Deborah Brown, Author at Natick Report

Artist wishes you would participate in community project for Natick High class of 2020

July 20, 2020 by Deborah Brown

A local artist will take the spirit of Natick’s hopes and dreams for the Class of 2020 and turn those good vibes into an art installation at Natick High School. Rebecca McGee Tuck on Wednesday will put in place a “Clootie Wishing Tree” at the school as a visually stunning way to send collective thoughts along with the grads, wherever it is they may go.

Clootie Wishing Tree, Natick — Clootie Wishing Tree in 2018 on the Natick Common as part of the Creative Placemaking Weekend hosted by the Natick Cultural District. Photo credit: Rebecca McGee Tuck

The inspiration for the project came from what is known in ancient Celtic tradition as a “Clootie Well”. Considered a holy place, pilgrims would travel to these wells in the belief that their waters held healing powers. A tree typically grew beside the wells, and its branches were used as a repository for strips of cloth or rags as part of the healing ritual. The spontaneous collective memorials became a representation of pilgrims’ prayers or wishes. In Scottish Gaelic, a clootie or cloot is a strip of cloth or rag.

During the installation, volunteers will write community members’ messages on strips of cloth. (Here’s how to contribute your positive thoughts.) Volunteers will then tie the wishes to the branches of the tree. The idea is that the tree festooned with the handwritten notes will symbolize the power of collective thoughts.

Supt. Anna Nolin will use a selection of the wishes during her commencement remarks. NHS graduation will take place on Thursday, Aug. 6, at 6pm at Memorial Field.

The Clootie Wishing Tree is more nomadic than most trees. Created as a site-temporary piece, the tree has made its most recent Natick appearance in 2018 on the Common as part of the Creative Placemaking Weekend hosted by the Natick Cultural District. The Wishing Tree has also taken root in Boston and Concord.

Keep your Natick dog cool as weekend temps soar

July 18, 2020 by Deborah Brown

With a heat wave forecasted to hit Natick (and other places) starting this weekend, pet owners are reminded to take extra precautions with their animals to keep them safe. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) says dog owners should keep a sharp eye on their pets and keep them from overheating. The humane society recommends that walks take place in the early morning or later in the evening, not during the heat of the day.

Natick Animal Control Officer Keith Tosi says that although this summer has brought some pretty hot days, “thankfully, we haven’t really had any incidents. In the past, dogs have been left in cars in the Natick Mall or Sherwood Plaza, but it’s been a slow season for that this year.” Tosi attributes the lack of incidents partly to the coronavirus pandemic. With stores closed, people (and their dogs) aren’t going out. Even as the state gradually opens, Tosi says the number of people venturing out just isn’t as high as, say, this time last year.

sadie lab beagle mix — Natick lab beagle mix Sadie keeps cool inside.

If the Natick Police do get a call about a dog left in a car, he says, “We usually judge it. We try to educate people, just to use common sense. If it’s a hot day and a dog is in a car, we can get in there pretty quick. We’ve had a few incidents in the past when we’ve had to force entry and remove the dog. We don’t see it like we have pre-COVID.”

Long walks on hot days are probably the second-biggest danger for pets. Definitely take it seriously when you notice your dog panting more, getting tired, and wanting shorter walks. The loyal nature of dogs can be their biggest downfall, as they try to keep going with their owner. If you’ve ever had to carry your 60-lb Labrador back to the car, you understand. (There are 399 Labs registered in Natick, making them the most popular dog breed in town.)

What can drive problems

The summer months are not the time to bring your best bud along to ride shotgun during errands. Don’t leave your pet in a car on hot days, ever. Not even for a quick minute, or if you leave the windows open, or even if the car is running and the air conditioner is cranked up. Car temperatures can easily rise to over 100 degrees within ten minutes. After that, they can get up to 120 degrees or higher, fast. Dogs don’t have a chance against that kind of heat. Also, it is illegal in Massachusetts to leave animals in vehicles where they are subject to danger from extreme weather conditions.

A little time at the spa

Let your pet laze around and enjoy this time that’s named just for him — the dog days of summer. During the intense mid-day heat, keep walks to a bare minimum. Better yet, limit walks to early in the morning or after the sun goes down.

If your dog really needs some outside time, park your pooch under a shade tree for a little while, with his water bowl close at hand. Add ice to his water every now and then. If you have one of those elevated pet cots, now’s the time to break it out. They increase air flow on alls sides of your pet, which helps keep him cool. A baby pool filled with cool, refreshing water would complete the spa environment.

Just know that shade doesn’t provide all that much protection, so keep his time outside limited. The best place for your dog during extreme heat is inside.

