Volume 5, Issue 10 | October 28, 2023 | |
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Dear Friends and Neighbors,
I hope this newsletter finds you well during this warm weekend of fall! October's newsletter includes updates on recent Formal Session, district happenings, and resources available at the state level.
As always, serving our constituents is our top priority. In November, I will host four in-person office hours. If you cannot attend scheduled office hours, you are welcome to contact my staff to schedule a meeting.
As a reminder, my staff and I have recently moved offices within the State House—please see below for our office’s updated contact information.
State Representative Joan Meschino
State House, Room 162, 24 Beacon Street, Boston, MA 02133
Updated phone number: 617-722-2092
Wishing you and your loved ones good weather and good times in the fall season!
Very truly yours, Joan
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FROM THE MASSACHUSETTS LEGISLATURE | |
Rep. Meschino Continues to Testify on Priority Legislation in State House, Home Rule Petitions for Hull and Cohasset | |
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This month, I testified on my priority legislation H.3774 An Act creating a climate bank in Massachusetts with my colleague Senator Paul Mark. This bill would help put money into the hands of Commonwealth citizens to help decarbonize our building sector. I look forward to continued collaboration with the Healey-Driscoll administration as the Massachusetts Community Climate Bank takes shape.
Also this month, I testified with Hull Fire Chief Russo on H.2605, a bill I filed that would expand access to the civil service examination and orient our graduating high schoolers into careers in service. Thank you to Chief Russo and to the Joint Committee on Public Service for their work in this space.
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Left: Rep. Meschino testifies in front of the Joint Committee on Financial Services regarding her climate bank legislation (H.3774).
Right: Hull Fire Chief Chris Russo testifies virtually on behalf of H.2605 pertaining to the civil service exam.
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House of Representatives Passes Salary Range Transparency and Gun Safety Legislation, Waits for Senate on Further Action | |
This month, the House of Representatives passed two bills, H.4109 and H.4139 related to salary range transparency and gun safety in the Commonwealth, respectively. The Senate has passed its version of the salary transparency bill, and the bill currently lies in a conference committee between the two chambers. The Senate has yet to take action on this specific piece of gun safety legislation.
The Legislature also recently conducted veto overrides for funds that were vetoed by the Governor. Please see https://malegislature.gov/ for upcoming information on these issues.
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Hingham League of Women Voters Join Action Day at the State House | |
It was great to see Hingham advocacy in the State House for the League of Women Voters Action Day on October 11! Thank you, Nancy, for sharing the priorities of LWV and for continuing to encourage active engagement in government throughout the South Shore. | |
Rep. Meschino (right) with Nancy Bettinger from the Hingham League of Women Voters. | |
Legislature Hosts Seafood Day in the State House | This week, the State House hosted many fishermen advocacy organizations for its annual Seafood Day in the State House. We continue to support such a critical part of our South Shore economy, and it was great to see representation from the Healey-Driscoll administration as well. | |
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Left: Rep. Meschino (left) with Executive Director Beth Casoni from the Massachusetts Lobstermen's Association in the Great Hall of the State House.
Right: Rep. Meschino (middle) chats with Commissioner of the Department of Fish and Game Tom O'Shea (left) and EEA staff.
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STATE AND FEDERAL HIGHLIGHTS | |
MassDOT Sumner Tunnel Construction Project Still Closed on Weekends; Weekend MBTA Ferry Service Schedule to Boston Paused from Hingham and Hull Until Spring | |
The MassDOT Sumner Tunnel project, which will provide structural upgrades to the century-old southbound tunnel, is now in its next phase. The Tunnel has reopened on weekdays, with certain weekend closures continuing into the fall. To learn more about the MassDOT Sumner Tunnel project, please visit https://www.mass.gov/sumner-tunnel. Please consider taking alternate modes of transit to Logan Airport on weekends to avoid travel disruptions.
All ferries are back to full pre-COVID service levels and will maintain regular service schedules in light of MassDOT's current construction project on East Boston's Sumner Tunnel. Weekend service has paused until the spring for the Hingham – Hull – Logan Airport – Long Wharf Ferry (F2H) ferry. Please plan accordingly.
To learn more and to view ferry schedules, please visit https://www.mbta.com/schedules/ferry or https://www.mbta.com/service-changes/fall-2023-service-changes.
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Mass Cultural Council Announces Individual Grant Opportunity, Applications Due December 11 | |
Mass Cultural Council (MCC) has launched a new grant program, Grants for Creative Individuals, which will provide unrestricted awards of $5,000 to Massachusetts artists, culture bearers, and creative practitioners.
