Natick Report

Classic & custom cars to cruise through Natick on July 4

July 3, 2020 by Bob Brown Leave a Comment

There’s no official July 4 parade in Natick this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but there is scheduled to be a less elaborate convoy of classic and custom cars and motorcycles cruising through Natick and neighboring communities on Saturday morning.

The Modifiers Car Club has arranged the activity, which starts at the Cole Center in Natick on 179 Boden Lane at 10:15am. The route will take the vehicles to Sherborn, Holliston, Ashland and Framingham, and will end at C&L Frosty back in Sherborn.

Rough schedule:

*10:15-10:30am: Boden Lane, Hartford Street to Speen Street

*10:20-10:40: Route 27 South into Natick Center, left onto West Central street (Route 135 East) to Union Street to South Natick (Route 16 west) toward Sherborn

*10:40ish: Sherborn center Follow Route 16 into Holliston center

*10:50ish: Holliston center to Highland Street to Prentice Street to Hopkinton (Route 85)

*11:15ish: Hopkinton center Route 135 east

Will remain on Route 135 through Ashland, Framingham, back into Natick

*11:30ish: Turning onto Mill Street, to Speen Street, to Coolidge Street to Route 27 in Sherborn

*11:30-11:45ish Ending in Sherborn center

The Modifiers are regulars at the Wheels of Wellesley event held in May during Wellesley’s Wonderful Weekend, but that event was scrapped this year due to the pandemic.

Next up for Natick outdoor dining: Agostino’s, Oga’s, Hampton Inn/Skybokx & Kells

July 2, 2020 by Bob Brown Leave a Comment

The Natick Select Board next week will consider applications from Agostino’s, Oga’s, Hampton Inn/Skybokx and Kells for outdoor seating at which they can serve booze.

Agostino’s bid would be for up to 40 diners at 10 tables placed 6 feet apart as part of the downtown Natick plan to use sidewalks and street space to create an al fresco spectacular complete with lights and art displays.

Oga’s Japanese Cuisine on Rte. 9 west seeks to create a temporary outdoor dining area in the grass area next to the restaurant. The proposal will permit space for up to 24 diners at 6 tables placed 6 feet apart.

Skybokx looks to create a temporary outdoor dining area on the sidewalk/patio area in front of the restaurant. The proposal will permit space for up to 23 diners at 5 tables placed 6 feet apart. But what about the TVs…in case pro sports really do return?

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If approved, these proposals, plus one from the Kells taproom and brewery downtown, will join the likes of Dolphin, Trend and others that have been given the town’s blessing to expand or begin offering outdoor dining service with alcohol.

Natick reads Frederick Douglass’s 1852 speech, ‘What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?’

July 2, 2020 by Bob Brown Leave a Comment

The Natick Historical Society invited local young people to participate in a socially-distanced community read of Frederick Douglass’s 1852 speech, “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?” in front of Morse Institute Library.

Wellesley College Associate Professor of History Brenna Greer made opening remarks and started the speech.

We apologize for the erratic audio quality, a victim of rush hour traffic and our lack of a good mic for our old iPhone. But we hope the spirit of the event comes through. And Natick Pegasus should have a better quality recording available soon.

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This beetle will give Natick Common a new look

July 1, 2020 by Bob Brown Leave a Comment

The Emerald Ash Borer, an invasive insect that made its way to the United States less than 20 years ago, is a pretty beetle. It’s also pretty destructive, and Natick will be losing 10 signature trees this month that have been infested with the critter.

The Department of Public Works has issued a memo (embedded below) detailing the issue that will be presented at the Natick Select Board meeting Wednesday. The trees are facing “rapid decline” and must be removed to prevent possible injuries to passersby or property.

Up until now, Natick had not been on the Massachusetts map for detections, though the Natick Department of Public Works has had an Emerald Ash Borer suppression system in place for a while given neighboring communities have had infestations.

“Unfortunately due to the aggressive nature of this pest and the confirmed infestations in nearby communities, the EAB population has exceeded our threshold to suppress and the EAB has been identified on the Natick Town Common.”

The DPW says about 3% of the public tree population in town, with many more on private land.

It plans to replace the elm trees with different species come spring 2021.

Meanwhile, I could use an Emerald Ash Borer for my insect collection.