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(BOSTON) - On Tuesday, November 15th, MassDEP announced $4.2 million in grant funding to 270 municipalities and regional solid waste districts under the Sustainable Materials Recovery Program. Among these municipalities were Cohasset, Hingham, Hull, and Scituate. The grants will aid municipalities in their efforts to maximize recycling, composting, and waste reduction programs. Cohasset, Hingham, Hull, and Scituate were among the communities that qualified for the Recycling Dividends Program (RDP), which recognizes municipalities that have implemented policies and programs proven to maximize the reuse and recycling of materials, as well as waste reduction. Communities that earn RDP payments must reinvest the funds in their recycling programs for things such as new recycling bins or carts, public education and outreach campaigns, collection of hard-to-recycle items, and the establishment of recycling programs in schools, municipal buildings, and other public spaces. Towns in the 3rd Plymouth District received the following funding: Cohasset: $10,800.00 . . . Read More

(BOSTON) – On this Veterans Day, the Massachusetts House of Representatives collectively recognizes the courage and sacrifice of those who have served in the Armed Forces. Originally known as Armistice Day, Veterans Day was first celebrated in 1919 to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the armistice that ended World War I. Congress formally passed legislation in 1938 designating Armistice Day as a federal holiday. In 1954, following World War II and the Korean War, Congress changed the day’s title from Armistice Day to Veterans Day in order to honor all American veterans. On Veterans Day each year, our communities in Massachusetts and across the country come together to honor and celebrate the bravery of all veterans who have served in the United States Armed Forces, whether living or deceased. Massachusetts is home to 323,253 Veterans, some of whom are residents of the 3rd Plymouth District. The Commonwealth has long . . . Read More

(BOSTON) - As the legislative session comes to a close, the conference committee tasked with reconciling House and Senate versions of the highly-anticipated economic development bill sent the legislation to the Governor’s Office last Thursday. “This bill provides much-needed support to Massachusetts residents, businesses, and agencies working to improve the quality of life for Bay Staters,” said State Representative Joan Meschino (D-Hull). “With money allocated for senior centers and food pantries in our towns, this bill directly benefits residents in Hingham, Hull, Cohasset, and Scituate.” H.5374, An Act relating to economic growth and relief for the Commonwealth, is the $3.8 billion dollar spending bill that taps into last year’s budget surplus and includes significant new investments in our labor and workforce development system. Some of the key provisions in this spending bill include: —about $700 million for strengthening health and long-term care facilities as well as COVID-19 response, —$100 . . . Read More

(BOSTON) - Representative Joan Meschino (D-Hull) will host four in-person office hours throughout the month of November. Please contact Rep. Meschino’s Legislative Aide, Christopher Altizer, by email at christopher.altizer@mahouse.gov or by phone at 617-722-2320 in order to schedule a time slot. Monday, November 7 10:00 am - 11:00 am Linden Ponds, for Linden Ponds residents Monday, November 7 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm Hingham Public Library 66 Leavitt Street, Hingham Monday, November 21 10:00 am - 11:00 am Hull Council on Aging 197A Samoset Ave, Hull Monday, November 28 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm Scituate Public Library 85 Branch Street, Scituate These sessions are intended to make it easier for residents of Cohasset, Hingham, Hull, and North Scituate to share concerns and access the services Rep. Meschino can offer to residents on the South Shore. All local residents are invited to participate. “I encourage all local residents who need . . . Read More

(BOSTON) - State Representative Joan Meschino (D-Hull) recently announced the hiring of Christopher Altizer as a Legislative Aide. Prior to joining Representative Meschino’s team, Mr. Altizer served as a high school chemistry teacher in Chelsea Public Schools and held several positions in the climate policy space. “Chris will be bringing his knowledge of climate advocacy and youth support to our team,” said Representative Meschino. “I am confident that his commitment to these causes and his ability to connect with residents of all ages will ensure that our constituents continue to have positive experiences with my office.” Passionate about our work to disrupt the climate crisis, Chris will build upon his experience creating fisheries networks at the Environmental Defense Fund in his work with Representative Meschino’s office. Chris has also demonstrated a commitment to supporting the needs of our young people, working as a residential advisor at Harvard College and . . . Read More

(BOSTON) - On Friday morning, State Representative Joan Meschino (D-Hull) gave the first in a series of three keynote presentations to attendees of MassAccess’ Fall Meet and Greet series. The presentation highlighted her advocacy for investment in community media centers, offered an explanation of the legislative process and the path of H.130, An Act relative to a streaming entertainment operator’s use of the public rights-of-way, and shared a preview of the Representative’s future plans for the bill. H.130, An Act relative to a streaming entertainment operator’s use of the public rights-of-way, seeks to align the successful franchise fee system with the current era of digital streaming, modernizing the obligations to entertainment providers who are using public rights of way (telephone poles, conduits, sidewalks, etc.) to deliver their product. Following the model of cable franchises, the bill would impose a 5% fee on digital streaming providers which are using public . . . Read More

(BOSTON) - On Friday morning, State Representative Joan Meschino (D-Hull) joined legislative colleagues State Senator Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester), State Senator Patrick O’Connor (R-Weymouth), and State Representative Ann-Margaret Ferrante (D-Gloucester), local officials, and Smithsonian personnel for a reception celebrating the partnership between Mass Humanities and the Smithsonian and the first two stops of the traveling exhibit, “Crossroads: Changes in Rural America,” in Essex and Hull. The “Crossroads” exhibit explores how rural American communities changed in the 20th century. Since 1900, the percentage of Americans living in rural areas has dropped from 60% to 17%. However, the vast majority of the United States landscape remains rural with only 3.5% of the landmass considered urban. The exhibition offers small towns a chance to look at their own paths to highlight the changes that affected their fortunes over the past century. “I am pleased that the Smithsonian, Mass Humanities, and the Hull Lifesaving . . . Read More

The Office of State Representative Joan Meschino (D-Hull) is currently hiring for the position of Legislative Aide. Interested candidates should submit a resume, a brief cover letter, and a short writing sample (3-5 pages) to the Representative's Chief of Staff, Geordie Enoch, at geordie.enoch@mahouse.gov. The office will be accepting applications on a rolling basis until the position is filled. The full job description is here: SUMMARY: The Legislative Aide (LA) plays a central role in the office of Representative Meschino. The LA is responsible for legislative, office and district activities, including bill filing, bill tracking, policy analysis, constituent services, scheduling and strategic communications. The LA serves as liaison to federal, state and municipal agencies and staffs the Representative at State House events, district events and office hours as needed. ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS: Constituent Services and District Work Manages constituent casework and serves as constituent liaison to federal, state and . . . Read More

(BOSTON) - On Wednesday, Hingham residents Katie Leavitt Sutton and Maryellen Maguire-Eisen received recognition from the Massachusetts Caucus of Women Legislators during the Caucus’s annual Commonwealth Heroine Awards celebration.  Sutton was nominated to receive this recognition by State Representative Joan Meschino (D-Hull) for the work she does to foster community and champion anti-racism in Hingham and beyond, and Maguire-Eisen was nominated by State Senator Patrick O’Connor (R-Weymouth) for her extensive work to encourage sun safety and skin cancer prevention. Commonwealth Heroines are women who have been chosen by their legislators for their extraordinary acts of service. The Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women says that the women who are recognized “perform unheralded acts daily that make our homes, neighborhoods, cities and towns better places to live.”  As Chair of the Hingham Unity Council, a non-partisan group that seeks to bridge differences and build a culture of dignity and . . . Read More