Natick April 2020

localtownpages

PRSRT STD

ECRWSS

U.S. POSTAGE

PAID

PERMIT NO. 142

SPRINGFIELD, MA

Vol. 5 No. 5 Free to Every Home and Business Every Month April 2020

By Sean Sullivan

Getting your Goat Fix

Used to be, “getting your

goat” was not a good thing.

The phrase is said to derive

from a practice in horse racing,

whereby a goat was placed in

a stall with a thoroughbred before

the race. Among strange

surroundings, circumstances

and unfamiliar people, the

presence of a goat is said to

calm a horse’s nerves the night

before the big event.

But a member of a rival

camp would sometimes in secret

abscond with said comfort

animal - get your goat - seeking

to agitate an opponent’s horse

and thereby gain advantage in

the race.

Yet getting your goat is coming

to mean quite the opposite

these days, as the endearing

animals are increasingly being

recruited to relieve the stresses

and symptoms of life for their

two-legged friends.

“There’s research that petting

friendly animals improves

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GOAT

continued on page 2

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Natick Local Town Pages Readers:

At the time of this writing in mid-March, the town has

cancelled all activities and events on town-owned property for the

foreseeable future. Natick town leaders are sharing information on

the Coronavirus as it is becoming available. Here are ways you can

follow town communications:

• Facebook: @TownofNatick

• Town Website: www.natickma.gov

Postal Customer

Local

• Town webpage dedicated to updates on COVID-19:

https://www.natickma.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=626

The Sweet Season

By Sean Sullivan

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Approaching Natick Community

Organic Farms, one could

see - and smell - the smoke rising

from a wooden shack. Not an

unusual sight in wintertime New

England, but for the hut’s small

size and the outsized volume of

smoke that poured forth. The

color of what came from the

two chimneys, too, might have

conjured questions from a casual

passerby.

This put me in mind of that

rare process of choosing a pope,

when so many eager eyes are affixed

to the smoke (fumata) wafting

from the conclave chimney.

There, black smoke indicates indecision,

while white signals that

a new pope has been chosen.

But here at NCOF, fumata

nera and bianca mingled together,

each emanating from its

own chimney above the shack.

What to make of these mixed

messages? Sweet syrup, of course.

For this was a process of the

maple - not papal - persuasion.

SWEET

continued on page 4

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Page 2 Natick Local Town Pages www.localtownpages.com April 2020

GOAT

continued from page 1

Positively Goats, an organization

that partners with the animals to

improve the lives of people.

On the second floor of a large

barn on the farm where she

works, Antoniadis has set up a

small classroom. There, participants

gather in small groups to

learn about goats - everything

from behavior to anatomy to

diet. Below are a series of stables,

home to a group of horses. Goat

and horse alike are allowed to

roam in open areas outside the

stables and pens, to forage for

food.

Horses are among a group

of animals considered grazers,

creatures that nibble at the grass

beneath their feet. Goats, by

comparison, are browsers. As the

name suggests, theirs is a more

varied menu of items to choose

from.

Goats are athletic jumpers

and balancers, sometimes climbing

trees to access a tasty meal of

pine needles. Their four-chambered

stomachs allow for a more

varied diet, which also includes

leaves, hay, grass and flowers.

But being a browser is not

synonymous with having slipshod

dietary standards. Contrary

to popular belief, goats are very

finicky eaters. Although curious,

they stick to favored and familiar

food items, and will most often

refuse edibles they deem dirty or

that have been on the ground.

Bipedal participants of the

program are put at ease that

human fingers are in no danger

from nibbling goats, as they lack

a set of upper, frontal teeth. A

good-natured gumming is the

toughest treatment one can expect.

Up close, the eye of a goat

is something to behold. Their

longish, rectangular pupils are

horizontal, which gives the eerie,

cartoonish impression they’ve

been hypnotized. Yet the orientation

and shape of the pupil allows

goats a very generous field of view

- up to twice that of a human.

This enhanced vision helps protect

goats from predators seeking

to sneak up from behind.

In their pen, each of Antoniadis’

eight goats vie for attention

from visitors, who can brush

or scratch the coarse hair (not fur)

that manifests in some strikingly

beautiful patters and tones. At

first glance, Gertie the goat seems

to be wearing a set of four brown

knee-high boots, in contrast with

a coat of hair like some abstract

painting. A blizzard of off-white

streaks is set against her black and

brown coat, like inspired brush

strokes upon a dark canvas. Gertie’s

reputation among the herd

is that of the extrovert, the goat

sometimes leaping like a Labrador

onto unguarded laps for some

attention and grooming.

From head to tail, a strip of hair

will stand on end when a goat’s

gumption is up. Like plumes of

mohawk horsehair atop ancient

battle helmets, the phenomenon

is meant to impart a sense of

larger stature to opponents. The

goats engage as friendly gladiators

in their fenced-in arena,

rearing on hind legs to descend

with a decisive head butt against

a goat encroaching on norms or

personal space.

Antoniadis has a degree in

counseling, and in that capacity

at a residential treatment center

saw a need for a more holistic

approach in caring for and counseling

people with special needs.

She had also been volunteering

at a nursing home, and one day

brought along a dog. Seeing the

positive response to her fourlegged

co-counselor, Antoniadis

decided to earn a certificate in

animal-assisted therapy.

She soon connected with a

woman who raises goats as pets

and for therapy, and the rest is

history. Antoniadis fell in love

GOAT

continued on page 3

PROUDLY SUPPORTING OUR COMMUNITY

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April 2020 Natick Local Town Pages www.localtownpages.com Page 3

GOAT


with her new four-legged friends.

“I noticed that I felt great after

spending time with them,” she

said. “I decided to follow my

heart. I wanted to offer that to

other people.”

That includes people of all

ages and with special needs. She

runs the program by herself at

Natick’s South Street Farm, a

property owned by her mother.

Antoniadis’ husband is an artist,

and operates a studio on the bucolic

grounds.

Last summer, Positively Goats

held a summer camp for teens

with mental health challenges.

The program included homework

assignments, and a week

of extended, daily visits with

the goats. “I have noticed that

people tend to talk about things

and open up more,” around the

goats, said Antoniadis.

The increasingly popular

phenomenon of “goat yoga”

has also been part of Antoniadis’

offerings. The calming presence

of the goats is said to complement

the move toward mindfulness

and meditative practice.

A search reveals participants

in a variety of poses, with baby

goats (kids) calmly perched atop

the backs of practitioners. Antoniadis’

family of goats has grown

too large for this novelty, though

the herd may be expecting some

new additions soon, and with

them, more yoga.

RonsTire.com

Leonard Morse to postpone

changes in the wake of coronavirus

By Susan Manning

Staff Writer

The closure of Leonard Morse

Hospital was supposed to happen

in the third week of May, but that

is now being postponed to an unknown

date in case the hospital is

needed for help with treating patients

affected by the coronavirus.

Most of the medical services,

except for the psychiatric care,

were slated to be stopped. Its

Ron Saponaro

focus is going to be on behavioral

health care issues.

In mid-March, however, that

change was temporarily halted.

“Our goal has always been to

do what is best for our community,

and we recognize that during

this outbreak of COVID-19, we

want to provide an additional access

point to emergency care, inpatient

services, and critical care

services for those who may need

us,” said Andrew Harding, chief

executive officer at MetroWest

Medical Center, in a statement.

