Deborah Brown, Author at Natick Report

Natick COVID-19 update: number of cases; fields closed; Sassamon Trace opens

May 12, 2020 by Deborah Brown

COVID-19 update, as of May 11:

Natick’s total COVID-19 cases number at 177 probable/confirmed cases as of May 11, 2020

Total Natick cases since March 1, 2020 — 357

Middlesex county confirmed cases: 17,774

Massachusetts confirmed cases as of May 11: 78,462

Count of deaths of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Middlesex County: 1,235

Count of deaths of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Massachusetts: 5,108

Fields of dreams

Natick High School Memorial Football Field and Track — Memorial Field is closed due to COVID-19 concerns

The Town of Natick has closed Memorial Field at West St., and Cole North and Cole South Fields at Boden Lane. According to a Board of Health order, the field have been closed because “the Natick Police and Health Departments have been receiving complaints regarding groups gathering at the fields. The groups were larger than 10 people and not observing the social distancing requirement and/or not wearing facial coverings.”

Sassamon Trace Golf Course is Open

With Governor Baker’s blessing, Sassamon Trace Golf Course opened on May 7th. Here’s all you need to know to enjoy the links:

No walk-in play allowed, golfers must call (508) 655-1330 and pay in advance
Do not arrive earlier than 15 minutes in advance of your tee time
You must bring your own clubs
You must maintain social distancing of 6 ft
Rentals carts, pull carts and rental clubs are not available
Golf shop closed
No restrooms facilities are available on site
Golf holes are filled so ball stays partly above ground
Touching of flag slicks and signs is prohibited
Water stations and ball washing stations are not available
Bunker rakes are not available
Practice facility is unavailable

Natick Report’s got a sweet Instagram

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Signs in front of Johnson School in #Natick implore the town to keep the elementary school open. The School Committee earlier this month discussed possibly closing Johnson as a cost-cutting measure due to financial hurdles resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.
A post shared by Natick Report (@natickreport) on May 11, 2020 at 11:26am PDT

Historic site in South Natick damaged over weekend

May 11, 2020 by Deborah Brown

High winds that blew through Natick over the weekend took down a white-painted wooden flagpole at an historic site in South Natick located at the traffic circle area in front of Fire Department Station 2 and adjacent to the Eliot Church. It didn’t take long for on-duty firefighters to walk the 30 feet from the station and chainsaw the pole into sections in order to clear the roadway.

South Natick, flagpole area — This is all that’s left of the flagpole in front of the South Natick fire station. High winds took it down.

A central part of that area is a kiosk that lists the names of 122 men and women under the heading “In The Armed Services.”

Given the loss of the flagpole at the important historic spot, now seems like the perfect time to refurbish the site. We remember eight or so years ago when a young man planted a garden beneath the kiosk, perhaps as a scouting or senior project. The hostas he put in are still going strong. However, the names behind the glass of the kiosk are faded, and could use someone with good handwriting to restore them. Also, the list brings up more questions than it answers. Who are these 122 service members? Did they serve in particular conflicts? Some clarification would be a welcome educational addition.

The spot is also home to a boulder that commemorates Puritan preacher John Eliot (born 1604, died 1690). A plaque affixed to the rock, which was undamaged by the falling flagpole, says, “In reverent memory of John Eliot, lover of God, lover of men, seeker of the Christian Commonwealth, who on this spot preached to his friends the Indians in their own tongue the mercies and the laws of the eternal.”

Section of Eliot Street briefly closed

South Natick, fallen tree — On Route 16, looking toward Wellesley Square, a section of a tree splintered off and fell across the road in front of the entrance to Elm Bank Reservation, taking a couple of smaller trees with it.

Natick hike: the Coolidge Woods area

May 8, 2020 by Deborah Brown

Like everybody else these days, I am 100% devoted to my daily walks. Since some of my go-to spots have been placed off limits due to coronavirus concerns, such as Audubon’s Broadmoor Wildlife Sanctuary in South Natick and the path around Wellesley College’s Lake Waban, I’ve taken the opportunity to get out of my trails rut and find new (to me) spots.

Coolidge Woods, with its Eisenmenger trail and many criss-crossing paths was a wonderful spot to hike. I accessed the area at Coolidge Field, near Natick Center. There is parking on Chester St. and Sheridan St. You can’t miss the entrance to Coolidge Woods.

