Dr. Nolin’s Dispatch—Natick Public Schools podcast hits Spotify

May 14, 2021 by Bob Brown Leave a Comment

Tired of the tunes? You can now toss “Dr. Nolin’s Dispatch” onto your Spotify playlist.

The idea for this new podcast from Natick Public Schools came via the Parent Academy town hall held in January 2020, and parents have since confirmed that they’d like a podcast featuring school Supt. Dr. Anna Nolin and touching on timely topics.

A trailer has been released teasing the first episode, which will explore “agility, innovation, and a Natick profile of a graduate.”

The podcast will start with three episodes, distributed over the summer at dates to be determined. Nolin will look to differentiate the podcast from her other communications, including a weekly newsletter and appearances before the School Committee and other town groups.

“This podcast will be focused on discussing the nuts and bolts of our district work by introducing some of our leaders and the work they’re doing that impacts the district,” Nolin explained in an email to us. “In addition, this is also an opportunity for us share our deep community-student connections in new and exciting ways; the first episode shares a glimpse into that aspect specifically.”

The podcast has been produced by Natick students, who are leaning on their technical theatre and production backgrounds.

“The great part of doing a podcast is that allows flexibility in how we record our episodes, so most of our work is done in a remote capacity right now. However, when things allow, we plan to move to recording in-person (using the NHS studio) in the future,” Nolin says.

Nolin and the Natick Public Schools Communications Office met with students 6 times this spring to create the podcast (students Allie Conwell, Sammy Scharr, Ellie Pantekidis, Anna Victor, and Daniel Zogby are cited in a recent Natick Public Schools newsletter item on the podcast).

Natick is not the only school district to have a podcasting superintendent, but there aren’t many around here.

We give Dr. Nolin credit for bravery (we’ve been encouraged to add podcasting to our mix and have held off).

Which podcasts does she listen to, and perhaps take inspiration from?

Modern Love (NY Times)
Kind World (NPR)
The Moth
Harvard Business Review

Stay tuned for the first episode.

Ask about Advertising on Natick Report.

Subscribe to our Natick Report daily email

More than half of Natick fully vaccinated against COVID-19

May 13, 2021 by Bob Brown Leave a Comment

The share of Natick’s population fully vaccinated against COVID-19 has jumped from 44% to 51% over the past week, according to weekly data released by the state.

Natick has surpassed 18,000 residents being fully vaccinated, and the state has exceeded 3 million fully vaccinated against the disease.

Natick now boasts 69% of its population with at least 1 dose, up a smidgen from 67% a week ago. The percentage of those vaccinated in the 65-74 and 75-plus age groups is 91% and 88%, respectively. Two thirds of those in the 50-64 age bracket are now fully vaxxed, and the 30-49 age category is getting there.

Natick’s Health Department is now out of the COVID-19 vaccine game, though the Natick Mall has been busy doling out vaccines as one of the state’s mass vaccination sites, especially now that you can walk in and get a shot without an appointment. The mall vaccination site is set to close by the end of June. Those age 12 and over are now eligible for vaccinations.

Natick’s daily COVID-19 case incidence rate per 100,000 people had been hovering in the low 20s for weeks, but last week was reported to be under 13, and this week has seen the number drop into single digits. Natick Public Schools and the Health Department are requiring students taking part in extracurricular activities, including sports, to participate in pooled COVID-19 testing.

Subscribe to our Natick Report daily email

Bacon Free Library & Morse Institute updates

May 13, 2021 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

Bacon Free Library is now open to the public for 30-minute visits by appointment only on Mondays and Tuesdays, 10am-3pm. Reservations and face coverings are required. The South Natick location’s popular curbside pickup service will continue to be offered. Book your visit here.

Bacon Free Library, Natick — Bacon Free Library, South Natick

Bacon Free curbside pickup:

Mon., Wed., Thur., Fri.: 10am-4pm
Tue.: 10am-6pm
Sat.: 10am-noon

Call 508-653-6730 or email bflpickups@gmail.com and wait for confirmation, then head to the library and wait in the designated pickup area.

Contactless home delivery:

The Natick Libraries realize that there are certain circumstances that arise that can limit the ability to get out into the community. Natick residents who are temporarily or permanently confined to their homes due to illness, disability, or any other extenuating circumstance can apply for Home Delivery Services. Staff will determine eligibility. More here.

