Embracing diversity Archives - Page 4 of 14

Natick Martin Luther King, Jr. events— “Snacks for Students” drive & Jan. 16 celebration

January 9, 2023 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

The Martin Luther King, Jr. Day 2023 Celebration Committee invites Natick residents to participate in a “Snacks for Students” drive to help create a community in which all children’s needs are addressed. Everyone also is invited to attend the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Celebration on Jan. 16.

John F. Kennedy Middle School, Natick — The Martin Luther King, Jr. Day 2023 Celebration Committee will take place on Mon., Jan 16, 10am, at Kennedy Middle School, 165 Mill Street, Natick.

Where to drop off donations of snacks

Elementary families/caregivers may drop off snack donations in the front lobby of their elementary school through Jan. 13.
Anyone may drop donations in the box in the lobby of Town Hall through Jan. 13.
Bring donations to the MLK Jr. Celebration on Jan. 16, 10am, at Kennedy Middle School.

Types of snacks needed

Peanut-free individually packaged snacks (dried fruits, pretzels, chips, goldfish)
Cereal bars
Healthy granola bars
Applesauce (single serving)
Fruit cups (single serving)
Juice boxes

All are invited to the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Celebration

The Martin Luther King, Jr. Day 2023 Celebration Committee invites everyone to attend a celebration of the life and legacy of the civil rights leader on Mon., Jan 16, 10am, at Kennedy Middle School. The program will feature performances from student groups, Middle and High School MLK Day Creative Contest winners, remarks from community leaders and partners, Interfaith Clergy representatives, a moving keynote, and more. A Community Connection Event will immediately follow the program at 11am, with special MLK Day activities for all ages, and time to meet student groups, community organizations, neighbors and friends.

Register to attend in person at Kennedy Middle School in Natick. You can also livestream through Natick Pegasus or watch through Natick Community Television channels: RCN 3, Comcast 99, and Verizon 29

The 18th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Celebration + Community Connection Event is co-sponsored by the Greater Natick Interfaith Clergy Association, Natick Public Schools, Natick METCO, Natick Is United, the Natick Board of Health & Natick 180, the Town of Natick, Walnut Hill School for the Arts, and SPARK Kindness.

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Best Natick photos of 2022

December 30, 2022 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

Some days it seems the town of Natick just can’t take a bad picture. We took over 1,500 pics of the Home of Champions in 2022, and it was well worth the effort to create this look of a year in the life of one Massachusetts town.

We love it when readers share Natick slice-of-life and other photos with us. Please do: natickreport@gmail.com

In no particular order, we bring you our favorite images of Natick 2022.

Holi Festival

We should all age so gracefully

Walnut Hill, Natick — If you ever get the chance, join Natick Historical Society volunteer and local tour guide Vincent Vittoria for a walking tour of Natick’s Walnut Hill neighborhood. The area boasts dozens of beautiful, well-kept historic structures.

Ukraine walks a long road

rail trail ukraine — The Cochituate Rail Trail in this context serves as a metaphor for the long road the people of Ukraine travel as their country is under siege by Russian military power.

A much-anticipated annual holiday gift

natick police meter bags thanksgiving eve — Natick police bag parking meters so we won’t even think about dropping coins into slots during the holiday season.

Former South Natick church continues to get spruced up

Former Catholic Church, South Natick — The replacement of once decaying spires on the front of the former Sacred Heart Church at 28 Eliot St., in South Natick in the John Eliot Historic District has been turning heads. Extensive work also has been going on inside the building to transform it into an acrobatics and circus school

Coming up in the world

Thank a Natick veteran

Natick.Veteran.Earl.Fahey — Natick resident and Master Sgt. Earl Fahey, pictured on Veterans Day in Natick Center, served 21 years in the Army, in Germany and with the Yankee Division headquarters in the Boston Armory. Sgt. Fahey says to him Veterans Day will always be a time to “Remember all the people I served.”

It’s easy to pick out the cutest pumpkin in this patch

natick spooktacular common halloween — The pre-Halloween Natick Spooktacular event in Natick Center drew a big crowd of costumed kid and their families as a warm-up to the big night.

