Natick August 2016

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Vol. 1 No. 10 Free to Every Home and Business Every Month August 2016 

Golden Tones Chorus Kicks Off 

28 th Season With Free Concert, 

Open Rehearsals 

Buy lunch at the Stop & 

Shop grille (Routes 9 & 27) 

and sing along with the Golden 

Tones chorus on Labor Day, 

12:30 p.m., Saturday, September 

3, as the chorus kicks off its 

28 th season. 

Through the generosity of 

Natick Stop & Shop, proceeds 

from Saturday’s barbecue will 

benefit the chorus’ musical 

outreach program of almost 

50 uplifting concerts each year, 

GOLDEN TONES 

continued on page 3 

Curbside Composting 

Pilot Program Takes 

Hold in Natick 

Nearly 500 households in 

town have signed up to participate 

in a curbside composting 

pilot program that will allow 

residents to dispose of their 

food waste in a separate weekly 

collection. The two-year pilot 

began this June and will run 

through the spring of 2018. 

The initiative was developed 

by town workers along 

with Natick’s recycling committee 

in an effort to find a more 

cost-effective, environmentally 

friendly way to dispose of food 

waste. The goal of the pilot is to 

determine whether the cost and 

benefits of a food diversion program 

will prove worthwhile for 

Natick in terms of adapting the 

operational changes needed to 

offer this service to all residents. 

“From the pilot program, we 

hope to gain data and information 

on the actual amount of 

compostable waste generated 

by Natick households,” Department 

of Public Works (DPW) 

Director Jeremy Marsette said. 

“We are also learning the best 

ways to collect, haul and compost 

organic waste. This data 

will help us to determine accurate 

costs and savings as a result 

of the diversion of organic waste 

from the solid waste stream.” 

According to Marsette, up to 

25 percent of household waste 

can be composted. Last year, a 

survey was conducted to gauge 

residents’ interest in such a program, 

and Marsette reports 

more than 1,000 residents responded 

favorably. The program 

is being funded by a grant from 

the Massachusetts Department 

of Environmental Protection 

(MassDEP), as well as a $25 

fee per household for participation. 

This fee covers a 14-gallon 

curbside bin, a kitchen countertop 

container, 150 compostable 

bags and food waste collection 

services on trash day. 

COMPOSTING 

continued on page 3 

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Page 2 Local Town Pages www.naticktownnews.com August 2016 

Local Nonprofit Helps Greyhounds Find Homes 

By Via Perkins, 

Contributing Writer 

Fighting the mistreatment of 

greyhounds is a daunting task, 

but Louise Coleman, founder of 

the nonprofit Greyhound Friends, 

does so one dog at a time. She 

works locally, using sales money 

from the Natick secondhand 

shop Second Chances to care for 

ex-racing dogs waiting to be adopted, 

and supports initiatives to 

end greyhound racing and abuse 

worldwide. 

For the Love 

of Greyhounds 

Coleman did not have to go 

looking for her life’s passion because 

it walked right into her 

life, tail wagging. “I adopted my 

first greyhound on Mother’s Day 

in 1983. Boston Boy had finished 

his career as a champion 

at Wonderland, the greyhound 

racing track in Revere, Massachusetts. 

I hadn’t thought about 

getting a dog, but it seemed too 

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Greyhound Friends at the Irish Consulate protest in Boston on June 2. (Photo/John Mottern) 

bad that a dog with a name like 

Boston Boy might not have a reward 

for all his work,” she said. 

In the 1980s, greyhound 

adoption was rare. Coleman 

provided foster care, giving 

overworked and underserved 

greyhounds a safe place to stay 

before being adopted. They 

lived alongside Boston Boy in 

her Cambridge apartment, 

where she was living with her 

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then-teenage son. Developing 

nonprofit Greyhound Friends 

out of this effort was a natural 

progression. 

“Through Boston Boy, my 

bond with greyhounds was 

formed. He was like a stone 

thrown into still water: concentric 

circles started from him, and 

they are still going out,” she said. 

“It was obvious that there were 

many wonderful greyhounds 

that needed homes. Greyhound 

Friends evolved to do everything 

possible to help these dogs.” 

The Racing World 

Greyhound racing has been 

decreasing in the U.S. and the 

U.K. for years but is still active 

in other parts of the world. 

“Many American racers are 

being transported from Miami 

to Argentina, where they are 

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used in amateur racing and 

hunting. There is little animal 

welfare regulation, and they 

live and die in miserable conditions,” 

Coleman explained. 

Macau, China, is another 

hotbed for greyhound racing 

and activity, and the country 

often imports dogs from Australia. 

Because there are no adoption 

programs in Macau, dogs 

live in brutal environments during 

their racing years and are 

put down when they are no longer 

deemed useful. 

Fortunately, the modern age 

has made it easier to track and 

report these terrible crimes, as 

well as spread awareness and 

gather protesters through the 

Internet. 

Fighting Back 

“Social media has made it 

possible for greyhound advocates 

to communicate quickly 

about welfare issues,” Coleman 

said. “A worldwide protest convinced 

Qantas Airlines not to 

transport 24 Australian greyhounds 

to Macau, so they were 

turned back at Heath Row Airport 

and sent to Ireland. This 

journey lasted three days for 

these miserable dogs.” 

Similar movements continue 

to take place all around the 

world, including Ireland, Scotland, 

Spain and Italy, among 

others. Greyhound Friends participated 

recently in a protest 

on Thursday, June 2 at the Irish 

Consulate in Boston, located at 

535 Boylston St. in Boston. 

“At the protest, I was able to 

meet with Vice Consul General 

Meg Laffan. She was aware of 

the wide-spread opposition and 

offered to convey our intense 

concern for the dogs to her 

colleagues in the Irish government,” 

Coleman reported. 

Greyhound Friends has 

worked with greyhound advocates 

in Ireland since 1995. 

They are involved with a number 

of groups there, including 

Limerick Animal Welfare and 

Greyhound Rescue of Ireland. 

“When potential adopters 

meet these dogs and learn about 

the hardships endured by Irish 

racers, the public becomes educated 

and interested in helping 

the other Irish dogs waiting 

for homes in Ireland,” Coleman 

said. Though they are ac- 

GREYHOUDS 

continued on page 3

August 2016 Local Town Pages www.naticktownnews.com Page 3 

GOLDEN TONES 

continued from page 1 

many to undeserved audiences. 

If you love music and enjoy 

singing pop classics and show 

tunes for a variety of audiences, 

come to the first open 

rehearsal of the Golden Tones 

chorus on Tuesday, September 

6, 10 a.m. to noon, at the 

Wayland Senior Center (town 

building at the corner of 

Routes 27 and 20). 

At the second open rehearsal 

on September 13, join 

us at 9:30 a.m. for refreshments 

before the rehearsal, courtesy 

of the Wayland Council on 

Aging and our own bakers. 

The Golden Tones chorus is 

GREYHOUNDS 


tive overseas, the bulk of the 

nonprofit’s day-to-day work is 

local. 

Helping Greyhounds 

Locally 

In 2009, Second Chances 

moved into 6 West Central 

St. in Natick. The shop invites 

community members to 

donate items, including small 

furniture pieces, glassware, 

dishes and jewelry, or to buy 

items. All proceeds support the 

Greyhound Friends adoption 

kennel, located at 167 Saddle 

Hill Rd., Hopkinton. 

