Bob Brown, Author at Natick Report

Natick reads Frederick Douglass’s 1852 speech, ‘What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?’

July 2, 2020 by Bob Brown

The Natick Historical Society invited local young people to participate in a socially-distanced community read of Frederick Douglass’s 1852 speech, “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?” in front of Morse Institute Library.

Wellesley College Associate Professor of History Brenna Greer made opening remarks and started the speech.

We apologize for the erratic audio quality, a victim of rush hour traffic and our lack of a good mic for our old iPhone. But we hope the spirit of the event comes through. And Natick Pegasus should have a better quality recording available soon.

More: Subscribe to our Natick Report daily email

This beetle will give Natick Common a new look

July 1, 2020 by Bob Brown

The Emerald Ash Borer, an invasive insect that made its way to the United States less than 20 years ago, is a pretty beetle. It’s also pretty destructive, and Natick will be losing 10 signature trees this month that have been infested with the critter.

The Department of Public Works has issued a memo (embedded below) detailing the issue that will be presented at the Natick Select Board meeting Wednesday. The trees are facing “rapid decline” and must be removed to prevent possible injuries to passersby or property.

Up until now, Natick had not been on the Massachusetts map for detections, though the Natick Department of Public Works has had an Emerald Ash Borer suppression system in place for a while given neighboring communities have had infestations.

“Unfortunately due to the aggressive nature of this pest and the confirmed infestations in nearby communities, the EAB population has exceeded our threshold to suppress and the EAB has been identified on the Natick Town Common.”

The DPW says about 3% of the public tree population in town, with many more on private land.

It plans to replace the elm trees with different species come spring 2021.

Meanwhile, I could use an Emerald Ash Borer for my insect collection.

[gview file=”https://www.natickreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/NatickCommonTrees-1.pdf”]

Natick Mask Drive-Thru: July 2, 10am-noon

July 1, 2020 by Bob Brown

The tireless Natick/Sherborn Sewing Support Group just keeps on giving…

What Natick’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee could look like

July 1, 2020 by Bob Brown

On the heels of local clergy urging Natick to form a committee on diversity, equity & inclusion, and in light of current tensions over such matters, the Board of Selectmen will discuss on Wednesday a proposal to form such a body.

In a memo dated July 1 to the Natick Select Board from members Karen Adelman-Foster and Sue Salamoff, they write: “We believe that for such a town agency to be effective, its scope, charge, composition and appointing structure must be developed with careful thought and extensive input – including by and from people who may differ from those of us serving on the Select Board today.”

But before there will be a committee, there would be a 9-person task force appointed by the board. The task force would include at least one Select Board member, 2 designees of the School Committee, and 6 others with a variety of experience, including that in diversity, equity, inclusion and racial justice.

The task force would tap the community and town government for insights, including how to report and resolve incidents of discrimination, and report back to the board within 4 months of its creation.

[gview file=”https://www.natickreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Diversity__Equity__and_Inclusion_Task_Force_Memo___Motion.pdf”]

Revisiting Broadmoor Wildlife Sanctuary in South Natick

June 30, 2020 by Bob Brown

The last time we tried to visit Broadmoor Wildlife Sanctuary in South Natick we took one look at the crowded parking lot and turned around. That was early during the pandemic, and shortly afterward Mass Audubon temporarily closed the facility due to overcrowding and safety concerns.

While we only live a few miles from the sanctuary, we pathetically hadn’t been in years. Our kids used to go to summer camp there, but when they outgrew that, the sanctuary sort of fell off of our radar.

More: Subscribe to our Natick Report daily email

Having exhausted pretty much every outdoor space in the area of late, we found ourselves hankering to return to Broadmoor and finally did this past weekend. Our timing coincided with light showers, the first sprinkles dotting our windshield minutes after pulling out of our driveway. The parking lot attendant stated the obvious, that it looked like rain, and asked if we had an umbrella (to walk in the woods?).

While the drizzle seemed to send the frogs and turtles scurrying, it kept the people away too, which was fine with us.

We headed from the closed visitor center, surrounded by picnic tables overturned to discourage lingering, and onto the boardwalks. The walkways are enclosed by lily pads and other bright green plant life that thrives in the water.

[slideshow_deploy id=’2012′]

From their we meandered toward the western part of the sanctuary, following the well-marked 1-mile Glacial Hill Trail and returning by way of the shorter Indian Brook Trail. The Glacial Hill Trail ends in a loop that indeed does feature a bit of elevation.

We dumbly forgot to bring bug spray, which would have helped on this sticky day.

The scenery includes a good dose of woods (which nicely shielded us from the rain), some rocky glacial remnants, vernal pools, that marsh with the tall bare trees you can see from Rte. 16, and meadows stocked with blooming milkweed and other plants.

Regulars know the beauty of Broadmoor, and the treats it delivers during different seasons. If you haven’t been to Broadmoor, or not in a long time like us, it’s worth checking out.

Be aware that you need to make a reservation now to visit Broadmoor, and it costs $10 per car if you’re not a member.