Natick Report

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

Natick vows changes following ‘really unfortunate incident’ involving Nipmuc tree harvesting

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Nipmuc nation members harvesting Atlantic white cedar trees at Pickerel Pond in Natick on May 5 were taken aback and frustrated when Natick police officers, responding to a call from a resident, appeared on the scene. After all, Andre StrongBearHeart Gaines, Jr., had arranged with the town’s Conservation Commission for himself and other Nipmuc citizens to conduct the harvest.

Natick Planner and Conservation Agent Claire Rundelli recounted the episode during the May 18 Natick Conservation Commission meeting (see Pegasus recording, about 46 minutes in) and vowed to improve communications going forward. She had worked with the Department of Public Works to get gates unlocked, allowing vehicles to pass, but had not notified police.

“The police responded, and while there were no charges pressed or arrests made, it was definitely a tense interaction,” Rundelli said. “Reasonably so, the Nipmuc people have very strongly reacted that there needs to be an improvement on the town of Natick side in terms of education and training for our law enforcement about aboriginal sovereign rights.”

“This was a really unfortunate incident…” she acknowledged. “There’s been a lot of discussion on the town side. I see this as a hopeful sort of point of moving forward and growing and learning. [Natick Police Chief James] Hicks has acknowledged that there’s a lot of learning that is needed from the police force.”

Rundelli cited work that has been done between Nipmuc nation and the police on Cape Cod regarding Indigenous rights. (We reached out to the Natick Police Department for comment on Thursday.) While Nipmuc members acknowledge the police need to respond to calls, the goal is for law enforcement to take more of “an aware and neutral approach than a suspicious and defensive approach,” Rundelli said.

Pickerel Pond path

 

Rundelli has been coordinating with members of the Nipmuc community to organize a meeting with town administration, the police, the state’s Commission on Indian Affairs, and others. This would serve as an acknowledgement of the event, allow for an apology “for the distress that it caused,” and give the town a chance to offer a commitment to new training on these rights.

Among the more basic steps that could be taken by the town would be putting up signs to alert the public when such activity might take place, and adding a page on the town website about sovereign rights.

The May 5 interaction between the Nimpuc members and police was captured on a video shared by Gaines on social media. At one point during the discussion, an officer used the term “trespass,” which a Conservation Commission member described as a “loaded” term in that circumstance. Gaines took exception to a question about whether he owned the land, which he explained his people have been on for 12,000 years. We reached out to Gaines for further comment, but he is currently engaged in a time-sensitive project involving harvested materials.

The town last spring documented efforts to work with members of the Nipmuc community and the state’s Department of Conservation & Recreation on proposals for harvesting in the short- and long-terms. It was explained that the materials would be used in part to build domed huts called wetus. There was discussion at the time at the Conservation Commission about using the proposals as an opportunity for public engagement on the traditional harvesting practice, done by local Indigenous people by hand and boat.

The town has also discussed enlisting our Nipmuc neighbors to help Natick address its challenges with beaver dams.

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Dive team recovers victim in Natick after canoe overturns

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Natick first responders and partner organizations responded early Saturday night to an incident on the Lake Cochituate sub-basin dubbed Fisk Pond, where an overturned canoe left one occupant swimming safely to shore but another dead.

The body of the man, whose identity hasn’t been disclosed, was discovered around 10:30pm using sonar.

The District 14 Dive Team, State Police and Massachusetts Environmental Police joined Natick police and fire on the scene at the south pond near the dog park on Rte. 135. What began as a rescue mission turned to a recovery operation.

Those who were on the water Saturday said that while the weather was beautiful, water was choppy.

Fisk Pond natick kayak

Please send news tips, photos, ideas to natickreport@gmail.com

Swastika painted at West Natick commuter rail station; Community gathering set for Sunday

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Natick police are investigating the appearance late Thursday of a swastika painted on the ground near the bridge at the West Natick commuter rail station as an antisemitic hate crime (vandalism).

Update: 4/23/23 (WCVB-TV reports on the march)

The outraged community took action to cover the antisemitic symbol with a message of love.

Then the Department of Public Works took more permanent action to cover the symbol.

The town of Natick and Select Board issued a statement about the incident:

“Natick unequivocally opposes all acts of hate, prejudice, intolerance or discrimination against all peoples,” stated Select Board Chair Bruce Evans. “These moments serve as a harsh reminder that we must stand vigilant as a community and continue to make progress via greater education and community outreach. I make this next statement on behalf of the Select Board, Town staff, and all who associate with Natick, this act is in full opposition to the morality & convictions of a Town fully committed to acceptance & belonging. As an important part of that, we are in the process of hiring a Director of Equity, Inclusion, and Outreach.

