Volume 6, Issue 3 (March 29, 2024) | |
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Dear Friends and Neighbors,
I hope this newsletter finds you all well as we enter the spring season! March's newsletter includes recent updates from the State House, district happenings, and resources available at the state level. March was a celebratory month, with events for Women's History Month and St. Patrick's Day taking center stage.
We prioritize our constituent outreach and support in my office. In April, I will host four in-person office hours with a member of my staff. Please note date changes due to holidays. If you cannot attend scheduled office hours, you are welcome to contact my staff to schedule a meeting. 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 a warm start to spring!
Very truly yours, Joan
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FROM THE MASSACHUSETTS LEGISLATURE | |
Meschino Meets with Taoiseach of Ireland Leo Varadkar During St. Patrick's Day Visit | |
This month, I had the privilege of meeting the Taoiseach of Ireland Leo Varadkar at the invitation of Consul General of Ireland Síghle FitzGerald. Irish heritage remains a critical part of the South Shore and the Commonwealth—thank you for recognizing Massachusetts as a key part of American-Irish relations. | |
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Left: Ireland Taoiseach Leo Varadkar addresses legislators on behalf of the Consulate General.
Right: Rep. Meschino (right) chats with Taoiseach Varadkar and Consul General of Ireland Síghle FitzGerald (middle).
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Rep. Meschino Attends Red Cross Advocacy Day in State House | March was a busy month in the State House, and when I attended Red Cross Advocacy Day, I was joined by one of Hull’s own, Craig Wolfe! Thank you for being such a critical partner to an essential organization that mobilizes when disaster strikes, and thank you to the Red Cross for their continued advocacy on their priorities. | |
Rep. Meschino (left) and Craig Wolfe (right) at the Red Cross Advocacy Day in the Nurses' Hall of the State House. | |
Rep. Meschino Joins Women's Caucus with Senate President Karen Spilka | |
The Women’s Caucus continued its advocacy with Senate President Karen Spilka this month, where our five priority bills (including my campaign funds for childcare bill) were discussed. We’re looking forward to advancing these causes that champion women across the state. | |
Rep. Meschino (right) joins Senate President Karen Spilka (center) and legislative colleagues from the Women's Caucus for their legislative update. | |
Rep. Meschino Joins Women's Caucus in Celebrating Women's History Month | |
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March is Women’s History Month, and the importance of women’s representation in government continues to be critical.
I am one of only 234 women to ever serve in the Massachusetts Legislature and the third to serve in the current 3rd Plymouth District—former Reps. Mary Jeanette Murray and Caroline Stouffer formerly represented the towns of Hingham, Hull, and Cohasset upon their elections in 1977. I am proud to be part of the Massachusetts Caucus of Women Legislators that preserves this history of our female civil servants.
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Top row: Official state house portraits of Mary Jeanette Murray (left) and Caroline Stouffer (right) of the 3rd and 1st Plymouth Districts, respectively.
Bottom row: A graphic highlighting Rep. Meschino's tenure in the State Legislature.
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STATE AND FEDERAL HIGHLIGHTS | |
Expand Massachusetts Stories Grant Program Now Available from MassHumanities, Applications Due May 31st | |
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Expand Massachusetts Stories Grants from MassHumanities support projects that collect, interpret and share narratives about the Commonwealth, emphasizing the voices and experiences that have gone unrecognized or have been excluded from public conversation. Specifically, the Climate Change Track of the program offers up to $20,000 for projects that illuminate community knowledge, experiences, and values in response to the climate crisis.
Please visit the MassHumanities site for more information. Applications are due on May 31st, 2024.
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MassDOT Sumner Tunnel Construction Project Updates Spring Closure Schedule; Weekend MBTA Ferry Service Schedule to Boston Paused from Hingham and Hull Until May 25 | |
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The MassDOT Sumner Tunnel project, which will provide structural upgrades to the century-old southbound tunnel, is now in its newest phase of partial closure. Please check updated schedules for closures online. To learn more about the MassDOT Sumner Tunnel project, including weekend closures, please visit https://www.mass.gov/sumner-tunnel. Please consider taking alternate modes of transit to Logan Airport 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 for the Hingham – Hull – Logan Airport – Long Wharf Ferry (F2H) ferry will resume for the season on Saturday, May 25. Please plan accordingly.
To learn more and to view ferry schedules, please visit https://www.mbta.com/schedules/ferry.
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Department of Transitional Assistance Releases Advisory on EBT Card Skimming | |
Rep. Meschino and Senator O'Connor Meeting with League of Women Voters in Hingham | |
On March 19, I attended an open house hosted by the Massachusetts League of Women Voters, which focused on a variety of topics, from affordable housing to advancing our climate goals. Thank you to the League of Women Voters of Hingham for providing a fantastic venue to discuss state and local issues as well as our legislative work. | |
Rep. Meschino (front of room) joins Senator O'Connor and LWV leadership to discuss legislative happenings in Ames Chapel. | |
Rep. Meschino Presents at Cohasset School Committee Meeting with Senator Patrick O'Connor | |
Last week, I provided a legislative update to the Cohasset School Committee regarding the FY24 budget, the upcoming budget cycle, and relevant earmarks and legislation. We continue to advocate for our schools in the Third Plymouth District on Beacon Hill. | |
Rep. Meschino (right) joins Senator Patrick O'Connor (R-Weymouth) and Cohasset School Committee leadership to present a special legislative update. | |
Rep. Meschino Congratulates Grant Awardees with Hull Cultural Council at Town Hall | |
Cultural grant awards from the Mass Cultural Council were recently announced, and Hull groups were awarded some of those funds! Senator O'Connor and I joined the Hull Cultural Council at their grant awardee night on March 20, and we were all smiles for preserving arts and culture on the South Shore. | |
Rep. Meschino (third from left) joins Senator O'Connor (sixth from left) and awardees of the Hull Cultural Council at Hull Town Hall. | |
Rep. Meschino Reads with Deer Hill School Students! | |
On March 11, I participated in the Read-A-Thon at Deer Hill School in Cohasset with the third, fourth, and fifth graders! I read “Flooded” by Mariaio Ilustrajo, a book that emphasizes the power of working together to solve problems such as sea level rise. Thanks so much for having me! | |
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Left: Rep. Meschino (left) reads "Flooded" to the students of Deer Hill School.
Right: Rep. Meschino (second from right) joins Cohasset Public Schools leadership at the Read-A-Thon on March 11.
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Announcing Office Hours for April
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, April 1, 10:00 am - 11:00 am, Linden Ponds, for Linden Ponds residents
- Monday, April 8, 9:00 am - 10:30 am, Willcutt Commons, 91 Sohier Street, Cohasset
- Monday, April 22, 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm, Hingham Public Library, 66 Leavitt Street, Hingham
- Monday, April 29, 10:00am - 11:00am, Hull Council on Aging, 197A Samoset Avenue, Hull
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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