The Natick Select Board this week is set to deliver a proclamation (in fancy script) in recognition of the 100th anniversary of the Department of Public Works as of March 7, and launch a celebration of the DPW’s Century of Service.

OK, who’s got an amazing or amusing DPW story to share? natickreport@gmail.com

Dr. Donna McKenzie, Natick School Committee and Town Meeting Member, says the DPW is her favorite, as they treat residents like family.

“They have been wonderful over the years. When I was concerned about wet leaves and debris in the street that might interfere with getting my dad in and out of his wheelchair, they arrived within an hour to clean the street,” she says.

And then she added this humorous anecdote: “Once I was worried our sewer line was backed up. Two DPW men arrived and concluded that it was only a toilet blockage and a plunger with a hole in it that was the problem. I had another plunger so they plunged my toilet. My father, who was failing and immobile, could not stop laughing. ‘How the hell did you get two men from the town to come and plunge our toilet!’ Honestly I had not heard him laugh like that in quite a while and he was profuse in his gratitude to these two men, saying that Natick was such a nice town.”

Natick GIS also shared this colorful collection of DPW photos.