high school students discussed during public hearing ... · ganization beta group, inc. led a...

Cochituate Rail Trail Progress Discussed During Public Hearing

By Via Perkins, ContriButing Writer

A public hearing was held on the status of the Cochitu-ate Rail Trail Project on Jan. 11. Project facilitators, town officials and residents gath-ered in the auditorium of Wilson Middle School for the event. The Massachusetts De-partment of Transportation, Highway Division (MassDOT)

provided handouts, a presenta-tion and a time for questions and comments to wrap up the evening.

The hearing is part of a multi-stage process to work out details of the trail, which has been planned for nearly a decade. The first town meet-ing was held in 2008, and

multiple follow-up events have taken place. The first edition of the design was submitted in September, 2014, and revised in 2015 and 2016. Though the designs have more stages to go before being finalized, Mass-

High School Students Practice Inclusion and LeadershipBy Via Perkins, ContriButing Writer

A group of Natick High School (NHS) students have boldly taken on roles as leaders in their school and community through InterFem (short for in-tersectional feminism), which ad-vocates for equal representation and diversity in tangible ways. In just a little over a year, Inter-Fem members served homeless women, hosted an inclusive art gallery event and spoke at a pub-lic rally and a graduating class.

Youth Speaking UpInterFem Founder and Presi-

dent Béla Ghosh and group mem-ber Titi Scorzailo took a stand after two highly publicized racial hate crimes that rocked the Natick com-munity last fall. They addressed the large crowd that gathered at the Black Lives Matter rally on the

Natick Common in November.“I believed the rally was the

perfect opportunity for young people to speak with honesty and expand our voices in Natick,” Ghosh said. The young women

localtownpages

Vol. 2 No. 4 Free to Every Home and Business Every Month February 2017

PRSRT STDECRWSS

U.S. POSTAGEPAID

Taunton, MAPermit No. 92

Postal Customer Local

PRACTICE INCLUSION continued on page 2

COCHITUATE RAIL TRAILcontinued on page 2

The Voice of Your Community

508.875.6650

Mark Galante NATICK’s

Professional Realtor®

www.MarkGalante.com

Exceptional Service for 38 YearsFree Home Valuation or Property Search at

Gourmet Grilled Cheese Sandwiches, Soups and more!

See our menu at www.CheesyStreetGrill.comCall in your order for pick up or Free local delivery ($100 minimum)

617 401 9660 Natick Service Plaza on Mass. Pike (I-90) or use RMV entrance on Rt. 27

FREE Bag of Chips or 2 Cookies

with $7 purchase One coupon per customer

$2.00 OFF Any Two

SandwichesOne coupon per customer

$50OFF

ANY REPAIRValid on repairs only.

Cannot be combined with other offers. Call for details.

Coupon never expires.

PL#

1589

2 • C

orp

Lic#

353

1

nicholson-hvac.com • 508.881.1500

Metro West’s Leading Plumbing, Heating

&Cooling Professionals

Let us help you conserve energy and save money.

An artist’s rendition of the proposed Cochituate Rail Trail crossing Route 30. (Courtesy of BETA Group, Inc.)

InterFem members showing support to the greater Natick community. (Photo/Béla Ghosh)

Local Town Pages www.localtownpages.com February 2017

spoke of their experiences of feeling “other” in Natick and at NHS, and the importance of supporting diversity every day, not only when there is a public opportunity to do so.

“While Natick may be a fairly progressive town, reactions to racism and intolerance are often limited to immediate affirma-tions of peace, while failing to ad-dress the widespread biases in our community that caused the hate,” Ghosh explained.

Changes at NHSAn inclusive culture was be-

ginning to take shape at NHS before the hate crimes took place. InterFem credits this evolution in part to NHS Principal Brian Harrigan, who has had a positive presence in the school since his arrival in 2015.

“He has become an incredible advocate for minorities at our school, helping us create groups

where we feel safe expressing our experiences of school culture, while ensuring that all concerns will be taken seriously by the ad-ministration,” Ghosh said.

This is a far cry from what Ghosh experienced during her freshman and sophomore years at the NHS (she is now a senior). There were no clubs for minor-ity students in Natick to connect, leaving her feeling as if any differ-ence, whether racial, religious or otherwise, was unwelcome in the larger community.

When xenophobic graffiti was discovered in an NHS bathroom in November, it was a physical representation of what she and other students outside of the ma-jority had already been feeling.

“The biggest challenge after the hate crimes has been the mis-conception that the fight against injustice is an ideological de-bate between opposing political spheres,” Ghosh said.

InterFem’s MissionInterFem offers “a new vi-

sion for social activism,” as their slogan proclaims. The name of their group is short for inter-sectional feminism, a concept created in 1989 by Kimberlé Crenshaw, a professor of law at UCLA and Columbia.

Crenshaw’s theory states that sexism, racism, classism and other similar institutions are

linked, and should be addressed together. Thus, InterFem makes a priority of celebrating the voices of women, people of color and other demographics that are underrepresented.

“The creation of the club felt like a necessity,” Ghosh explained. “As a South Asian woman, the in-tersection between race and gen-der in my identity was apparent to me right away, as I felt my racial identity wasn’t entirely represented in most feminist movements.”

InterFem balances discussion and community outreach. Dur-ing meetings, group members will raise topics of the day, en-gage each other in productive discourse and plan ways to serve both in and outside of NHS. For instance, the group spent Valen-tine’s Day, 2016, serving a meal at Rosie’s Place, a women’s shel-ter in Boston that serves low-in-come and homeless women.

All Are WelcomeWhat about NHS students

who may be male, white, straight or of other non-minority identi-ties? Ghosh like them to know that they are welcome at InterFem.

“We have many group mem-bers that fall into majorities, and they are all integral and essential members of our club, not just al-

DOT has a timeline in place for completion.