Greyhound Friends invites 

potential adopters to visit the 

kennel to meet the dogs on 

location and participate in an 

interview to see if their home 

would make a good environment 

for a greyhound or exracing 

dog. “The adoption 

a group of friendly music-lovers 

from all over the Metrowest 

area. There are no audition or 

attendance requirements. To 

learn more, visit our new website, 

goldentones.org, call our 

Natick office at 508-318-6318 

or come to any Tuesday morning 

rehearsal. 

The mission of Golden 

Tones chorus is to practice 

and provide enriching entertainment 

for senior citizen 

facilities, schools, faith communities 

and public events. 

Members are men and women 

of retirement age who sing 

and dance to lift spirits, have 

fun, and promote health and 

social engagement to benefit 

our audiences and ourselves. 

Retired nuns visiting Elvis at the 

Greyhound Friends kennel in 

Hopkinton. (Photo/John Mottern) 

kennel has an average of 30 to 

35 dogs on an on-going basis. 

Greyhound Friends works 

diligently to match dogs and 

people,” Coleman said. 

To learn more about Greyhound 

Friends, visit www.greyhoundfds.org. 

COMPOSTING 


“The idea was to have the 

fee cover costs and to approximate 

what the households may 

have spent otherwise on additional 

[pay-as-you-throw] 

bags,” Marsette said. 

For the duration of the pilot 

program, Natick has established 

a mutual partnership 

with the Town of Needham, 

which has an active composting 

facility adjacent to their solid 

waste transfer station. According 

to Marsette, Natick’s solid 

waste is currently hauled to a 

regional waste-to-energy facility 

for disposal, and the town is 

assessed a fee per ton of waste. 

Since organic waste tends to be 

wet and heavy, Marsette said, 

removing compostable waste 

could help reduce the tonnage 

of solid waste the town is hauling 

to the waste-to-energy facility—thus 

reducing the cost. 

“Typically the cost to compost 

organic waste is a fair 

amount less than the costs we 

pay to the waste-to-energy 

facility for disposal of solid 

waste,” Marsette said. “Also, 

the waste-to-energy facility 

would benefit from the reduction 

in wet, solid waste [since] 

dry solid waste generates more 

energy. If a successful townwide 

curbside organic collection 

program were eventually 

instituted, it’s possible that we 

may be able to negotiate a better 

contract for the disposal of 

the town’s solid waste.” 

While the program is still in 

its early stages, Marsette said 

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officials are continually collecting 

data, as well as learning and 

refining collection methods. 

“There is still so much to 

learn, and [next year], we’ll 

have a much better feel for the 

future,” Marsette said. “Thus 

far, we’ve received positive 

feedback from many of the 

participating households. Once 

we have enough data, we’ll perform 

a cost benefit analysis to 

determine if the pilot should be 

expanded town-wide, and if so, 

in what form in terms of collection 

methods [and whether] it 

would remain voluntary.” 

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Needham Bank Wins Reader’s 

Choice Award in 6 Branch Towns 

Wicked Local Media recently 

announced the results of their 

annual Reader’s Choice Awards. 

The Wicked Local Reader’s 

Choice Awards are a series of 

awards given to the best local 

businesses, voted on by readers 

in each town’s community. 

Needham Bank was recognized 

as the top choice in banking for 

six of the Bank’s branch towns, 

Ashland, Dover, Medfield, Millis, 

Needham and Westwood. 

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time to vote for us as the best 

bank. We pride ourselves on 

having strong ties with our communities 

and being awarded 

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speaks volumes,” remarked 

Needham Bank CEO, Mark 

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Two of the awards were given 

in towns Needham Bank just recently 

opened in. The Bank’s 

Ashland and Millis branches 

were opened in June and November 

of 2015, respectively. 

Mr. Whalen added, “It’s especially 

encouraging to see that 

two of our newest branch towns 

voted for us as the top banking 

solution in town. We’ve had 

an incredibly warm reception 

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these results proves that our 

communities care about localization 

and the commitment we 

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one of them.” 

About Needham Bank 

Needham Bank, headquartered 

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community bank, serving 

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communities continuously since 

1892. Needham Bank represents 

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offering the latest financial 

products and technologies, while 

maintaining an unwavering 

commitment to the communities 

served. For more information 

please visit NeedhamBank.com. 

Needham Bank is a member of 

FDIC and SIF. 

The staff at the Springvale 

Water Treatment Plant in mid July 

discovered a filter failure in one 

of the 16 filter cells of the Tonka 

Water Filter units, according to a 

posting on the town website. The 

plant staff immediately removed 

the cell from service and diagnosed 

the issue. They found that 

brackets suspending the troughs 

holding the filter media in the cell 

had failed and contracted with the 

manufacturer of the filter units 

to perform immediate repairs to 

Natick Board 

of Selectmen 

Seeking 

Volunteers 

The Board of Selectmen is currently accepting applications 

for the following boards/committees/commissions: 

• Affordable Housing Trust (Attorney Representative) 

• Bacon Free Library Maintenance 

• Cable Advisory Board 

• Community Development Advisory Committee 

(Representative of Public Housing) 

• Cultural Council 

• Historical Commission 

• Historic District Commission 

• Lookout Farm Advisory Committee 

• Sawin House Advisory Committee 

• Transportation Advisory Committee 

To learn more about a committee or to apply, visit www. 

natickma.gov/volunteer or contact the Board of Selectmen’s 

office, 508-647-6410, or selectmen@natickma.org. 

Water Ban Issued 

on Outside Use 

this cell and proactively replace 

the brackets in all of the others. 

The manufacturer is producing 

the necessary replacement parts 

and will begin installation soon. 

During installation it will be necessary 

to take the balance of the 

filter cells out of service a few at 

a time. Therefore, it was necessary 

to request approval from the 

Massachusetts Department of 

Environmental Protection (Mass- 

DEP) to operate the drinking 

water supply wells located at Elm 

Type II Diabetes 

Information Sessions 

Clinical Nutritionist Shauna McHugh, MS, 

CNS, will host information sessions on Type II 

diabetes at Performance Health Center, 264 

North Main St. Learn how to reduce your A1c 

and medications during a free one-hour seminar. 

Also hear about how nutritional treatment 

can help to reverse the disease. To register, call 

Bank outside of normal permit 

requirements to ensure adequate 

water supply. MassDEP has approved 

the request and has issued 

an Emergency Declaration that 

requires a townwide ban on outside 

water use. The ban will be 

in effect for the duration of the 

repairs, which are estimated to 

be completed within two weeks. 

For more information, contact 

the Department of Public Works, 

508-647-6550, or check the town 

website, www.natickma.gov. 

508-655-9008 or email Shauna@Performance- 

HealthCenter.com. 

Monday, August 1, 6:30 pm 

Wednesday, August 3, 12 pm 

Monday, August 8, 6:30 pm 

Tuesday, August 16, 6:30 pm


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Preparing for Natick Artists Open Studios 



Natick Artists Open Studios 

(NAOS) serves the community 

in more ways than one. The annual 

October event promotes the 

work of nearly 100 local artists 

and also seeks to bring out the 

artist in everyone. Galleries and 

shows educate viewers about different 

kinds of artists that live 

and work in town, and pre-event 

activities give residents an opportunity 

to create their own art. 

NAOS has worked to expand its 

role as a prominent part of the 

arts culture in Natick. 

Introducing NAOS 

Using gallery spaces, public 

institutions and studios across 

Natick, NAOS provides an interactive 

cultural experience for 

both artist and viewer for one 

weekend in October. Residents 

are able to gain an insider’s look 

at artists’ collections and workspaces, 

learning how they create 

and why, and artists can provide 

information and answer visitor 

questions. 