Danger signs:

If your pet is suffering he won’t be subtle about letting you know. Look out for these signs of trouble, which could indicate heatstroke or dehydration:

heavy panting
glazed eyes
rapid heartbeat
difficulty breathing
excessive thirst
lethargy
lack of coordination
profuse drooling
vomiting
body temperature of over 104 degrees (normal is 101 – 102.5)
a deep red or purple tongue
seizure, collapse, or unconsciousness

If these signs present, seek immediate medical attention for your dog.

Let’s all keep Natick’s 2,700 registered dogs nice and safe all summer. Heaven knows, they’re worth the extra effort. Who’s a good human friend? You are, that’s who.

Time for Natick to dig out those reusable bags

July 15, 2020 by Deborah Brown

Reusable bags are back, baby.

Bags, Wellesley — The bags situation is a little out of hand at our house, so it’s welcome news that reusable bags are back.

We’ve amassed quite a collection of single-use paper and plastic bags in our home since March 25, when the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) temporarily suspended the use of reusable bags due to COVID-19 concerns. One day the well-trained shoppers of Natick could be seen with an armload of canvas totes, or well-worn paper bags on perhaps the last Roche Bros. run of their lives before finally falling apart. The next day, those bags were banished to the back of the trunk for the foreseeable future.

Health officials have since determined there is a low risk of contracting COVID-19 from resuable bags, so we can all pull those sacks out of obscurity and once again go about the business of saving the planet.

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Natick camps & programs 2020 — find a great summer experience

July 10, 2020 by Deborah Brown

Natick Report’s Summer Camps & Programs page lists over 75 camps and programs in Natick and beyond. It’s time to sign your child up for a great summer experience. Whether they’re into coding, arts and crafts, sports, drama, or nature, the perfect camp is out there for them.

Natick’s Summer Camps & Programs page is sponsored by LINX. “Over 40 premier camps. Perfect for your family.”

Please be aware that of the camps and programs listed, some are going forward, some have substantially re-worked their offerings, while others have canceled for 2020.

Contact Deborah to update your summer listing, or for advertising on Swellesley. Camp parents and guardians: Please let camps know that you found them here, if you did…thanks.

Sneak peek: Riverbend School’s newest South Natick campus additions

July 6, 2020 by Deborah Brown

Riverbend School the construction zone has made its final leap to becoming Riverbend School, the campus. Located at 33 Eliot St., the K – 8, 200-student Montessori-method institution has finished the Upper School building and the gymnasium, the last of three major building projects that kicked off in 2014. Let’s just say it’s been a busy six years at Riverbend, which has had a presence in South Natick since 1986.

Designed by Piatt Associates Architecture, the Upper School contains three purpose-built lower elementary classrooms, as well as dedicated design and art studios. A stand-alone, full-size gymnasium provides plenty of space for indoor recreation, and will also generate revenue through rentals of the space. Both new buildings are located on the field adjacent to the Middle School, which is part of the historic Peletiah Morse Tavern, on Rte. 16.

“All of the buildings for the campus were intended, as designed, to be respectful of the character of the John Eliot Historic District and I hope the new buildings will be seen that way as well,” says architect Jim Piatt.

The two previous building projects, both also designed by Piatt, were Children’s House, completed in 2014; and the Middle School, attached to the tavern, completed in 2017.

Head of School Whitney Slade took time out of his day to give me a tour of the campus, which he said is “geared toward our kids, Montessori kids, the way they’re taught and the way they learn. In the Montessori method, big open spaces are needed.” Here are a few pics of how that was achieved:

Riverbend School, Natick — Children’s House, completed in 2014, is what drivers-by would likely identify as the main building of Riverbend. The 13,000 square-foot building houses the approximately 100 students in the toddler-kindergarten program, as well as administration offices.

Riverbend School — Interior of the gym, which is air conditioned, as are all of the Riverbend buildings. “We’ll be renting out the gym to Natick Rec, Dover-Sherborn basketball, and others, so the gym is also a revenue opportunity for us,” Slade said.

All told, the school has put over $5 million into creating its new campus. The Natick-owned brick building the school worked out of for decades is now vacant. But with grades 4-6 located in Memorial Hall, Riverbend hasn’t completely crossed Eliot Street.

Slade is now focused on what September will look like for Riverbend. “We’re developing protocols to keep everyone separate,” he said. “We’re working with the Natick Board of Health with the goal of providing a safe learning environment for our students, their families, and our staff. We’ll miss out on field trips this year, unfortunately. Maybe we’ll go over to Elm Bank, since we can walk there.”

“And there’s always Forest Friday,” Slade said, pointing to the wooded conservation land the school abuts. “That’s very big here.”