Talking with Tarsky
- Administrator
- Nov 3, 2025
- 6 min read
Updated: Nov 11, 2025
November Edition
Welcome to the November Edition of Talking with Tarsky! We had a busy & fulfilling October, and I hope you did too.
What We’ve Been Up To
I visited the Greenagers program at April Hill Farm in South Egremont, MA with the House Committee on Climate Action & Sustainability. The tour, organized by Chair MA State Rep. Tram T. Nguyen & State Rep. Leigh Davis, brought insight into how teens and young adults are being taught to fight climate change through hands-on projects in farming, trail work and sustainable trades.
Thanks to Senator Paul Mark, Vice-Chair State Rep. Michelle Ciccolo, staff, Greenagers Board Members, and volunteers who showed us around the farm.
Riverside Community Care Awards
On October 6, I attended Riverside Community Care’s Annual CARE (Celebrating Achievement & Recognizing Excellence) Awards, which highlight the wonderful contributions of their staff, persons served, and community members. I was honored to attend and moved by their stories of commitment, compassion, and care. Riverside Community Care is a community-based non-profit organization serving more than 40,000 people a year in Massachusetts. Riverside is a leading provider of mental healthcare, developmental and brain injury services, early childhood and youth programs, addiction treatment, suicide education, trauma response, and more.
In Needham
I met with Congressman Auchincloss and some of the financial advisors at Edward Jones in Needham. The conversation covered important topics ranging from planning for retirement, the impacts of healthcare and housing costs, and how education can best support the American workforce.
Harvest Fair
I had a great afternoon at the Needham Harvest Fair hosted by Charles River Regional xsz
Chamber. It's always great to get out into the community to see constituents, neighbors, friends, and local elected officials—especially on a beautiful day like today! At the Fair, I caught up with Senator Becca Rausch, Needham's Poet Laureate Anne Nydam, School Committee Chair Michael O'Brien, and School Committee Vice-Chair Alisa Skatrud.
Special thanks to all of the volunteers, community partners, and staff that make this annual event in Needham a treasured one.
Building36 Technologies
I met with Dan Goodman, the CEO/Founder of Building36 Technologies, which is a leading provider of home automation technology based in Needham. Thanks for the tour, Dan!
Needham Rotary Club
I had the pleasure of attending and speaking at one of the Rotary Club of Needham’s October meetings at Blue on Highland. Civic organizations like Rotary have been the lifeblood of our country for generations—bringing people together to serve others, strengthen community bonds, and make a meaningful difference both locally and globally.
For decades, the Rotary Club of Needham, has worked to support Needham residents through scholarships, food drives, local beautification projects, and youth leadership initiatives.
Organizations like the Rotary Club remind us that when neighbors come together with a shared purpose, we can build communities that are not only stronger but also more compassionate and connected.
Manufacturers Awards
At this year’s Manufacturers Awards, we awarded Needham’s own Bigbelly Solar, LLC as one of the Commonwealth’s Manufacturers of the Year. Bigbelly, which was founded and headquartered in Needham, manufactures solar-powered trash receptacles with a compactor and sensors inside that keep litter off streets and help municipalities save money. I was happy to recognize the innovative work happening right here in our own district.
Needham's Domestic Violence Committee
Needham’s Domestic Violence Action Committee hosted a showing of the first part of their 5-part series on domestic violence, entitled “Through My Eyes: A Survivor’s Journey Through Domestic Abuse.” It was a powerful and empowering night. The recording is below.
From the DVAC: "Domestic violence affects people in every community – regardless of gender identity, age, economic status, race, sexual orientation, nationality, ability, or religion. If you, or someone you know, is experiencing domestic abuse, we encourage you to call REACH Beyond Domestic Violence’s 24/7 hotline at 800-899-4000. It is a completely free and confidential resource for everyone impacted by abuse."
Spooky Walk & NHS Craft Fair
The final weekend of October was filled with family, fall festivities, and community. Annie and I took Will and Elana to the Spooky Walk, the fun, family-friendly event hosted by Needham Park & Recreation in partnership with local businesses. It was great to see so many creative costumes! Then we stopped by the NHS Craft Fair, where talented artisans showcased their handmade goods. A day with family, fall festivities, and community.
