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.
Natick Artists Open Studios, 
Natick Artist Open Studios, at the 23 Adams Street Studios. Denise Giardin, 
Natick Artist Open Studio, at First Congregational Church, Stephen Strout, 
Natick Artist Open Studios. 23 Adams Street Studios. Co-owner of Five Crows and watercolorist Ginger McEachern is in the midst of a yearlong creative process called “The Postcard Project.” She said in an Instagram post, “This year I have decided to paint a postcard each week and send it to a person in each of the 50 states as well as Washington D.C. and New York City. The purpose of this challenge for me is to focus my attention on watercolor painting, which is my true artistic passion.” McEachern individually painted each postcard, then stamped and addressed them back to herself (some readers may recall the now-archaic acronym, “SASE”—self addressed stamped envelope). “What I am counting on is for participants to write a brief “hello” note to me on the postcard and then drop it in the mail. I will eagerly await its return!” She didn’t just send them to randos. The outgoing McEachern somehow has either friends or friends of friends in all 50 states, DC, and NYC. Except for Mississippi. That’s the only hole in her project. So if you know anyone in Mississippi, help an artist out and contact her via Instagram at 
Natick Artist Open Studios, at First Congregational Church, painter 
Natick Artist Open Studios, at First Congregational Church, Carl Staley, from 
Natick Artists Open Studios, 23 Adams Street Studios. 
Natick Artist Open Studios. 
Ortiz wasn’t afraid to take his message of maintaining good health to a personal level to hit home with the crowd. “Health is something that’s very important to me,” he said. “Having a good team is really important because at the end of the day you don’t win a game all alone. That’s exactly how it goes with this insurance company. This plan really caught my attention because of all the benefits that they can provide for all of you.” Ortiz shared that his father is battling cancer, and that he has many older relatives with health issues.
David Ortiz, always the consummate people person, warmly greets a young fan.
David Ortiz leads a walk around the mall, along with Pooja Ika, the founder and CEO of eternalHealth. The Babson College graduate at 25 years old is the youngest woman to have launched a new Medicare Advantage Health Plan. “We really want to be able to promote wellness and education about how even just taking a simple walk outside can help promote better health,” she said.
Big Papi wasn’t the only athletic legend at the Natick Mall. In the audience was 