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Needham Bank, Natick
 

Natick director of community & economic development going south for new job

August 4, 2021 by Bob Brown Leave a Comment

James Freas, who has accomplished much in two years as a planning and economic development official for Natick, is leaving for a new job as director of neighborhood development services for the city of Charlottesville, Va.

Freas’s efforts in Natick have included helping businesses during the pandemic, navigating the tricky waters of introducing cannabis businesses to town, and taking steps to revitalize the Golden Triangle. In our conversations, he seemed particularly proud that Natick Center was able to largely keep its storefronts filled over the past year plus.

james freas

He most recently has served as director of community & economic development, and Natick has now posted an opening for that gig. The job entails management of town bylaws related to building and development, requires attending lots and lots of meetings, and boasts a salary starting in the $120K-$130K range.

Freas returns to Virginia, where he earned an undergraduate degree at the University of Virginia, and where earlier in his career he was a senior city planner for Hampton.

The outgoing Natick official starts his new job Sept. 13.

James has been helpful to us in our early days with Natick Report, and wish him the best in Virginia.


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Filed Under: Government


Natick COVID-19 update: 86% of eligible residents vaccinated

July 30, 2021 by Bob Brown Leave a Comment

The share of Natick’s eligible population fully vaccinated against COVID-19 has crept up from 85% to nearly 86%, with the 20-29 age category now up to 70%, according to weekly data released by the state. Statewide, COVID-19 numbers have started to creep up, as the highly contagious Delta variant of the virus infects people, mainly those who are unvaccinated.

Overall, 73% of Natick’s population has been fully vaccinated, but that includes those under the age of 12 who are not eligible for COVID-19 vaccinations.

Nearly 26,300 of about 31,000 Natick residents eligible for the vaccine have now been fully vaccinated, and the state has surpassed 4.3 million fully vaccinated against the disease. About 100 Natick residents joined the ranks of fully vaccinated over the past week.

Natick is nearing 80% of its overall population with at least 1 dose.  State data shows that 94% of 16-19-year-olds in Natick are now fully vaxxed. Those in the 20-29 age range have the most catching up to do, languishing at 70%—though 77% have now had at least 1 dose.

There are theories as to why this age category is behind, including that college students may have been vaccinated partially in Massachusetts and partially elsewhere or entirely in another state, and that the numbers haven’t been tallied the same as for other categories. There’s also concern nationally that this age group may not feel it’s at as much risk from COVID-19, and they’re not as influenced by parents to get shots as teens would be.

natick july 29 vax

 

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Filed Under: COVID-19, Health



Natick Multicultural Day set for Aug. 28

July 29, 2021 by Bob Brown 1 Comment

Natick Multicultural Day is slated to be held in-person this year after going the pandemic-induced virtual route last summer.

The 5th annual event, celebrating Natick’s diverse people and cultures, will take place on Aug. 28 from 11am-2pm at the Common Street Spiritual Center at 13 Common St. alongside Natick Common.

The event will feature food, music, dance, and the sharing of traditions found within the different ethnicities in town. Traditional Chinese dance, and Latin and Indian dances and music from the Electric Soul band are on tap. Cultural groups will represent countries including India, Guatemala, China, Mexico, Uzbekistan, and more.

If you are a part of a group or organization that would like to be represented at the event, please contact: Athena Pandolf, Executive Director, NCCD at info.natickcenter@gmail.com or Archana Menon, Community Outreach Coordinator, NCCD at archana@natickcenter.org

Common Street Spiritual Center, Natick, church

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Filed Under: Embracing diversity

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Natick neighbors breathe sigh of ReLeaf over town’s marijuana shop choice

July 28, 2021 by Bob Brown Leave a Comment

Three businesses shared infomercials at a packed in-person and online Natick Select Board meeting this week in hopes of earning a chance to open a recreational marijuana shop in town, and the one with the best local story and least opposition from neighbors got the nod.

The Board voted 5-0 in favor of ReLeaf Alternatives, which aims to set up shop on Rte. 9 west at property it owns—the former Papa Gino’s site. ReLeaf outshone C3 Industries, proposing a location at 42 Worcester St., in a small strip mall, and Revolutionary Clinics, with bids at both the current Nine East Wine Emporium on the Wellesley line and Bernie & Phyl’s on Rte. 9 West.

