The Garlick Press – Thursday, April 8, 2021

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

“Showing gratitude is one of the simplest yet most powerful things humans can do for each other.” Pausch

This week, on behalf of the residents of Dover, I had the unique privilege of expressing our gratitude to an extraordinary, beloved community leader.

Dover’s Craig Hughes was honored for his lifetime of public service. The Transfer Station was named the Craig S. Hughes Solid Waste Transfer and Recycling Facility in honor of his forty five years of public service to the Town of Dover in variety of positions that all contributed to the safety and quality of life of Dover residents. Craig’s great heart and love of Dover was reflected in the faces of all who came to honor him.

It was a sun-filled opportunity to honor Craig, to share stories of his work life, to acknowledge that decision making in town government may well be a result of many voices and viewpoints but most of all a shared commitment to the Town, and is a journey that committed residents, volunteer and elected leaders and staff engage in together.

This acknowledgment of Craig’s work and the genuine feeling of gratitude to him strengthened us all.

Yours in Service,

Denise

• In Needham, Dover, and Medfield, the Fire Departments have each been awarded funding through the FY2021 Firefighter Safety Equipment Grant. This funding will be used to purchase new safety equipment for the firefighters serving our community. To view the list of recipients, click here.
• In Needham, the Needham History Center and Museum will be hosting its annual Pansy Day plant sale on Saturday, April 10, from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. The event will be held on the lawn outside the Center at 1047 Central Ave in Needham. For more information, click here.
• In Dover, on Tuesday, April 13, 2021 the Dover-Sherborn School Committee Interim Superintendent Search Team will be meeting via Zoom. The Committee will be discussing the next steps in their process and work on interview questions for candidates. For more information, click here.
• In Medfield, the Cultural Alliance of Medfield will be holding their Daffodil Days on Saturday, April 10, from 1:00 to 3:00 PM at the Chapel at the former Medfield State Hospital. Join the Cultural Alliance for live music, plein air painters, activities for children, and photo opportunities with the flowers, friends and family.

• The pre-registration system for booking COVID-19 vaccine appointments at Mass vaccination sites is expanding to include new locations and features. The system will now include the Amherst/Northampton and Marshfield regional collaboratives. Additonally, people will now have the opportunity to select their vaccination location before proceeding to select from available appointments. To pre-register for a vaccine, click here.
• The Federal Emergency Management Agency will begin accepting applications for financial assistance for funeral costs for people who have died of COVID-19. FEMA plans to begin accepting applications starting April 12. For more information, click here.
• Due to the nationwide system outage of impacting inspection stations and motor vehicle owners, the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) is allowing a grace period for specific motor vehicle inspection requirements. For more information, click here.

• Massachusetts is currently in Phase 4, Step 1 of the Massachusetts reopening plan. Indoor and outdoor stadiums, areas, and ballparks will be permitted to operate at a 12% capacity limit. Additionally, gathering limits for event venues and public settings will increase to 100 people indoors and 150 people outdoors. Outdoor and indoor gatherings at private residences will remain at the same limit. Dance floors will be permitted at weddings and other event and overnight summer camps will be allowed to operate this coming summer. To learn more, click here.
• 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.

• If you are in need of 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