“We will revisit our plans to

close acute care services at Leonard

Morse Hospital at a future

date but not until this crisis has

passed.”

Jon Treon

Natick REALTOR ® since 1993

635 Waverly Street, Rte 135

Framingham, MA 01702

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SWEET


Here, the white steam and

black smoke were by-products of

boiling sap to unlock the maple

syrup secreted within, that honey-hued

holy water that blesses so

many a breakfast table. Millions

of people the world over worship

some version of the sweet

substance that emerges from the

shack, anointing with it numberless

stacks of pancakes and

French toast.

localtownpages

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There’s something of the sacred

ritual in this, when we of the

unwashed masses in some roadside

diner drizzle the substance

from stainless-steel dispensers

upon a short stack to start the day.

Straight from the tree, pure

maple sap contains only about

three-percent of the saccharine

and savory solution people pour

over their pancakes. The rest is

water, which must be boiled away

to reveal the viscous and delicious

amber product purchased and

poured by so many people.

Enter the “sugar shack,” which

we did, the crucible wherein this

sought-after substance is created.

Two members of the sugar

shack’s crew tended the fire and

its vat of steaming sap-to-syrup,

at times scooping out sediments

that are present within the raw

product. Accomplished via

handheld, wool membranes, this

old-fashioned filtering is called

“aproning.”

We stood around the boiling

cauldron as its crew monitored

their brew, the small wooden

shack filled with a moist heat.

Beneath the vessel of maple sap,

they minded a wood-fed fire that

kept the concoction around 220

degrees, the point at which sap

comes to a boil.

This was a kitchen of sorts,

concerned with cooking a single

product, filled with the sweet fragrance

of what was being prepared

on the stove. Steam from

the process permeated the place,

fogging glasses and filling nostrils

with the sweet tinge of maple

sugar.

Audra Friend, in her fourth

year volunteering with the farm,

was our guide.

“It’s kind of a magic art/sci-

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ence project to make something

delicious,” she said, adding that

the effects of climate change have

shifted and shrunk the sugaring

season. Owing to warmer winters,

the crew begins their process

earlier and has a shorter window

in which to do their work.

Nine-year-old Natick resident

Maya said her favorite part of the

process was the sugar shack, a refuge

from the wind and chilly air

outside. “Taste testing,” was also

high on her list.

“I liked the sugar shack, because

it was warm and smelled

good,” she said.

A path leads from the shack

to the farm’s main complex,

crossing over a small stream that

flowed too freely for the final

days of February. Absent were

those thin, brittle margins of ice

- like sugar glass - that border

edges of New England streams

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SWEET

continued on page 5


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SWEET


in its coldest months. It had been

a strikingly mild few weeks - the

second-warmest February on record

- and one marked by scant

snowfall.

This kind of shift in weather

patterns can stymie the efforts

of maple sap harvesters. There’s

a window of six to eight weeks

when sap can be gleaned from

the trees, and this process depends

on reliable fluctuations

in temperature. A sub-freezing

night, followed by an above-freezing

day, is ideal for getting juices

flowing within the maples.

A mature tree can yield forty

gallons of sap per season, and

volunteers at NCOF say they

draw conservatively from their

maples to better ensure the health

of the towering trees.

“It’s kind of like taking blood,”

said Friendly.

To make 20 gallons of maple

syrup requires the burning of approximately

a full cord of wood.

That’s a stack of wood four feet

wide and high, and eight feet long,

which contains about 20,000,000

BTUs, a standard unit of energy

measure. That roughly equates to

150 gallons of fuel oil.

NCOF burns through about

10 cords of wood every sugaring

season, and last year produced

198 gallons of maple syrup. As

of the middle of last month, the

farm had gleaned 114 gallons.

The price of all that energy and

labor is much of what makes true

maple syrup so expensive, compared

to those artificially-flavored

impostors found upon grocery

shelves.

Volunteers demonstrated a

more passive (and far less polluting)

way of procuring maple

syrup from sap, though it’s hard

to see how the technique could be

scaled up to produce the product

in large quantities. If left to freeze

in winter air, water and solids

stratify within the sap, with its

sugar sinking to the vessel’s bottom.

The surface water freezes

first and can be scooped out,

thereby leaving a more concentrated

(sugary) sap.

For early colonists, the extraction

and processing of sap

was their only reliable source of

sugar. It could be boiled down

to solid bars, traded and sold,

saved for later use. Colonists first

learned of the presence and value

of maple sap from indigenous

peoples, who had their own ways

of concentrating the sugar that

seeps from trees.

Lacking metal cookware in

which to boil sap, they heated

stones fireside, which were then

dropped into wooden vessels

filled with the liquid. The addition

of more hot stones would

eventually bring the sap to a boil.

NCOF volunteers offered visitors

a demonstration of the old-school

technique.

Deena Kanopkin and Dede

Dussault stood warmed by a

small fire encircled with stones,

one of which Kanopkin scooped

from the heat with a forked stick.

Dropping it into a small, hollowed-out

log filled with water,

the stone sputtered and steamed,

hissing as it transferred its energy

to the liquid.

“They keep giving back to us

every year,” she said of the maple

trees, though the sentiment could

just as well apply to those native

peoples that shared with early

colonists the knowledge and techniques

that helped them survive

the new environment.

Sweet skills, indeed.

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localtownpages

and neighbors, many people are also concerned how economically healthy the

community will remain. Business owners, especially small ones, are concerned about

their families, employees, customers, and finally, themselves, in about that order. When

we can return to some kind of normalcy, we will still need to pick up the pieces. The

convenience of the big box stores and online ordering is tempting, but we need to

remember to support the businesses that support our community.

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Think about your neighbors first. These local businesses sponsor the town little

leagues, the community fundraisers, that spaghetti dinner. They are going to need

us now more than ever. These businesses are invested in our community. They hire

locally, offer better customer service, and they can bring in visitors from surrounding

towns. Lastly, many of our struggling restaurants are still open and offering takeout

and delivery services. Together we can keep each other safe and thriving throughout

this unusual event.

There is no one STRONGER than New Englanders after all.

Thank you,

Chuck Tashjian, Publisher

508-655-4111 | faith-casler.com

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Your Money, Your Independence

Be Proactive and Less Reactive

As we navigate the rapidly

evolving COVID-19 situation

together, priorities come clearly

into focus. First priority is the

well-being for you, your family,

loved-ones and taking necessary

actions for the greater good of

our community.

In being proactive, you’ve

likely encountered and/or

thought of areas you could improve.

You can view these as

weaknesses and continue to procrastinate

or seek out as an opportunity

to take action.

After appropriate measures for

health, your attention may turn

to financial planning and investing

for you, your family and loved

ones given the volatile times.

No matter how well-intended

or detailed, your plan should be

able to evolve as challenges and

opportunities arise. For example,

before investing it is important

to plan financially for the unexpected

(i.e. job loss) by having

ample access to credit and cash

to cover short and near-term expenses.

This is to allow money invested

for work towards personal

goals with distant timelines.

Craft Beer & Cider-Tasting

Fundraising Event

Enjoy sampling local craft

beer & cider? How about socializing

with friends in a beautiful

farm setting, listening to live jazz

music? We’ve got the perfect

event for you! Non-ain Natick

on Monday, May 4, 2020, from

4pm – 7pm.

The general public and local

businesses are invited to enjoy socializing,

sampling delicious local

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Glenn Brown

In seeking action steps, let’s

look at the big picture and the

potential opportunities for 3 RE’s:

Refinance, Rebalance and Reset.

