Natick Report

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

Curl up outside with a good book in Natick’s new Outdoor Reading Rooms

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In celebration of the Morse Institute Library’s 150th anniversary, the Town of Natick, the Morse Institute Library, and local artists have partnered to install and maintain two temporary Outdoor Reading Rooms on the front lawn of the Morse Institute Library.

Outdoor Reading Rooms are open-air ‘rooms’ where anyone may sit and read—no library card needed.

Take a look at the Outdoor Reading Room installations on the front lawn of the Morse Institute Library. No need to sequester yourself inside with a good book when there are welcoming spaces outside.

Natick Library, outdoor reading room

Natick Library, outdoor reading room

Natick Library, outdoor reading room

The Outdoor Reading Rooms will serve the community through the summer months.

This public art program is possible due to the generosity of Cognex and the New England Foundation for the Arts.

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Natick seeks input on accessible cycling program for rail trail

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The public is invited to fill out a survey before April 14 about a trial program being planned by Natick to bring adaptive and accessible cycling to the Cochituate Rail Trail.

The survey is for those who might want to use such equipment, those who might want to help others use it, and anyone who has experience with such programs or has ideas about the program.

If you need assistance completing the form, please contact Melissa Carter, coordinator of adaptive programs for the Recreation and Parks Department at mcarter@natickma.org.

The town’s plan is to acquire an adaptive/accessible bicycle and a storage shed, and offer opportunities for riders or their families to make a reservation. Users would be matched with a volunteer who will give them a ride.

TriShaw Example 3

The MetroWest Health Foundation and MathWorks Community Grant Program are supporting this trial.

heading from natick to framingham rte 30 bridge rail trail

Take a load off: Natick getting more public Adirondack chairs

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Natick’s starting to look downright lazy given the amount of Adirondack chairs in the wild here.

The Common will be the next place in AdiroNatick to get an infusion of these high-backed, slatted lounge chairs, thanks to a partnership between the Recreation and Parks Commission and Natick Center Cultural District. The chairs will be located near the gazebo and will of course, get fancy paint jobs by local artists.

If you get shut out of an Adirondack chair at the Common this summer, rest assured that you can always head over to the First Church across the street….

natick nights chairs fcc

adirondacks first chuch

Or Shaw Park in South Natick….

Shaw Park, South Natick

Or at Morse Institute Library…

adirondack chairs at morse institute library

Or the top of Pegan Hill…

Adirondacks at pegan hill

Or at a neighbor’s house…

 

adirondack natick

Or nearby at Elm Bank Reservation…

elm bank adirondack chair

Or…?

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Volunteers invited to join Natick rail trail cleanup on March 11

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Volunteers are encouraged to take part in a cleanup of the Cochituate Rail Trail in Natick on Saturday, March 11 from around 9-11am. Volunteers will meet at the AMVETS Post #79 parking lot at 79 Superior Dr. Bring work gloves if you have them, but other supplies will be provided by organizers.

The cleanup is being organized by MAS Building & Bridge, the primary contractor on the trail. They will focus on the trail between the Rte. 9 and Rte. 30 bridges.

new years rail trail

Save the date: Maple Magic pancake breakfast at Natick Organic Farm, March 4

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Don’t miss the Natick Community Organic Farm‘s Maple Magic Pancake Breakfast on Saturday, March 4, 8am-10am, at the Memorial Elementary School cafeteria, 107 Eliot St., Natick.

Load up on all you can eat pancakes with all the fixins, and plenty of real, local maple syrup made from sap collected from area maple trees and boiled down in the farm’s sugar shack. Vegan and gluten free options will be available.

There will be live music, a raffle, and more.

Members $10/adults, $5 child under 12. Non-members $12/adult, $6 child under 12.

Natick Community Organic Farm, sap buckets

 

Natick Community Organic Farm, Natick

Take a sweet tour

Freezing nights in the 20s and warm days in the 40s trigger the sugar maple sap run, which starts the farm’s sugaring season. Learn the science and history of “sugaring” during tours at the NCOF that start Feb. 11 and run through March 11.

Visitors will learn Indigenous people and Colonist historical techniques for making maple sugar. Learn about tree identification, qualities of sap and syrup, how to tap, and more at the farm’s outdoor displays and tapped trees. If the weather’s just right, tour groups will watch sap dripping into buckets and boiling in the sugar shack.

Even though Mother Nature can’t guarantee the sap run (and boiling) on any given day, tours are still interesting and fun, and offer visitors a fascinating view of this enduring New England tradition.

Tours are one hour long and are open to the public for a $10 fee per person. Babes in carriers are free.