“Artist involvement has increased 

dramatically since we 

started,” Denise Girardin said. 

She is a Natick artist of multiple 

mediums herself, and has helped 

coordinate the event for all 16 

years of its existence. 

“Our first weekend event 

hosted around 25 artists, and 

in recent years, we have had up 

to 80 participants with a wide 

range of genres and mediums,” 

Girardin said. An important part 

of raising public consciousness 

of NAOS was in marketing, and 

the first brochures were handed 

out at various locations around 

town. 

“Our current brochure is 

full-color and professionally designed, 

and is bulk-mailed to 

every household in Natick. It includes 

a sample photograph of 

each artist’s work, so guests are 

able to select locations to visit 

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based on their personal interest,” 

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The fact that artist involvement 

has increased so much 

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that the sales artists may get during 

the weekend are great, but 

that NAOS serves a purpose beyond 

these transactions. 

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chatting with guests, explaining 

their process and showing 

their work,” she said. “The public 

learns about what artists do, 

and how much fun we all having 

doing something that we love. 

Guests always seem interested in 

learning more about Natick arts, 

and are surprised to find out just 

how many artists work and live 

in town.” 

NAOS is still a two-day weekend 

event as it was when it was 

Natick Artists Open Studios Events Preview 

Themed Artist Group Show 

(Houses) 

Location: Morse Institute 

Library, Leibowitz Hall, 

Lower Level 

Dates: Thursday, Sept. 1 – 

Monday, Oct. 31 

Community Paint Day and 

Art on the Common 

Location: Natick Common 

Date and Time: Saturday, 

Sept. 17, 9 a.m. – 12 a.m. 

Community Paint Day on the Natick Common. NAOS supplies the 

materials, and guests paint and take home their creations. (Photo/Denise 

Girardin) 

NAOS Artist Group Show 

Location: The Center for the 

Arts in Natick 

Dates: Saturday, Oct. 1 – 

Monday, Oct. 31 

Artist Presentations 

and Chats 

Location: Creative Connections, 

Morse Institute Library, 

Leibowitz Hall, Lower Level 

Date and Time: Wednesday, 

Oct. 5, 3 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. 

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created, but preliminary events, 

including a themed art show 

and a community paint day, 

have been added. These are 

meant to encourage art-making 

in the community among people 

of any experience level, and to 

highlight NAOS as an upcoming 

event. 

This year, NAOS will take 

place on Saturday and Sunday, 

Oct. 15 and 16, and Girardin is 

looking forward to it. “It’s fun to 

see parents bring their children 

to our events and watch them 

light up when they see a real artist 

studio, or are able to participate 

in a free hands-on project,” 

she said. 

NAOS 2016 and Beyond 

Outdoor artist tents will be 

new at NAOS this year. The 

Annex @ 3 Adams will enable a 

few artists to display their work 

outside of The Studios @ 3 

Adams Street. This setup is reminiscent 

of ArtWalk, another annual 

Natick arts event that took 

place in July. 

“Upon approval from the 

Natick Police Department and 

the Natick Board of Selectman, 

we also hope to host musicians at 

that same locale, making it a 

new destination for our guests,” 

Girardin said. NAOS planners 

hope to provide even more locations 

for musicians to play in the 

future. 

Event brochures will be sent 

in the mail in September, and 

will feature maps and directions 

to NAOS’s various locations. 

Though the artist lineup for the 

2016 event is finalized, artists of 

all disciplines are invited to apply 

for NAOS 2017 by April 2017. 

For more information, visit 

www.natickopenstudios.org.


Natick Community Organic Farm Gearing Up 

for Annual Harvest Dinner 

Festivities for the Natick Community 

Organic Farm’s (NCOF) 

15 th annual Harvest Dinner & 

Auction will begin on the 

Wellesley College Club’s 

beautiful lakeside patio at 

5 pm on Friday, Sept. 23, 

with a guided beverage 

tasting. Guests can sample 

sustainable wines, 

organic beer, local hard 

cider and natural sodas. 

The bountiful meal 

that follows will be prepared 

by Wellesley College Club’s 

talented chefs from NCOF’s 

finest certified-organic vegetables 

and fruits, humanely-raised meats 

and community-made syrup, as 

well as cheeses, fish, oysters, produce 

and sweets from over two 

dozen generous Massachusetts 

food producers. 

Event-goers have described 

past dinners as “spectacular,” “authentic 

and intimate” and “phenomenal.” 

Attendees will be able 

to jump-start their holiday 

Design by Abby and Steff Luke, 

sisters and talented artists who 

designed and sold t-shirts to 

fundraise for teen programs 

earlier this year. 

shopping, or treat themselves to 

something special from the offerings 

in NCOF’s silent auction. 

Prizes include getaways, adventure 

travel, handcrafted furniture, 

dining experiences and stylish 

household goodies. 

All proceeds from the Harvest 

Dinner and its accompanying 

auctions benefit the 

NCOF’s Teen Work Crew 

and Mentoring Teens 

through Agriculture Apprenticeship 

Program. 

The Teen Work Crew 

provides paid, mentored, 

hands-on summer employment 

to community teens; 

Mentoring Teens through 

Agriculture provides paid, mentored, 

hands-on, year-round employment 

and job training to local 

teens considering future careers in 

farming. 

The cost to attend the dinner is 

$115 for members; $135 for nonmembers; 

and $135/$155 at the 

door. Reserve online, www.natickfarm.org. 

NCOF is a nonprofit, certified-organic 

farm that has been 

providing productive open space, 

farm products, and hands-on 

education to people of all ages, 

year round since 1975. The Farm 

practices ecologically healthy and 

sustainable farming techniques, 

and places special emphasis on 

service to youth and on fostering 

and supporting community. 

NCOF is open every day during 

daylight hours without admission 

fee for visits and purchases. Come 

on down and see what’s growing 

on 117 Eliot St. Natick. 

Fall Annual 

Town Meeting 

PUBLIC NOTICE - TOWN OF NATICK 

BOARD OF SELECTMEN 

The Board of Selectmen hereby gives public notice 

of its intention to call 

FALL ANNUAL TOWN MEETING 

ON TUESDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2016 

NATICK HIGH SCHOOL 

7:30 P.M. 

All requests and accompanying articles to be included in the 

warrant for the Fall Annual Town Meeting must be received in 

the Office of the Board of Selectmen, Room 213, 13 East Central 

St., Natick, by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 19, 2016. 

Commercial Hardwood Flooring at 

Stone’s Public House in Ashland 

Hardwood • Carpet 

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ANY HARDWOOD, CARPET, 

TILE, LAMINATE OR VINYL 

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Cannot be combined with any other 

offer. Excludes sale or clearance items. 

Not valid on prior purchase. 

Materials only. 

Offer expires 8/31/16 

Kitchen hardwood flooring 

and tile backsplash in Dover 

260 ELIOT ST., ASHLAND, MA 

www.marraflooring.com • info@marraflooring.com 

(ph) 508-881-2265 • (fax) 508-881-2204


Art in Natick 

Natick Community 

Center: Acrylics 

and Watercolors 

Pooja Shah’s acrylics and watercolor 

paintings are displayed 

at Natick Community Center 

through August. Her collection 

is inspired by nature and creativity. 

Brushes and colors fascinates 

her in creating new art 

through imagination and paint 

a beautiful world. Professionally, 

she works as a user experience 

designer, but her passion lies in 

painting. For more of her work, 

visit www.creativelines.graphics. 

