Natick Report

Since 2020: More than you really want to know about Natick, Mass.

From sorcery to Scheherazade: Wellesley Symphony Orchestra opens 78th season with “Magical Tales”

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As autumn makes its way to New England, the Wellesley Symphony Orchestra (WSO) prepares to launch the first concert of its 78th season with a program designed to enchant listeners of all ages.

Titled “Magical Tales,” the opening performance takes place on Sunday, September 27, at 2pm, at MassBay Community College. The afternoon promises an immersive musical journey, featuring soloists Emmanuel Feldman, cello and Pascal Delache Feldman, bass.

Wellesley Symphony Orchestra

The program opens with “Merlin”, a mysterious, magical piece by Italian composer Elisabett Brusa. Merlin, the legendary prophet, magician and spell maker, has wielded his literary magic through the centuries. Brusa uses colorful swathes of music, complex rhythms and a piercing continuous beat to depict the supernatural Merlin in this enchanting composition.

Following the opener, the Feldman/Delache-Feldman duo will perform one of the few solo pieces for double bass in the repertoire, Giovanni Bottesini’s “Gran Duo Concertante” for violin and double bass. Emmanuel Feldman will play the intricate violin part on his cello. The orchestra dedicates this piece in memory of Jan Schwaner, a long-time cellist in the WSO, member of the board, and a dear friend to many, who died suddenly on July 22nd.

After intermission, the orchestra turns to the legendary folklore of  The Arabian Nights through the brilliant music of Rimsky-Korsako’s “Scheherazade”. Rimsky-Korsakov, the Russian composer well-known for his brilliant orchestration, uses music to tell the story of the Sultan and his newlywed wife, Scheherazade. The beautiful and captivating music played by WSO’s wonderful concertmaster, Ainur Tulendiyeva, represents Scheherazade and her many tales.

The concert takes place at MassBay Community College, 50 Oakland Street, Wellesley, where there is plenty of free parking. Tickets are available on a “pay-what-you-can” system; the WSO suggests $30. They may be purchased online at www.wellesleysymphony.org or at the door.

There will be a reception for all after the concert—please join conductor Mark Latham and orchestra musicians for some cookies and cider.

Please send news tips, photos, ideas to natickreport@gmail.com

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Natick’s Royal Smoke Shop broken into again; teens arrested

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WCVB-TV reports that Natick Police have arrested two juveniles related to an overnight break-in at the Royal Smoke Shop on Rte. 9 east. The shop has been under siege, with 10 such incidents over the past year, not to mention a bold theft right in front of the owner, according to information shared with WCVB by the store owner, a longtime Natick resident. The thefts have cost the owner tens of thousands of dollars, he said.

Kudos to WCVB for reporting this story. We are making efforts to bring more transparency to Natick police activity. The department’s website and social media channels rarely share information to help residents and businesses stay informed about crime trends in town, though the department does faithfully post arrest and incident logs in a rather cryptic format. We’re working with Boston University computer and data science students to help you better visualize this arrest and incident data, make some sense of it . What we currently have posted is a work in progress.

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Coffee With a Purpose guest—Rob Dunlavey, documents South Natick dam through art

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Natick artist, Rob Dunlavey
Natick artist, Rob Dunlavey, in his home studio

Coffee with a Purpose is a free discussion series featuring various guests. Rob Dunlavey, Natick resident and local artist, will be the guest on Monday, Sept. 21, 9am. Rob will share the story of the art he’s created inspired by his daily visits to the South Natick Dam. He will be will be sharing his latest work, his perspectives, and maybe even a sneak peek at a new book he’s created about the dam.

Anyone interested in attending this session, or learning more about Coffee With A Purpose should email Doug Hanna, moderator of the group, at natickhanna@rcn.com.  The group’s video recordings are on YouTube.

Natick Report profiled Rob last year after he was awarded a Maurice Sendak Fellowship. You can see the story here.

Upcoming Coffee With a Purpose schedule

  • 9/21 – Rob Dunlavey—updated South Natick Dam art (and book!)
  • 9/28 – Debra Budd—Dementia Friendly Natick
  • 10/5 – Fall Town Meeting warrant walk—through with Moderator and Fincom Chair
  • 10/12 – No CWAP—Columbus/Indigenous People’s Day
  • 10/19 – CWAP Internal discussion—Fall Town Meeting articles

You don’t want to see our illustrations. But if you’d like to support our writing, please consider making a tax-deductible donation.

