Friday, September 15, 2023
Yesterday, the Education Committee hosted an informational hearing on Early Education and Care (EEC). We heard from experts and providers in the field, including Education Secretary Tutwiler, EEC Commissioner Amy Kershaw, and Ellen Dietrich, the Director of Early Childhood Learning at Temple Beth Shalom. The Committee will continue its work on EEC with site visits across the Commonwealth with an eye toward access, affordability, workforce, and quality.
District Updates
Needham
- Needham Public Health is offering Flu Shot Clinics on Saturday, September 16 at no cost to the community. The Clinic will be held at the Center at the Heights from 9 am to 2 pm. If you are unable to attend this clinic, there are more free flu shot clinics being held throughout Needham in the next month. To see more flu clinic dates and to register for a flu shot, click here. For questions related to flu shots and the scheduled clinics, please email publichealthnursing@needhamma.gov.
- The Needham Council for Arts and Culture is accepting program funding proposals. Applications are open to organizations and individuals seeking funding to support artistic and cultural activities in the community. Grants from NCAC can be used to support various projects and activities in Needham including performances, exhibits, festivals, short-term artist residencies, workshops, lectures, and organizational support. The deadline for applications is October 17, 2023, at 11:59 pm. For more information on the grant and how to apply, click here.
- Massachusetts General Hospital will be holding a blood drive on Sunday, September 17. The blood drive will take place at Masonic Hall (1101 Highland Ave) from 8 am to 1:30 pm. Donors will be provided breakfast. To sign up for an appointment, click here.For any questions, contact Primary Blood Drive Chairperson Bill Asadoorian at wasadoorian@aol.com.
- Registration is open for Youth and Family Services’ free virtual parenting program. Needham Youth & Family Services is partnering with Family Access Community Connections to offer “Circle of Security Parenting”, a free 9-week virtual program for parents of children ages 4 months to 8 years. The program is based on decades of research about how secure parent-child relationships can be supported and strengthened. Classes will begin on Thursday, October 5 from 7 – 8:15 pm and will be held every Thursday. To register, click here.
- Get involved with the Charles River Center 5K Run/1 Mile Walk on September 24th. The event fundraises for the Charles River Center, which serves children and adults with disabilities to help them reach their highest possible level of independence and enable them to lead fulfilling and productive lives. There are several ways one can support the Charles River Center, whether it be through participation or donations. The following are some ways you can help with the Charles River Center 5K Run/1 Mile Walk:
- Participate in the run/walk! Participate individually or on a team, click here for individual registration, click here for team registration
- Fundraise for the Charles River Center! Set up a fundraising page, here.
- Volunteer! Multiple volunteer opportunities are available the day of and the day prior to the event. Click here to sign up to volunteer
- Spread the word! Letting people know about the event and cause through social media, email, newsletters, blogs, etc.
To learn more about the event, click here.
Dover
- The boil water alert was lifted on Tuesday, September 12 for customers of Aquarion. The order went into effect on September 8th due to an issue during well maintenance. Samples collected on September 11 show the water samples to be bacteria-free, the water is now safe and the boil water alert was lifted. Sign up for Aquarion alerts and outages here. If you have any questions, contact Aquarion customer service at 1-800-732-9678.
- The Dover Council on Aging invites residents to attend an informational session about the proposed conservation for the Hale Education (formerly Hale Reservation) property on Monday, September 18. The informational session will be held at the Dover Town Library’s Community Room from 10:30 to 11:30 am. Join the members of The Trustees and Dover Land Conservation Trust to discuss how this impacts the Town and answer questions. To sign up for the event, click here.
- On Tuesday, September 19, the Dover Council on Aging has Grab & Go meals available for pick up for $5. Meal pickups will be at the Most Precious Blood Church parking lot (30 Centre St) from 12:30 to 1 pm. Reserve an individually packaged meal to enjoy at home. Enter the parking lot and stop at the table for curbside pickup. Home delivery is also available. RSVP to reserve a meal here.
- Powisset Farms and Guest Chef Steve Linehan are hosting a special event: Goats with Wings on Sunday, September 17 at 12 pm. Spend an afternoon with friendly goats and Chef Steve’s special “Dirty Steve’s Famous Wings”. Your ticket will include parking, a serving of chicken wings, sides, access to the goats, live music, lawn games, and access to a concession stand selling beer, ice cream, and other snacks. For more information and to purchase tickets, click here.
Medfield
- Check out Medfield Coalition for Public Education’s 2022-2023 annual report. MCPE utilized funds throughout the year to support twelve outstanding grants, totaling over $40,000 invested towards enriching educational journeys for students. To view the full report, click here.
- Registration is now open for the Fifth Annual John Panciocco Softball Tournament on Saturday. Proceeds from the tournament will support a Medfield High School Alumni Association scholarship in memory of John Panciocco, a former MHS teacher, assistant athletic director, and hockey coach who lost his battle to a rare form of cancer. This annual scholarship is awarded to a graduating MHS senior who plans to pursue a career in education. Registration is open until October 1st. To register to participate or donate, click here. For any questions, email jpsoftballtourney@gmail.com.
Norfolk County Arbovirus Report
Summer has brought an increased risk of mosquito-borne illnesses. West Nile Virus (WNV) and Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE or “Triple E”) are viruses that occur in Massachusetts and can cause illnesses ranging from mild fever to more serious diseases like encephalitis or meningitis. Mosquito testing for EEE and other diseases continues, and this section of Fresh Garlick will share weekly reportings of Arbovirus in Norfolk County.
Risk Levels:
Needham: Moderate
Dover: Low
Medfield: Low
To learn more about mosquito-borne illnesses, click here.
To learn how to protect yourself against mosquito-borne illnesses, click here.
Statewide Updates
- The Department of Developmental Services and the Charles River Center will be hosting an informational session on DDS eligibility requirements on September 19. The informational session will be led by Anthony Mavilia, the DDS Intake and Eligibility Team Coordinator for the Metro Region. Information will be shared on the intake process, different eligibility categories, and what documents are generally needed for each eligibility category. The session will be held virtually via Zoom and run from 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm. To RSVP for the event, email familysupport@charlesrivercenter.org.
- Saturday, September 16 marks the official start of the 2023 COASTSWEEP beach cleanup. Members of the public are encouraged to volunteer at one of the many cleanup events planned along the coast this fall. Organized by the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs’ (EEA) Office of Coastal Zone Management, COASTSWEEP cleanups are held into early November. For more information on how to sign up, click here. With Hurricane Lee likely impacting the Massachusetts coast this weekend, please be sure to check with local coordinators to see if cleanups have been rescheduled before attending.
- The Massachusetts Department of Transportation is announcing grants totaling $1.3 million. The grants aim to enhance rail and freight access, economic opportunity, and job growth across Massachusetts. To learn more about the grants and the Industrial Rail Access Program, click here.
- Massachusetts received an additional $80 million in Federal Highway Administration funding. The extra funding comes as part of a redistribution of funds that occurs annually. On average, the state received about $65 million in redistributed funds in each of the previous four years. To learn more about the additional funding and how the funds will be spent, click here.