There are many, many ways to hike that area. I opted for an out and back route that took me from Coolidge Field, along the pasture bordering the former Winona Farm in South Natick, to Nokamis Way, and back, a two-mile round trip route. Come along with me for a nice and easy hike.

Coolidge Woods, Natick is the type of trail that’s cared for by its regulars. Fallen branches aren’t allowed to clutter the path. They’re moved carefully to the side.

I followed the blue arrow, affixed to the old stump.

Natick updates: Town Meeting postponed; pretty pink bags are back; be heard on open spaces

May 5, 2020 by Deborah Brown

Natick Town Moderator Frank Foss has announced that the town’s 2020 Spring Annual Town Meeting (TM) is postponed to June 9 due to the challenges of keeping the 180 TM members the requisite six-feet apart to comply with social distancing practices.

Wilson Middle School, Natick, winter — Town Meeting has been rescheduled to June 9, 7:30pm, at Wilson Middle School

Should TM goes forward on that date, it’s likely that participants will be masked up. Effective Wednesday, May 6, 2020, Governor Baker has issued an executive order requiring face masks or cloth face coverings in public places where social distancing is not possible. This applies to both indoor and outdoor spaces.

EVENT: Spring Annual Town Meeting
DATE: June 9, 2020
TIME: 7:30pm
LOCATION: Wilson Middle School, 22 Rutledge Rd., Natick

Trash pick up and recycling news

The pink bag curbside collection program has resumed. You can request bags online from Simple Recycle, or call them 866-835-5068. Items that can go into the pink bags are clothing and accessories; kitchenware and appliances; home goods; tools; toys; and books.

Curbside recycling and trash/composting pick-up remains operating on a regular schedule.

Bulk pick-up continues to be suspended until further notice.

Spring curbside collection of yard waste has been canceled. You can drop off your yard waste at the Recycling Center at 75 West St.

Recycling Center hours: Thursday – Sunday, 8am – 3:30pm.

Wide open spaces

The Town is in the process of updating the 2020 Open Space & Recreation Plan and needs your input. The OSRP tracks the Town’s open space & recreational resources and identifies a list of goals/projects to accomplish in the future. Keeping it up-to-date also makes Natick eligible for funding through grants.

Please take a few moments to participate in Natick’s update to the 2020 Open Space & Recreation Plan. Visit www.tinyurl.com/NatickOSRP to take our survey and learn more.

The Town’s open spaces and recreational areas are being utilized now more than ever. Your input will help us improve these areas, create more of them, and address environmental concerns.

Natick student’s art showcased at Page Waterman’s Virtual Gallery exhibit

May 5, 2020 by Deborah Brown

Pandemic can’t stop creativity, as local high school painters, potters, photographers, and sculptors have demonstrated at the 4th annual juried exhibition, NEXT UP!, taking place online at Wellesley Square’s Page Waterman Gallery through May 16. The quality and diversity in the art from the students is once again top-notch at this anticipated Virtual Gallery Experience show.

Page Waterman Gallery, Natick artists — Natick artist Rebecca Riley, “On Pointe”, Natick High School; charcoal on paper; 12”x17”

The jurors for the show were Liliana Glenn, a Natick-based artist; Jessica Roscio, Assitant Director and Curator, Danforth Art Museum; and Chris Wood, Garden Club of America Photography Judge..

“I was impressed beyond words by the overall quality of the submissions,” Wood said. “You made our job as judges a truly challenging one. Every single piece was commendable in one way or another, and I wish we could have given each and every one of you an award. Your creativity shines, and in this uncertain time, I truly believe that art, and the good it does for our souls, is more important than ever.”

Page Waterman Gallery, Natick artist — Natick artist Rebecca Riley, “Milo”, Natick High School; charcoal on paper; 6”x9′

Page Waterman Gallery manager Ryan Black said, “I want to thank the students for sharing their work with us, but I also want to take a minute to thank all of the teachers who help us organize, communicate with the students, and ultimately make Next Up possible each year. I also want to thank our wonderful jurors who took on the impossible task of awarding only a handful of these great works. I know it wasn’t easy and the process is so subjective.”

Congratulations to all winners, honorable mentions, and participants.

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