Time for Natick to dig out those reusable bags

July 15, 2020 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

Reusable bags are back, baby.

Bags, Wellesley — The bags situation is a little out of hand at our house, so it’s welcome news that reusable bags are back.

We’ve amassed quite a collection of single-use paper and plastic bags in our home since March 25, when the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) temporarily suspended the use of reusable bags due to COVID-19 concerns. One day the well-trained shoppers of Natick could be seen with an armload of canvas totes, or well-worn paper bags on perhaps the last Roche Bros. run of their lives before finally falling apart. The next day, those bags were banished to the back of the trunk for the foreseeable future.

Health officials have since determined there is a low risk of contracting COVID-19 from resuable bags, so we can all pull those sacks out of obscurity and once again go about the business of saving the planet.

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Natick 180 Steering Committee online meeting on July 8

July 7, 2020 by Bob Brown Leave a Comment

Zoom into an online steering committee meeting from 8:30-10am on Wednesday, July 8 for Natick 180, a community coalition that focuses on preventing and reducing substance abuse in town.

Agenda items (embedded below) include reports from police, fire, health and school departments, as well as partners such as MetroWest Medical Center, SOAR Natick, SPARK Kindness and Natick Interfaith Clery Association.

Natick 180 focuses on substances ranging from alcohol to opioids.

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Natick Mask Drive-Thru: July 2, 10am-noon

July 1, 2020 by Bob Brown Leave a Comment

The tireless Natick/Sherborn Sewing Support Group just keeps on giving…

Natick Food Pantry— keeping the shelves stocked during pandemic

May 28, 2020 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

The Natick Food Pantry has experienced a sharp increase in requests for food assistance due to the coronavirus pandemic. To meet this need, the pantry has remained open while addressing the health and safety of clients, volunteers, and staff.

The pantry, which operates under the umbrella of the Natick Service Council (NSC), has switched to a contact-less curbside pick-up model of food distribution. Clients schedule an appointment, and each family receives 2 -4 bags of food, depending on the family size. Formally, clients were able to shop the shelves, but that system is on hold for now to minimize community contact.

What hasn’t changed — families still are provided with up to two weeks of nutritious foods, including fresh fruits, vegetables, low fat dairy products, lean meats and personal care items.

The pantry is still managing to keep the shelves stocked in large part through a partnership with the Greater Boston Food Bank (GBFB). This partnership has allowed the pantry to purchase large quantities of essential food pantry items at a fraction of the cost of large stores. The GBFB operates under stringent health and safety measures to ensure the food the NSC is distributing is safe.

Never have monetary donations been more needed. Here’s how you can donate to the Natick Service Council and help them continue to serve clients while minimizing community contact.

Should you need any assistance, please call the Natick Service Council office at 508-655-1791.

The Natick Service Council’s annual appeal

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

May 12, 2020 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

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