The proposed trail is a paved, multi-use path stretch-ing from Route 30 in Framing-ham to Willow St. in Natick. Its length is approximately 2.4 miles, not including the at-grade and grade separation road crossings. Bridges will be built over Route 30 and Route 9 as part of the construction, providing safe passage for pe-destrians.

Project Manager Phil Mc-Grath from the engineering or-ganization BETA Group, Inc. led a presentation showing the trail’s route and describing its features. The 12-foot wide path will be ideal for walking and bi-cycling. It will feature overlooks for scenic views during transit, and will enable easy access to the Natick Mall and other local businesses, as well as Cochitu-ate State Park.

By the fall of this year, the final design will be submitted. Construction is slated to begin in the fall of 2018 or the spring of 2019, and is estimated to take a year and a half to com-

plete. Most will take place off-road, but the two major bridges that will close roads and require detours will most likely be worked on at night. The total cost of the trail is estimated at $7.8 million, and will be paid for with a com-bination of state and federal funds.

At the January meeting, several attendees, includ-ing residents and members of local organizations, posed comments and questions rang-ing from concerns about traf-fic buildup, to trail lighting, to security and privacy needs. All feedback is included in the of-ficial hearing transcript, which is now a part of public record through MassDOT (visit www.massdot.state.ma.us for contact information).

To learn more about the Cochituate Rail Trail Project, visit www.crtrail.org.

Published MonthlyMailed FREE to the

Community of NatickCirculation: 15,300 households

& businessesPublisher

Chuck TashjianEditor

Cynthia WhittySend Editorial to:

[email protected]

Susanne Odell FarberAdvertising Sales Manager

Lori KollerAdvertising Sales Assistant

Kyle KollerProduction & Layout

Susan DunneMichelle McSherry

Dawna ShackleyAdvertising Department

[email protected]

Ad Deadline is the 15th of each month.

Localtownpages assumes no financial liability for errors or omissions in printed advertising and reserves the right to reject/edit advertising or

editorial submissions. © Copyright 2017 LocalTownPages

localtownpages

Lose 20 to 40 lbs in 40 days or less!GUARANTEED!

Lose it at 60-70% less than our competitors!No Prepackaged Foods • No Exercise

No Harmful DrugsClinically Supervised Weight Loss ProgramGo to MASSFATLOSS.COM to book a

free consultation today!

508-881-1002 274 Union Street, Ashland

Like us on Facebook and get another 10% OFF

Mass Fat Loss

RonsTire.com Ron Saponaro

635 Waverly Street, Rte 135Framingham, MA 01702

Tel: 508-872-2266Fax: 508-872-2011

Email: [email protected]

COCHITUATE RAIL TRAILcontinued from page 1

PRACTICE INCLUSION continued on page 3

PRACTICE INCLUSIONcontinued from page 1

Commemorating one year of InterFem at the “Celebrate You” art gallery event this past June. (Photo/Béla Ghosh)

InterFem members (Béla Ghosh, center). (Photo/Lauren Adams)

February 2017 Local Town Pages www.localtownpages.com

Amy Uliss, Realtor963 Worcester Rd.

Framingham, MA 01701

Cell: 508-341-1422Tel: 508-879-8999

amyuliss.com

metrowesthomesandlife.com

Consistently Delivering More Than My Customers Expect

theMILL

Have you been to the MILL lately?Over 25,000 sq ft of vintage, mid-century, in-trend,

one of a kind designer fi nds with an element of surprise around every corner . . .

Fri - Sat 10-4 /Sun 12-4WinSmith . 61 Endicott Street . Norwood /

mill ads.indd 1 1/19/2017 8:22:12 PM

Reliable Service Since 1995• FREE Estimates • All Calls Returned• Neighborhood Group Rates Available

• Discounts for Seniors Citizens & VeteransFully Insured: $2,000,000 Liability & Workman’s Comp

A+ Rating at Better Business Bureau • Top Rated on Angie’s ListTM

25%Up To

OFF any tree work, including crane work

Expires March 31, 2017. Cannot be combined with any other coupon or offer.

Unbeatable PricingTree Removal • Pruning

Lot Clearing • Stump Grinding Crane Service • Bobcat Work

508-497-8625www.americanclimbers.com

ALL PHASES OF TREE WORK

WINTER SPECIAL

Town Election and Voting InformationElection Day, March 28, 2017

Polls open 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Every polling location will provide visually impaired voters an accessible option for voting. Please see the Warden at your location.

Offices to be voted on during the Annual Town Election:• Two members of the Board

of Selectmen for 3 year terms

• Two members to the School Committee for 3 year terms

• One member to the Board of Assessors for a 3 year term

• One member to the Plan-

ning Board for a 5 year term• One member to the Board

of Health for a 3 year term• Two members to the Recre-

ation and Parks Commission for 3 year terms

• One Constable for a 2 year term

• At least 64 Town Meeting Members (There are at least 6 positions in each precinct and some have more than that)

Nomination PapersNomination Papers for town-

wide offices and town meet-ing are available in the Town Clerk’s Office

A voter interested in taking out Nomination Papers should come to the Town Clerk’s office

25 Signatures are required on Nomination Papers for Town wide offices. Nomination papers for these offices were due to the Board of Registrars in the Town Clerk’s office by 5 pm on Jan. 10

Town Meeting nomination papers require only 10 signa-tures and are due to the Board of Registrars in the Town Clerk’s office by 5 p.m. on Tues-day, Feb. 7

Voter RegistrationThe last day to register to

vote for the Annual Town Elec-tion is Wednesday, March 8. The Town Clerk’s office will be open until 8 p.m.