The program guidelines and key dates are available through this link.
MCC is welcoming applications from individuals in all creative fields: visual artists, literary artists, theater artists, performers, film/media artists, music artists, designers, culture bearers/traditional artists, drag artists, cross-disciplinary artists, and more. The application process is brief and inclusive, and there will be two informational sessions on November 8 and December 5 before the application deadline of December 11. As always, please reach out to my office for more information.
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Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll Visits South Shore to Celebrate Investments in Harbor Infrastructure and Vocational Education | |
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On Thursday, October 19, I attended a ribbon cutting for Scituate’s newly-renovated Cole Parkway Municipal Marina, with special appreciation to Lieutenant Governor Driscoll, the Seaport Economic Council, and the Massachusetts Office on Disability for their support and work on this project. Thank you to the Scituate Harbormaster and the Scituate Waterways Commission for the invitation to such a fantastic event!
That same day, I joined the Lieutenant Governor and South Shore colleagues at South Shore Regional Vocational Technical High School as part of Mass STEM Week to celebrate science excellence across the Commonwealth. We were able to witness firsthand the partnership between Bridgewater State University, South Shore Vocational Technical School, and AccuRounds to create training and employment opportunities for college-age youth with disabilities in advanced manufacturing. Thank you for having us!
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Left: Rep. Meschino gives remarks at the ribbon cutting at the Scituate Marina.
Right: Rep. Meschino joins Rep. Josh Cutler (D-Duxbury), Rep. David DeCoste (R-Norwell), and Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll at South Shore VoTech.
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Rep. Meschino Joins Consul General of Ireland to Memorialize Brig St. John | On October 8, I joined Consul General of Ireland Sighle FitzGerald and the Ancient Order of Hibernians at the recently dedicated memorial bench honoring the Brig St. John. The memorialization of this local history in Cohasset renders it an important part of our shared South Shore story. | |
Rep. Meschino and Consul General Sighle FitzGerald at the memorial bench near Cohasset Harbor. | |
Rep. Meschino Briefly Visits with South Shore Conference on Women | Great to stop by the South Shore Conference for Women and see a familiar face in Linnea Walsh! | |
Rep. Meschino (right) and Linnea Walsh at the conference. | |
Rep. Meschino Appears on WATD Monthly Segment with Christine James | Every month, I join Christine James from WATD for Monday Night Talk. Thanks for having me on the program to discuss our legislative session, priorities for our office, and upcoming district events! | |
Rep. Meschino sits down for Rep. Meschino's monthly radio segment in Marshfield. | |
Rep. Meschino Presents at Cohasset Gold Star Mothers Re-Dedication | On Sunday, October 22, I joined Cohasset officials and Gold Star families at a re-dedication event of the Cohasset Gold Star Mothers Memorial in honor of Cohasset native Chief Naval Special Warfare Officer Michael T. Ernst. We will continue to uplift the stories of veterans and their sacrifice, and I thank the Cohasset Veterans Memorial Committee for their commitment to this work. | |
Rep. Meschino shares remarks during the memorial service in Cohasset. | |
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Announcing Office Hours for November
Constituent services are our top priority. We continue to work remotely on Mondays and Fridays. On Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, a staff member will be present in the State House. On Mondays, I host in-person office hours in the district with me or a member of my staff.
If you would like to reserve a time slot for virtual office hours or outside of the times listed, please call the office at our new phone number 617-722-2092 or email my Legislative Aide.
- Monday, November 6, 10:00 am - 11:00 am, Linden Ponds, for Linden Ponds residents
- Monday, November 13, 9:00 am - 10:30 am, Willcutt Commons, 91 Sohier Street, Cohasset
- Monday, November 20, 10:00 am - 11:00 am, Hull Council on Aging, 197A Samoset Avenue, Hull
- Monday, November 27, 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm, Hingham Public Library, Hingham
To learn more about our constituent services, please visit our website.
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General Resources
COVID-19 Vaccines
- Schedule a COVID-19 Vaccination appointment using the Vaccine Finder
- COVID-19 Vaccine Resource Line (Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM-6:00 PM; Saturday-Sunday, 9 AM-2 PM) is available by calling 2-1-1 and following the prompts for assistance / translation services.
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Homebound Vaccination Program information
- COVID-19 Vaccine Dashboard
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MyVaxRecords.Mass.Gov allows residents to access their COVID-19 digital vaccine card and vaccination history
COVID-19 Tests, Cases & Treatment
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