Resting their weary bones

Natick Porchfest rocks again

Natick Community Organic Farm has sheep, will travel

natick farm — Natick Community Organic Farm brought some sheep to Natick Common for a playdate. Photo by Ella Stern

First day of the school year at Johnson elementary

Crossing guard, Johnson School, Natick — Bob the crossing guard keeps everyone safe crossing busy route 27 to get to Johnson Elementary School. The last day of August was the first day of school for Natick students, and with temperatures that rose into the mid-80, there wasn’t a fall jacket or sweater to be seen.

Entrepreneurial spirit (and a sweet set-up)

2022 natick lemonade stand danny — Danny, a Kennedy Middle School student, runs a lucrative lemonade business on Circular Avenue (between South Main Street and Cottage Street) during warm weather days. The young entrepreneur sells cool, refreshing drinks from the stand, which he said was built a few years back by his grandmother.

Dramatic Natick skies

natick sky — Natick Center sunset after a July storm. (Photo by Laura Niedermeyer.)

Trying to hold back the tide

save natick dam — A group of over 30 seeking to Save Natick Dam held a rally in July that was covered by Natick Report (and big dawg news agencies from as far away as Boston). In November, the Natick Select Board voted 4-1 against repairing the dam and spillway (aka, waterfall) and in favor of removing the iconic structure. The vote is the start of a long process, with work on breaching the spillway not expected to begin for at least 5 years.

South Natick dam, spillway — South Natick dam spillway

Natick knows how to enjoy summer

natick concert on common — Natick summertime concert on the Common.

Graduates dressed in blue pick up the slack for the sky

Natick High School Class of 22 graduation — Natick High School class of 2022 graduation ceremony.

Natick encouraged to get out the vote…

election day signs — …however, fewer than 14% of registered voters cast ballots in the annual town election. That would be similar to last year’s underwhelming number. There’s always hope for next town election, which will be held on Tue., March 28, 2023.

They could have sold tickets for this ride

South Natick dam, fire department — Members of the Massachusetts District 14 Tech Rescue Team spent part of a March morning at the South Natick dam area to perform rope rescue training drills across the Charles River. Singly, a few team members were sent out on ropes strung across the waterfall side of the spillway, while their colleagues on either side of South Natick Dam Park kept the operation safe.

Dug Pond skating

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Natick’s Christmas worship schedule 2022

December 23, 2022 by Admin Leave a Comment

Natick has many houses of worship that observe Christmas. Whether you’re looking for a service for the kids (complete with a pageant), beautiful music, candlelight, in-person, or a live-streamed experience, check below for a soul-lifting experience. Make sure to check individual websites as you make your plans.

Christmas Eve takes place on Saturday, Dec. 24, followed by Christmas Day on Sunday, Dec. 25.

Annunciation Orthodox Church

37 Washington St., Natick, Mass. 01760
508-481-2028

Saturday, Dec.24, 5pm—Vesperal divine liturgy of St. Basil of Caesarea (Tone 4 and traditional carols), followed by a pot luck dinner in the Church Hall.

Boston Christian Assembly

26 Wellesley Rd., Natick, Mass. 01760
781-883-9708
Check their website for information.

The Bridge Metrowest

7 Strathmore Rd., Natick, Mass. 01760
508-651-0277

Dec. 24, 6pm, Christmas Eve service
Dec. 25, 10:15am, Christmas Day service

Christ Lutheran Church

113 Union St., Natick, Mass 01760
508-315-3170

Dec. 24, 4pm, carols, candlelight, communion
Dec. 25, 10am, Christmas Day communion

Common Street Spiritual Center

13 Common St., Natick, Mass. 01760
508-655-9636

Dec. 24, 4pm-5pm, Christmas Eve Open Circle including a contemplative encounter with the story of Jesus’ birth and the hope that story conveys. People of all faiths and backgrounds are welcome. The circle will include a time of candle-lighting and song.

Eliot Church of Natick

45 Eliot St, Natick, Mass. 01760
508-653-2244

Sat., Dec. 24, 5pm-6pm
Christmas Eve Family Service
Conor Eliot, Trumpet Soloist Conor Eliot will provide music during this in-person worship service, which will also be will be streamed online via YouTube.

Sun., Dec. 25—Merry Christmas (no services)

Fiske Memorial United Methodist Church

106 Walnut St., Natick, Mass. 01760
508-653-1674

Sat., Dec. 24, 5pm
Christmas Eve service
Carols, scripture and candlelight.