For information on town elections and voting, call the Town Clerk’s Office at 508-647-6430 x4 or visit www.natickma.gov.

lies that listen in,” she said. Inter-Fem has devoted time to topics such as male feminism, whiteness

studies and more.Ghosh noted, “If majority

readers are still uncertain or uncomfortable entering a room where they may be the only per-son of their identity, I would tell them that most people in that

room have felt the same way almost every day, and we will surely be able to relate to this feeling!”

To learn more about Inter-Fem, visit interfem.weebly.com.

PRACTICE INCLUSIONcontinued from page 2


We beat ALL competitor pricing.

774-287-1133Dumpsters AvAilAble

let us CleAn Out YOur unwAnteD JunkServing Metro-West and Beyond!

[email protected]

$25 offAny Full Truck RemovalNot to be combined with any other offer

$27415 Yard Dumpster

Not to be combined with any other offer

see website fOr DetAils

Dressing Men for…Special Occasions since 1923!

• NATIONWIDE Service• We can match ANY dress color• Suit rentals and sales available• Largest in stock selection in Central MA

*No registration fees . Valid with groom and 4 others renting. Not to becombined w/any other offers.Valid with coupon only.

Plus Free rentalfor the groom*

Tuxedo Rental

$40OFF EA.

CA16

Slim Fitavailable

www.bonardis.com 800.752.4036 Worcester | Framingham | Milford | Sturbridge | Auburn

Sages & Seekers: Using the Power of ConversationBy Via Perkins, ContriButing Writer

Using the power of conver-sation, nonprofit Sages & Seek-ers focuses on developing social bonds between the young and the elderly. The organization, devel-oped by former Natick resident Elly Katz, is now nationwide, with programs held in schools and colleges across the coun-try. Sages & Seekers is also ac-tive locally, helping Natick High School (NHS) students meet and befriend seniors.

New Social OpportunitiesIn an era of technology and

social detachment, founder Elly Katz has a passion to see one-on-one interactions bloom. “To fully understand and engage in the world around us, we must be in conversation,” Katz said. “It is the most human and humanizing thing that we do. Our face-to-face

conversations have diminished, leaving our younger generation with diminished empathy, and our elders ‘out of the loop.’”

Though they may not normally socialize, both young (Seekers) and older adults (Sages) often experi-ence similar struggles, including feeling overlooked and discon-nected from others. The nonprofit

addresses these needs through meaningful interactions, and par-ticipants are often surprised at what they learn from each other.

“Both of these marginalized age groups are offered the op-portunity to share themselves in a non-judgmental environment, to be heard and to feel valued. Many lessons can be passed be-tween Sage and Seeker because it is offered from an authentic expe-rience, not a teaching or lecturing moment,” Katz explained.

Program FormatThese moments happen

throughout the course of an eight-week program. During weeks one and two, each Sage meets every Seeker in the group of participants, using icebreakers and introductory activities to get to know one another. The most compatible student-senior match-ups are paired for the remaining six weeks.

Weeks three through six give Seekers time to interview their Sages, learning about their lives and perspectives on a more per-sonal, in-depth level. As the con-versations progress, Seekers take note of what they have learned

and craft oral presentations about their Sages.

To wrap up the program, weeks seven and eight are devoted to honoring the Sages through Seeker speeches. Students reflect not only on the history and per-sonality traits of their elders, but also the ways the experience may have changed their previous as-sumptions.

Sages Meet Seekers in Natick

Sages & Seekers took place at NHS in fall 2016, under the leadership of Program Facilitator Kristin Hartnett. A longtime vol-

unteer for the program, Hartnett agreed to lead when asked by Ra-chel Schultze, an NHS student. Schultze, once Katz’s neighbor, was aware of the program and wanted to see it become more ac-tive at the school.

“It was an immense success,” Hartnett reported. “Both the Sages and the Seekers were fully engaged, and together they cre-ated a wonderful community and learned a great deal about each other and themselves.”

Similar experiences are hap-pening across the nation, as Sages & Seekers is now established in 22 public and private high schools and colleges in the U.S. Katz and the rest of the leadership hope the program will help young people develop into empathetic leaders, and encourage elders to remain active and involved in their com-munities.

Students interested in the program should contact Dean Bertucci at the NHS by emailing [email protected]. Seniors who would like to be involved may contact the Natick Council on Aging by calling 508-647-6544 or emailing [email protected].

For more information about Sages & Seekers, visit www.sag-esandseekers.org.

A Sage talking with his Seeker. (Photo/Elly Katz)

Benefits for Seekers: Before and After

(Sages’ statistics will be posted online soon.)

Before participating in Sages & Seekers:• 75 percent were uncomfort-

able with the idea of speak-ing with an older adult.

• 80 percent believed there was a “generation gap.”

• 88 percent felt they tend to judge people before getting to know them as individuals.

• 92 percent thought it would be difficult to have a long conversation with someone they didn’t know.

After participating in Sages & Seekers:• 97 percent believe that

deeper communication has the possibility of breaking down generational and other barriers.

• 97 percent have more respect for seniors as an age group now.

• 91 percent felt empowered to engage in meaningful con-versation with older adults.

• 100 percent feel their Sage’s life story helped them to understand more about their own life path.

A Seeker sharing a photo with her Sage. (Photo/Elly Katz) Program participants at Natick High School. (Photo/Kristin Hartnett)


You’ve seen the signs. Dismissed them perhaps. Thinking it would be more difficult to make a change than to continue on like everything is fine.

Never there to answer your calls? Causing you to spend more than you should? You ask yourself, how did it get to this? It began well enough. Does it mean you’ve changed over time? Or that your needs have evolved?

Change is good, right?

In every serious relationship there comes a time to reevaluate if this is still the best partner for you and your loved ones. People change, life changes. Banks also change.