Five Crows Features 

Sherrie Jacobs and 

Molly Crunch 

Five Crows Gallery and 

Handcrafted Gifts, 41 Main St., 

will feature two artists in August. 

For more information, call 508- 

653-2526 or visit www.fivecrows. 

com. 

Through Aug. 10: Bead 

weaver Sherrie Jacobs. “Beading 

is therapeutic for me as I get 

lost in thought, completely focusing 

on the project at hand,” 

Jacobs said. “To see a finished 

project that has evolved from my 

own mind is truly fulfilling. My 

bead weaving awakens the visual 

and tactile senses using beads of 

different colors and sizes creating 

unique pieces of jewelry, 

with the hope that it brings joy 

and happiness to the wearer.” 

Our Ad & 

Editorial 

Deadline is the 

15th of each 

month, for 

the following 

month’s issue. 

US ARMY DIETARY STUDY 

A research study at the US Army Institute of Environmental 

Medicine in Natick, MA is being conducted to determine 

the effects of eating the Meal, Ready-to-Eat (MRE) military 

ration on gut health. To be eligible, you must: 

• Be 18-62 years old. 

• Be willing to eat and drink only MRE items 

for 21 consecutive days. 

• Not be trying to lose weight. 

• Be willing to give blood, urine and fecal samples. 

• Not have a history of gastrointestinal problems. 

• Meet additional screening criteria. 

Study participation will last 6 weeks. You will be asked 

to continue eating your normal diet for 31 days or to eat 

nothing but MREs for 21 days and then your normal diet 

for 10 days. During the study you will visit our lab in 

Natick, MA for ~ 3 hours, 4 separate times. We will also 

meet with you at our lab or at your home/place of work 

for 30-60 min at least 3 days/week during the study. Data 

collection will include questionnaires, and blood, urine 

and fecal samples. Volunteers will be compensated up to 

$200 for completing the study. If interested contact us at 

usarmy.usariem.study@mail.mil. 

USARIEM IRB APPROVED FOR USE: 8 January 2016 

Aug 11-25: Painter Molly 

Cranch. She works primarily in 

acrylic on canvas, often grouping 

smaller pieces together. This 

creates an overall impression 

of the natural world, evoking a 

sense of beauty and calm. What 

began as a study in pattern, 

color and depth, Cranch’s work 

has evolved into a form of meditation. 

Painting from nature 

builds connections to nature in 

the often hectic, busy city landscape 

in which she lives. 

English Language Tutoring 

Gets Grant Support 

New England 

Inc. 

Ballistic Services 

Instant cash paid for 

your valuable firearms. 

Call today for a confidential consultation 

508-381-0230 • www.neballistic.com 

The Morse Institute Library 

announced in July that 

it received a generous grant of 

$15,000 from the Middlesex 

Savings Charitable Foundation 

(MSCF) for its English Language 

Learning (ELL) program. 

ELL provides English Language 

classes, conversation groups and 

tutoring. This grant will help 

continue this work, as well as 

provide funding to add international 

language books and 

ELL training materials to the 

collection. The library will also 

provide additional signage and 

materials to help the ELL community 

use the library. 

The Morse Institute Library 

is one of the few places in the 

area for English language classes 

and tutoring for adults. As 

Natick as become more diverse, 

the library has seen its ELL services 

grow and is pleased that 

MSCF is helping to support 

ELL material and services at the 

Morse Institute. 

PLEASE 

RECYCLE


Talking Race and Art at West Coast Fest 



This summer I flew 3,000 

miles, from Boston to Los Angeles, 

for one event: the Mixed 

Remixed Festival (www.mixedremixed.org), 

which took 

place on Friday and Saturday, 

June 10 and 11 at the Japanese 

American National Museum. 

There is no other event like it in 

the world, and this year I knew 

I had to find a way to attend, no 

matter the distance. I left Natick 

to immerse myself in a unique 

environment, where I was part 

of a racial majority for the first 

time in my life. 

I am mixed-race: my father 

is black and my mother is white. 

Being black and white enables 

me to appreciate two different 

heritages, and challenges me 

to think critically about race. 

Multiracial people currently 

make up around 3 percent of 

the American population, but 

we are the fastest growing demographic 

in many countries, 

including the U.S. 

This is what the Mixed Remixed 

Festival seeks to draw 

attention to – the fact that the 

multiracial experience is as much 

the American experience as any 

other. The annual free gathering 

features presentations and 

workshops by multiracial people 

and those in interracial families. 

Filmmakers, writers, comedians, 

musicians and other artists with 

a passion to share and celebrate 

mixed stories make the two-day 

festival come to life. 

Telling My Story 

My own stories have been 

brewing in me for some time. 

After having no contact with 

my father’s side of the family 

for most of my life, I decided 

in 2014 to search for them, and 

the process was life-changing. 

I not only established connections 

with my father, aunt and 

uncle but also discovered that 

I am the youngest of six halfsiblings. 

I forged familial bonds 

and explored my black heritage 

in a way that I was never able 

to before. 

Earlier this year I applied to 

present at the festival. I was invited 

to speak on a panel called 

“Mixed Millennials: Changing 

What Mixed-Race Means.” I 

shared an original poem and 

fielded questions with my fellow 

panelists about the ways we define 

ourselves as young people 

of multiple races. 

Throughout the event, I felt 

an incredibly warm welcoming 

from those around me. There 

were as many laughs as there 

were tears shared as we explored 

the joy, frustration, humor and 

profundity of our experiences. I 

was gaining an extended mixedrace 

family who understood me 

in ways no one else could, and 

 

 

my heart felt full. 

Being around so many wonderfully 

ambiguous people reminded 

me of an important 

moment in my past. In 2014, 

I saw the film Belle, a period 

drama based on the true story 

of a mixed-race aristocrat, in a 

Boston theatre. I had never seen 

a film with a lead actress who 

looked like me, and it felt incredible 

and emotional to see such 

similar features reflected back, 

larger-than-life, for the first time. 

It excites me to remember how 

much things have changed since 

I watched that film. The Mixed 

Remixed Festival is playing a 

vital role in bolstering countless 

mixed-race people and interracial 

families. It is also an important 

reminder to anyone of any race 

that, no matter how they look on 

the outside, everyone has a unique 

story of their own. 

I ‘vlogged’ my festival experience 

and plan to continue my 

exploration of multiracial identity 

and the arts on my Youtube channel. 

Follow me on the journey at 

vialiveshere.tumblr.com, where all 

videos and updates will be posted. 

Via Perkins has been writing for 

Natick Local Town Pages since February 

2015. She has lived in Natick since she 

was four years old, and is a 2013 graduate 

of Salem State University. 

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Metrowest Travels 

India: The Ultimate Travel Experience 

By Howard Axelrod, 


I am often asked, “What is the 

most incredible destination that 

you have visited?” If the operative 

word is “incredible,” then in my 

opinion, there is simply no place 

on planet earth that can compare 

to India. For the exotic and unbelievable, 

it is unparalleled. As the 

home of 32 UNESCO World 

Heritage sites and the crossroads 

of six major religions and 22 official 

spoken languages, India is the 

ultimate travel experience. It is a 

one-of-a-kind vibrant cornucopia 

of sights, sounds, smells and tastes 

that lasts the visitor a lifetime. If 

the unusual and mind boggling is 

what you seek, look no further. 

