Natick Report

Natick gives the holidays a big welcome

November 28, 2021 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

The Chabad Center of Natick led a crowd of over 200 at Natick Town Common in welcoming the first night of Chanukah with a menorah lighting, hot latkes, applesauce, and hot cocoa. The event was capped off by members of the Natick Fire Department tossing chocolate coins to excited kids of all ages during the “Great Chanukah Gelt Drop.” Light-up menorah necklaces were given out, and festive Chanukah-time songs blared from the speaker system.

Later, the excitement took a turn toward Christmas, and there were additional jolly sightings in the area. Kids were hard at work at craft tables set up by the gazebo, a long line formed for the balloon twisters, the Voices of Metrowest provided caroling, Empire Dance students performed, and cool antique cars lent an old-timey feel to the event. At last, Santa made an appearance, followed by a tree lighting on the Common.

Natick Menorah lighting — Rabbi Levi Fogelman of Chabad Center of Natick, and organizer of the menorah lighting, said to the crowd, “We are all candles, every one of us whether we realize it or not…there’s a spark within us that has the ability to light a candle. And when it gets a little bit dark, Chanukah teaches us that now’s the time to think about illuminating.”

Empire Dance never missed a beat at #Natick holiday celebration at the Common @todosstudio pic.twitter.com/deyWMLRxLH

— Natick Report (@NatickReport) November 29, 2021

Santa Claus makes an early appearance at #Natick Common: Don't worry, he'll be back in town next month https://t.co/iwOB3OPzXl @NatickFire @natickcenter pic.twitter.com/we5wwUxW56

— Natick Report (@NatickReport) November 29, 2021

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Have a happy little Thanksgiving, Natick

November 24, 2021 by Bob Brown Leave a Comment

Thanksgiving-themed art has naturally popped up at the Free Little Art Gallery at Morse Institute Library.

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Natick Business Buzz: Top 10 taxpayers; new Community & Economic Development director; cannabis business ReLeaf gets closer

November 23, 2021 by Bob Brown Leave a Comment

Our roundup of the latest Natick, Mass., business news:

Top 10 taxpayer list

The list of Natick’s top taxpayers for fiscal year 2022 is almost identical to the list from a year ago, though 1 organization has fallen off and the order in which others are ranked has shifted slightly, according to data from the Assessors Office.

Gone from the Top 10 list is DDH Hotel, which operates Hampton Inn, The Verve, etc. Now on the list is apartment complex Modera. This past year obviously wasn’t a good one for the hotel business due to the lack of travel.

The Natick Mall remains comfortably on top of the list, followed by Mathworks and Avalon.

The overall real estate and personal property value of Natick’s Top 10 fell about $90M, and the organizations’ chunk of the town’s tax levy dropped from 10.66% to 9.16%.

New Community & Economic Development director

Natick has introduced Amanda Loomis as its new director of Community & Economic Development.

Loomis previously served as Lexington’s planning director for about 2 years, and before that, as Framingham’s planning board administrator. Through her job in Framingham she’s familiar with the Golden Triangle study Natick and Framingham worked on and efforts to revamp that retail area.

She replaces James Freas, who resigned to take a job in Charlottesville, Va.

Loomis has already had a busy start, doing the rounds at Select Board, Community & Economic Development, Planning Board, and Zoning Board of Appeals meetings.

Natick’s Community & Economic Development Office administers and enforces land development and building regulations, among other things.

Cannabis business ReLeaf moving forward

Natick’s Select Board, which over the summer selected ReLeaf Alternatives as it choice for a second recreational marijuana shop in town, made that decision more formal this week by. The business would be located at property it owns—the former Papa Gino’s site at 291 Worcester St. (Rte. 9 west).

closed papa gino's rte 9 w — ReLeaf’s planned location for an adult-use marijuana shop

Natick has been in talks with ReLeaf to get a Host Community Agreement (see embedded below) in place that establishes terms —largely financial, such as a $100K community contribution after the first year of operation— for the marijuana shop to conduct business in town. The Select Board on Monday gave that agreement its 5-0 blessing, and now ReLeaf will work its way through more local (such as the Planning Board for a special permit and the Select Board again for a license) and state processes on its way to opening for business.