Refinance: The Fed has taken

numerous steps to lower interest

rates and provide liquidity. Even

if you’ve refinanced certain loans

recently (ie: Mortgage, Auto, Student),

in the coming weeks there

should be opportunities to lower

your rate but also determine if

shortening duration of the loan

makes sense.

hot and cold appetizers, and listening

to live jazz music by the

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fantastic cause.

All proceeds will help us raise

funds for a handicap accessible

van to transport our senior residents

to their favorite activities.

Tickets are $50pp, include your

first flight of beverages, and are

on sale now at www.maryannmorse.org.

Can’t attend, but

Reuse. Recycle. Rock.

Rebalance: If you’ve been

holding certain investments begrudgingly

due to large capital

gains liability, now is an opportunity

to diversify with a lower

tax liability and reallocate across

quality investments that are also

lower.

Reset: It is during moments

like this you get the opportunity

to evaluate how you feel about

your planning. It can be a great

time to confirm you’re in a good

position or bring to the forefront

areas to address for change and/

or improvement.

Everyone’s situation is unique

and if this has changed or you

now feel uncomfortable, that’s ok.

Access to discuss and review

is critical in being proactive with

your financial planning.

Many advisors have utilized

virtual meeting technologies for

years as a way to connect and

communicate along with more

traditional phone, e-mail and

in-person meetings. Furthermore,

there are hundreds of CFPs and

financial planners who can work

with clients 100% electronically

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about your situation, deliver a

plan and help with execution.

Lastly, I want to thank all those

who are supporting our essential

needs and bringing both rationale

and comfort in our collective time

of need.

The opinions voiced in this material

are for general information only and are

not intended to provide specific advice or

recommendations for any individual.

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Homelessness walk is now Campaign for Hope

By Susan Manning

Staff Writer

Thanks to the coronavirus outbreak,

Family Promise Metrowest

(FPM), a local nonprofit organization

dedicated to helping families

facing homelessness, is now

hosting a Campaign for Hope

instead of its 11th annual Walk

to End Homelessness. The walk,

which would have been held at

Natick High School, raises funds

to fight homelessness in MetroWest.

The funds are so needed in the

area, according to Sue Crossley,

Executive Director of FPM, because

homelessness affects more

people than folks think. One

out of five people experiencing

homelessness is a child. FPM’s

mission is to transform the lives

of families with children facing

homelessness by mobilizing local

communities to provide shelter,

education, and comprehensive

support. This event raises funds

for programming that supports

families on their path to sustainable

employment and housing.

“Amidst all the fun and games,

this event really matters,” said

Crossley.. “It’s one of our biggest

fundraisers of the year, bringing

in over 25% of our annual program

budget and significantly

impacting the lives of the families

we serve.”

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The change from walk to campaign

happened rather quickly

based on the state of the coronavirus

outbreak, according to

Carole Brodrick, development

director for FPM.

“The people being hit the

most in this event are the low and

moderate income people because

they’re usually hourly workers.

We had four families in a shelter,

two of which two weeks ago

were ready to move out. They

had saved their money through

first and last month’s rent They

were ready to go. And then they

lost their jobs — were laid off.

The case managers are working

with a lot of families right now

because they’re hourly workers

and they’ve been laid off and they

don’t know how they’re going to

pay the rent, let alone put food on

the the table for their family,” said

Brodrick, explaining why they

chose to start a campaign.

She said the walk normally

brings in about $150,000. So far

they’ve just surpassed $60,000.

To meet their goal as well as to

pay for the other services they’ve

had to provide because of social

distancing and gathering restrictions,

they need to not only

hit that hundred and $150,000

mark, but surpass it

“But now we need even a little

bit more because our families

we’ve moved into a hotel because

we’re supposed to not be congregating

more than ten people at

a time. And we wanted to make

sure that our volunteers were in

good shape and could do social

distancing for themselves and

can save you

their families. But we also wanted

to get that benefit to our families.

Usually our volunteers prepare

all the meals for the families,

but we want them to make their

own food so they know how it’s

being prepared and know where

it’s coming from. So that’s all an

extra expense we did not budget

for,” Brodrick said.

Brodrick praised all of the

community and corporate partners

for the event and continued

support despite the changes.

“We’re so appreciative of all

the corporate sponsors that we

had to the event and the community

partners have been fantastic,”

she said.

The local businesses and

sponsors include: WROR Radio,

30 %

or

more

R.W. Holmes Commercial Real

Estate, Beth Israel Deaconess

Hospital Needham, Needham

Bank, Commonwealth Financial,

Eastern Bank, The Village Bank,

and MapleMama Beverages.

With 50 local congregations,

3000 volunteers, and support

from the community, Family

Promise Metrowest is making

a difference in addressing the

issue of family homelessness. By

providing resources and encouragement

and addressing barriers,

families bring themselves out

of homelessness and into a life

where they can sustain themselves

and their children. For more information,

visit www.familypromisemetrowest.org.

The Campaign for Hope will

run the entire month of April.

Follow FPM on Facebook for updates:

@familypromsemetrowest.

“Every donation makes a difference

and it directly impacts

these families,” she said.

Submit press

releases, photos with

captions and story

ideas to editor@

Naticktownnews.com

The deadline is the

15th of the month.


Author with Ashland Roots Has Hopes of Inspiring Youth

By Cynthia Whitty

Ashland native Jeremy Bhandari

has a book, Trust the Grind:

How World-Class Athletes Got

to the Top that is set to release

in April. Trust the Grind, is a

non-fiction story involving some

of the top athletes of recent years.

Over the past few months, Bhandari

had the chance to interview

a handful of superstars and formulate

an inspirational story that

exemplifies how each individual

was able to reach the pinnacle of

his or her profession. Each chapter

is divided into particular success

habits (Goal-Setting, Drive,

Discipline, and so forth).

“My publishing team (Mango

Publishing) and I are aiming to

get this story into the hands of

middle/high school students to

read as part of their curriculum,

Bhandari said. “I have already

been in contact with my high

school, and the English department

liaison informed me that

this book will be considered to

be an option for Summer Reading.

We fully expect to spread this

book into schools across America.”

Ashland Local Town Pages

recently interviewed Bhandari to

find out how he, at the age of 23,

has become an author who wants

to inspire this country’s youth.

Q. What were your early

days in Ashland like?

I was born in Ashland, MA

on June 19, 1996. When I say

‘born in’ Ashland, I mean it literally.

My mother gave birth to

me in her bedroom at 5:30 a.m.,

and I was immediately rushed to

a hospital. I guess I just couldn’t

wait to enter this splendid sphere.

Because it was such a rare occurrence,

my birthdate (06.19.96)

was etched onto one of the Ashland

fire trucks.

I graduated from Ashland

High in 2014. My Mount Rushmore

(four favorite) of Ashland

High School teachers is Mr.

Campbell, Mrs. Weaver, Mr.

Harrington, and Mrs. Fitzy.

My mother is my biggest inspiration.

She is a real-life superhero,

who has taught me countless lessons

just by the way she operates.

Growing up, she instilled in me

the importance of positive thinking,

self-discipline, staying active,

eating right, and helping others.

She serves as a nurse and presently

works at the Warren School.

Ashland native and author Jeremy Bhandari. (Photo/supplied)

Q. What do you attribute

your love of sports to?

