Dear Friends and Neighbors,
Today is World Teacher Appreciation Day. Although it is not widely known it is nevertheless a great opportunity to express appreciation and gratitude. I appreciate that teachers, and through them the whole of our school networks- educators and paraprofessionals, administrative folks, school nurses, cafeteria workers, custodial staff, and transportation drivers. They are all on the front line now. In the noise of our own demands, we must amplify their voices asking for support for safe buildings, personal protective equipment, testing, and contact tracing and the reassurance that swift action will be the response to the inevitable outbreaks of this insidious and dangerous virus. I am grateful that in the communities of Needham, Dover, and Medfield and across our Commonwealth we hear the voices of teachers who are committed to the education of our children, remote or hybrid, and are also teaching us the risks, issues, concerns, and needs of all front line workers and their loved ones. All the while showing us how to meet the many needs of our children in new and innovative ways.
With my deepest respect and gratitude,
Stay well- Stay strong!
Yours in Service,
Denise
Local Calendar
- In Needham,
- The School Committee will be meeting on Tuesday, October 6 at 6:30 PM via Zoom. The School Committee will be discussing the reopening of schools and a draft FY2022-FY2026 Capital Improvement Plan Request. For more information, click here.
- The Planning Board will be meeting on Tuesday, October 6 at 7:15 PM via Zoom. The Planning Board will be discussing the revised outdoor seating policy to extend applicability date to December 1. For more information, click here.
- In Dover,
- The Board of Health will be meeting on October 5 at 7:00 PM via Zoom. The Board will be discussing various topics that can be found on the agenda. For more information, click here.
- In Medfield,
- The Board of Selectmen will be meeting on October 6 at 7:00 PM via Zoom. The Board will be discussing updates regarding COVID-19 and CARES Funding. To learn more, click here.
- The Board of Health will be meeting on October 7 at 4:00 PM via Zoom. The Board will be discussing COVID-19 and an update from Health Agent. To learn more, click here.
Local Updates
- In Needham, the Needham Cultural Council has announced a call for grant applications for cultural projects and programs that benefit the community. For local guidelines and information on the Needham Cultural Council, contact Charly Nanda at 206-553-9918 or needhamculturalcouncil@gmail.com. For the application, click here.
- In Dover, the Town has launched a COVID-19 Tracking Dashboard to track cases of COVID-19 in Massachusetts and in the region. This Dashboard was developed by the Dover Board of Health and members of the Academic Public Health Volunteer Corps. Click here for the Dashboard.
- In Medfield, the Capital Budget Committee, the Safety Committee, the Selectmen’s Insurance Advisory Committee, the OPED Trust Committee, the Conversation Commission, and the Medfield Historical Commission are seeking members. If you are interested in joining any of these committees, consider contacting the Town Administrator for consideration. Click here to learn more.
Statewide Updates
- Massachusetts has updated its list of states that are considered “lower-risk” for the COVID-19 travel advisory. If you travel from Connecticut, Washington D.C., Maine, New Hampshire, New York, or Vermont you do not have to complete the Massachusetts Travel Form and do not need to quarantine. To learn more, click here.
- The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education will now report each Thursday on positive COVID-19 cases for students and staff in Massachusetts. The first report covers a time period from September 24 to 30 and lists 63 student cases and 34 staff cases. To learn more, click here.
- The Department of Public Health is monitoring the presence of mosquito-borne diseases in Massachusetts, including West Nile Virus (WNV) and Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE). Currently, Massachusetts has found positive mosquito samples of WNV and EEE and there are 5 known human cases of EEE and 8 known human cases of WNV. To learn more, click here.
Reopening Updates – Phase 3: Vigilant
- Today lower-risk communities (gray, green, and yellow risk levels) can move into the second step of phase 3 of Reopening Massachusetts. This step includes opening indoor and outdoor recreational activities including roller rinks, laser tag, and obstacle courses, and increasing capacity at gyms, museums, and libraries. To learn more, click here.
- The State is currently in Phase 3 of Massachusetts Reopening. If you have questions, input, or comments regarding the Reopening Massachusetts plan, you can submit comments online. These comments can be used by the Administration to support efforts to methodically reopen the economy amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Click here for the form.
Resources
- If you need resources, information, or support, please visit my website for a list of resources. Additionally, our local boards of health, the Department of Public Health, and the Centers for Disease Control are continuing to maintain websites with the most updated information regarding COVID-19 that you can access here:
- Needham Health Department Updates
- Medfield Updates
- Dover Updates
- Department of Public Health: Click here or Call 2-1-1.
- Reopening Massachusetts
- COVID-19 Travel Order
- Centers for Disease Control
Please remember social distancing and wearing a mask is the most effective tool to contain the spread of COVID-19.
In addition to these updates, my office is still accessible so please continue to reach out and we will get back to you.
Email: Denise.Garlick@mahouse.gov
Phone: 617-722-2380
