Dear Friends and Neighbors,
As Massachusetts struggles with the vaccine rollout because of insufficient federal supply and overwhelming state operational deficiencies I share the concern for older adults in the early phases. Today I met with the Council of Aging Directors of the District I represent. LaTanya Steele (Needham) Janet Claypoole (Dover) and Roberta Lynch (Medfield). I want to express my respect for their commitment to public service, and their dedication to the people and families that they serve. The Councils on Aging do not have vaccines to administer but they are assisting folks regarding their applications, helping to search for appointments (even at at 3am in the morning when a website may be live), arranging transportation when possible, offering solid information to a myriad of questions, and trying to problem solve for individuals whose issues may be complicated including home bound seniors. “Too often we underestimate .. a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around” Buscaglia
Please join me and send a note of appreciation to your Council of Aging Director and through them the staff for their caring, compassion and commitment to our older friends and neighbors.
Yours in Service,
Denise
- In Needham, the Town is accepting applications for short-term rental payment assistance to Needham residents who have lost income due to the COVID-19 public health emergency. Applications are being accepted on a first-come, first-served basis until all of the funds have been committed. To learn more, click here.
- In Dover, there is currently a vacancy on the Dover School Committee due to the resignation of a member. If you are interested in filing this volunteer position and are a registered voter in Dover, please send a letter of interest and a resume or C.V. to leslie.jayne.leon@gmail.com no later than February 19, 2021.
- In Medfield, the Town has shared a notice from the Norfolk County Mosquito Control District that there will be potential spring aerial applications targeting mosquito larvae in the larger wetlands in the district. Potential applications will be conducted between April 5 and October 29, 2021. To read the notice, click here.
- In Needham,
- the Needham Planning Board will be meeting tonight, February 16 at 7:00 PM via Zoom. The agenda for this meeting includes a review of the Zoning Articles for May 2021 Annual Town Meeting. For the meeting information, click here.
- the Community Preservation Committee will be meeting Wednesday, February 17 at 7:00 PM via Zoom. The agenda includes a discussion on increasing reserved fund contributions for community housing and on the long term CPC capital plan. For the meeting information, click here.
- In Dover,
- the Water Resource Committee will be meeting on Wednesday, February 17 at 12:00 PM via Zoom. The agenda includes the MassDEP Private Wells PFAS Sampling Program. For the meeting information, click here.
- the Board of Health will be meeting on Thursday, February 18, at 10:00 AM via Zoom. The first half of this meeting will be for multi-town discussions as necessary and the second half will be on local Board of Health matters. For the meeting information, click here.
- In Medfield,
- the Medfield Housing Authority will be meeting Today, February 16, at 6:30 PM via Zoom. The agenda for this meeting includes staff reports and Director’s report. For the meeting information, click here.
- the Conservation Commission will be meeting on Thursday, February 18, 2021 at 7:00 PM via Zoom. The agenda for this meeting has not been posted at this time. For the meeting information, click here.
- The Massachusetts Vaccine Scheduling Resource Line has extended its hours of operation to include weekends and weekday evenings. Monday to Thursday the call center will operate from 8:30 AM to 8:00 PM and on Fridays to Sundays it will operate from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. People 75 and older may call 2-1-1 and follow the prompts for vaccine appointments.
- Residents in Massachusetts may now use the COVID-19 Vaccine Finder to search fo a vaccination location and view appointment availability. The tool displays all vaccination locations open to residents across the Commonwealth and includes information on available appointments, vaccines offered, directions, specific site instructions, and disability access information. Click here to use this tool.
- The MBTA will be holding a virtual public meeting tomorrow, Wednesday, February 17, 2021 via Zoom to discuss temporary schedule changes that will take place in March and April. To learn more and to register to attend, click here.
- Massachusetts is currently in Step 1 in Phase 3 of Massachusetts Reopening. This will reduce capacity for many sectors and tighten workplace restrictions. Additionally, restaurants, gyms, and offices have additional guidelines to follow. 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