As a kid, my first in-person

sports memory was when I attended

a Boston Celtics game at

the Fleet Center (now known as

TD Garden). The Celtics were

playing the Philadelphia 76ers,

led by star player, Allen Iverson.

Iverson was on the shorter end

(6 feet if we are being generous),

and couldn’t have weighed more

than 160 lbs., but DOMINATED

the game. He scored nearly 40

points and pioneered the Sixers

to victory. He just seemed to want

to win more than everyone else on

the court, and sauntered around

with such swagger.

I was only 9-years-old, but I

was so amazed at how the smallest

guy out there was able to outshine

his opponents. Despite participating

in a field where an individual is

at a great disadvantage if he/she

is undersized, Iverson showed me

firsthand that no matter what the

external voices have to say or what

history might have revealed to

us, anything is possible if you are

willing to put in the work, stay focused,

believe in your abilities, and

have a burning desire to be great.

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• Outdoor

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• Lot Clearing

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Q. Where did you study

after Ashland and where

did you get your passion

for writing?

I majored in Communications

at UMass Amherst. I liked it because

it was such a broad curriculum,

so I was required to take

diverse courses. Being forced to

learn the Italian language, while

also being asked to study the stars

for Astronomy class helped me

expand my overall knowledge in

a way that wouldn’t have been

possible if I had chosen a more

singularized discipline. In the

Comm major, it was also mandatory

to take Junior Writing. In

that course, I wrote a paper on

the relationship between winning

and spending in major league

baseball. I got a really high grade

on the project, and it inspired me

to take writing more seriously.

Without that assignment, I’m not

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sure if I would have found my

passion for storytelling.

Q. How did your book

come about?

Following graduation from

UMass, I was blessed by receiving

a job offer from ESPN as a sports

researcher. To get that position,

I had to take an online test, undergo

five phone interviews, and

do an in-person evaluation. Fortuitously,

I was chosen out of the

166 applicants. I packed my bags,

said my goodbyes, and headed

down to Charlotte, NC. Over

the next 20 months, July 2018

to February 2020), I formulated

and distributed information to

a variety of areas within ESPN,

such as Studio Production, Event

Production, and ESPN.com. My

ASHLAND AUTHOR

continued on page 15

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Go local for all of your trash disposal needs

By Susan Manning

Staff Writer

When you choose I-HAUL for

your trash removal needs, you’re

choosing to support a local business

with long-standing ties to the

community. You will be getting

something more than if you used

one of those big box companies:

you’ll be getting Buz Bragdon,

who was born and raised in

Natick and runs I-HAUL Disposal

Service as a detail-oriented,

honest and friendly businessman.

I-HAUL Disposal Service

takes the burden off of its customers

by removing unwanted junk.

It could be a pile of accumulated

items in the middle of your garage

floor, or it could be an entire

house clean out. It could include

removing items from your office

or your yard. You name it and

I-HAUL can remove it. Bragdon

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takes the items and delivers them

to the appropriate state and federally

licensed facilities.

His is a custom service with

fees based on each individual job

because Bragdon knows each

job is an individual situation and

there is not a one-size-fits-all way

of doing things. I-HAUL can either

work alongside you to help

choose items for discard, they can

place a container in your driveway

or yard for you to load or

they can do all the heavy lifting

– you choose.

According to Bragdon,

I-HAUL removes virtually everything

including the kitchen

sink—trash, furniture, large and

small household items, carpeting,

appliances: It all goes. Outside of

the house, construction debris,

demolition materials, minerals,

brush and other yard waste are

all part of I-HAUL’s day. They

take all waste ban items and most

hazardous materials. Occasionally,

when Bragdon hauls away a

piece that might still have life left

in it, he attempts to find and new

home for it.

Worried because some of your

items are large and you don’t

have the capacity or time to break

them down? Don’t be. I-HAUL

will do the necessary preparatory

work before hauling large items.

They’ll demolish a shed or cut up

a fence or swing set, for example.

They’ll cut down overgrown areas

of your yard. I-HAUL is a full

service company and performs

exactly what you need done.

So what’s the craziest thing

he’s ever hauled away? “An

old dentist’s chair. It was big

and heavy… And I was told I

couldn’t tip it to get better leverage

because there was oil in the

base that would spill everywhere

if I did. We had to finagle it out

carefully down the steps and then

into the tall back of my truck, “he

explained.

Bragdon has been doing removal

and disposal for more than

30 years. Nights and weekends,

he hitched up his small utility

trailer behind his mid-1970’s station

wagon and picked up trash

and junk to bring to the local

town landfills.

“Because I had a trailer, people

would ask me if I could pick

up this or I could pick up that and

help them out. I brainstormed

that this could turn into more

than just helping and that’s how

I started,“ he said.

Much has changed in the decades

that followed: the kind of

vehicles needed, where to bring

junk for proper disposal or recycling,

even the kind of junk. In

the beginning, no one had heard

of “e-waste,” for example and

recycling was practically nonexistent.

Today, I-HAUL can recycle

much of the debris collected and

e-waste is a common component

of what Bragdon deals with.

Bragdon has also upgraded a few

times from his old station wagon

to a larger trucks to haul the kinds

of stuff people have nowadays.

Bragdon said his turnaround

is often the next day. To reach

him, call 508-655-4968 or email

ihaul@aol.com. Have a discussion

of your removal and disposal

needs with your local junk guy.

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Sports

Natick Boys Swim Team Captures Its First Sectional Title

By KEN HAMWEY

Staff Sports Writer

The Natick High boys swimming

and diving team knows a

thing or two about improvement.

During the 2017-18 season,

coach Caitlyn Shaddock’s Redhawks

finished their dual-meet

season unbeaten at 12-0, then

rolled to the Bay State Conference

title and won the league

meet. When the South Sectional

tourney arrived, they took second

place behind Needham.

The 2018-19 campaign was

almost a carbon copy of the

previous year. The Redhawks

finished undefeated again in

dual meets, but this time their

record was 13-0. They again

were crowned BSC champs and

captured the league meet. At the

Sectional, however, they finished

second again, bowing to Nantucket.

Last February, when the 2019-

20 season ended, Natick looked

like it slipped. But, when the

Sectional arrived, the Redhawks

were ready — to write some

history. The squad finished the

dual-meet season at 8-2 and was

second in the conference standings.

However, they bounced

back in spectacular fashion to

win the league meet before they

captured their first Sectional

crown in school history. Natick

compiled 197 points to Bishop

Feehan’s 191.

When all the celebrating

concluded at the M.I.T. pool,

Natick’s 2019-20 season included

a three-year winning streak that

reached 30 meets and a Sectional

title that ended a playoff drought

that lasted 45 years. Natick’s program

got underway in 1975.

“We were all ecstatic and excited,’’

Shaddock said. “The Sectional

title was a testament to all

the hard work the boys displayed

during the season. We finally

topped the two previous years

when we finished second. It was

great for the kids, the coaches and

the fans. For me, I had tears of

joy.’’

When the Redhawks’ Max

Weisman took sixth place in diving,

that set the stage for Natick’s

Sectional crown. The Redhawks

were ahead by three points. The

400 freestyle relay team of Brian

Cheung, Blake Horsch, Zach

Bubonovich and Ben Schmelmer

needed a third-place finish to

clinch the championship. The did

just that in a time of 3 minutes,

18.68 seconds.