In Medfield
Medfield was filled with autumnal cheer on October 19th—I got to spend some time at Medfield TV's Scarecrow Spooktacular at Hinkley Park and the Bellforge Arts Center's Fun at the Forge. Well done, Medfield!
Legislative Happenings
October held four formal sessions of the House, as our members voted on and passed six bills regarding topics such as the child welfare system, literacy standards in our education system, transit worker safety, and the budgets of Fiscal Years 2025 and 2026.
On October 8th, we took up a few of the Governor’s vetoes from the Fiscal Year 2026 budget, overriding $70 million of the $130 million vetoed. With revenues and projections being stable despite federal uncertainty, we in the House believe that we can maintain these $70 million in outlays in a fiscally responsible manner. Among the line items funded are shelter workforce assistance, regional economic development grants, substance use services, and nursing home reimbursement rates.
On October 15th, we closed the book on Fiscal Year 2025 with a $2.25 billion supplemental budget, focused on payment for MassHealth, preparing the Commonwealth for next year’s World Cup, and other programs. Many of these programs and the restructuring of the Commonwealth’s excess capital gains will help make Massachusetts more resilient financially as we look towards FY26 and FY27. You can read the official Press Release here.
On October 22nd, the House considered and passed two pieces of legislation, H.4645, An Act relative to assault and battery upon a transit worker, and H.4646, An Act enhancing child welfare protections. You can read the official Press Release here.
H.4645 ensures that transit employees receive the same legal heightened protections as other public employees while performing their jobs. Current Massachusetts law imposes heightened penalties on individuals for assault and battery against public employees, including police officers, firefighters, emergency medical personnel, and other government workers. This bill adds public transit workers to that list. The bill also clarifies and broadens the definition of assault by specifically recognizing that projecting bodily fluids, such as spitting or throwing substances like urine, constitutes assault against a public worker. Offenders would face a sentence ranging from a minimum of 90 days to 2.5 years in a house of correction, a fine between $500 and $5,000, or both.
H.4646 modernizes the Department of Children and Families’ (DCF) statutory reporting, clarifies the independence of the Office of the Child Advocate (OCA), improves educational stability for children in care, and updates the state’s child fatality review process. The bill allows for the creation of a DCF Education Unit, tasked with academic monitoring, support, and strengthening coordination with school districts. It also requires DCF and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) to establish clear enrollment timelines and record transfer standards for children in DCF custody who change schools.
And on October 29th, the House passed three pieces of legislation:
All three of these bills make crucial investments in our teachers and students, strengthening our education system for years to come. As someone who has spent many years in education, I know how transformative these reforms will be for students, teachers, and families across the Commonwealth. I’m deeply grateful to Speaker Mariano, Chairman Michlewitz, and Chairman Gordon for their leadership and to all my colleagues for their commitment to our students’ success.
What’s Next?
As we reach the end of the first year in office, we’ve made great strides in organizing and streamlining the process of serving the district. Whether it’s ensuring that constituent cases are cataloged and resolved effectively, responding to emails from advocates and constituents in a timely fashion, or using our social media to inform our followers what’s going on at the State House or in the community, we’re hoping that become good stewards for Needham, Dover, and Medfield, and that, with continued effort, we can find new, engaging ways to represent this district well.
As the federal shutdown continues, we in the State House are continuing to monitor what gaps are being created and how we can help. On November 1st, the federal government will cease disbursing food assistance to 40 million Americans, including nearly one million people in Massachusetts, or 1 in 6 residents. We are looking for ways to backstop these efforts at the state level, and there are a few organizations in our district (linked below) that serve to immediately help this crisis and need our support. Please consider donating, and if you know of other organizations, please let us know so that we can further amplify their mission.
November Office Hours
Yours in Community,
Josh
As always, if you need anything from my office, please reach out to me or Kyle via our emails
(joshua.tarsky@mahouse.gov | kyle.mcgrath@mahouse.gov) or call our office at (617) 722-2582
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