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Natick Days pro tips

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Natick Days, the town’s biggest community gathering of the year along with Marathon Monday, is slated to take place on the Common and surrounding area on Saturday, Sept. 19, from 10am-3pm (rain date is Sunday, Sept. 20). It’s a great opportunity for community members to connect with local non-profits and youth groups, as well as with one another. About 135 vendors will be on hand, with proceeds from the event supporting all sorts of good causes.
As a veteran of the event, I can share these pro tips:
  • One day event: While Natick Days is called Natick Days, plural, it’s actually a one-day event. We’ve been told it got to be called “Days” because it used to be paired with a Friday night football game, and that “Days” just sounded better.
  • Early birds: The event regularly attracts thousands of people, though can take a little bit to ramp up, so early comers get easier access to the big rigs at the fire and police stations, etc.
  • Swag: Early birds also get first dibs on swag that groups may be doling out. You can’t have too many tote bags or frisbees…
  • Tickets: While Natick Days is free to attend, bring cash or credit cards to buy tickets for certain activities and offerings. Venmo works, too. Tickets are just $1 apiece. Note that some booths may accept cash directly.
  • Getting there: Be aware that free shuttle buses will run loops between Wilson Middle School and the Pond Street parking lot across from the Common. Shuttle riders get 2 free tickets. Attendees are also encouraged to walk or bike (including via the rail trail) if they are able.
  • Feast wildly: Save room for food at the event, including subs from Natick Sons & Daughters of Italy. There’s typically cotton candy to be had as well, among other delicacies.
  • Meet elected officials: Elected local officials are always on hand. These are volunteers and neighbors. Natick Days is an opportunity to chat with them—and thank them for giving their time to the town.
  • Calm room: While Natick Days can get a bit wild with kids bouncing in inflatables and racing through obstacle courses, water balloons bursting over volunteers’ heads, and more, a sensory calming area will be available from 10am-2pm at the Lebowitz Room of Morse Institute Library. This resource is supported by SPARK Kindness and the Commission on Disability.
  • No dogs allowed: A reminder on this rule. We have seen a pet snake there.

Got other tips? Feel free to comment on this post to share your info…

More: Natick Days 2025 coverage

Natick Days 2025

Natick Report will be roaming the grounds of Natick Days, talking to attendees, and taking photos and videos. We won’t have a booth but you can still support our work with a tax-deductible donation via our nonprofit fiscal sponsor, Tiny News Collective. After all, we’re a primary source of getting the word out about Natick’s nonprofits.

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State denies initial funding bid for 5 Auburn St. affordable housing complex in Natick

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Metro West Collaborative Development, which seeks to build a 32-unit affordable housing complex on a dead-end street in South Natick off Rte. 16, failed to score state funding for the project on its first attempt. The developer will try again later this year for a Community One Stop for Growth Award from the Commonwealth’s Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities.

“It typically takes two rounds of applications to get funding, so this wasn’t entirely unexpected,” said Natick Select Board Chair Kathryn Coughlin at the start of that elected body’s Sept. 16 meeting. Another funding round is due in December, she added, with results revealed in the spring.

5 Auburn St., former Eliot School, Natick

The Select Board unanimously voted to issue a letter of support for Metro West earlier this year as the nonprofit developer sought state funding with hopes of starting construction on the former school site as soon as next year.

Metro West Collaborative earlier this year made it through Natick’s permitting process, which included thorough Zoning Board of Appeals proceedings and eking out approval by the Conservation Commission for a project that abuts the Charles River just downstream of the former spillway.

While Metro West’s initial bid for state funding fizzled out, it has had great success at the local level. The town agreed to sell the nearly 3-acre property to Metro West for $1oo, as the Select Board in 2023 voted 3-2 in favor of the 40B project to help address the town’s affordable housing shortage. Last year, Fall Annual Town Meeting approved awarding Metro West $750k in Community Preservation Act funds, which come from a property tax surcharge and matching state monies. The Natick Affordable Housing Trust has committed $600k toward the project.

The project cost, which has risen steadily over the years, is now estimated at more than $25m, according to a recent legal notice for environmental review for a federally-funded project.

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