Natick Historical Society recalls Jim Morley

October 19, 2020 by Bob Brown Leave a Comment

Natick Historical Society earlier this month posted a tribute to Jim Morley, a longtime board member and the group’s former president, who passed away in late September at the age of 99.

The Society wrote in part: “He was a tenacious researcher, with a remarkable depth of knowledge of Natick history. A compelling storyteller, he made history accessible, weaving together the threads of Natick’s story for countless audiences.”

Eliot Church in Natick celebrated Mr. Morley’s latest book, Natick 1651-2000: The Many Lives of a Storied New England Town, in early March, shortly before Massachusetts declared a state of emergency due to the pandemic.

Natick Pegasus has reposted a talk Mr. Morley delivered in 2014 about historic homes of Natick from the 1800s that gives you a sense of what the Historical Society meant in its tribute.

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There’s Halloween fun to be had, Natick

October 18, 2020 by Bob Brown Leave a Comment

While the fretting continues over how to handle Halloween during the pandemic, both in terms of doling out treats and actually trick-or-treating, the spirit of the holiday continues in these parts.

Store owners are dressing up their window displays.

And if you dare go across the town line into Wellesley, the Wellesley Mothers Forum has set up a scavenger hunt in the woodland trail off of Turner Road (off of Weston Road).

Here’s a handy scorecard to use as you seek ghosts, skeletons, and more.

On Halloween itself, Natick has organized an afternoon trunk-or-treat drive-through Halloween parade.

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Natick swapping crafts for clubs: PGA Golf Superstore replacing Michaels

October 17, 2020 by Bob Brown Leave a Comment

PGA Tour Superstore, which has other Massachusetts locations in Braintree and Peabody, is opening a Natick store at the former Michaels arts & crafts space at 1398 Worcester St. (Rte. 9).

As the name implies, with PGA short for Professional Golfers’ Association, this new tenant offers all sorts of golf apparel and gear.

The golf gear retailer is trying to sort out the design of its sign still, with Natick’s planning board requesting that the sign and the word “Superstore” be a bit less super to conform with town standards. One board member referred to the previous Michaels sign as large but still “tasteful.”

The applicant has been asked to make a return appearance.

PGA Tour Superstore sign proposal as shown during Natick Planning Board meeting (via Natick Pegasus)

Future home of PGA Tour Superstore — Where the PGA Tour Superstore sign would go

PGA Tour Superstore would expand Natick’s golfing retail and play options beyond Dick’s Sporting Goods on Rte., 9, and the Sassamon Trace Golf Course, KOHR Golf Center, and of course, Golf on the Village Green miniature golf course.

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Bargains to be had at Natick library Book Nook sale

October 16, 2020 by Bob Brown Leave a Comment

Friends of the Morse Institute Library will celebrate the fifth anniversary of the Book Nook—touted as Natick’s only bookstore—during the week of Oct. 18-24 with a sale.

Among the attractions will be a wide selection of music CDs priced at $1 apiece, half off the usual price. Be aware that the Nook is exact change only at the nearby Honor Box.

The Nook is supplied through donations of books, CDs/DVDs, games, and puzzles.

The Nook is open during library hours. All proceeds from sales help the Friends support Library
programs, including museum passes and Speed Reads.

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Car crashes into South Natick utility pole, wipes out power

October 15, 2020 by Bob Brown Leave a Comment

10/16/20 UPDATE: Power was restored in the South Natick neighborhood in the wee hours of Friday. Naturally we had just done a huge grocery shop that day and so had a fridge and freezer full of perishables. We kept the doors shut tight during the outage and the ice cream stayed solid. Phew.

The stay-at-home crowd in South Natick got a rude awakening Thursday afternoon when a car slammed into a utility pole on Rte. 16 near South Lincoln St., and wiped out power across the neighborhood.

The crash into one pole resulted in a second one being yanked down as well. Power is out because a transformer on the second pole was knocked off during the incident.

The accident had ripple effects across town, as traffic backed up and was rerouted on major roads including Rte. 16, Pond Road and Union Street. One neighbor came scooting down to check out the scene on a golf cart.

Eversource is on the job, and they were talking of restoring power tonight, though it’s unclear how soon it will really be back. One neighbor was scrambling out to buy a generator. Here’s hoping they won’t need it.

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