“Max earned 13 points for his

sixth-place finish and that put us

ahead by three,’’ Shaddock said.

“Then our relay guys went all

out and gave us a great effort. I

was humbled by our success and

proud of the way the entire team

worked all season. Our post-season

participants were dynamic.’’

The Redhawks’ historic Sectional

title is linked to a variety

of strengths they relied on meet

after meet. “Our kids showed

determination, displayed a high

swimming and diving IQ, they

were athletic and technically

sound, and collectively their work

ethic and coachable nature were

solid,’’ Shaddock emphasized.

Natick wasn’t able to match

last year’s third-place finish at the

State meet a week later on Feb.

16. The Redhawks finished in a

tie for 11th place. “The teams

were all strong contenders, all

top-notch,’’ Shaddock offered.

“We gave an all-out effort, getting

some personal bests and a school

record.’’

Natick’s four senior captains

— Weisman, Schmelmer, Joey

Holihan, and Matt Kwan — excelled

as leaders, whether it was

by example, being supportive or

being vocal.

“Max challenged and pushed

himself to be the best diver he

could be,’’ Shaddock noted.

“He’s very athletic because of

his gymnastics background. Ben

swam the freestyle events and

was dedicated to the sport and

to his team’s success. A strong

leader, he was one of our hardest

workers. Joey was determined

and goal-oriented in his butterfly

events. He was always willing to

help others improve. Matt was

coachable, his swimming IQ is

high and he was determined

to reach his goals in the breaststroke.’’

Logan Knapp, a sophomore

diver, gained experience as a

freshman. “Logan displayed lots

of raw talent and has a lot of

potential,’’ Shaddock said. “He’s

coachable and very willing to

learn.’’

Two other sophomores who

played key roles were Bubonovich

and Horsch. “Zach showed his

versatility by competing in the

breaststroke, freestyle and individual

medley,’’ Shaddock said.

“He’s coachable, solid in pressure

situations, and rises to a challenge

effectively. Blake is very competitive

in freestyle. He’s determined

and very athletic.’’

Junior twins Allen and Brian

Cheung exhibited a strong work

ethic. Allen swam the freestyle

and backstroke while Brian competed

in freestyle events. “Allen is

very competitive and athletic,’’

Shaddock noted. “Brian is a technically

sound swimmer who’s determined

and goal-oriented.’’

The 31-year-old Shaddock,

who was a four-year varsity swimmer

at Milford High and also a

captain, focuses on a competitive

philosophy of reaching one’s potential

and enjoying an athletic

experience. “If our kids are improving,

reaching their potential

and having fun, then winning

likely will follow,’’ she said.

A physics and astronomy

teacher at Natick High, Shaddock

doesn’t have to gaze at the

stars to discover that the 25 boys

on her roster learned some valuable

life lessons during meets and

practices.

“There’s no doubt that the

sport teaches perseverance, mental

toughness, teamwork, how to

be a leader and how to develop

a strong work ethic,’’ she said.

“And, athletes who swim and dive

understand that the sport has an

individual and team aspect. The

boys compete to win as individuals

and to also compile points

for their team. Individual success

builds confidence and it also

helps a squad to win.’’

Natick’s swim team lost nine

seniors to graduation but managed

to win its first Sectional

crown in program history. Next

year’s team will also be without

nine seniors. So, what’s in store

going forward?

“The key for continued success

is getting ample newcomers

and getting renewed efforts from

our veterans,’’ Shaddock said.

Another key component is resilience.

The Redhawks demonstrated

it during the last three

seasons, and it’s an intangible

asset that helped Natick win its

first Sectional crown.


Sports

Deep Tourney Run Prime Goal For Natick Boys Lacrosse Team

By KEN HAMWEY

Staff Sports Writer

The boys lacrosse team at

Natick High is determined to improve

on its playoff history.

For the last four years, coach

Nate Kittler’s Redhawks have

qualified for tourney play but

have bowed out each time in the

Sectional quarterfinals. Based on

Natick’s returning players and

the strengths they possess, a deep

tournament run seems likely and

it’s one of Kittler’s objectives for

2020.

“Our goals are to win the Bay

State Conference championship

and to advance as deep as possible

in the playoffs,’’ Kittler said.

“Those goals are realistic because

we’ve got talent, experience,

depth and team chemistry.’’

Seven seniors from last year’s

16-4 squad have graduated but

18 players with different degrees

of experience return. And, Kittler,

who’s entering his 19th year

as head coach, likes the assets

they bring to the table.

“We’ve got players who are

technically sound and have a high

lacrosse IQ,’’ he said. “The players

are also coachable and promote

team chemistry. We have

experience and depth. Every senior

on the team has been to the

tourney, so they know what it’s

like. I also like having multi-sport

athletes.’’

Kittler, who founded Natick’s

lacrosse program 20 years ago,

will field a team that’s up-tempo

on offense and tenacious on defense.

“We’ve got a lot of weapons,’’

he emphasized.

Four of those weapons are

senior captains who’ve been

BSC all-stars — attackmen Isaac

Tallino and Josh Atwood, Aedan

Knowlton on defense and Ryan

Cassidy in goal.

Tallino, a three-time all-star

and conference MVP, scored 28

goals and had 23 assists in only

11 games last year. Twice voted

a second-team all-American, he’ll

be playing at John Hopkins next

spring. Atwood is a four-year veteran

who had 31 goals and 10

assists last year; Knowlton is a

four-year veteran and a two-time

all-star; and Cassidy’s save percentage

was .651.

The captains’ leadership styles

complement one another effectively.

They lead by example and

by being vocal and supportive.

“Isaac is the most-talented lacrosse

player I’ve ever coached,’’

Kittler said. “He’s got an accurate

shot, a great work ethic, and he

changes speed quickly. Josh is the

fastest big man I’ve coached. At

6-3, 350, he’s quick, tough, has

a high lacrosse IQ and he’s a

powerful dodger. Aedan is a shutdown

defender whose stick skills

are magical. He’s always matched

against our opponents’ top scorer.

Ryan brings a lot of energy. The

quarterback of our defense, he’s

fearless and very instinctive.’’

Four key contributors include

senior attackmen Sean McLaughlin

and Liam Kelley; senior midfielder

Luke Landon and junior

midfielder Luke Rader. “They’re

technically sound, coachable, and

dedicated to the team,’’ Kittler

said.

Natick has a plethora of talented

midfielders. Three of them

are seniors — Nick Palmer, who

can also play attack, Jack Zeliger

and Matty Reardon; and the others

are juniors — T.J. Dalicandro,

Nick Polymeros and Will

Genaske.

“Nick scored eight goals and

had four assists last year,’’ Kittler

said. “He’s got speed, he’s shifty

and he’s athletic. Jack is solid on

faceoffs. An intense competitor,

he’s a hard-worker who’s got

speed and quickness. A very dedicated

player, he surprised us last

year. Matty should have a breakout

year. He’s got a high lacrosse

IQ to go with great stickwork and

speed.’’

Kittler rates Dalicandro as

the best defensive midfielder in

the league. Polymeros had 19

goals and seven assists last year

while Genaske tallied 25 goals

and had 17 assists. “T.J. would

run through a wall,’’ Kittler said.

“He’s versatile and athletic. Resilient

and mentally tough, he never

quits. Nick is one of our toughest

players. He’s a physical player

who’s excellent in transition. Will

is a great inside finisher who’s

dynamic, intense and athletic.