Morse Institute updates

The Morse Institute Library will open for in-person browsing starting June 1. In-person visits will be limited to 1 hour or less, 1 person per family. Masks will be required, and social distancing standards will be in place.

More details:

Only the main floor will be open to the public. All soft seating has been removed and remaining seating has been spaced for safety.
Staff will not be able to assist with finding materials on the open floor or with public computers.
Hand sanitizing stations are available throughout the Library.
Additional self-checkout optionshave been added, including the option to check out using the Minuteman App on a smart device
Per the Board of Health, there will be a limit of 50 people in the Library at any given time. To see if the building is near capacity, view the interactive capacity sensor before you head over to the Library. You can also view this on the screen outside the main entrance and on the digital sign in the foyer.
Public restrooms will be available and cleaned daily; the library cannot guarantee the restrooms are cleaned after every visit.

Additional information here on Morse Institute virtual programming, contactless pick up, delivery service, and more.

Sidewalk Sale in Natick Center, and beyond

May 12, 2021 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

Come to downtown Natick to support the local business community and shop small on Sat., May 15, 10am – 4pm.

Local merchants will spill out of their storefronts and onto the sidewalks, creating a fun and lively atmosphere in Natick Center.

After 1pm there is NO charge for metered parking, and the municipal lots are always FREE on the weekend. Try out the Passport app to pay for downtown parking.

Don’t forget to stop by the Farmer’s Market on Natick Common, which has opened outside. The hours are 9am-1pm.

More outside shopping, beyond Natick

Linden Square in Wellesley will hold its annual Sidewalk Sale on Thurs., May 20 – Sun., May 23. Loads of merchants will have their goods out all day, and some sale items will be discounted up to 70%. Don’t miss the discounts at this fun yearly event.

Wellesley Square Merchants will hold their next monthly Sidewalk Saturday event on May 22. Central Street will be closed 10am – 5pm. from Grove Street to CVS, creating a pedestrian-friendly, family-fun event. Live music will be part of the fun in front of CVS and further down the street in Central Park (near the Wellesley Square post office).

Additional dates for Wellesley Square Sidewalk Saturdays are: June 19, July 17, August 21, September 18.

Natick to hold forum on drinking water contaminants

May 11, 2021 by Bob Brown Leave a Comment

Natick will hold a public forum to share the latest information on elevated levels of Per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS), also known as “forever chemicals,” that were discovered in the town’s drinking water and Natick’s plans to remove them.

The meeting will be held online (Meeting ID: 965 1685 9083 and Passcode: 670128) on Wednesday, May 26, from 7-8pm. Town staff and subject matter experts will present on the topic and field clarifying questions from the public. The event will be recorded.

DPW Director Jeremy Marsette has been on the Natick meeting circuit (including the April 21 Select Board meeting, about 2.5 hours in) explaining the ins and outs of PFAS, levels of which earlier this year were found to exceed strict new state standards issued last fall. The elevated levels triggered a Notice of Noncompliance from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection on April 9 (Natick and Wayland were the first two communities to get these(, and Natick followed suit with a public notification mailing to water customers on May 1.

Natick has a history of testing its 10 source water wells for PFAS since 2013, Marsette says, and while the chemical wasn’t previously detected, improved technology allows for more effective testing. Natick got out in front of other communities in testing for PFAS as it worked to get a new well online in December, and has been testing monthly since January, with funding from the state helping to pay for some of that.

Natick and other Massachusetts communities have begun testing their water for a combination of 6 PFAS components from chemicals used since the mid-20th century to make stain-resistant, water-resistant, and non-stick products but that are no longer made in the United States due to health concerns—these chemicals don’t easy break down and stick around in the environment and your body. That’s not good for you or the earth even in small amounts. The state’s threshold is 20 nanograms per liter (aka, parts per trillion), which is well below federal guidance of 70 parts per trillion (there is no federal standard).

Natick Town Meeting this spring approved $3M to fund Granulated Activated Carbon (GAC) filters to remove PFAS6 from one of Natick’s drinking water system entry points. The system is slated to be operational by year-end.

In the meantime, Natick has taken other steps to reduce PFAS in the town’s drinking water, both by cutting off supply from wells with the highest levels, and blending water from higher and lower level wells.

More: Wellesley takes Morses Pond water treatment plant offline due to high level of ‘forever chemicals’

Ask about Advertising on Natick Report.

Subscribe to our Natick Report daily email