India is not for everyone. It can 

be unbearably hot, and air quality 

is poor from smoke, dust and vehicle 

emissions. Beggars abound, 

and you will see heart-wrenching 

sights that accompany overpopulation, 

poverty and lack of health 

care. Animals of all types and sizes 

(dogs, goats, cows, bulls, monkeys 

and the occasional camel or elephant) 

roam the streets freely and 

are in fact part of the traffic pattern. 

Add to this bicycles, peddle 

rickshaws, motorized rickshaws, 

motor scooters, motorcycles, cars, 

trucks, tractors, buses, lots of humans 

(1.3 billion) and constant 

horn beeping. The traffic pattern 

in cities can only be described as 

“functional anarchy.” There is 

trash everywhere, and the “Holy” 

cows that roam freely leave their 

calling cards in their wake. No 

matter how careful you are, at 

some point you are going to “step 

in it.” Get over all these discomforts. 

This is the price you must 

pay for the incredible experience 

that lies ahead. India is an adventure; 

not a vacation. Forget about 

travelling through India on your 

own as it is a logistical nightmare. 

A structured tour is a must. 

New Delhi 

Any tour you consider should 

include New Delhi with its ancient 

Chandni Chowk street market and 

architectural wonders, such as the 

Old Jama Masjid Islamic Mosque. 

As India’s largest mosque, it is capable 

of accommodating over 

25,000 devotees during prayer. To 

experience the Sikh equivalent, 

visit the Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, 

an equally impressive structure. 

You will be openly welcomed at 

The snake charmer Photos: Howard Axelrod. 

Morning ritual on the Ganges 

Children play as a cremation is reaching completion 

The camel beauty contest at the Pushkar Camel Fair 

both. Although primarily a Hindu 

nation (80.5 percent of the population), 

Muslims and Sikhs represent 

15 percent and 2 percent of 

India’s population respectively. 

Jaipur 

Jaipur is one of the world’s 

most beautiful and charming cities. 

The “Pink City” of Jaipur 

should be part of any tour. Buildings 

here are made exclusively 

from pink stone. In 1876, the 

Prince of Wales and Queen Victoria 

visited Jaipur. Pink denotes 

the color of hospitality, and Jaipur’s 

Maharaja Ram Singh ordered 

the entire city painted pink 

to welcome guests. The tradition 

has been followed ever since, and 

is now required by law. I recommend 

visiting the City Complex, 

Amber Fort, Sheesh Mahal (Hall 

of Mirrors) and the Palace of the 

Winds, at a minimum. 

The Taj 

Any trip to India would be 

incomplete without a pilgrimage 

to the spectacular Taj Mahal in 

Agra. The “Taj” was constructed 

by Shah Jahan in 1631 as a tribute 

to his beloved wife who died 

giving birth to their 14th child. 

Your initial view of the Taj is 

breathtaking, and the scale of it 

is hard to comprehend. You approach 

this 240-foot-tall structure 

with its 115-foot-high dome by 

following the reflecting pool inward 

from the main entrance. As 

you approach, the Taj seems to be 

constantly getting larger in an outof-proportion 

scale. Its beautiful 

white marble is both stunning and 

soothing. As perhaps the defining 

symbol of India, it draws visitors 

from across the globe. 

The Pushkar Camel Fair 

All of the above cities and attractions 

should be part of the 

itinerary on any quality tour. 

However, there are two “off the 

charts” places that are not on 

most itineraries but are absolutely 

worth seeking out. Consider planning 

your trip around the annual 

Pushkar Camel Fair where for 

five days each November at the 

time of the Kartik Purnima full 

moon, the small village of Pushkar 

hosts one of the world’s great 

spectacles. Hundreds of colorfully 

dressed camel herders and their 

families from all over northern 

India bring over 50,000 camels 

and 8,000 horses here to buy, sell 

and trade. Watch carefully as the 

prospective camel buyer examines 

each animal’s teeth, hooves, eyes, 

ears and flanks in an attempt to 

determine the animal’s age and 

health. Traders “negotiate,” and 

the discussions around the sale of 

a single animal can go on for the 

full five days, and involve many 

cups of tea and lengthy discussions 

in each trader’s tent. It is fascinating 

to watch each party’s body language 

and strategy, knowing that 

in the end, both want to make the 

transaction happen, but only at a 

price acceptable to each. 

Lodging for herders and visitors 

alike is usually in tents, as 

Pushkar’s few formal lodgings are 

booked years in advance. You may 

be invited into the tent of a camel 

trader and his family for tea. Do 

oblige them. The Indian people 

are warm and hospitable, and this 

it is their way of welcoming you. 

You will be treated as a respected 

guest, and this will be an experience 

you will always cherish. 

There are many unique events 

held here, including the longest 

moustache contest, the beautiful 

bride contest and various 

camel parades. My favorite was 

the camel beauty contest where 

the animals are dressed in colorful 

silks, decorated with lipstick, 

mascara and ornate jewelry, and 

judged by a panel of “camel 

beauty experts.” There are countless 

stalls at the fair selling jewelry, 

clothing, crafts, textiles and camelrelated 

paraphernalia. Pushkar 

is a carnival spectacle on an epic 

scale. Expect to see the unexpected 

here, including magicians, colorful 

gypsy dancers, acrobats, performing 

monkeys, snake charmers and 

Sadhus (Indian holy men). As you 

scan the horizon in a 360-degree 

arc, you see tens of thousands of 

camels. Like so many things in 

India, the Pushkar Camel Fair is 

larger than life itself. 

Felling Alive in Varanasi 

Do save the best for last. Varanasi 

is India’s holiest city, and 

is located on the Ganges, India’s 

holiest river. As the world’s oldest 

continuously populated city, 

it has remained inhabited without 

interruption for over 4,000 

years. Along its winding streets 

are some 23,000 temples ranging 

from simple to spectacular. There 

is no place like Varanasi on earth! 

INDIA TRAVEL 

continued on page 12


Facing Criticism: Four Key Skills That Will Help You Succeed 

By John Dudley, 


“Criticism is something you can 

avoid easily — by saying nothing, doing 

nothing, and being nothing.” – Aristotle 

I’ve been fortunate enough 

to have run a company in town 

for over 20 years now and have 

had numerous opportunities to 

work with managers at all levels 

of our organization, as well as 

with several other leaders in different 

industries. One thing I’ve 

found as a reliable predictor as 

to whether someone will be successful 

is if they can productively 

handle criticism or not. 

At my business, when we’re 

considering promoting someone 

to a role where they must 

handle more responsibility, including 

managing more people 

on their team, we need to know 

whether they can handle direct 

criticism and the resistance 

that can come from fellow team 

members, vendors or customers. 

The questions we managers ask 

are, “Will they crack under the 

pressure?” (which they will inevitably 

receive from somewhere) 

and “Will they come unglued at 

this new level?” Those employees 

who can handle criticism 

have a solid shot at being able 

to grow with the organization. 

Those who can’t tend to really 

struggle and usually exhibit selfprotective, 

small-thinking-type 

behavior that inevitably gets 

passed down to many of their 

team members, like a flu virus, a 

critical disaster for any company, 

particularly smaller ones. 

A favorite quote of mine 

from Ken Blanchard, an American 

author and management 

expert, reminds me of this 

manager type. He said, “Some 

leaders are like seagulls. When 

something goes wrong, they fly 

in, make a lot of noise, and crap 

all over everything.” 