He’s able to get into the right position.’’

Senior Hunter Gallagher and

junior Cody Adams are topnotch

defensemen. “Hunter is

a surgeon with his stick,’’ Kittler

noted. “He’s got great instincts,

he’s intense and also very athletic.

Cody will be a huge impact

player. He can play shut-down

defense and even a

little offense if we need it.’’

Three other quality players

include junior defenseman Alex

Crook, sophomore goalie James

Carr and soph attack Colby

Leblanc. “Alex will be one of

the most athletic players on the

field,’’ Kittler said. “A groundball

specialist, he’s a workhorse

who’s mentally tough and resilient.

James provides depth in

goal and he shows good leadership

traits. Colby had 15 goals

and three assists as a freshman.

A three-sport athlete, he’s got

speed, he’s big and strong, and

very skilled.’’

Kittler is acutely aware that

winning the BSC title will be a

challenge because Needham,

Newton North Wellesley and

Walpole are formidable opponents.

“There are no easy games

in the BSC,’’ he said. “All the

teams can be a nightmare.’’

During the last 18 years that

Kittler has led the Redhawks,

they’ve qualified for the playoffs

nine times. His competitive philosophy

is rooted in bonding as

a family. “No coach has success

with individual-style players,’’ he

emphasized. “It takes teamwork

and teammates who have each

others’ backs. If our players are

striving to reach their potential

and are good teammates, then

winning will follow.’’

The Natick High boys lacrosse

team appears to have all the attributes

required for success. The

Redhawks’ 2020 season is all

about ending early exits from

the playoffs and going on a deep

tourney run.


Sports

MIAA Announces

updated season start date

for spring sports

The MIAA Board of Directors voted March 16, 2020, to amend the start of the 2020 spring

sports season in light of recent mandates from Governor Baker and recommendations from

governing health agencies. The updated start date for the 2020 spring season is April 27, 2020.

Additionally, the MIAA Board of Directors voted to have completion of regular season

and tournament games by June 20, 2020 with consideration of June 21, 2020 for weather and

facility needs.

Details regarding the structure of the spring season will be addressed by the announces

updated season start date for spring sports Tournament Management Committee (TMC). An

update will be provided and reviewed by the Board closer to the start date..

These decisions are based on available information and are made in the best interest of our

student-athletes, schools and communities. These decisions will be revisited and adjusted as

needed.

Our Ad & Editorial Deadline is the 15th of each month, for the following month’s issue.

NOW

OPEN!

in

Natick

Authentic Mexican Cuisine, From Our Family to Yours!

148 E Central St | Natick, MA 01760

Phone: (508) 655-5477 | Fax: (508) 655-5505

www.mexicaligrillrestaurant.com

Planning a party? Look no further than

Mexicali for your catering needs!

Function space available at our Spencer location.

HOURS OF OPERATION

Sunday – Thursday: 11AM-10PM | Friday, Saturday: 11AM-11PM


I-HAUL

Disposal Service

A small amount to a whole house…

• Rubbish

• Clean Outs

• Waste Ban Items

We Recycle

• Appliances & Metal

• Construction Debris

• Brush & Yard Debris

You Call.

I Haul.

That’s All.

Talk With Your Local Natick Junk Guy!

Buz Bragdon • 508-655-4968

Submit press releases, photos with captions and

story ideas to editor@Naticktownnews.com

The deadline is the 15th of the month.

Put Your Acne on Ice

Lisa Massimiano, Licensed

Esthetician, Certified Acne

Specialist

Owner Skin Smart Salon

and Acne Clinic

Acne can present on the face

in different ways. You can have

non- inflamed acne which consists

of bumps under the skin and

open clogged pores, commonly

referred to as black heads. You

can have inflamed acne or, most

often, a combination of the two.

The type of acne you have and

the severity of it depends on the

genetic makeup of your unique

skin.

Inflamed acne is probably

what most people think of as

acne. It presents on the face as

red, angry looking lesions and

white headed pustules sometimes

sore to the touch. It can also appear

on the back and chest. Although,

inflamed acne can look

more debilitating than non- inflamed,

with the right treatment

it often clears more quickly.

In addition to using appropriate

home care products, here

are some easy things you can do

to help get inflamed acne under

control.

• Ice your face 1 to 2 minutes

every day. The ice reduces

inflammation and calms

the skin. It soothes painful

lesions and helps them heal

faster from the inside out,

minimizing the risk of scars.

• Take daily Zinc and Omega

3 Fish Oil supplements. The

anti-inflammatory properties

in these supplements

help reduce the severity of

cysts and inflamed lesions.

• Try to keep you skin cool,

heat inflames the follicles

and irritates inflamed lesions.

• Be aware of straps, head

bands, baseball caps, anything

that rubs against the

skin. The friction on your

skin can irritate inflamed

acne.

There is no quick fix to clear

acne, but it can be managed with

correct home care, professional

treatments and modified life style

choices.

Questions about acne? Call me

at (508) 881-1180 or email me at

skinsmartsalon@aol.com. Visit my

website skinsmartsalon.com for information

on my acne clinic and other

services.

Our Ad &

Editorial

Deadline

is the 15th

of each

month, for

the following

month’s

issue.

Riverbend of South Natick

Exceptional Short Term Rehab & Skilled Nursing Care

On Call Physicians

24 Hr Nursing Coverage

Post Surgical Rehab

Respite Stays Welcome

(508)653-8330

Alzheimer’s Residents Welcome

Hospice & Support Services

34 South Lincoln Street, South Natick, MA

www.rehabassociates.com/riverbend

For rates

and info on

advertising

your

business,

please call

Jen at

508-570-6544

or email:

jenschofield@

localtownpages.com


How to get library services from

home

With a coronavirus outbreak last month and the

library closure, it may have seemed like you were

cut off from your community resource, but don’t

forget the library has many resources online. Those

resources are available all yearround— not just in

times of pandemic. Let’s take a look at some of

those:

Libby ebooks app logoLibby by

OverDrive

The latest digital content app from OverDrive,

Libby will connect you to our digital catalog where

you can check out ebooks, audiobooks, movies, and

magazines. Available for Android, iOS (iPhone/

iPad/iPod touch), and Windows 10.

OverDrive Digital Media CatalogOverdrive

Digital Media Catalog

We lend ebooks, digital audiobooks, magazines,

and streaming video through our digital catalog that

you can enjoy on your computer or mobile device.

OverDrive is available on a wide selection of computers,

tablets, mobile devices, and ereaders. Find

out how best to read ebooks on your device.

hoopla digital movies, tv shows, music albums,

ebooks, audiobooks, comic bookshoopla digital

Natick cardholders only

Use hoopla digital to borrow movies, television

shows, music albums, ebooks, audiobooks, and

comic books with your library card. Gain access to

thousands of titles – available for instant streaming

or download to your mobile device – and enjoy on

your smartphone, tablet or computer. There’s no

waiting to borrow and hoopla digital’s automatic

return eliminates all late fees. To get started, go

to hoopladigital.com or download the free hoopla

digital app for your Android, Apple, or Kindle Fire

device and create an account with your library card

number.

Kanopy

Natick cardholders only

Natick residents can sign up for Kanopy and

stream up to seven movies per month instantly by

visiting https://morseinstitute.kanopy.com. Films

are available from any computer, television, mobile

device, or platform by downloading the Kanopy app

for iOS, Android, Apple TV, Chromecast, or Roku.

