Tuesday, September 13, 2022
Dear Friends and Neighbors,
Today, I attended a Needham Housing Authority meeting to discuss ways that we may all work together to serve Needham residents on the critically important issue of access to quality housing. The Needham Housing Authority’s mission is “to provide decent, safe, and affordable housing for low to moderate-income families and individuals and to offer programs and resources to improve the quality of life for residents, program participants, and the broader Needham community while respecting the rights and privacy for all”. I am partnering with Needham Housing Authority residents, board, and administrative staff to fulfill this mission and strengthen relationships between residents and our Town. To learn more about Needham Housing Authority and its many programs, click here.
Yours in Service,
Denise
District Updates
The walls in my office are looking a bit bare, so let’s get creative! We’re looking for you to submit a drawing of what you love most about your town. Submissions are open to all residents in the district and will be displayed in my office. To submit your drawing, click here.
- In Needham, Needham High School Boosters Club is launching its annual sticker drive this weekend. Student-athletes from Needham High School will be going door to door asking for contributions to help fund the school’s athletic teams and clubs and distribute Rockets stickers in return. To learn more about the NHS Boosters Club or to donate, click here.
- In Dover, free COVID-19 rapid test kits will be available in the Board of Health Office from Monday to Thursday 9 am – 3 pm for Dover Residents. To follow the most up-to-date COVID-19 news in Dover, click here.
- In Medfield, the Bellforge Arts Center is hosting a free concert featuring Martin Sexton on September 11. The Bellforge Arts Center will be hosting the event which starts at 3 pm and ends at 6 pm. The event is free for the public and will include a variety of food options. To find more information and RSVP for free tickets, click here.
Statewide Updates
- The State General Election will be held on November 8, the following are important dates for the upcoming election:
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- Voter Registration Deadline: October 29
- Vote by Mail Application Deadline: November 1
- Early Voting: October 22 – November 4
- Election Day Polling Hours: 7 am – 8 pm
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For more information and registration, click here.
- The Veterans of Foreign Wars is hosting a student essay contest for middle and high schoolers. This is a local, statewide, and national competition with awards ranging from $200 to $35,000. The deadline for the essay competition is October 31, 2022. For more information and to access the application form, click here.
- Millions of children return to school this fall, for some, returning to school brings feelings of anxiety and feeling unsafe. The Center on Child Wellbeing & Trauma lists resources on how educators and organizations can help kids get ready for back to school when they feel unsafe returning. To learn more, click here.
- The Food and Drug Administration has approved updated COVID-19 boosters. The updated COVID-19 boosters add Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 spike protein components which restore protections from previous vaccinations by targeting more transmissible variants. To find locations offering the vaccine, click here.
- 3.5 million free at-home-COVID-19 tests to be distributed to Massachusetts residents. The Baker-Polito Administration plans to distribute free COVID-19 rapid antigen tests to municipalities to make available to residents. For more information about COVID-19 testing, click here.
- Children under five years old are eligible to be vaccinated against COVID-19. This expands eligibility for vaccination to nearly 20 million additional children and now everyone six months and older can receive the vaccine. To find locations offering the vaccine, 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.