An Opportunity for 

Self Examination and 

Personal Growth 

Not that long ago, I was 

serving on an Ashland town 

committee as an appointee on 

the Planning Board. As a small 

business owner, I guess there was 

some assumption by one member 

of the way I would vote on 

matters before this group. It 

took only a few weeks before this 

member indirectly called me “a 

big disappointment.” I’m not 

sure he liked working alongside 

someone who could think for 

himself, and he was upset that 

I’d been vocal about believing 

our meetings were no place for 

Jerry Springer-like antics. Either 

way, this was an opportunity 

for a little self-examination and 

personal growth on my part. Just 

another confirmation that trying 

to please everyone is an impossible 

task, and can really suck 

the life out of me if I let it. 

Four Key Skills to Learn 

Knowing how important taking 

direct criticism is, I’m going 

to show you the short list of 

what I’ve used to help myself as 

well as my organization in preparing 

to deal with criticism. If 

you are trying to grow in your 

role at work, as a leader or as a 

person, you’ll probably find this 

useful too. 

Here are four key skills that 

will help you succeed when facing 

criticism: 

Develop your ability to 

1 bounce back quickly. 

The more you can explain 

criticism as temporary, specific 

and external, the better you 

will be able to bounce back 

and avoid any potential damaging 

effects. Here’s an example 

of how good and bad thinking 

about my situation from abotve 

might look: 

• Temporary: Is this temporary 

or forever? 

Bad response: I’ll never be able 

to make anyone happy on these 

committees. Why do I even 

bother volunteering? 

Healthier response: They were 

just upset with me voting opposite 

them on this issue. I can 

respect that, and I’m sure we’ll 

see eye to eye on something in 

the future. 

• Specific: Does everyone think 

this, or just this person? 

Bad response: I’m all alone 

in my thinking here. I must be 

some kind of oddball and I’m 

not sure if I fit here. 

Healthier response: I should 

catch up individually with a few 

of the experienced members 

at an off-meeting time and see 

if they have any input on how 

I handled myself and whether 

they have any recommendations 

for me. 

• External: Is this personal? 

Bad response: This person really 

hates me. 

Healthier response: This person 

must have been having a bad day. 


2 separate criticism from rejection. 

Just because someone is criticizing 

you doesn’t mean they 

are rejecting you. I think all of 

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us will face some people who are 

simply jealous of us. The more 

public of a figure you are, or the 

nicer the lifestyle you live, the 

more you probably will encounter 

this. To that group of critics, 

they should get zero percent of 

our attention and emotional 

energy. I will not sink to their 

level. But to the people in our 

lives that really do care about 

us and want to see us do well, 

I believe we have to try hard to 

hear what they have to say to us, 

even when it’s not something we 

like to hear. Better yet, ask them, 

“Be open and honest with me on 

this, what did you think about it, 

and how can I improve on it for 

next time?” 


3 learn how you can improve. 

I admit this can be extremely 

hard immediately following 

negativity, but after a little time, 

do a post-mortem and ask the 

question, “Is there anything of 

Serving Needham & 

Surrounding Towns 

value I can learn from this?” If 

you can’t think of anything, ask 

a close friend, trusted co-worker 

or a boss. If nothing else, it 

shows you care, and you open 

the door to a better relationship 

and some potential valuable 

feedback. 

Develop your ability to rehearse 

rejection (and not 

4 

take yourself so seriously). 

Athletes do it, actors and 

writers do it, and so do politicians, 

so why not us? Actually 

rehearsing the type of criticism 

you may hear on a daily basis 

has helped me be less stunned 

when someone verbally attacks 

me. Say them out loud, or write 

them down. This may sound a 

little silly, but if you are positive 

at least 3x more than you are 

negative, then this can be very 

effective, and quite humorous. 

I’ll leave you with this exercise 

to do. Try giving one of the following 

websites a shot by filling 

in a little of your information; 

they will email you back a nicely 

worded rejection or complaint. 

• Complaint generator: www. 

pakin.org/complaint/ 

• Rejection Generator Project: 

http://stoneslidecorrective. 

com/select-your-rejection/ 

So go out there and fight the 

good fight! I wish you the best in 

your business and personal relationships. 

John Dudley has owned a local 

business for over 20 years.


Natick Celebrates the 4 th 

Photos/Via Perkins 

INDIA TRAVEL 


The Taj Mahal 

Sunrise on the steps of the Ganges 

here is vibrantly colorful and cannot 

be described in words. 

Each morning over 6,000 colorfully 

dressed men and women 

arrive before sunrise to chant, 

meditate, worship and bathe in the 

“Mother River.” You will feel brilliantly 

alive in the cool morning 

air as a blood-red sun rises, and 

you watch this ancient ritual that 

represents a spiritually passionate 

celebration of human existence. 

There a palpable and forceful feeling 

of being alive here. This daily 

party-like ritual goes on literally 

amongst the many funeral pyres 

that burn the recently deceased 

in a ritualistic and respectful, but 

matter-of-fact manner. These cremations 

go on around the clock 

regardless of weather, and burn 

approximately 25,000 to 30,000 

bodies annually. Each pyre is said 

to be lit from an eternal flame 

that has remained unextinguished 

since 1200 BC. Cremation is extremely 

important for Hindus. 

They believe it releases an individual’s 

spiritual core from its 

transitory physical body, so that reincarnation 

can take place. If the 

body is not cremated or not cremated 

properly, the soul will not 

be at peace in the afterlife. As the 

furnace-like flames from the blazing 

pyres singed my face and sweat 

burned my eyes, my pulse quickened, 

and I could feel the blood 

throbbing in my veins. I found 

myself pondering the contrast 

between how we handle death in 

such a secretive and uncomfortable 

manner in the West, and how 

matter of fact and out in the open 

it is here. I have witnessed funeral 

practices on six continents, and 

none was as transparent as what I 

was witnessing. 

Amidst the sights, sounds 

and smells, formidable statues 

of the Hindu gods Brahma (the 

Creator), Vishnu (the Preserver), 

and Shiva (the Destroyer) look 

down watchfully from the ancient 

buildings above the steps 

leading to the Ganges. Life and 

death are both celebrated here 

with equal intensity and measure. 

Colorfully adorned Sadhus (holy 

men) with long beards, painted 

faces and little clothing, sit by in 

a silent meditative state, adding 

a surreal element to the already 

surreal. There is little sadness associated 

with death here, as Hinduism 

is about the infinite cycle 

of life, death and rebirth. Death is 

considered a natural part of this 

endless wheel. It is every Hindu’s 

wish to be cremated on the bank 

of this “Mother” river. Sadly, 

for those who cannot afford this 

process, the body is often taken 

by boat, weighted and dumped. 

Although I did not personally 

see bodies floating in the river, 

regular sightings are a welldocumented 

fact. Amongst the 

burning pyres, holy cows wander, 

young boys play and packs of 

wild dogs sit in the still warm pyre 

ashes, attempting to stay warm in 

the cool morning air. The dogs 

are numerous, and look healthy. 

You can connect the dots. 

You Will Never 

be the Same 

Remember my disclaimer, 

“India in not for everyone”? 

India is undeniably a journey 

of learning, discovery and spiritual 

awakening. It answers many 

questions but leaves you with 

more. Your heart will be touched 

by the warm, engaging and sincere 

Indian people who treat 

INDIA TRAVEL 

continued on page 14


Sports 

Mendoza Plays Key Role as Athletic Trainer 

at Natick High 

By Ken Hamwey, 

Staff Sports Writer 

Aimee Mendoza has been on 

the job as Natick High’s athletic 

trainer for eight years, and that 

time frame no doubt is a testament 

to how much trust and confidence 

student-athletes, coaches 

and parents have in the 35-yearold 

native of Maryland. 

