Natick Report

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

Town of Natick, holidays schedule

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The Town of Natick will follow a holiday schedule on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, and on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. Here’s the breakdown:

Natick Town Hall

Department of Public Works

Curbside trash and recycling will be delayed one day in observance of Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. Regular Friday collections will occur on Sat., Dec. 26th & Sat., Jan. 2nd.

Natick Public Schools break

All Natick Public School buildings will be closed for winter break from Thur., Dec. 24 through Fri., January 1, 2021.

School will resume on Mon., Jan. 4, 2021

Town buildings

Please remember that most Town buildings remain closed to the public due to the ongoing pandemic. Staff is working remotely and available to respond to all questions, emails, and phone calls.

All departments will be closed on Thur., Dec. 25 and Fri. Jan. 1, 2021

Beginning on Saturday, December 26, new State guidelines will further reduce capacity limits to 25% for most businesses, offices, restaurants, libraries, and other industries.

These new limits will be in effect until Saturday, January 9, 2021 but may be extended longer.

Morse Institute holiday hours

Morse Institute Library is closed to in-person browsing due to the pandemic.

Contact the library for services such as contactless hold pickup appointments. Or try out the new Walk-up Window, which allows patrons to pick up holds with no appointment necessary. Come to the library and line up outside along the ramp, where you will be protected from the elements with the library’s new Holiday Window Display. This exciting initiative gives you the flexibility to pick up your items on your time, with expanded hours during the week and on weekends. More information here.

Thur., Dec. 24, 2pm closing
Fri., Dec. 25 and Sat., Dec. 26, closed
Thur., Dec. 31, 2pm closing
Fri., Jan. 1, closed
Sat., Jan. 2, closed

Bacon Free Library

The Bacon Free Library (BFL) is closed to in-person browsing due to the pandemic.

The BFL will be open for curbside pickup on Thursday Dec. 24, 10am-2pm.

Friday Dec. 25, closed
Thur., Dec. 31, 2pm closing
Fri., Jan. 1, closed

Morse Institute Library cites community COVID-19 spike for halting in-person browsing

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Morse Institute Library in Natick, which reopened for in-person browsing in mid-August, is temporarily halting the option due to a rise in COVID-19 cases in the area.

Alternatives will include doing contactless curbside pickup by appointment or taking advantage of what the library is calling its walk-up window for picking up holds without an appointment. This latter approach entails lining up on the ramp outside, then getting called into the library to interact with a librarian using a bank teller-like window.

morse institute library peace

Director bids farewell

Library director Jason Homer, who spent 4 years with Morse Institute though less than a year as director, is moving on to become executive director at the Worcester Public Library.

In a farewell letter, Homer writes in part: “I look back on the last 4 years with great pride at all the Morse Institute Library has accomplished while I was here. We expanded hours to meet the needs of the community (prior to COVID-19), we performed an extensive RFID implementation of all library materials, we expanded library usage both in person and online including the launch of our new Digital Branch, and even saw dramatic increases in attendance to Library programs.”

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Last day for early voting in Natick is Fri., Oct. 30th

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Early in-person voting for the 2020 Elections runs through Friday, October 30 at the Morse Institute Library (14 E. Central St.).

Early voting hours in Natick are:

Monday through Wednesday, 9am – 4pm
Thursday, 9am – 6pm
LAST DAY TO EARLY VOTE IS Friday, OCT. 30,  9am – noon

vote here morse institute library

Registered Natick voters, regardless of precinct, may cast early ballots at the Morse Institute.

Absentee and vote-by-mail ballots should be returned by mail or hand-delivered to the secure Elections drop box in front of Town Hall.

The polls will be open at the Morse Institute on Election Day, which is Tue., Nov. 3.

For questions about voting, ballots or the election process, please email vote@natickma.org or call 508-647-6430 x4.

Vote early in Natick through October 30th

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Early in-person voting for the 2020 Elections runs through Friday, October 30 at the Morse Institute Library (14 E. Central St.).

Early voting hours in Natick are:

Mondays through Wednesdays, 9am – 4pm
Thursdays, 9am – 6pm
Fridays, 9am – noon
Saturdays and Sundays, 10am – 3pm

vote here morse institute library

Registered Natick voters, regardless of precinct, may cast early ballots at the Morse Institute.

Absentee and vote-by-mail ballots should be returned by mail or hand-delivered to the secure Elections drop box in front of Town Hall.

For questions about voting, ballots or the election process, please email vote@natickma.org or call 508-647-6430 x4.

Bargains to be had at Natick library Book Nook sale

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Friends of the Morse Institute Library will celebrate the fifth anniversary of the Book Nook—touted as Natick’s only bookstore—during the week of Oct. 18-24 with a sale.

Among the attractions will be a wide selection of music CDs priced at $1 apiece, half off the usual price. Be aware that the Nook is exact change only at the nearby Honor Box.

The Nook is supplied through donations of books, CDs/DVDs, games, and puzzles.

The Nook is open during library hours. All proceeds from sales help the Friends support Library
programs, including museum passes and Speed Reads.

Morse Institute Library, Natick

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