The first license was granted to Cypress Tree, which is still trying to set up shop at Cloverleaf Mall on Speen Street, awaiting related modifications to the site to be sorted out. More discussion on that could be happening at the Planning Board in December.

So the race is on for Natick’s first non-medical pot shop to open.

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Natick Holiday Happenings, 2021

November 22, 2021 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

Our roundup of holiday activities taking place in Natick, Massachusetts:

Don’t see your holiday event here? Contact Deborah at deborahcb100@gmail.com for inclusion.

Happy holidays & free parking from the Town of Natick

Visitors who want to shop and dine in Natick Center can enjoy free two-hour holiday-season parking November 26-January 2. Look for the hooded meters to clue you in on which parking spaces are free.

Parking fees are NOT waived at private parking lots and commuter rail lots.

Holiday Craft Fair at Natick Sons & Daughters of Italy lodge, Nov. 27

The Natick Sons & Daughters of Italy Holiday Craft Fair will be held on Nov. 27 from 9am-2pm at the lodge at 37 Washington Ave. It’s free and open to the public.

You will meet vendors selling unique pottery, jewelry, textiles, bags, and more. A warm lunch of corn chowder and meatball subs will be served along with chips, brownies and cupcakes, and beverages.

The organization will be raffling off a handmade log cabin-themed reversible quilt at $25 per ticket. You can purchase your raffle ticket at this link.

The organization is also selling holiday wreaths, plain or fully decorated.

Fair and raffle proceeds will go towards supporting the Lodge and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

If you have any questions, please contact Darlene Rideout at darkime61@gmail.com.

Small Business Saturday, Nov. 27

A special concert by Sound & Spirit begins at 12:30pm on the front steps of the First Congregational Church and winds throughout downtown until 1:30. Get inspired to shop small, and shop local.

Menorah Lighting on Natick Common, Nov. 28th

Join the Chabad Center of Natick on Sunday, Nov. 28, at 3:15pm, for the annual Menorah Lighting on the Common. Chanukah, the Jewish eight-day, wintertime “festival of lights,” begins Sunday evening, Nov. 28, and continues through Monday, Dec. 6.

Holiday Lighting on Natick Common, Nov. 28th

Holiday window contest, Dec. 1 – 15

Natick Center Cultural District’s 10th Annual Holiday Window Contest will run Dec. 1-15. Stroll the downtown to see how Natick’s local restaurants, shops, and services add to the seasonal magic in a spirited competition to win the title of “Best Holiday Window 2021.”

Holiday stroll, Dec. 18

Stroll, shop, and enjoy the holiday lights in Natick Center, Dec. 18, 3pm-6pm.

3:30-4:30: caroling by Sound & Spirit
4pm-6pm: Santa Claus will visit!

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Fire extinguished at Natick High, investigation is on

November 20, 2021 by Bob Brown Leave a Comment

The Natick Police Department shared the following message from Natick Public Schools Supt. Dr. Anna Nolin & the school system issued Friday after school let out:

Natick community members ,

We’re writing today to make you aware of an incident that occurred after high school dismissal today.

At 2:50 pm today, a fire was discovered in the boys’ locker room at Natick High School. We immediately pulled the fire alarm, extinguished the fire and safely evacuated the building. The Natick Fire Department and the Natick Police Department responded immediately and professionally. We appreciate the hard work of our first responders, today and every day. The building has been reopened for student and staff use.

The fire occurred after high school dismissal/during preschool pickup. At the time there were approximately 50 high school students and staff members in the building. We are investigating this event for what it is – a fire that was deliberately set by a member of our student body putting everyone at risk. The police are conducting a complete investigation for possible criminal charges.

We are furious and very disappointed. We are a strong and vibrant community that looks out for one another. After two very long years of isolation, we are determined to reclaim our culture of togetherness, safety and respect. Acts like this will not be tolerated. We will hold the students who set this fire fully accountable.

If you know anything about this event, please report it through our anonymous tip line at: https://www.natickps.org/contact_us/speakupnatick. The schools will follow up on any and all reports.

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