Natick Report

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

2-alarm fire in South Natick on Easter night damages one of Natick’s older homes

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There was a 2-alarm fire at 18 Dover Road in South Natick on Easter Sunday night that sent flames high into the sky as responders doused the blaze. No one was hurt, and the owners of the 5-bedroom historic structure built in 1880 were not at home. Natick Fire Chief Michael Lentini said the cause has not been determined. The fire was called in at around 8pm, and firefighters had it under control by 9:30pm. They stayed on the scene until  after midnight

Natick fire, 18 Dover Rd.
18 Dover Road, after the fire.

Wellesley and Framingham fire departments were on scene, and Wayland and Weston assisted with coverage.

Natick fire, 18 Dover Rd.
Neighbors across the Charles River gathered on its banks to watch as firefighters put out the blaze.

 

Natick fire, 18 Dover Rd.

 

Last month the Natick Organic Community Farm’s barn burned to the ground during an early morning fire that claimed the lives of three sows and 13 piglets. No people were hurt in the 3-alarm blaze. The timber-framed barn, built after the Hurricane of 1815 using wood that was milled on-site from downed oak trees, was a total loss.

natick community farm fire

Fran's Flowers, Framingham
London Harness
Linden Square, Wellesley

Natick High seniors want a car parade in May

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While details of Natick High School’s June 4 graduation ceremony and other year-end activities remain to be seen, one activity that graduating seniors are hoping to pile on will be a car parade featuring up to 400 vehicles.

Natick Public School teachers and staff saluted students and families last May with a modest car parade, but the one that senior class officers have planned would be more elaborate.

Wellesley High held such a parade last spring and it was spectacular—way more fun than a graduation ceremony.

Natick’s proposed Saturday afternoon parade on May 29, which students are coordinating with the backing of NHS Principal Brian Harrigan and the Natick Police Department, goes before the Select Board for consideration this week.

The route that the vehicles would take has yet to be determined, but other rules include that students will not be allowed to drive.

Natick school parade
Natick school parade, 2020

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Page Waterman, Wellesley

Natick Days event scrapped for second straight year

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The town of Natick has announced that its annual Natick Days community event featuring big trucks, food, music and other fun has been nixed for 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s usually held in September.

Recreation & Parks Director Karen Partanen has issued a memo in which she writes: “We want you to know this decision was not made easily and was made with an abundance of thought and consideration for the community at large. While we are all disappointed, we are optimistic we will bring this wonderful annual event back to our community in 2022.”

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New MBTA commuter rail schedule means more evenly spaced out trips through Natick

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The MBTA, which has reduced services across commuter rail and other modes of transportation during the pandemic, introduces a new schedule on April 5 that includes more regular trips throughout the day that stop at Natick’s two stations. Feeling flush with hundreds of millions of dollars in COVID-19 relief funds, the T has begun restoring services across its bus, subway and commuter lines.

The T is going lighter on train frequency during traditional rush hour periods in the morning and late afternoon in light of changed commuter patterns, and introducing roughly hourly trips throughout the day. You’ll still have a few choices during rush hours, however.

The commuter rail remains fairly useless for those in Natick looking to attend events in Boston at night, especially on weekends, when the last trains from Boston leave at 9pm. Not that there are that many events going on these days.

Meanwhile, at Natick’s train stations

The MBTA is taking advantage of the lack of passengers to speed ahead with accessibility improvements at the Natick Center station slated for completion in 2022. When work is completed, the station will include 2 new elevators, 2 accessible ramps, 6 stairways, new platform, pedestrian bridge, drainage improvements and bicycle parking.

natick center commuter rail train station work

Over at the West Natick train station, workers are preparing to install solar panel canopies in the parking lot that could save on electricity costs and reduce snow removal burdens. Let’s hope it’s a more efficient operation than the one that took place in Hingham.

west natick commuter rail train station work solar
West Natick commuter rail station, where solar canopies will be installed

 

For now, this curious little solar panel installed a while back above a trash or recycling can is the starting point.

west natick trash can solar panel

 

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1 in 5 Natick residents now fully vaccinated against COVID-19

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The new state COVID-19 vaccination data shows that 20% of Natick residents have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, and that 38% have had at least 1 shot. Those numbers are up over the past week from 17% and 33%, respectively.

The biggest percentage jump among age groups was seen in the 65-74 range, with the percentage of those fully vaccinated rising from 36% to 52% over the past week.

3.5 million doses have been dispensed statewide, and more than 1.3 million people have been fully vaccinated.

april 1 natick vax stats

Natick’s Health Department finishes up its second doses of vaccines for Natick Housing Authority residents this week, and these three clinics will be it for vaccinations distributed by the town unless the state’s plans change at all. Director of Public Health Jim White said during the Board of Health meeting this week that the town made the hard decision to cede dispensing vaccines to the homebound in Natick to the state, finding that the state’s protocols for who qualifies as homebound would have eliminated about 85%-90% of those who signed up through Natick. The majority of other communities have taken the same route, he said.