ASHLAND AUTHOR


favorite memory was when I was

sprinting on the treadmill one

morning, and happened to glace

up at one of the TVs at the gym

and saw that Sports Center was

running a piece of original content

I had cultivated.

One day, when I was laying

on my bed, I came up with an

idea to interview athletes and

construct a success-habit blueprint

for kids to absorb. I wanted

to talk to some competitors and

find out what helped them reach

the top. I started reaching out,

via email, to various professional

players, and asked if they had

any interest in taking part in my

project to inspire the youth. In

magical fashion, my compelling

concept turned into a story that

involved 16 of the best athletes to

ever walk this planet.

I would spend my off-days in

Starbucks, usually from noon to

5 p.m., doing research, loading

up on caffeine, and typing out

the manuscript. I spent so much

time there that it got to the point

where every employee knew my

name, my order, and even little

details about my project. When

I would walk in, I immediately

received my unsweetened, venti

iced black coffee, with light ice,

free of charge.

After countless hours, I was

confident with the material, and

started shopping around for

publishers. Not too long after, I

signed a contract with Mango

Publishing, one of the fastest

growing publishers in the country.

I am so thankful for the entire

team over at Mango. From

the editors, marketing specialists,

and graphic design members, everyone

played such a vital role in

the process. I couldn’t have done

it without them.

Today, I have since moved

on from ESPN, to focus on this

project. After Trust the Grind, I

plan on releasing a fictional novel

that I believe will eventually turn

into a motion-picture film. Stay

tuned.

Jeremy Bhandari’s book is

available on Amazon, https://

amzn.to/2TQqirQ.

Landscape Design

& Maintenance

Hardscapes

Pools & Outdoor Living

Property Maintenance

Light Construction

Let us help create the yard of your dreams.

781.431.8503 • www.indresanocorp.com


Natick Calendar

Editor’s note: Due to the

coronavirus outbreak over the

past few weeks, many events

have been canceled or postponed.

Please check with each

organization before heading out

to an event.

March 29 - April 4

Kindness Week is still on!

(March 29 - April 4) While

SPARK’s public programs in

March/April have been postponed,

kindness is never cancelled!

Kindness Week Natick

will be an uplifting way that we

can highlight the good in our

community. We will also use it

as an opportunity to thank all

of the leaders and volunteers

who are working around the

clock on our response to the

virus. Learn more and join us

at SPARKKindness.org.

Thursday, April 3

Come join the new Tune

In Audiobook Club. For readers

pressed for time, folks who

enjoy listening to their books

and for commuters on the go,

this audiobook club is for you.

Each month, we will discuss the

story and audio production of

each title. Tune In meets the

first Thursday of each month

from 7:00-8:00 pm in the Innovation

Studio. April’s listen:

Bossypants by Tina Fey. Narrated

by the author.

From her youthful days as a

vicious nerd to her tour of duty

on Saturday Night Live; from

her passionately halfhearted

pursuit of physical beauty to

her life as a mother eating

things off the floor; from her

one-sided college romance to

her nearly fatal honeymoon,

Tina Fey reveals all, and proves

what we’ve all suspected: you’re

no one until someone calls you

bossy.

Copies of April’s audiobook

can be picked up at the main

circulation desk any time prior

to the meeting. Digital audiobooks

available on Libby. Tune

In events are free and open to

the public. No registration

necessary. Please contact Abby

Walsh with any questions about

the audiobook club at 508-647-

6520 or awalsh@minlib.net.

Saturday, April 4

Natick History Museum,

58 Eliot Street, Natick: 10:30

a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Community

History Series: Natick Map

Day. Find your house on more

than 20 vintage maps of Natick.

FREE.

https://www.natickhistoricalsociety.org/

Saturday, April 4

Natick History Museum, 58

Eliot Street, Natick: 1:00 p.m.

- 2:00 p.m. “Oldtown” Walking

Tour of South Natick with

historian Terri Evans, learn

about the 17th-century “Praying

Indian” settlement and the

19th-century local residents

who inspired characters in

Harriet Beecher Stowe’s novel,

Oldtown Folks. FREE. https://

www.natickhistoricalsociety.

org/

Monday, April 6

Network of Enterprising

Women (NEW),, 8:30-10:30am

at Cheryl Cohen Mosaics, 360

Woodland St. 2nd floor, Holliston.

Member, Nancy Shaw

will facilitate group discussion

on Team Building When You

Are a Solopreneur; with fun

& collaborative team building

exercises. Guests welcome

to attend to see if NEW is a

good fit for their business. Light

breakfast provided. More info

at www.networkofenterprisingwomen.com;

RSVP info@networkofenterprisingwomen.com

Tuesday, April 7

Natick History Museum, 58

Eliot Street, Natick: 7:00 p.m.

- 8:30 p.m. A Revolution in

the News. Author and history

professor Joseph M. Adelman

will tell the story of the political

lives of the Revolutionary War’s

forgotten instigators: newspaper

and broadside printers who

supported the cause. FREE.


Thursday, April 9

Community-Senior Center,

117 E. Central Street, Natick.

3:30 – 4:30 p.m. Everyone welcome

to discuss Kate Moore’s

The Radium Girls, the shocking

story of American women

from the Roaring Twenties who

were poisoned by their work

and courageously fought for

justice against corporate and

legal America. Co-sponsored

by Natick Historical Society

and Bacon Free Library. FREE.


Thursday, April 9

Historian Paolo DiGregorio

talk: The Contest: A Short History

of American Presidential

Elections

1:30 PM - 2:30 PM @ Natick

Community Senior Center

Every four years, we get to

elect a president. Yet, the electoral

process is rarely smooth

and without controversy. This

talk will exam some of the more

exciting presidential contests.

Sponsored by Whitney Place,

Assisted Living and Memory

Care, Natick.

Thursday, April 16

National Health Care Decisions

Day

10:00 AM - 7:00 PM @

Natick Community Senior

Center

National Healthcare Decisions

Day exists to inspire, educate

and empower the public

and providers about the importance

of advance care planning.

If you were to have a medical

emergency and not be able to

speak for yourself, have you

appointed who would speak

for you? Do you feel confident

your wishes for care are known

and will be respected? The Let’s

Talk Natick initiative will be

available at the Community-Senior

Center all day to provide

information and assistance to

those who want to be sure their

directives are in place. Email

lquillen@natickma.org for an

appointment or drop in.

Wednesday, April 22

Sustainable Living - Natick

Going NET ZERO

1:30 PM - 2:30 PM @ Natick


Join Jillian Wilson-Martin,

Sustainability Coordinator, for

a talk about Natick’s Net Zero

Climate Action plan. The plan

seeks to measure and reduce

greenhouse gas emissions that

originate in Natick and set a

course to being carbon neutral

by 2050.

Monday, April 27

Art Matters - Mother and

Child

1:30 PM - 2:30 PM @ Natick


Art Matters - Mother and

Child Monday, April 27,

1:30pm, free Sponsored by

Avenu, Natick. The bond

between mothers and their

children is very special, very

personal, and yet universal.

This relationship transcends

language, different cultures,

great distances and time itself.

We’ll look at a range of art

and artists from ancient times

to modern including Cassatt,

Picasso, Raphael, Kahlo and

many more. Come and celebrate

Mother’s Day with this art

appreciation! All are welcome.