Natick, whose residents voted in favor of legalizing adult recreational use of marijuana back in 2016, issued its first recreational pot shop license to Cypress Tree Management. The Planning Board this month okayed the general plan, but there remain issues to sort out with the specific space at Cloverleaf Mall, which the mall owner looks to share between Cypress Tree and a new self-storage business.

ReLeaf (they go by “reLeaf,” but we don’t play that marketing game) beefed up its presentation and team since an earlier round of public pitches was heard in the spring, and really played up its local presence. A “Redmen forever!” shoutout wouldn’t have been surprising. The virtues of ReLeaf were echoed by a resident who spoke on behalf of others in east Natick neighborhoods on the north and south sides of Rte. 9 nearby proposed locations.

If you parachuted into the vendor presentations unaware, you might have thought these (“esteemed”…”above and beyond”…) folks were opening a food pantry or shelter based on their earnestness and tales of community commitment they shared as part of the town’s request for information process. But no, they’re looking to sell cannabis products, both to those looking to get high or relax as well as to those self-medicating for pain, anxiety, or sleeplessness.

The Board complimented all of the presenters for their years of work during this process, and expressed confidence that any of them would run a solid operation that could meet customer need well beyond Natick while benefitting the town with a tax windfall.

The local flavor of ReLeaf’s pitch hit home with the Select Board, members of which doubled down on their localness, even pooh-poohing a letter from Wellesley’s Select Board regarding concerns of its residents nearby the Rte. 9 east proposals. ReLeaf CEO Kerry Bourne and her husband Jason launched Bourne’s Auto Center, a big dealership with 3 in-state locations and $125M-plus in annual revenue. Their Natick cannabis store’s general manager and assistant general manager grew up in town.

“Day in and day out I really focus on the local aspect of this process,” Board member Rick Jennett said. The Board needs to have someone to get ahold of if complaints arise, he said.

Board member Sue Salamoff said “I do think each presenter offers a quality operator concept. So the more I look at the situation, to me local is important…and I am leaning toward the concept of local ownership.”

On the experience front, ReLeaf’s team has already been through the recreational use shop process in Mansfield, where its business is slated to open next week. “This is a long and complicated process, and no other applicant here tonight has received a final  retail adult-use license from the (Cannabis Control Commission),” Bourne said.

closed papa gino's rte 9 w

 

Rev Clinics, well aware of neighborhood opposition to its planned locations, emphasized steps it would take to ensure traffic wouldn’t flow from its locations into the neighborhoods. For example, it would only allow right turns out of the Nine East location onto Rte. 9, not back into the neighborhood.  Rev Clinics also committed to appointment-only service at its shops, to help mitigate possible traffic issues.

One rep also reminded the Board that because this was a request for information and not a request for proposals, it had the option to choose whichever operator if felt would be best to run such a business in town, and nail down the location afterward.

Board members weren’t so sure about that, and consulted town counsel. His response appeared to leave them wary about going that route and possibly inviting later legal action.

Some on the Board said their decision was a struggle, with an option for a location closer to the east end of Natick an attraction in terms of possibly mitigating Rte. 9 traffic increases in Natick itself. But in the end, the ReLeaf location proved to be the least controversial, and won the day. Its roughly 3,000 sq. ft. building boasts 51 parking spaces and is nearby wetlands that likely won’t be developed.

Ahead for ReLeaf: Negotiating a host community agreement with Natick, getting the Planning Board’s blessing, and more.



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Filed Under: Business

Natick’s Trend Pure Asian Cuisine restaurant closing

July 25, 2021 by Bob Brown Leave a Comment

Trend Pure Asian Cuisine, located on Rte. 9 east at 1400 Worcester St., has announced it is closing as of this Sunday. The restaurant, which offered both Chinese and Japanese cuisine menus, has been at the location for at least 5 years.

The business posted on social media: “It’s with great sadness that we announce the closure of Trend effective July 25th. Our realty company will not renew our lease in order to make way for smaller retail stores. We’d like to thank all our patrons for supporting the Trend family all these years and through the pandemic. We wouldn’t have made it this long without all of your support.”

An outpouring of support for the restaurant and staff followed, with pleas for Trend to open elsewhere nearby. We’ll see…

Trend cuisine

 


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Filed Under: Business, Restaurants

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