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Needham Bank, Natick
 

Counting down to Natick Days on Sept. 9

September 5, 2023 by Bob Brown Leave a Comment

The annual Natick Days festival celebrating the community, especially its non-profit organizations,  is set to return to Natick Common and the surrounding area on Sept. 9 from 10am-3pm.

Depending upon how you count, it’s actually the 25th anniversary of the event, which started in 1998, though skipped 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

It has returned with strength since then, and this year’s edition should be no different. Well, actually, it will be a bit different, with a photo booth from the Recreation & Parks Department, a digital payment option for tickets, and more for what’s expected to be at least 8,000 attendees (no dogs allowed).

Rec & Parks takes the lead on the event, supported by the Natick Center Cultural District, plus sponsors.

2021 natick days crowd

 

For Rec & Parks Director Travis Farley, this will be his first Natick Days since joining the town. However, he comes to Natick from Norwood, where he was superintendent for the Recreation Department, and that community had a big festival of its own.

Farley says he’s looking forward to seeing how Natick Days plays out with more than 130 tables, more than it’s had since before the pandemic. Food trucks, games, and other activities should keep young and old entertained.


Got any amazing Natick Days memories or anecdotes you’d be willing to share? We can always update this post… natickreport@gmail.com


Deputy Town Administrator Jon Marshall, a Natick native, says Natick Days emerged to address a need for charitable groups to raise awareness and funds. An increasing number of them had started to inundate the Rte. 135/27 intersection in Natick Center by collecting money in boots during traffic stops, and the then Board of Selectmen recognized a need for a different approach to be taken.

Former Selectman Jay Ball, former Rec Superintendent Dick Cugini, Natick Farmers’ Market co-found Deb Sayre, and others were among those who got and kept the event going.

“From the start, it’s been a collaborative effort among Park & Rec, public safety organizations, local businesses, and others,” Marshall says. “It’s become a really good showcase for all the groups that support the community.”

Among those being showcased is Keep Natick Beautiful, which will be doling out homemade walking sticks and milkweed seeds, among other goodies.

Tens of thousands of dollars are raised through the event for good causes.

As for Marshall’s own fond memories of the event, he reflects on an opportunity he had to go up in the bucket truck as part of the Sassamon Trace golf ball drop. This raffle involved dumping a bunch off golf balls with people’s names on them from the sky and a lucky winner getting a membership.

Why is Natick Days called “Days,” plural? Sayre tells us that “It was Days because there used to be a Friday night football game at the high school which we said was the kick off…and Days sounds better than Day.”

Athena Pandolf, executive director for Natick Center Cultural District, summed up the event this way: “I think the focus on a town hosting an event that supports its non-profits & high school groups for over 20 years shows its commitment, in word and deed, to the community members.”


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Filed Under: Community


Natick honors 60th anniversary of March on Washington

August 28, 2023 by Bob Brown Leave a Comment

Community members joined on Saturday morning to honor the 60th anniversary of the March on Washington, beginning at the Natick Common gazebo and marching to the Morse Institute Library for remarks, a poetry reading, and reflections on footage of the Aug. 28, 1963 march.

The event was presided over  by Troy Smith, the town’s new director of equity, inclusion, and outreach, and included comments from Natick for Black Lives Matters’ Deborah Mitchell, longtime Natick contributors Jay and Erica Ball, Select Board member Paul Joseph, and others.

march on washington event at morse institute library

 

Reflecting on the March, Erica Ball recalls “the sheer size was overwhelming,” as was the participation of people of different races, young, and old, at the historic event. She ended with words of support for how “loving and inclusive” the community of Natick has become.

Coming from a long line of activists, Mitchell said we’ve progressed significantly on racial justice issues, but still have a long way to go as we focus on “the continuation of the Dream” of which Martin Luther King, Jr., spoke.

The Select Board’s Joseph emphasized that work remains to be done in Natick as long as anyone feels unwelcome here. The social change we need, he said, is for people to do what they can and take an ownership role in the process.

A musical interlude featuring Sam Cooke’s “A Change is Gonna Come” and an address by Bishop Frank E. Kelly wrapped up the event.

 

Troy Smith, the town's new director of equity, inclusion, and outreach

 

Jay and Erica Ball

 

Myriam Hernandez-Jennings

 

Natick for Black Lives Matters' Deborah Mitchell

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Filed Under: Community, Embracing diversity



Natick Multicultural Day on the Common a true variety show

August 27, 2023 by Bob Brown Leave a Comment

Community members gathered on Natick Common on Saturday to learn about and celebrate different cultures and talents, from classical Chinese dance to Bollywood performances and songs from members of Natick’s Praying Indians.