Is yours still fulfilling the promise brought forward when you opened your account? Maybe you got that one time bonus for opening an account, only to repay it in spades through fees and service charges.

All for what, to get stuck in a bad relationship?

You deserve better.

We believe that in a healthy relationship, it's as important to empower your partner as it is to provide for them.

So with NB Checking, feel free to use the closest ATM. We'll pay you back in full. Need a new debit card? No problem, we have them instantly available at every branch. Have a check? Easily deposit it via NB Mobile. All with no monthly account fees or minimum balance requirements.

We'll return your calls, texts, and emails.

Let us prove it to you. Start a dialogue and get to know us by calling Lois Seymour directly at 781-247-6871 or emailing her at [email protected].

Are you stuck in a bad relationship?

MEMBER FDIC | EQUAL HOUSING LENDER | MEMBER SIF


ASE Technician

508-429-2535Neil LazzaroASE Technician

1292 Washington Street,Holliston

Propane Open Sat & SunGas Grill Tanks Filled

Propane Open Sat & SunGas Grill Tanks Filled

Tires & AlignmentSuspension & Steering

Exhaust & BrakeAir Conditioning

Factory Scheduled MaintenanceMass. State Inspection Station

Tires & AlignmentSuspension & Steering

Exhaust & BrakeAir Conditioning

Factory Scheduled MaintenanceMass. State Inspection Station

Open Mon-Wed & Sat 10-5 • Thur & Fri 10-7 508-657-090215N. Main St, Unit C-5

Bellingham, MA 02019 Located in Bellingham Plaza at Rts. 126 & 140

(behind Dairy Queen) WWW.HERITAGECOINSHOP.COM

Coins & Collectibles for the Curious to the Serious

Appraisals • Buy & Sell Silver/Gold • Bid Board Auction

We sell Metal Detectors

Natick Considers Embracing Small and Tiny HomesBy Via Perkins, ContriButing Writer

Small living spaces have been gaining popularity in recent years, and are now on Natick’s radar. From compact houses under 1,200 square feet to so-called “tiny homes” that are often set on wheels, alternative dwell-ings are poised to make a big im-pact on the housing market. They make good use of limited space, allowing more people to settle in residential areas for lower costs, and help people live in more eco-friendly and sustainable ways that simplify their lives.

Re-Designing SuburbiaNatick resident Ganesh Ram-

achandran has a vision for bet-ter housing options throughout the suburbs of Boston. “As an urban designer, having lead na-tional and international planning efforts for more than 15 years, I was looking for an opportunity to serve my town in my area of ex-pertise,” he said.

Ramachandran was a board member of the Natick Afford-able Housing Trust Fund and Community Development Advi-sory group, and was nominated to work on the Tiny House Study Committee in 2015. Despite its name, the committee was inter-ested in smaller homes as alter-natives for typical single-family and apartment buildings instead of advocating for more extreme dwellings, often near the size of a shed.

“As a committee, we wanted to study a pragmatic building type that is more contextual and com-patible to diverse user needs,” Ramachandran explained. “Our study was focused on detached

dwellings with a gross built area between 600 and 1,200 square feet.”

These small homes appeal to multiple generations, each with their own motivations for seeking alternative housing. “The Baby Boomer generation is looking to downsize, and millennials are more interested in living in walk-able neighborhoods with access to public transportation rather than in large homes,” he elabo-rated. These homes also offer more affordability for both de-mographics.

More Small Homes Ahead?

Zoning regulations in the sub-urbs currently favor large homes for individual families, set in neighborhoods that use cars as their main form of transporta-tion. However, with changes in regulation, Ramachandran be-lieves that Natick, and greater Boston at large, can set a new standard for housing and com-

munity development.“Smaller homes reduce the

resources needed to build and maintain housing, while preserv-ing and sustaining our rapidly changing communities,” he ex-plained. “They are about lever-aging the power of design and regulations to provide alternative choices, both for those who con-sume less, and those that have less to spend.”

The committee finished its ef-forts by completing its study in 2016, and the findings are now being considered by the Master Planning team and the Natick Affordable Housing Trust Fund, which will decide Natick’s re-sponse to the research. The full report can be downloaded at www.tinyurl.com/smallhouses.

Making a Tiny House a Home

Kori Feener, also a Natick resident, lives in a tiny home located on the grounds of the Natick Community Organic Farm (NCOF) located at 117 Eliot St. To prepare for her move, Feener needed to down-size significantly, but she found she enjoyed the process. “In-stead of filling my life with stuff,

I am focused on experiencing events, rather than building ma-

terial capital,” she explained.Although her small-scale living

space may seem radical, Feener never feels cramped. She some-times experiences claustrophobia in small spaces, such as in eleva-tors and in crowded bars, but not in her home. It is designed with a high roofline in the main living space, and there are many win-dows, enabling her to see outside, creating an open feel.

Her home also matches her lifestyle. “As a freelancer, docu-mentarian and journalist who mixes traveling and working from home, I love the short commute,” she said. “Most importantly, I am so very focused on climate change. Being able to lower my own footprint by living in an ef-

ficient home, cutting back on my contribution to consumerist capitalism and supporting local agriculture is a win-win scenario for me.”

Because she is living on NCOF land, there is an element of com-munity that is present in Feener’s life both in and around her home. Through the farm, she offers tours of her tiny house, enabling visitors to experience the space for themselves. She does not see herself living in a standard-sized home again.

The outside of Feener’s tiny home. (Photo/Kori Feener)

The interior of Feener’s tiny home.

(Photo/Kori Feener)

The high roofline in the main living space gives a

feeling of spaciousness in Feener’s tiny home.

