Natick ‘microenterprises’: Get your share of $300M in grants

July 29, 2020 by Bob Brown Leave a Comment

Natick is looking for small for-profit businesses, those with five or fewer employees, to apply for up to $10K apiece from a pool of $300,000. These federal funds are being delivered through the state to help business affected by COVID-19-related revenue losses.

Natick is one of 23 communities distributing funds under the overall $4.95M program, administered by the Massachusetts Growth Capital Corp., and locally by Natick’s Community & Economic Development Department, Economic Development Department, and Natick Center Associates. Natick applied for the funding in early June as part of a regional consortium of 17 communities, led by Ashland.

Certain types of businesses, including real estate rentals and weapons businesses, are not eligible. Other rules apply as well.

(If pickings are slim, Natick can certainly look no further than right here: We launched Natick Report on April 1 while staring into the teeth of COVID-19. We’re not technically based in Natick…but so close, and our publication’s focus is purely on Natick.)

If interested in the grant opportunity, reach out to Ted Fields, Senior Planner, Town of Natick, at 508-647-6450 or tfields@natickma.org

Applications will be available in coming weeks.

More: Subscribe to our Natick Report daily email

Those Natick summer reading books aren’t going to read themselves—time to get serious

July 28, 2020 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

Summer is slipping away, and that means it’s time for students to make sure they get their assigned summer reading done by the first day of school which is, as of right now, September 1. Timing is essential. Read the books too early in the summer, and memories of plot, theme, and character development fade. Leave it too late, and the stress of finishing the books overshadows the enjoyment of curling up for a transporting experience.

Don’t anybody panic, there’s still plenty of time to get students engaged in that most lovely of summer activities, cozying up with a good book.

We’ve listed the summer reading books for Natick public schools students in grades 5 – 12, along with links for more information. Students in grades K – 4 don’t have a formal summer reading requirement, but the Morse Institute Children’s Room librarians have put together the perfect list for them, too. Contact the library at (508) 647-6520 to find out how to access that list.

Summer reading, Natick Middle School (Kennedy & Wilson)

Incoming Grade 8:

All Natick Middle School 8th graders have one required book to read over the summer — The Outsiders, by S.E. Hinton
In addition to the required text, students should read at least two other books.

Incoming Grade 7 — read one below, and two of your choice:

Look Both Ways, by Jason Reynolds
The Next Great Paulie Fink, by Ali Benjamin
In addition to the required text, students should read at least two other books.

Incoming Grade 6 — read one below, and two of your choice:

Song for a Whale, by Lynne Kelly
Ghost, by Jason Reynolds
To: Night Owl From: Dogfish, by Holly Goldberg Sloan & Meg Wolitzer
In addition to the required text, students should read at least two other books.

Incoming Grade 5 — read one below, and two of your choice:

Because of the Rabbit, by Cynthia Lord
Enginerds, by Jarrett Lerner
In addition to the required text, students should read at least two other books.

Natick’s Language & Literacy teachers have put together questions on each book, which will help students be ready for in-class discussions, essays, and other learning experiences. You can find the information at this link.

Summer reading, Natick High School

All students must choose one book from the list of six options below. In the fall, students will participate in a small group discussion on the major themes and topics of their chosen text.

Children of Blood and Bone, by Tomi Adeyemi
Craig and Fred: A Marine, A Stray Dog, and How They Rescued Each Other, by Craig Grossi
Far from the Tree by Robin Benway
Long Way Down, by Jason Reynolds
Patron Saints of Nothing, by Randy Ribay
Piecing Me Together, by Renee Watson

Info here on how to access an Ebook for free with your library card though Hoopla and Libby.

Info here for additional Honors and AP requirements.

Natick elementary schools

There are no formal summer reading requirements or assignments for grades K – 4. But don’t let that stop kids from enjoying all the good books they can get their hands on. Contact the Morse Institute Library at (508) 647-6520 to find out how to access a list the librarians have put together.

More: Subscribe to our Natick Report daily email

Natick outdoor dining update: VFW Post #1274, Dah-Mee have plans

July 25, 2020 by Bob Brown Leave a Comment

More Natick establishments have plans to offer food and alcohol outside, pending Select Board approval next week.

While Dah-Mee in Natick Center has already begun offering outdoor dining, it’s looking to expand its territory into the public space Natick has carved out, and start offering booze outside.

Separately, VFW Post #1274 wants in on outdoor dining and alcohol, too.

These two would be joining a growing list of restaurants taking advantage of Natick’s more generous rules intended to help out local businesses.

More: Subscribe to our Natick Report daily email

Reopening Natick: Town Hall, DPW & bulky trash pickup!

July 23, 2020 by Bob Brown Leave a Comment

As if spending all that quality time with those who might live with you isn’t getting better all the time, there’s also that matter of junk piling up around you.

Some good news on that front. The word from Jamie Errickson, Natick deputy town administrator for operations, is that bulky trash pickup by the Department of Public Works could recommence as soon as Aug. 3. The service has been suspended since March 23.

Errickson reported to the Select Board this week that the DPW building could open as soon as Aug. 3, but that date could possibly get bumped a week as logistical issues are worked out. The space is actually a manageable one given that the public generally interfaces with the DPW via one main vestibule and two counters, so visitors can be contained from a safety management perspective. The preference will be for visitors to come in by appointment only.

Natick Town Hall back in action

Natick Town Hall has reopened on an appointment-only basis. This is required per Gov. Baker’s order to keep a log of those coming in and out of such buildings for contact tracing purposes to support public health.

The collector’s office is an exception in that walk-ins are allowed for those paying taxes or other bills, though the town is still encouraging people to handle most transactions online or through drop boxes.

Signage has been added throughout the building to help people follow new rules, and restrooms have been assigned to the public or employees to help with social distancing.

The town could still be at least a couple of months away from opening up meetings, like that of the Select Board, to the public in person. Big challenges include limiting the number of people allowed within spaces (think 1 person per 1,000 sq. ft.) and not wanting to turn the public away from such open meetings.

More: Subscribe to our Natick Report daily email

Natick mourns John Crisafulli, decorated U.S. Marine, longtime educator & generous volunteer

July 23, 2020 by Bob Brown Leave a Comment

Natick mourns the passing this month of Agostino John Crisafulli, 88, a man whose contributions to his country, town, family and friends are immeasurable. He is survived by five children, all of whom live fairly close by.

Mr. Crisafulli’s formal obituary states that he graduated from Natick High in 1950, then served in the U.S. Marine Corps. during the Korean War, earning a Purple Heart and Bronze Star with valor. He graduated from Boston College and went on to teach and serve as an elementary school principal in Natick. He served the town as a Town Meeting Member, School Committee M]member, and a member of the Natick Service Counsel, and volunteered for numerous organization, including veterans groups.

Natick Director of Veterans Services Paul Carew, a close friend, shared a statement of remembrance about Mr. Crisafulli near the start of this week’s Natick Select Board meeting. He expressed thanks and relief that Mr. Crisafulli was honored with the dedication of Agostino John Crisafulli Square at the intersection of Cottage and Cross Streets just last November.

“Thanks God that we got it done when we did,” Carew said. “He was so proud of that.”

You can hear from Mr. Crisafulli in his own words through the Natick Veterans Oral History Project interview embedded below.

More: Subscribe to our Natick Report daily email