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Annual Family Promise Walk to End Homelessness will be May 13-15

April 28, 2022 by Admin Leave a Comment

Join Family Promise Metrowest during The Walk to End Homelessness, the non-profit organization’s largest fundraiser of the year. All funds raised go toward transforming the lives of families with children facing homelessness across the Metrowest region. Choose your own walk route between May 13 and May 15 and raise awareness and funds for families facing homelessness.

family promise metrowest

The 13th annual walk will feature independent walks throughout surrounding towns with participants’ friends, families, or organizations. Walkers choose their own route and raise awareness and funds for families in need. Walk 10 minutes or 10 miles, it’s up to you!

Register here.

Unable to participate in a walk? Donations are gratefully accepted.

Filed Under: Charity/Fundraising, Community, Neighbors, Volunteering



Natick’s next square dedication: Atherton & High for the Radock family

March 23, 2022 by Bob Brown Leave a Comment

The Natick Select Board this Wednesday is slated to hear a request to dedicate a square at the corner of Atherton and High Streets in honor of Anna and Edward Radock, who both served during World War II. The ceremony would take place at noon on March 26, marking Edward’s 98th birthday.

Update (3/26/22): Channel 5 interviewed Mr. Radock.

We’ve embedded the town’s resolution regarding the Radocks below.

According to the request by Natick Director of Veterans Services Paul Carew, “Anna served in the Navy {WAVE} from 5/4/1943 to 12/6/1945 reaching the rank of Yeoman 2nd Class. Edward served in the Navy from 11/3/1942 to 1/ 23/1946 reaching the rank of Radarman Second Class. Ed and Anna raised their children on Atherton Street.”

This information was brought to Carew’s attention by a retired Natick Police Department sergeant. Edward Radock worked for NPD toward the end of his career.

Learn more about Edward Radock through the Natick Veterans Oral History Project. The MetroWest Daily News also profiled him in 2014.

Download (PDF, 64KB)

More: Natick honors Kaufman family Vietnam veterans with square dedication


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Filed Under: Neighbors, Veterans



Natick resident embraces the spirit of kindness in holiday lights display

December 23, 2021 by Deborah Brown 2 Comments

Not every neighborhood has a holiday lights display designed to bring people together in a place where they can feel safe and connect with the Christmas spirit. That’s because not every neighborhood has someone like Brooke Ferrelli, who has made it her mission in life to generate a feeling of goodwill that visitors to the exterior of her 62 Pond Street, Natick, home will experience year-round.

Natick Christmas display

The many inflatables that grace the property include penguins, Mickey and Minnie Mouse, the Abominable Snowman, elves, a gingerbread man, the Grinch, snowmen, and  of course, Santa. In the side yard there’s a sofa in front of a fire pit, complete with fleece blankets to encourage lingering and conversation on cold winter nights. Multiple strings of lights keep everything aglow, and every kid who visits comes away with a present.

“I’m trying to show that if you just connect and show a little bit of kindness, it comes back to you a million times,” Brooke says. “Maybe if people see some sort of kindness in life, that will stick with them—because it stuck with me—and it will carry on and be passed on.”

Natick Christmas display

Brooke grew up as the oldest of five kids and has fond memories of life in a big family. She and her siblings weren’t raised with a lot in the way of material things. “We didn’t really have a lot of money,” she says. “We had a big family, we had a car, and we had Christmas music. We had the ability to hop in our car, put on Christmas music, and drive around and look at peoples’ lights. That’s what I carry with me from my childhood—the lights, the caroling, seeing family. That’s the essence of Christmas, to me. It was never about the presents for us. It was about really embracing the spirit of kindness and just enjoying it.”

Brooke always remembered the magic of those holiday displays from her childhood. As soon as she had a home of her own, she set about recreating the joy. Her hope was that she could share something that would help others feel the same excitement as that young girl in a car packed with brothers and sisters, oohing and ahhing over the lights, belting out Christmas carols.

Natick Christmas display

“I was 20 when I moved into my first house in Waltham. I had a porch, and my best friend and I would go crazy, and we’d decorate the whole outer porch and really go all out,” Brooke says. That was over 20 years ago. “I just carried it on as I moved here.”

She keeps the inflatables going all night, right into the morning so kids going to school will see a display at its best. Brooke firmly believes that no kid headed off to class needs to be confronted by a shriveled up, air-less Santa splayed out on the frozen ground. “The kids stop here because I put candy canes out every day, so they stop and get candy canes on their way to school and they know they’ll be refreshed on their way back, and you can see their smiles.”

Natick Christmas display

Generally speaking, everyone is respectful, she says. “I had problems about five years ago. but I kept going because I said the darkness isn’t going to take away the light. You can destroy my stuff, but you’re not going to destroy the spirit.”

For weeks after the vandalism, neighbors dropped off replacement decorations. There haven’t been any problems since.

Natick Christmas display

At its core, the display is Brooke’s labor of love. “It’s not about the money, it’s not about how much it costs, it really is about if I can just bring a little bit of cheer to somebody’s life with a little bit of light, a little bit of hope, a little bit of kindness—isn’t that what it’s all about?”

Brooke keeps her display up through Jan. 6 for the enjoyment of all.

Natick Christmas display

In her professional life, Brooke creates beauty as the principal of Eminent Design landscaping company (508-397-1193). She plants and maintains flowers, shrubs, and entire gardens, mows, and handles seasonal clean-ups. When the snow flies, she does residential plowing.

Natick Christmas display


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Filed Under: Community, Holidays, Neighbors

Natick Multicultural Day to offer food, fun, celebration

August 27, 2021 by Admin Leave a Comment

The Natick Center Cultural District presents the 5th annual Natick Multicultural Day event on Saturday, August 28, 11am-2pm, at the Common Street Spiritual Center at 13 Common St. alongside Natick Common.

The event will celebrate the many cultures within the community by featuring food, music, dance, performances, and the sharing of traditions found within the different ethnicities in town

This event is free and open to the public and strives to build deeper connections among community members through education, entertainment and fun.

Natick Multicultural Day

Filed Under: Art, Community, Entertainment, Neighbors

“Common Good Food Pantry” installed in Natick Center

June 10, 2021 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

On the corner of School and Common Streets in Natick Center a mini free-food pantry has sprung up, installed by a local family in collaboration with the Common Street Spiritual Center. Dubbed “The Common Good Pantry,” the community resource has been put in place as a response to the issue of widespread food insecurity as many neighbors increasingly find it difficult to fill their kitchen shelves with healthy food for their families.

Common Good Food Pantry, Natick

Volunteers will start stocking the Common Good Pantry shelves later this month with items such as cereal, personal care products, canned goods, and more. At that time, everyone will be welcome to access the donated items.

“Even before COVID there was a lot of community need out there, and it hasn’t gone away even though things are opening up more,” said Ian Mevorach, Minister and Director of the Spiritual Center.

Natick residents Suzanne and Roger Alcott, along with their three daughters Olivia, Grace, and Katelyn, and family friend Sara Goldstein-Weiss worked to make the vision for the pantry a reality. Katelyn and Sara created the artwork for the pantry. C & T Design Center donated the paint and paint brushes.

Common Good Food Pantry, Natick

Details are still coming together as organizers finish the signage, which will include instructions for use. We’ll do a follow up post regarding ways community members can help out with the project.

Filed Under: Community, Food, Health, Neighbors

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