We captured some of the action at Natick’s 7th annual Multicultural Day.

Natick Praying Indians Quiet Storm Multicultural Day

 

Natick India Group

 

natick india group

 

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Bollywood dancers

 

natick india group multicultural day

Dhol Tasha

 

Drum Nomads Multicultural Day

 

Association of Romanians in New England

 

origami

Natick Multicultural Day


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Filed Under: Community, Embracing diversity

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Scenes from local TV news ‘Zip Trip’ to Natick

August 25, 2023 by Bob Brown Leave a Comment

Many from Natick showed their hometown spirit to the Boston 25 News crew and audience by making their way on soggy Friday morning to the Common to be part of the local news station’s “Zip Trip” broadcast. Zip Trips involve sprinkling in stories about a spotlight community throughout the morning news broadcast.

In this case, that meant appearances from local groups and businesses, such as Morse Tavern, scouts, high school band, cheer, and unified team members, and more. Vendors made their pitches from tents situated around the increasingly muddy Common as the morning wore on.

It was a little weird for us to be reporting on reporters, but we look forward to Boston 25 News returning the favor and posting about Natick Report in the future…

Natick High cheer squad

 

boston 25 news zip trip

 

natick zip trip boston 25 news

 

natick firefighter and gus the wonderpug

 

Natick, Zip Trip, Boston 25 News, Scouts

 

Natick unified sports team zip trip common

 

Natick, Zip Trip, Boston 25 News, NHS band seniors

 

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Natick police zip trip

 

Natick, Zip Trip, Boston 25 News, Lookout Farm

 

Natick, Zip Trip, Boston 25 News, Fire Department

 

Natick High band in the gazebo zip trip common

 

Natick, Zip Trip, Boston 25 News, Health Dept.

 

Natick, Zip Trip, Boston 25 News, Kid Strong

 

Morse Tavern zip trick natick common

 

Natick, Zip Trip, Boston 25 News


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Filed Under: Community

Busy Saturday on Natick Common: Multicultural Day, March on Washington event

August 25, 2023 by Bob Brown Leave a Comment

Natick Common won’t get a chance to relax after Friday morning’s “Zip Trip” action, as Saturday will prove to be busy, too.

Multicultural Day

Multicultural Day is back for year #7, and will highlight the community’s diversity through displays and performances. Multicultural Day goes from 11am-2pm on Natick Common.

Athena Pandolf, executive director for the Natick Center Cultural District, says 16 groups are slated to host booths representing cultures from Romania, Guatemala, China, and the Ivory Coast. Local groups, such as Natick Historical Society, Natick is United, Natick Immigration Policy Coaltion, and SPARK Kindness, will also be on hand.

Natick Multicultural Day

 

Performances this year will be from the Natick Praying Indians, the Drum Nomads, and the Natick India Group.
Food vendors will be selling their delicacies as well.

Event schedule:

11:00 – 11:20 am Move With Eve

Teaching Line Dance, Jerusalema

11:30 – 11:40 pm Rajesh Pai and Students

Tabla (Traditional drums from India)

11:50– 12:10 pm Denise Moyo, Poet

Mbira (Traditional Shona songs)

12:20 – 12:35 pm Minghui Academy Boston

Classical Chinese Dance of the Phoenix Fairy
Dance of the Monkey King
Reading of the story of Hua Mulan by Sophie Liu
Dance of the “Ballad of Mulan”

12:45 – 1:00 pm Drum Nomads

1:10 – 1:25 pm Natick Praying Indians

1:30– 2:00 pm Performances from Natick India Group

Tanav Patkar – Violin (Hindi Hum Honge Kamayab/
We Shall Overcome)
Ahan and Ahana – Fisherman/Koli Folk dance
Ishitha – Bollywood Dance
Krutika and Shresta – Bollywood Medley
Saanika, Rishika, and Akshaya – Bollywood Medley
Purnima Thakre Group – World Music Dance
ISW Group – Dhol Tasha (A combination of percussion instruments)

Celebration of 60th anniversary of March on Washington

While at the Common, you can also honor the 60th anniversary of the March on Washington.

The event is beginning at 10am at the gazebo on the Town Common.

At 10:30 am participants will March to the Morse Institute Library, Lebowitz Meeting Hall, for a morning reflection, live stream of the event in DC, film footage from the 1963 March on Washington, with music, and live speeches.

All are welcome to join at any time.


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

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Filed Under: Community, Embracing diversity

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