“In light of the recent rise in anti-Semitic incidents both nationwide and locally, I want to extend my thoughts and solidarity to the Jewish community. We’re not immune from despicable acts like this any more than any other community around the world, and we must stand in solidarity and make every attempt to better educate ourselves, in hopes that the next hateful incident is prevented. A silver lining did arise from this incident. As our Town staff approached the scene to remove this hateful act, it
came to our attention that residents had already rallied to ‘combat’ this act with beautiful chalk artwork drawn atop this hateful imagery and blotting it out. Thank you to all Natick residents who stand alongside myself, the Select Board, and Town staff.”

The chalk artwork will remain until Monday, then the town will paint over the swastika.

Rabbi Levi Fogelman of the Chabad Center of Natick wrote to the Chabad community that the center had received numerous calls regarding the antisemitic graffiti at the Boden Lane Bridge.

“The purpose of an anti semitic act such as this, is no doubt done to attempt to create intimidation and fear. But how we respond belongs to us,” wrote the rabbi, who continued that it needs to be condemned but also that “the best way to stop darkness is to double our efforts with light and goodness.”

Rabbi Fogelman has invited the entire community to meet at the spot of the graffiti this Sunday morning at 10:30 am, and then march together to the Chabad Center parking lot at 10:45 am to celebrate an annual event dedicated to Maimonidies and his teachings. “We will hear from the Natick Police department and be greeted by Community leaders,” he wrote.

Other religious leaders also responded to the incident.

Rev. Becky Binns of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church wrote to parishioners: “Acts of hatred like this are acts of terrorism, and terrorism against Jews cannot be tolerated or ignored by the Christian community, by the human family, or by any of us who claim to be about Love. ”

We reached out for comment from the ADL, which reported last month that antisemitic incidents in 2022 hit the highest level ever recorded in New England. In a statement, ADL New England Interim Regional Director Peggy Shukur said. “”When a swastika or any symbol of hate is in a public place, it impacts everyone who sees it.  This was the case this morning at the West Natick train station.  We are grateful to the many concerned citizens who both saw it and said something, to Natick Police and to ADL.  Incidents such as these are a reminder that antisemitism occurs on a near daily basis in Massachusetts: There were 152 antisemitic incidents in Massachusetts in 2022, 82 of them acts of vandalism including swastika graffiti.  We understand this harmful symbol has been removed, although the pain it caused all who saw it will continue to reverberate.”
Separately, an MBTA spokesperson wrote: “The Transit Police takes despicable acts such as this with the utmost seriousness. This particular incident has been documented by TPD and has been assigned for follow-up investigation to a detective assigned to our Criminal Investigation Unit.”
west natick commuter rail

More: Natick Freedom Team

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Natick taking part in Prescription Drug Take Back Day on April 22

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You can drop off old and unneeded prescription medicine in Natick on Saturday, April 22 from 10am-2pm at the Natick Police Department (20 E. Central St.) and Wegmans 2nd floor garage entrance at Natick Mall.

Natick’s taking part in the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency’s national Prescription Drug Take Back Day (find other collection locations). The idea is to get these drugs out of homes, where they could be misused and lead to addictions.

Natick’s numbers from its past 2 collection days, per the town’s Health Department:

  • 179 lbs of meds (4/30/22)
  • 180 lbs (10/29/22)

’60 Minutes’ segment on Natick couple’s harassment by eBay execs airing Sunday, March 26

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CBS’s “60 Minutes” takes its turn telling the well documented and awful story of eBay executives who in 2019 cyberstalked and harassed the Natick couple that publishes the eCommerceBytes newsletter.

The crimes, sparked by anger over coverage of eBay in the publication, have led to jail time for some of the former eBay execs.

The teaser for the segment raises the question: “Why would senior management at eBay, the popular Silicon Valley ecommerce giant want ‘terrorize’ a couple from a tiny town in Massachusetts who ran a website out of their home? That’s our story tonight…” (Hey, Natick’s not that “tiny”!)

In addition to interviewing the couple, David and Ina Steiner, “60 Minutes” spoke with Natick police officers on the case.

“60 Minutes” aired at 7pm on CBS locally on March 26, 2023. Watch the full segment.