(Photo/Kori Feener)


Petal Pushers PlusA New Valentine’s TraditionBy DeBorah Burke henDerson, ContriButing Writer

Look no further for the per-fect Valentine’s Day gift! After a 17-year hiatus from retail op-erations, Petal Pushers Natick is back in business, offering fresh cut flowers, unique arrange-ments, homemade fudge, and a wide selection of candies, cards and gifts.

Owned and operated by Jill Porter, the new shop is located at 325 North Main Street, next door to Lemon Tree Goods, the family-owned Dairy Queen and Petal Pushers Floral Stu-dio (www.petalpushersstudio.com), which offers floral design and decorating services for wed-dings, showers, bar/bat mitz-vahs, corporate events, funerals and other occasions.

The new shop – Petal Push-ers Plus – makes all its fudge right on site. At least 12 flavors are available daily, including old-time New England favor-ites such as penuche, chocolate (with or without walnuts), maple walnut, and chocolate mint; new flavors such as cappuccino, va-nilla raspberry (a “must try”), and M&M; and fun, seasonal of-ferings such as pumpkin, candy cane, and Reese’s® peanut but-ter fudge.

The shop also boasts deca-dent chocolates, soft caramels, and truffles sold by the pound, floral bouquets and arrange-ments, small gift items, hand-crafted photo cards and M&M’s Colorworks, which can be mixed and matched in custom combinations as favors for par-ties, showers, weddings, sports banquets, and other events. “We also design custom boxes – with unique labeling, themed rib-bons, and candy combinations – for special occasions and cor-porate gift giving,” Porter said.

Through her floral design business, Porter has ready access to fresh flowers plus all the items used regularly in floral design. “If you don’t see something you want in the shop, there’s a very good chance we have it next door in the studio, so just ask. The Boston Flower Exchange is my second home. I’m there several times a week, and my husband, Patrick, works there as

a wholesale florist,” she added. In addition to selling on the

Boston Flower Exchange, Por-ter’s husband grows flowers locally, producing massive com-mercial crops of sunflowers, dahlias and zinnias each year, whichthrough sales on the Boston Flower Exchange and Porter’s own studiobeautify

weddings and events all over New England.

“I’m proud of my 32 years in the floral business,” Porter said. “I enjoy working with clients to create unique works of art; each item is customized to meet their specific needs. Every day is dif-ferent, and the work is extremely rewarding.” Recent wedding venues include Boston’s Park Plaza Hotel, the Four Seasons, Boston Public Library, Rose-cliff Mansion in Newport, R.I., the Connors Center in Dover, the Warren Conference Center and Inn in Ashland, Henderson House in Weston, and coun-

try clubs such as Sandy Burr in Wayland and Pine Brook in Weston.

While Porter will continue to focus on designing flowers for special events and funerals, her 23-year old son, Liam, will take the lead in operating the newly re-opened store. “We’re thrilled to have Liam back home and taking a major creative role in managing and marketing the new shop, creating new fudge flavors, and dreaming up sea-sonal and holiday promotions,” Porter said.

Whether you’re looking for flowers, fudge, chocolates or

other Valentine’s Day gifts, stop in at 325 North Main Street, Natick, or preview what the shop offers at www.petalpusher-snatick.com. In the week leading up to Valentine’s Day, the shop will be open every day from 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; regular winter hours are Tuesday-Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Saturday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

If you’re planning a spe-cial event, festive occasion, or funeral, call 508-655-2440 to discuss your needs or make an appointment to meet Jill in per-son at Petal Pushers Studio.

Exceptional Short Term Rehab & Skilled Nursing Care On Call Physicians 24 Hr Nursing Coverage

Post Surgical Rehab Respite Stays Welcome

Alzheimer’s Residents Welcome Hospice & Support Services

34 South Lincoln Street, South Natick, MA www.rehabassociates.com/riverbend

(508)653-8330

Riverbend of South Natick


Take control and manage your acne with a customized treatment program designed to clear your unique skin.

Education. Coaching. Support

90% of my clients clear in 12-16 weeks

Lisa Massimiano - Licensed Aesthetician, Acne SpecialistCertified by the National Face Reality Acne Clinic

Call to schedule your acne consultation508-881-1180

44 Front Street, 2nd Floor • Ashland www.skinsmartsalon.com

ACNE CLINIC - for all ages

Before after

Achieve Clear Skin

New England

Ballistic ServicesInc.

Instant cash paid for your valuable firearms.Call today for a confidential consultation

508-381-0230 • www.neballistic.com

Acne. Not Just for Teens.By Lisa MassiMiano, LiCenseD esthetiCian, CertifieD aCne sPeCiaList, oWner skin sMart saLon

Acne is often thought of as a teenage rite of passage, start-ing at puberty and disappearing by the time a person turns 18. This however, is just another one of the many myths about acne. The truth is 50% of adults continue to suffer from acne into adulthood.

What causes adult acne?Some people never “out-

grow” their acne. Other people have adult onset acne, break-ing out for the first time in their twenties and thirties. Why their acne remained dormant in their adolescence is a mystery, but many things can contribute to the onset of adult acne.

Hormonal fluctuations caused by pregnancy, menstrual periods and menopause can cause acne flare-ups in women.

Medical conditions like PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome) or thyroid disorder can affect the skin. High androgen birth con-trol pills can worsen acne.

Pore-clogging ingredients can aggravate acne. Daily use

of inappropriate moisturizers, makeup, sunscreens, shaving creams, after shave lotions and hair products can lead to breakouts.

Recreational and prescrip-tion drugs including: mari-juana, cocaine, steroids Lithium and thyroid medication.

Stress. It can aggravate hor-mones that lead to acne flare ups. The higher your stress level, the more prone you are to break out.

Treating adult acne.The challenge of treating

adult acne is that adult skin is generally drier and more sen-sitive. It is important to start slowly with the right strength of acne –clearing products. This allows the skin to adapt gradu-ally and avoid excess dryness and irritation.