The role of a high school 

athletic trainer is crucial in so 

many ways, but Mendoza never 

loses sight of her primary function—the 

health and welfare of 

student-athletes. 

“My role is to ensure that our 

competitors are in proper shape 

and they’re ready to play,’’ Mendoza 

said. “If they’ve been injured, 

I’m there to help them get 

through rehab. My No. 1 priority 

is the health and safety of our 

student-athletes.’’ 

Different trainers will offer 

different attributes they believe 

are the keys to performing their 

roles. Mendoza has four. 

“I firmly believe that trainers 

must be personable,’’ she emphasized. 

“It’s also important to be 

patient. The need to be able to 

multi-task is a high priority because 

you’re often needed in a 

variety of places simultaneously. 

Another significant key is time 

management—the ability to organize 

your day so you can provide 

maximum assistance.’’ 

When a competitor is injured, 

that’s when Mendoza springs 

into action. That’s when she 

becomes a liaison with parents, 

doctors and physical therapists. 

That’s when her expertise in athletic 

training kicks in. Mendoza 

has a bachelor’s degree from 

Frostburg State (Maryland) and 

a master’s degree from California 

University (Pennsylvania). Her 

major was in athletic training in 

both venues. 

“When an injury occurs in 

a game or practice, I’m usually 

the first person to assess the situation,’’ 

Mendoza said. “A plan 

then is formulated and I communicate 

with the doctor involved. 

I’ll also be in contact with a physical 

therapist, if one is needed. 

Also, I’m always speaking with 

parents. I try to deal with an individual’s 

injury by knowing the 

situation from A to Z.’’ 

If an athlete has to be transported 

to a hospital after an 

injury, Mendoza’s focus is for 

parents, or a family member, 

to get there as soon as possible. 

She handles contacting them if 

they’re not on site. 

“Since I’ve got to stay at the 

event after an ambulance has 

taken an athlete to the hospital, 

an assistant coach may be 

dispatched to the hospital, if 

warranted,’’ Mendoza noted. 

“What’s important when a serious 

injury occurs is to stay calm. 

The key is to reassure the injured 

player and the parents that 

everything will be done that’s 

required for their child. When 

a game ends, I’ll try to visit a 

player at the hospital. Parents 

often are uplifted when they see 

me and they respect others’ concerns.’’ 

When a patient is released 

from a hospital, rehab often is 

needed. Mendoza monitors the 

student’s attendance at therapy 

and often gets a list of exercises 

required for a return to good 

health. “I’ll work with students 

on their exercises wherever possible. 

It could involve stretching 

in the trainer’s office or it could 

be in the gym or at our fitness 

center,’’ she said. 

A routine day for Mendoza, 

who is employed by Metrowest 

Medical Center, could involve 

working at one of the hospital’s 

clinics, then heading to Natick 

High where her day begins at 

about 2 p.m. She’ll organize her 

day’s activity, work with athletes 

who need attention, then prepare 

for practices and games. 

“The most common injuries 

we deal with are ankle sprains,’’ 

said Mendoza who resides in 

Waltham. “Concussions, however, 

have received more frontpage 

news recently. At Natick, we 

follow the regulations set forth by 

the state Department of Public 

Health. We have a good team 

working in that area. I communicate 

with the nurses we have 

and with doctors. We make sure 

no one returns to compete prematurely.’’ 

During her high school days in 

Great Mills, Maryland, Mendoza 

played volleyball, basketball and 

softball. In college, she played 

varsity tennis, was captain of her 

team and was a league all-star. “I 

enjoy all sports, but I must admit 

I like being outdoors,’’ Mendoza 

said. “Basketball and tennis are 

fun to be around and football is 

exciting.’’ 

Someday Mendoza hopes to 

be a paramedic, but she’s comfortable 

in her role as Natick’s 

trainer. She’s often at clinics and 

seminars, and this summer she’ll 

be at the annual convention of 

the National Athletic Trainers 

Association in Baltimore. “It’s 

a must to stay up to date,’’ she 

emphasized. “At conferences, we 

learn about new equipment, new 

treatment techniques and we get 

refreshers on how to handle different 

injuries.’’ 

When March rolls around, 

Mendoza points out what that 

time means. It’s National Trainers 

Month, and Mendoza took 

time one year to compile a video 

to show how trainers perform 

their tasks. The video was shown 

at Metrowest’s two hospitals and 

viewed by nurses, doctors, patients 

and supervisors. 

Whatever decisions Mendoza 

makes, Natick High’s coaches 

and players trust her. Count 

Natick High’s athletic director 

Tim Collins in that group. 

“We’re lucky to have Aimee at 

Natick,’’ Collins said. “She does 

a terrific job keeping student-athletes 

safe and prepared to play.’’ 

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Mondays 

7 pm: Concerts on the Natick 

Town Common (August 1, 8, 15). 

Wednesdays 

6:30 pm: Family Performances 

on the Natick Town Common (August 

3, 10). 

Thursdays 

5 to 8 pm: Natick Nights, 

Downtown Natick. Street performers, 

beer and wine tastings, music 

and more. www.natickcenter.org, 

@natickcenter. 

6 to 8:30 pm: Family Picnic 

Supper Theater, Morse Institute 

Library, July and August. Bring a 

blanket and a picnic supper, and 

stretch out for a family friendly 

film! Water and sweet treat will 

be provided. Call the Children’s 

Room, 508-647-6522. 

Saturdays 

9 am to 1 pm: Natick Farmers’ 

Market, Natick Town Common, 

intersection of Rt. 27 and 135, 

rain or shine, celebrating 20 years. 

www.natickfarmersmarket.com, 

www.facebook.com/natickfarmersmarket. 

Wednesday, August 3 

10 am: Brain Circus with Marvelous 

Marvin. Join us for a great 

show of magic tricks, circus arts 

and visuals that combines science 

and math education with entertainment 

at the Bacon Free Library 

(weather permitting). www.baconfreelibrary.org 

Thursday, August 4 

9:30 am: Get to Know Your 

Town Government, a conversation 

with Sue Salamoff, Natick 

Board of Selectmen at the Natick 

Community-Senior Center, 508- 

647-6540. 

1 pm: Mystery Book Club: Join 

us for a discussion of The Weight 

of Blood by Laura McHugh at the 

Bacon Free Library, www.baconfreelibrary.org. 

Tuesday, August 9 

3 to 5 pm: Make & Take: Slime 

Time (like silly putty, but even more 

fun, weather permitting) at the 

Bacon Free Library. All materials 

supplied. Sponsored by Friends of 

the BFL. 


4 pm: Let’s play real-life Angry 

Birds – no devices required! We’ll 

make the birds and you try to hit 

them off their pedestals (weather 

permitting) at the Bacon Free Library, 

www.baconfreelibrary.org. 

6:30 pm: Gulp Fiction 20-30 

Something Book Club. Join us for 

drinks and a discussion of Originals: 

How Nonconformists Move the World by 

Adam Grant at the Morse Tavern, 

www.baconfreelibrary.org. 


7 pm: Graphic Novel Book 

Club. Join us for a discussion of 

Akira by Katsuhiro Otomo at the 

Morse Institute Library, www.baconfreelibrary.org. 

Community Events 

Friday, August 12 

1 pm: How to Use Your iPad. 

Class limited to 8 participants. 

Natick Community-Senior Center. 

508-647-6540 


9:30 am to 3:30 pm: Day trip 

to the Peabody Essex Museum 

from the Natick Community-Senior 

Center. Cost: $14 per person. 