Sun., Dec. 25—Worship on Zoom only

First Congregational Church, UCC

2 E. Central St., Natick, Mass. 01760
508-653-0971

Dec. 24, 7pm, Candles and Carols worship
Dec. 25, 10:30am worship

First Church of Christ, Scientist

123 Union St., Natick, MA 01760
508-651-1689
Regular services on Sunday, December 25, 10am

Hartford Street Presbyterian Church

99 Hartford St., Natick, MA 01760
508-653-4839

Dec. 24, 7pm, Christmas Eve service
Dec. 25, 10:30am, Christmas Day service

Milestone Church

Natick venue
217 West Central Street, Natick, MA
781-235-6025
Check their website for information.

Natick Catholic Community — St. Linus Parish & St. Patrick Parish

St. Linus
119 Hartford St., Natick, Mass. 01760
508-653-5505

St. Patrick
44 E. Central St., Natick, Mass. 01760
508-653-1093

Dec. 24:

4pm, St. Patrick

4pm, St. Linus

Dec. 25:

7:30am, St. Patrick

9am, St. Linus

11am, St. Patrick

Natick Church of Christ

324 N. Main St., Natick, MA 01760
508-653-9678

Check their website for information.

St. Mark’s Coptic Orthodox Church

145 Oak St., Natick, Mass. 01760
774-534-1175
Check their website for information.

St. Paul’s Episcopal

39 E. Central St., Natick, Mass. 01760
508-655-5880

Dec. 24, 4 pm, Nativity Pageant with Eucharist
Dec. 24, 9pm, candlelight service with Eucharist
Dec. 25, 10am, worship service with Eucharist

Don’t see your Natick church’s Christmas services here? Contact us at natickreport@gmail.com for inclusion.

Natick, Newton historical groups create multimedia story about local Indigenous people

November 10, 2022 by Admin Leave a Comment

The Natick Historical Society and Historic Newton have published a multimedia story that highlights the experiences of Massachusett and Nipmuc people between 1646 and 1660 in the areas that are now Natick and Newton.

The story strives to consider viewpoints of the European and Indigenous people in telling the story of John Eliot’s Christian mission and the native people who lived in mission settlements.

The historical groups say the exhibit is timely in that both Natick and Newton are looking to redesign their municipal seals, which each show Eliot preaching to an audience of Indigenous people.

Newton’s historical museums are open. The Natick Historical Society remains open by appointment only.

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

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Natick resident group wants town to be sanctuary community

October 20, 2022 by Bob Brown 1 Comment

A group of Natick residents is urging the town to develop a sanctuary policy to help “protect our non-citizen friends and neighbors.” It sounds as though this could become an agenda item for a future Natick Select Board meeting after resident Cody Jacobs read a letter from the Natick Sanctuary Policy Coalition at the start of this week’s Board meeting during citizen speak.

The letter, signed by more than 50 residents, in part reads:

It’s no secret that immigrants are under attack in our country today. Turning on the news, we see immigrants used for political purposes, characterized incorrectly, demonized, criminalized, and scapegoated. Immigrants face all these barriers, on top of a complex legal apparatus, simply for wanting to come to this country to make a better life for themselves and their families just as many of our own ancestors did. Here in Natick, we take a different approach. We are a town that prides itself on being welcoming to everyone. We have a school system that teaches kids to respect each other and embraces the strength of our increasingly diverse student population. We have a police department that has taken on a leadership role on anti-bias training and helping people from all walks of life. And we have a Select Board that has committed to equity and inclusion as one of its core goals for our town government. That’s why it is time for Natick to join a growing list of municipalities around the Commonwealth and around the country who have committed to being an immigration sanctuary jurisdiction. Being a sanctuary town means treating everyone the same regardless of immigration status…

Other Massachusetts communities have taken steps in recent years to become sanctuary communities, though not without some opposition from those who argue this can risk public safety and cost federal tax monies.

The Natick coalition points to Acton, Concord, Maynard, and Newton as other municipalities that have become sanctuary communities. The state’s role in this issue has also been much discussed of late given high profile incidents in Martha’s Vineyard and Methuen.

In submitting its letter to the Natick Select Board, the coalition accompanied it with a handy American Civil Liberties Union model sanctuary policy document.

Download (PDF, 133KB)

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