At Skin Smart Salon I work with both teen and adult acne sufferers to help them achieve a lifetime of clear skin. There is no need for anyone to be embarrassed by acne and the scars it can leave behind.

Questions about acne? Email me at [email protected] or call me at (508) 881-1180. Visit my salon website skinsmartsalon.com for infor-mation on Skin Smart’s Acne Clinic.

Join the Golden Tones Chorus

Do you enjoy singing pop classics and show tunes? Are you looking for a fun retirement activity that is good for your health, with friendly people, and requires no auditions or atten-dance? Then the Golden Tones chorus is for you.

The Golden Tones chorus is inviting interested singers, es-pecially baritones, tenors and

basses, to come to a rehearsal any Tuesday morning from 10 a.m. to noon at the Wayland Senior Center (Town Building, corner of Routes 27 and 20). There you will find an enthusiastic group of sociable music-lovers from all over Metrowest.

The mission of the Golden Tones chorus is to provide en-riching 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 en-gagement to benefit their audi-ences and themselves. To learn more, visit www.goldentones.org, call 508-318-6318, or just come to any Tuesday morning rehearsal.

Laugh with Jimmy Tingle at the Natick Center Associates Annual Fundraiser

This time of year we all could use some laughs, and the Natick Center Associates is hoping its annual fundraiser will help liven things up on Sunday, March 19,

when comedian Jimmy Tingle comes to town!

The fundraiser will be held at the Dolphin Seafood Restaurant, beginning at 6 p.m. with hors d’oeuvres and a silent auction. Tingle’s performance will begin at 7 p.m., followed by a dessert buffet.

Jimmy Tingle is a comedian,

commentator, activist and en-trepreneur. He has worked as a humorist and commentator for 60 Minutes II, a weekly primetime news magazine television pro-gram, and MSNBC, and has ap-peared on The Tonight Show, CNN, Late Night with Conan O’Brien, Fresh Air with Terry Gross, and in his own HBO half-hour comedy special. Tingle has the rare dis-tinction of winning Boston Maga-zine’s “Best of Boston” in both the Stand-Up Comedy category and for Best Alternative The-

ater as the producer and artistic director of Jimmy Tingle’s OFF BROADWAY Theater in Somer-ville, Mass.

For more information, visit natickcenter.org or email Athena Pandolf, Executive Director of the Natick Center Cultural Dis-trict, at [email protected] or call 508-650-8848.

Shown here are members from the Golden Tones at Senator Spilka’s 2016 Health & Wellness Fair: (left to right) Elizabeth Szabo and Jean McKiernan, Wellesley; Carol O’Neill, Framingham; Phyllis Sonnenschein, Natick; Doris Downey, Hudson; Natalie Oxman, Natick; Elizabeth Simpson, Holliston; Clarence Landry, Wayland; and Marvin Greenberger, Framingham.

Comedian Jimmy Tingle (Photo/courtesy Jimmy Tingle and Eric Antoniou)


Natick Farm Gears Up for 2017

By trish uMBreLL, farM aDMinistrator

There’s a lot going on this win-ter at the Natick Community Or-ganic Farm (NCOF) as we gear up for a great 2017.

The farm is now taking appli-cations for both large and small CSA (community-supported agriculture, or farm) shares. Participants pay up front, when farmers need the money most, and in turn receive 20 weeks of fresh, certified-organic veg-etables and flowers, all grown and harvested here at the farm with help from volunteers, ap-prentices and students. Distri-bution takes place in re-usable bags from the NCOF root cellar. Large and small share options are available, with and without flowers, so there’s a size for ev-eryone. Farmers provide weekly

cooking and storage tips. Par-ticipating is a great way to ‘up’ your vegetable consumption. The season will run May 29 to Oct. 11.

The farm is also taking appli-cations for its business vase flower shares, which are a great way to dress up an office. NCOF has a

variety of options, with delivery on Mondays or Thursdays. Ar-rangements are made with spe-cialty cut flowers from the farm.

Believe it or not, Summer Program Registration for youth ages 3.5 to 14 stated on Jan. 15 for current NCOF members. General registration starts on March 15. Membership gives holders a 20 percent discount on programming and farm events, and helps to keep the farm open for everyone.

And it may be winter, but our chickens are still laying like crazy. Don’t forget to come by and get

super fresh eggs from our highly pampered hens, along with some maple syrup.

For details, and to sign up for shares and programs, visit www.natickfarm.org.

With this coupon. One coupon per customer. Not valid with other offers or prior services. Offer expires 1/31/17.

20% OFFOreck, Hoover, Eureka,

Electrolux, Etc.all vacuum bags • excludes Miele

50% OFFvacuum tune-up

any brand • only $29.99 • Reg. $59.99


With this coupon. Cannot be combined with other offers. Offer expires 1/31/17.


• Includes 3 tune-ups • $180 value• Available only while limited supplies last!

•

The powerful, original American Classic

is back with an updated, modern tone-on-tone style

•

Captures 99% of allergens, dust & debris, *with up to 4x the capacity of typical bagless vacuum

*5.0 microns or greater

NOW $169Reg.

$249

XL Classic Limited Edition

Bissell Sweeper Sweep-UpConvenient to use! No cord to plug in!

Now $1999

Reg. $24.99With this coupon.

Cannot be combined with other offers or discounts. Offer expires 1/31/17.

Save $5

Sanitaire Professional

Mighty Pro

$13999


• 12 amp motor• 7-foot molded hose• Carry strap, combo tool,

onboard tools• 20-foot cord• 2-year warranty

Reg. $199.95

ONLY $2999

FULLER BRUSH VACUUM

Mini Maid Hand Vacuum• 5 lbs - super lightweight• washable filter• 15’ cord

Reg. $39.99

With this coupon. Not valid with other offers. Offer expires 1/31/17.

