Thursday, July 13, 2023
District Updates
Needham
- Do you know of an outstanding Needham business or business person? Our chamber’s Needham Business Alliance committee is looking for nominations for the Needham-based businesses and individuals who’ve had a special impact in town in the past year. Nominations (due July 15) will be forwarded to our awards committee for consideration for awards to be presented at our annual Needham Night, happening Aug,16 at 5 p.m. (Location to be announced soon but, believe me, the place is a trip.)
- The Needham Carnival returns from Thursday, July 20th to Sunday, July 23rd at the Needham High School. The Needham Rotary Club is hosting the 6th annual Needham Carnival featuring rides, food, and fun for the whole family. Carnival Hours will vary by day but entry is always free. To view carnival hours and more detail, click here.
- Enjoy live music from local band “The Tapples” at Volante Farms on Thursday, July 20. The concert will begin at 6:30 pm and is free to the public. The Volante Farms store will remain open to those who want to grab a snack to enjoy at the concert. For more details, click
Dover
- The Summer Concert Series 2023 will hold a series of concerts every Tuesday evening in the Dover Town Common. Family games will begin at 6:45 pm through 8:15 pm, musical performances start at 7 pm. To view the performance schedule, click here.
- Roadwork began on July 12 and will continue throughout the summer. It will begin at 7 am and continue into the evening hours as needed. The schedule is subject to change due to unforeseen conditions. To view the affected roads and the construction schedule, click here.
Medfield
- Save the Date! Bellforge Arts Center hosts multiple shows of Shakespeare: King Lear from Jul 22 -30. The events will be held from 5 pm to 7:30 pm and all ages are welcome. Admission is free but registration is encouraged, to register for the event, click here.
- Town of Medfield road resurfacing began on July 10th. There may be delays in the schedule if there are issues with weather or mechanical breakdowns. For a full list of affected roads and for more information on the construction, click here.
Statewide Updates
- Today, I voted in the affirmative to advance a $693M supplemental budget in the House of Representatives, including $75M to reimburse school districts for extraordinary special education costs. To read the bill, click here.
- The Department of Public Health announced the season’s first West Nile virus-positive mosquito sample. The WNV-positive sample was collected in the Town of Brookline. The public is urged to use bug spray when outdoors to prevent mosquito-borne illnesses. To learn more about West Nile Virus and how to protect against it, click here.
- Nearly $3 million dollars awarded to Workforce Training Grants for formerly incarcerated individuals. The grants were awarded to 14 organizations across the Commonwealth to help train 287 formerly incarcerated individuals returning to the workforce in occupations including clean energy, hospitality, and manufacturing. To learn more about the grants, click here.
- A new study and mapping tool shows Massachusetts has abundant solar potential to reach its climate goals. The study found that Massachusetts has more than enough solar potential to support its decarbonization requirements – about 15 to 18 times what is likely needed. The new StoryMap tool will allow users to explore the total solar potential and suitability of any parcel in Massachusetts. To access the StoryMap, click here. To learn more about the solar potential study, click here.
- The sales tax holiday for 2023 will be held on Saturday, August 12, and Sunday, August 13. Retail items up to $2,500, purchased in Massachusetts for personal use on these days will be exempt from sales tax. To learn more about the sales tax holiday, click here.
- The Registry of Motor Vehicles Announces standard driver’s licenses regardless of immigration status available soon under Work and Family Mobility Act. As of July 1, newly eligible Massachusetts residents can apply for their learner’s permit and road test to obtain a license. To learn more about this bill, click here.
- The Sumner Tunnel will be closed seven days a week from July 5th to August 31st, 2023. During this time, the blue line on the MBTA will be free to riders. Detour options and more information on the closure can be found here.
- MassHealth offers resources for members as eligibility redeterminations continue. As of April 1, if a member updates their account with new eligibility information, their coverage may change. Below is a list of resources provided for members:
- MassHealth Customer Service: (800)841-2900
- MassHealth Enrollment Centers: Make an appointment to receive in-person or virtual help, click here.
- Enrollment Assisters: Get help from a Certified Application Counselor in your community, click here.
- Disability Special Accommodations Ombudsman: (617)847-3468
- MassNotify, the official COVID-19 exposure notification system for Massachusetts was discontinued with the end of the federal COVID-19 public health emergency on May 11, 2023. The public is still encouraged to follow the Massachusetts Department of Public Health COVID-19 guidance.
