Natick Report

Since 2020: More than you really want to know about Natick, Mass.

Natick breakfast brings together veterans, 8th graders

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Veteran Joseph Lavesque chats with eighth-graders at Kennedy Middle School during the annualVeterans Breakfast on Nov. 7.
Veteran Joseph Lavesque chats with eighth-graders at Kennedy Middle School (Photos by Maureen L. Sullivan)

 
More than two dozen veterans – including one who served during the Korean War — shared their stories with eighth-graders at Kennedy Middle School during the annual Veterans Breakfast.

Billy Thomas, who served in the Air Force for 26 years as a commander and fighter pilot, showed students newspaper clippings and other records of his experiences.

In addition to performing the national anthem, the students presented poems and hand-drawn posters honoring the veterans who attended.

The event is sponsored by Natick Public Schools, the Morse Institute Library, the Natick Veterans Oral History Project and the Veterans Services Office.

Billy Thomas, who served in the Air Force during the Korean War, shows newspaper clippings of hisexperience to Kennedy Middle School during the annual Veterans Breakfast on Nov. 7.
Billy Thomas, who served in the Air Force during the Korean War, shows newspaper clippings of his experience

 
Sam Pappas shares stories of his experiences as a veteran to eighth-graders at Kennedy Middle Schoolduring the annual Veterans Breakfast on Nov. 7.
Sam Pappas shares stories of his experiences as a veteran to eighth-graders

 
Bob Lewis relates his experience to eighth-graders at Kennedy Middle School during the annual VeteransBreakfast on Nov. 7.
Bob Lewis relates his experience to students during annual Veterans Breakfast on Nov. 7.

 
Related: Natick readies for Veterans Day

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Voting takes place at Natick’s Eliot Church for annual photo competition

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For the 20th year, Eliot Church in South Natick hosted its Oldtown Photo Calendar competition, a showcase for local photographers.

On Oct. 19, voting took place within the church itself; visitors could vote for their favorites for spring, summer, fall and winter. Winning entries (which will be announced by early November) will appear in the 2027 Oldtown Photo calendar.

The 2026 calendar, featuring the winning entries from the 2024 competition, is now available for purchase. It serves as a fundraiser for several local organizations, including Eliot Church, the Bacon Free and Morse Institute libraries, and the Natick Service Council. Calendars will also be for sale at the Charles River Coffee House and Tilly & Salvy’s Bacon Street Farm.

Visitors peruse the entries in the 20 th annual Oldtown Photo Calendar competition at EliotChurch in South Natick on Oct. 19. Winning entries will appear in the 2027 calendar.
Visitors peruse entries in the 20th annual Oldtown Photo Calendar competition
at Eliot Church (photos by Maureen L. Sullivan)

 
The 2026 Oldtown Photo Calendar has foxes on cover
2026 Oldtown Photo Calendar is now available
(photo by Maureen L. Sullivan)

 

Other events at Eliot Church: Jack O’Lanterns, new minister

The church will host its annual Jack O’Lantern Contest on Oct. 30 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. For information on how to enter, email info@theeliotchurch.org.

Also, the church has found a final candidate to replace the Rev. Adam Tierney-Elliot, who left last spring to become the minister of The Second Church in Greenfield. The candidate will lead an introductory worship service on Nov. 23 at 10 a.m. The church will present details about the candidate over the next few weeks.
 

Please send news tips, photos, ideas to natickreport@gmail.com

Filed Under: Art

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Local artists showcase their work at annual Natick Artists Open Studios

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Jason Cheesman-Mayer was among artists taking part in Natick Artists Open Studios
(photo by Maureen L. Sullivan)

 
A near-perfect fall weekend provided the background for Natick’s annual Open Studios on Oct. 18 and 19.

Sponsored by the Natick Art Association, the event featured dozens of artists showcasing their works, including pottery, painting, jewelry and photography, in locations throughout town.

One of the more unusual sites was on the ground floor at 21 Summer St., a retail/apartment complex built on the former home of a laundromat and Barleycorn’s brewery. Several vendors spread out across the unfinished space, with live music playing in a back corner.

Live music was also provided near the studios on Adams Street.

Sean Fullerton performs at Adams Street during the annual Natick Artists Open Studios on Oct.18.
Sean Fullerton performs at Adams Street
(Photo by Maureen L. Sullivan)

 

The next big town event

 
OK, kids – get out your costumes and trick-or-treat bags. The annual Spooktacular, sponsored by the Recreation and Parks Department, will come to the Common on Oct. 25 from noon to 4pm. Activities on the Common will take place from noon to 3 p.m., including live music and
activities. Winners of the costume contest will be announced at 2:30 p.m., followed by the Fire Department’s Pumpkin Smash. After that, the Trick-or-Treat parade will take place through downtown from 3 to 4 p.m.
 

 

Please send news tips, photos, ideas to natickreport@gmail.com

Filed Under: Art

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Animals blessed at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Natick

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On Sunday, Oct. 5, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Natick observed the Feast of St. Francis with its annual Blessing of the Animals.

Creatures 2D (photos) and 3D (complete with woofs and wagging tails, along with some meows) came forth to the altar to receive a blessing from Rev. Becky Binns, the church’s rector.

The event is usually held on the Sunday closest to the feast day, which is on Oct. 3. St. Francis of Assisi was a Catholic friar who founded the Order of Franciscans. St. Francis became renowned for his love of animals.

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church observed the Feast of St. Francis with its annualBlessing of the Animals.
Photos by Maureen L. Sullivan

 

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church observed the Feast of St. Francis with its annual Blessing of the Animals.

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church observed the Feast of St. Francis with its annual Blessing of the Animals.

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church observed the Feast of St. Francis with its annual Blessing of the Animals.

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church observed the Feast of St. Francis with its annual Blessing of the Animals

 

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St. Mark’s Coptic Orthodox Church in Natick celebrates 40th anniversary

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St. Mark’s Coptic Orthodox Church on Oak Street celebrated its 40 thanniversary with an open house.
St. Mark’s Coptic Orthodox Church celebrates its 40th (photo by Maureen L. Sullivan)

 

On Saturday, Oct. 4, St. Mark’s Coptic Orthodox Church on Oak Street in Natick celebrated its 40th anniversary with an open house. Visitors were invited to learn more about Coptic Orthodoxy, which formed in Egypt during the first century of Christianity.

Parishioners held presentations of food, music and crafts.

St. Mark’s was founded in 1986, when a group of parishioners purchased the site of a former Protestant church for $300,000. In 1990, the church welcomed its first full-time priest, Father Mousa Elgohary.

“He was like a grandfather to all of us,” said Mary Kaddis Attia, who conducted a program on the history of St. Mark’s.

A member of St. Mark’s Coptic Orthodox Church on Oak Street shows some of the vestmentsduring an open house
A St. Mark’s member shows off vestments during open house (Photo by Maureen L. Sullivan)

 

St. Mark’s Coptic Orthodox Church on Oak Street celebrated its 40 thanniversary with an open house.
Inside St. Mark’s (Photo by Maureen L. Sullivan)

 

Mary Kaddis Attia, whose father was among the founders of St. Mark’s Coptic Orthodox Churchon Oak Street, presents
Mary Kaddis Attia, whose father was among St. Mark’s founders, presents (photo by Maureen L. Sullivan)

 

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