600 wattmotor

VACUUM REPAIRS · ALL BRANDS · FREE ESTIMATES

659 Worcester Rd. • Rt. 9 West Framingham (Next to Trader Joe’s) • 508-620-7144www.metrowestvacuums.com • facebook.com/metrowestvacuums

12-month interest-free financing available. See store for details.

AT METROWEST VACUUM.GET YOUR BEST VACUUM VALUE

• Turbo comfort turbo brush• Parquet floor brush• AirClean filter• 29.5-foot operating radius• Rotary dial speed control

• Includes 3 tune-ups* $180 value

• The powerful, original American Classic

With this coupon. Offer expires 1/31/17Cannot be combined with other offers.

50% OFF 20% OFFVacuum Tune-up Oreck, Hoover, Eureka,

Electrolux, Etc.any brand • only $29.99 • Reg. $59.99

all vacuum bags • excludes Miele

Reg. $249XL Classic Limited

NOW $169

AUTHORIZED SALES & VACUUM REPAIR CENTER




20% OFFOreck, Hoover, Eureka,

Electrolux, Etc.

coupon. One coupon per . Not valid with other offers or ces. Offer expires 1/31/17.

180 valueted supplies last! merican Classic

, modern

ns, dust & e capacity of

$169c Limited Edition

E ESTIMATESre for details.

CUUM.E SELL!

M VALUE

Classic C1NOW $399 .99

Capri Edition

With this coupon. One coupon per customer. Not validwith other offers or prior services. Offer expires 2/28/17.






ONLY$29.99 Reg.$39.99

Miele Trade-InTrade-in your old vacuum (any brand) and get up to$200 off selected Miele Premium models

Fuller Brush Mini MaidHand Vacuum

• 600 watts • 5 lbs - super light weight• washable filter • 15’ cord • high performance motor









ONLY$29.99 Reg.$39.99

Miele Trade-InTrade-in your old vacuum (any brand) and get up to$200 off selected Miele Premium models

Fuller Brush Mini MaidHand Vacuum

• 600 watts • 5 lbs - super light weight• washable filter • 15’ cord • high performance motor



Celebrating Our 20th Year!

DISCOUNT HEATING OIL

508-620-6251

Same Day Delivery Senior Discounts125 Gallon Minimum

ORLANDOwww.samedayoil.com

*Price subject to change.

Call for Price

We offer custom grow room installation and seed-to-harvest service plans to keep your plants alive and healthy

CANNACUP CULTIVATORS Your discreet in-home cultivation service

Find out more at cannabiscupcultivators.com and call toll free at 866 WEGRO 4U

Occupy Natick Explores the Rise of the Right-Wing Media

Occupy Natick will show the film The Brainwashing of My Dad on Monday, Feb. 20, 7 to 9 p.m. at Sherrill Hall, 39 East Cen-tral St. Natick (rear of St. Paul’s Church). In this documentary, the filmmaker Jen Senko exam-ines the rise of right-wing media

through the lens of her father, whose immersion in it radicalized him and rocked the foundation of their family. She discovers this political phenomenon recurring in living rooms everywhere, and reveals the consequences conser-vative media has had on families

and a nation. Occupy Natick meets each

month to plan events. The group is looking for more members to continue its work. For more information, email [email protected] or visit http://occu-pynatick.org.


Gas, Oil and AC Equipment Sales & Service*Rebates and financing provided by and subject to Mass Save restrictions and limitations

888-818-2028Great Rebates & Financing*Call today and beat the rush!

HEATING OIL

It’s Coan for a warm and cozy winter!

A cozy retreat in cold, snow, or sleet

Join the Fun! Become a Sponsor for the Natick Service Council Annual Telethon

The Natick Service Council’s (NSC) 6th annual Telethon will take place on Wednesday, March 22, 6 to 9 p.m. The event is broad-cast live on the local public access TV channels. This unique and

fun community event is NSC’s premiere fundraiser, raising over $45,000 last year. Last year local community groups, such as Natick Drama Workshop, John-son School Peacemakers and the Natick High School a cap-pella group, performed.

NSC is inviting busi-nesses to sponsor the event and all residents to watch and call in to donate dur-ing the March 22 show. All proceeds will go directly toward helping Natick families with critical needs: food, heat and rent assis-tance, after school enrich-ment, career development and more.

March 1 is deadline for spon-sorship. For more information, visit www.natickservicecouncil.org or contact Lauren Mann at [email protected] or 508-655-1791.

Mosaic Art Show Through MarchStudents from the Cheryl Cohen Mosaics Art

Center will exhibit their work in February and March at the Holliston Library, 752 Washington St. The show opening is Saturday, Feb. 11, 2 to 4 p.m. Refreshments will be served. The public is invited to attend.

Cohen has been teaching mosaic art to adults and children in her Holliston art studio for 2 ½ years. She teaches mixed media mosa-ics that include tile, glass, shells, rocks, jewelry, broken plates and pottery, beads, found objects and more. The show will have a large variety of pieces, including mosaic picture frames, mirrors, stools, clocks, shoes pendants and even a guitar!

“The creativity of my students amazes me every day,” Cohen said. “I’m very excited to share their beautiful work with the community.”

For information, visit www.cherylcohenmosa-ics.com.

Amy Belforte, Natick, decorated a guitar in mosaics.

Ovations for TEDxNatick 2017

By toD DiMMiCk, ContriButing Writer

TEDxNatick opened on Jan. 21 at Natick High School to a packed auditorium. Co-curators Rosemary Driscoll and Steve Gullans welcomed the crowd. “TEDxNatick is a

local event,” Gullans stated. “You are now all TEDsters.” Driscoll thanked the spon-sors, starting with MathWorks as lead sponsor. Videos of the TEDxNatick 2017 talks will be made available soon on www.tedxnatick.org. (Photos by Renee Bender-Cohn)

Adam Foss: “It is time for a new civil rights movement.”