Wednesday, April 29

Bee Keeping for Bee-ginners-

Sustainable Living Series

1:30 PM - 2:30 PM @ Natick

Community SEnior Center

Bee Keeping for Bee-ginners-

Sustainable Living Series

Wednesday, April 29, 1:30-

2:30pm, free Join Heather

Livingstone and Antonio Nissi

from Natick Community Organic

Farm to learn all about

bees, the benefits they bring,

how you can encourage these

pollinators to flourish and how

you might get going on establishing

your own beehive(s).

Thursday, April 30

Shifting Gears- Driving

Safety for Older Adults

1:30 PM - 2:30 PM @ Natick


Shifting Gears- Driving

Safety for Older Adults Thursday,

April 30, 1:30 pm, free

Join MASS DOT presenter,

Michele Elicks for tips on how

to be a better driver, looking at

frequent causes of collisions for

older drivers, the warning signs

of unsafe driving and medical

conditions or medications that

may affect your driving. She’ll

also review obtaining a disabled

plate or placard.

Trails workshop series

Broadmoor is hosting a series

of four trail workshops for land

managers, conservation professionals,

groups, and volunteer

trail stewards. Participants will

learn best practices in multi-use

trail maintenance and construction,

including high-quality and

sustainable trail stewardship.

You’ll also gain hands-on practical

experience in trail stewardship

and safety practices, build a

network within the Massachusetts

trail stewardship community, and

become a resource for designing

TRAILS

continued on page 17


A Cappella Singers Spring Concert

The A Cappella Singers, a

Metro-West women’s chorus, is

holding its annual Spring Concert

on Saturday, May 2nd at

7:30 p.m. at the Fisk Memorial

United Methodist Church, 106

Walnut Street, Natick.

The chorus was formed over

50 years ago and is directed by

George Sargeant. The program

is a secular and sacred mix, featuring

works by Gwyneth Walker,

Gabriel Faure, Duke Ellington,

and Felix Mendelssohn, ending

with a sing-a-long. There will

be a reception consisting of hors

d’oeuvres and sweets following

the concert. Tickets are $15 or

$12 for students and seniors, and

will be available at the door.

For more information or to reserve

tickets, go to www.theacappellasingers.org,

or contact us at

info@theacapellasingers.org, or

call Betty Hood at 781-444-5963.

New members will be accepted

in September.

Kindness week is still on

March 29 - April 4

The Spark-sponsored Kindness

Week is still on! (March 29

- April 4) While SPARK’s public

programs in March/April have

been postponed, kindness is never

cancelled! Kindness Week Natick

will be an uplifting way that we

can highlight the good in our

community. We will also use it as

an opportunity to thank all of the

leaders and volunteers who are

working around the clock on our

response to the virus. Learn more

and join us at SPARKKindness.

org.

Heating System Getting Old?

Want to Use Less Fuel for Heat?

SWITCH TO PROPANE

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TRAILS


and maintaining public trails

across the Commonwealth.

You can sign up for individual

workshops, or register for the entire

series! Small class sizes ensure

individual attention. Presenters

include Broadmoor staff and professional

associates.

Each workshop is $75 per person.

Planning & Permitting

Tuesday, April 21 • 9:00 am-

3:00 pm

This workshop focuses on the

Trail Planning Process including

determining the purpose of a

trail, type of trail, uses, location

alternatives, and surfacing. Participants

will also receive a detailed

introduction to permitting.

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Energy information for every season

and much more – Take a look!

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Our Ad &

Editorial

Deadline

is the 15th of

each month,

for the

following

month’s issue.

EXPERIENCE EXCELLENCE

Gorgeous level corner lot in

a sought-after Walnut Hill

neighborhood!

7 Roundwood Rd, Natick

4 Bedrooms

3 Full Bathrooms

Approx. LA: 2,437 SF

Approx. Acres: 0.46

$699,000

NEW TO THE MARKET

BETH BYRNE REALTOR ®

508.561.0521

BSByrne@comcast.net

bethbyrneisinthehouse.com

31 South Main St

Natick, MA

Real estate agents affiliated with Coldwell Banker Realty are independent contractor sales associates, not employees. ©2020 Coldwell Banker Realty. All Rights Reserved. Coldwell Banker Realty fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. Owned by a subsidiary of NRT LLC. Coldwell Banker and the Coldwell Banker

Logo are registered service marks owned by Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC.

Looking for NEW Customers? Contact Jen

508-570-6544 • JenSchofield@localtownpages.com

SOLD

SOLD

SOLD

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Chip Sulser

617.686.0952

5 STAR CUSTOMER RATING

3 Kensington

Millis

4 Kensington

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5 Kensington

Millis

8 Kensington

Millis

“Serving and Living in Natick for over 37 years”

Care • Competence • Commitment

www.chipsulser.com

One Common St.

Natick, MA 01760

chip.sulser@commonmoves.com

592 Washington Street

Wellesley, MA 02482

NEW LISTING

KENSINGTON PLACE

MILLIS

New Construction -

Ava Marie Model $444,900

PENDING

NATICK HOME IMPROVEMENT

GUTTER CLEANING & SNOW PLOWING

CARPENTRY • INTERIOR & EXTERIOR PAINTING

• Window & Door Replacement

• Kitchen & Bathroom Remodeling

• Wood Flooring • Decks • Siding

• Roofs • Masonry • Power Washing

• Gutter Repairs & Cleaning

• Basement Finishing

Detailed & Meticulous

Reasonable Rates

Call Mauricio

508.202.8602

FULLY INSURED

MA HIC.#169427

78A Fisher Street

Medway $549K

NEW LISTING

36 Stratford Road

Natick $819,900

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Hollistion - $739K

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163 Village Street

Millis - $529K

PENDING

8 Baltimore Street

Millis - $459,900

Let my 20 years experience of

selling homes help you with your next move.

15 Baltimore St, Millis & 10 Speen St, Framingham Offices

209 Farm Street

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Start Packing Tomorrow!

29 Liberty St, Natick

4BR, 2.5BA, Approx. LA: 2,400 SF

List Price: $669,900

COMING SOON

319 Cherry St, Newton



UNDER AGREEMENT

31 South Main St, Natick, MA

Real estate agents affiliated with Coldwell Banker Realty are independent contractor sales associates, not employees. ©2020 Coldwell

Banker Realty. All Rights Reserved. Coldwell Banker Realty fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity

Act. Owned by a subsidiary of NRT LLC. Coldwell Banker and the Coldwell Banker Logo are registered service marks owned by Coldwell

Banker Real Estate LLC.

2 Lakewood Rd, Natick

4BR, 2BA, Approx. LA: 2,589 SF

21 Fiske Ln, Natick



We

Kids Drawing Contest!

Natick

To Our Friends and Neighbors,

We are holding a drawing contest for the kids of Natick,

two categories: 8 and under and 8 and up.

Draw a picture of your house, share it with Jessica + Natalie

at weheartnatick@gmail.com. Share your address or just

your neighborhood. Please submit by April 10th.

We will select a winner from each age group and the

Winners will have their artwork featured in next month’s

Newspaper and a gift card to Dave and Busters!!

We will get through this together!

Love, Jessica + Natalie

and everyone at The Allain + Warren Group

Jessica Allain + Natalie Warren

The Allain + Warren Group

617.820.8114

allainwarrengroup@compass.com

compass.com

The Allain + Warren Group is a team of real estate agents affiliated with Compass, a licensed real estate broker and abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws.

Natick April 2020

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