Charter bus. Enjoy this stunning 

world-class museum. Lunch is on 

your own with options of casual 

dining at the Atrium Café or a 

more extensive menu at The Garden 

Restaurant. Special exhibits 

include “Rodin: Transforming 

Sculpture” and “American Impressionist: 

Childe Hassam and the 

Isles of Shoals.” Register by using 

Community Pass or at stop by the 

Center. $14 registration fee is nonrefundable. 

508-647-6540 

4 pm: Rookie Book Club at the 

Bacon Free Library for kids, grades 

1-3. Join us for a discussion of The 

Show Must Go On by Kate Klise. 

www.baconfreelibrary.org 


1 pm: Healthy Eating 101 at the 


Join registered Dietician Ciara 

Camire from Eliot Rehab who will 

be providing a discussion about 

health eating looking at sugar intake, 

incorporating whole grains in 

your diet and creating a balanced 

diet. Q & A. 508-647-6540 

4 pm: Fairytale Dances of India 

with Smitha Radhakrishnan from 

the NATyA Dance Studio at the 


Bring the whole family to this interactive 

experience of storytelling 

through classical dance of India. 

Familiar fairytales and Indian 

mythological stories are portrayed 

with eclectic music and moving 

narrative. 508-647-6540 


10 am: Teddy Bear Picnic at the 

Bacon Free Library. Join us on the 

library lawn (weather permitting) 

and with wands and bubble solution, 

we’ll make all kinds of bubbles! 

All materials supplied. Sponsored 

by the Friends of the BFL. 

7 pm: Wolverine Jazz Band: 

Exceptional Traditional Jazz at the 

Natick Community-Senior Center, 

508-647-6540. 

8 pm: Outdoor Movie Night on 

the Natick Town Common. 

Friday, August 19 

3 to 4 pm: Drop by to create 

great structures with Legos at the 

Bacon Free Library. www.baconfreelibrary.org 


1 pm: History Book Club at the 

Natick Community-Senior Center 

(a Bacon Free Library event). 

Join us for a discussion of Waterloo 

by Bernard Cornwell. Register in 

Community Pass or at the desk at 

Natick Community Senior Center. 

6 pm: Book Club at the Bacon 

Free Library. Join us for a discussion 

of The Surgeon by Tess Gerritsen. 

Copies of the book are 

available at the library. www.baconfreelibrary.org 


9:30 am: Day trip to Larz Anderson 

Auto Museum on Natick 

Connector Bus for a 1 ½-hour 

visit. Will pick up at 11:30 pm 

and return to CSC at approx. 12 

pm. Senior admission: $5. Bring 

snacks/water on the bus. The Museum 

is housed in the opulent carriage 

house first built by wealthy 

Bostonians Larz and Isabel Anderson 

and home to the Anderson 

Motorcar Collection and revolving 

exhibits, featuring rare automobiles 

and vintage fashion. Nestled in 64 

beautiful acres of Larz Anderson 

Park. 508-647-6540 

7 to 8 pm: An evening with 

two acclaimed authors, Tess Gerritsen 

and Hank Phillippi Ryan, 

as they discuss the challenges and 

triumphs of mystery writing at the 

Bacon Free Library. www.baconfreelibrary.org 

Friday, September 23 

5 to 9 pm: Save the date! 

Natick Community Organic Farm 

(NCOF) Harvest Dinner & Auction 

at the Wellesley College Club. 

The finest local, organic, seasonal 

and sustainable food from NCOF 

and 30 other producers prepared 

by Wellesley College chefs in support 

of NCOF’s teen programming. 

www.natickfarm.org 

Email your event, with 

“CALENDAR” in the subject 

line, by the 15 th of every 

month to editor@naticktownnews.com. 

Events will be included 

as space permits. 

Our Mission: Your Comfort 

EQUIPMENT 

REBATES* (up to) 

Oil $1900 

Gas $3500 

AC $1150 

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Gas, Oil Gas, and Oil AC and Sales AC Sales & & Service 

888-818-2028 888-818-2028 • www.coanoil.com 

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*Rebates and financing provided by and subject to Mass Save Restrictions and Limitations 

Live Better 

REBATES* (up to) 

Oil 

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$1900 

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INDIA TRAVEL 


you as family in their amazing 

and unique country. You will 

have seen the unbelievable, the 

unimaginable and the indescribable. 

Your senses will be heightened 

and sharpened. You will 

return changed in many ways. 

The experience of India affects 

each person differently, but it 

affects all. India is technicolor 

and surround sound multiplied 

tenfold. Having experienced 

many exotic countries, including 

Myanmar, Morocco, Tibet, 

Cambodia, Russia, China, Bali, 

Guatemala and eight countries 

on the African continent, I can 

assure you that India is unique 

and beyond compare. 

Howard Axelrod is a resident 

of Metrowest, travel photographer, writer 

and former technology executive. He has 

photographed in 77 countries on six continents, 

and has travelled to 38 of the 

U.S. states. He is primarily interested 

in native and tribal cultures, architecture 

and wildlife, which he feels are all 

disappearing at an alarming rate. His 

goal is to document through photographs 

and writings as much of this as possible, 

while it still exists. He can be reached at 

highwind@verizon.net.


Thinking of Selling? 

Buying and Selling Homes in Metrowest. 

Amy Uliss, Realtor 

963 Worcester Rd. 

Framingham, MA 01701 

Cell: 508-341-1422 

Tel: 508-879-8999 

mdmrealtyinc@gmail.com 

metrowesthomesandlife.com 

Beth Byrne 

508.561.052 

bsbyrne@comcast.net 

bethbyrneisinthehouse.com 

FOR SALE 

130 Everett Street 

Natick 

FOR SALE 

204 Pond Street 

Natick 

61 Eliot Street Natick, MA 01760 

508.655.4141 

Let my 17 years experience of selling homes 

help you with your next move. 

SOLD 

SOLD 

SOLD 

SOLD 

33 Beverly Street 

Natick - $600K 

NEW LISTING 

3 Heidi Lane 

Natick $819K 

SOLD 

5 Pearl Street, Millis - $660K 

New Contruction 

PENDING 

36 Stratford Street 


SOLD 

6 Broad Street, Milford 260k 

443 Rumonoski Drive, Northbridge $265k 

23 Skyline Drive, Medway $440k 

19 5Th Ave, Watertown $485k 

9 Community Way, Foxboro $240k 

4 Fieldstone Rd, Medfield $590k 

1 Pearly Lane, Franklin $750k 

SOLD 

33 Fairway, Medway 


SOLD 

3 Beverly Street, Natick - $820K 

New Construction 

NEW LISTING 

20 SpringValley, Natick - $799K 

New Construction 

6 Cottage Street 

Medway - $259K 

304 North Street 

Medfield - $599K 

Great rates for 

first time buyers! 

Please feel free to call for a free 

market evaluation of your home. 

52 Windmioll Road 

Sudbury - $550K


# 

1 NATICK AGENT AT BENOIT MIZNER SIMON 

NATICK IS MY HOME, LET’S MAKE IT YOURS 

SOLD 

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SOLD 

SOLD 

SOLD 

SOLD 

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JESSICA ALLAIN 

Top 10 Premier Associate 

617.820.8114 

Jallainre@gmail.com 

EXPERIENCE THE DIFFERENCE 

COMPLIMENTARY MARKET ANALYSIS OR BUYER CONSULTATION 

544 BOSTON POST ROAD, WESTON, MA 

Benoit Mizner Simon & Co, LLC. An Equal Opportunity Employer. Equal Housing Opportunity.

Natick August 2016

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