetts Food Collective held a briefing regarding the more than twenty food policy councils around Massachusetts. Food policy councils bring together organizations and public agencies to increase collaboration and efficiency across the food system sector. As food insecurity grew during the COVID-19 pandemic, food policy councils supported communities and the Commonwealth in feeding individuals and families. To learn more about food policy councils, click here.

• During April school vacation week, April 18-22, local businesses across the state will be hosting free, family-friendly COVID-19 vaccination clinics. With the support of the Department of Public Health, clinics will be held in 10 communities at various locations including trampoline parks, zoos, bowling alleys, and Six Flags New England. For more information on these clinics, click here.

• The Department of Public Health (DPH) has shared resources for protecting yourself, your family, and your community from COVID-19. The best protection against COVID-19 and getting vaccinated and staying up to date on your vaccine, DPH also recommends six other tools you can use for protection. To view this resource, click here.