Jamele Adams of Natick delivered an inspirational talk on unity and community.

Cambridge artist Bren Bataclan: “Kindness can

truly be paid forward.”

Kathleen Tullie’s BOKS kids program grew from one school in Natick to over 2,000 schools, including several in other countries.

http://www.cherylcohenmosaics.com

http://www.cherylcohenmosaics.com


APPLY ONLINEwww.homeinstead.com/151/home-care-jobs

508.393.8338Each Home Instead Senior Care® office is independently

owned and operated. ©2013 Home Instead, Inc.

Certified applicants are encouraged to apply for our open Personal Care Homemaker positions.

CNAs Expired or CurrentAll hours available. Work in Natick, Framingham, Wellesley, Millis,

Medway, Westwood, Dedham, Dover and Sherborn!

We need CAREGivers for all hours. Weekday & Weekend hours available!

• Competitive wage• Paid trainings

• Flexible schedule

Do you have a heart of gold and want to share it?

Call 508-393-8338 or go to www.hearthside-homeinstead.com

Natick Students Work Hard on Community Service TripsBy MiChaeL MisCia, Junior, natiCk high sChooL

For the past four years Natick High School (NHS) students have been going on community ser-vice trips throughout the country to offer relief in areas that have been ravaged by natural disasters. Some areas Natick has traveled to include New Orleans, Louisiana; Staten Island; and Rockaway, New York. The Rockaway trip this past summer (June 26 to July 1) included 25 student volunteers and five coordinators. On all the trips, the student volunteers work hard and open up their minds to new ways of thinking.

To find out more about the community service trip program, I talked to NHS’s video production teacher and staff member for the volunteer trips, Marjorie Rober-son. She told me that the average day for the Rockaway trip started at 8 a.m. and ended at 3:30 p.m. The volunteers arrived at a house that had been heavily damaged by Hurricane Sandy. The group of volunteers was split apart to accomplish different tasks, such as painting, cleaning and build-ing. Once the students were done working, they would head back to a nearby church where they were staying for the week. Each night a different group of students would

cook dinner for the rest of the vol-unteers.

Some people might wonder why a bunch of teens would choose to do volunteer work dur-ing their breaks. To find out why, I talked to NHS student volunteer Tommy Quirk. Quirk was on the Rockaway trip, and when I asked him why he chose to go, he told me, “I guess I just wanted to help out people that were affected by a

terrible hurricane and experience life outside of Natick.”

On some of the trips, the vol-unteers attended workshops about the culture and poverty around the area they are visiting. In New Orleans, the students had a lesson on why certain neighborhoods were affected harder than others, which was due to the history of residents not having the same op-portunity as others to have their

homes built with lasting materials.Aside from learning about the

area, Ms. Roberson thinks that the volunteers on these trips also learn valuable life skills, such as sharing and caring about and respecting other people and their feelings. An important skill she feels that the teens develop is understand-ing, such as why someone doesn’t rebuild their house or is homeless.

“You don’t really have any

idea what it’s like,” Ms. Roberson said. “Why doesn’t everybody just have insurance like we do and why aren’t their houses rebuilt? You can sometimes going there with certain judgments about people, and why they live the way they live, and you really can’t because you go there and realize that this is beyond the scope of anything you can imagine. That your house is just going to be totally obliterated and nobody’s going to rebuild it.”

She said she doesn’t spend time grilling kids on what they are learning on the trip. She understands everyone learns dif-ferent lessons and takes away dif-ferent things, but they still take away something.

Ms. Roberson encourages interested teens to try out the volunteer trip. She told me, “It’s an amazing experience; it takes you outside your Natick world. It’s a great time to hang out with friends in an area that’s new to you; aside from being a lot of work, the feeling of helping some-one while having fun is great.”

The next community service trip will be this April break (April 17 to 23) to the South Appalachia area of West Virginia, an area that has been hit hard by poverty due to the decline of the coal mining industry.

Community Service Project in Honor of MLK DayBy DeBorah Burke henDerson, ContriButing Writer

Fifteen volunteers, including Natick residents Sarah Cohen and her 10-year-old daughter, Hadley, gathered together to create handmade quilts at The Power of the Quilt Project’s an-nual MLK Day community ser-vice quilt-a-thon last month. In all, 14 colorful quilts were fin-ished. They will be given to men and women undergoing chemo-therapy treatments at the Har-vard Vanguard Medical Center in Kenmore Square, Boston.

Already an accomplished sewer, young Cohen experienced her first quilting event, work-ing with colorful quilt squares in a kitten-themed material. She

plans to finish her first “quilt top” at the spring quilt-a-thon to be held on Saturday, April 8, at the Unitarian Universalist Area Church (UUAC), First Parish of Sherborn.

The Power of the Quilt Proj-ect, first established in 2003, is one of the UUAC’s many service and justice ministries. The work of volunteer sewers and quilters from area towns contribute to about 200 quilts for distribution annually. Some are given to Proj-ect Linus to bring warmth and comfort to young children staying in hospitals or shelters.

For more information about the project, or to RSVP for the spring quilt-a-thon, contact proj-ect coordinator Cris Crawford at [email protected].

Students from the 2016 Rockaway service trip. (Photo/Marjorie Roberson)

Ten-year-old Hadley Cohen works with her Mom, Sarah, piecing together quilt squares for an MLK Day community service project. (Photo/Deborah Burke Henderson)

mailto:[email protected]


Mondays3:30 to 4:30 pm: Craftafter-

noons at the Bacon Free Library. Bring your knitting, crocheting, sewing and scrapbooking. www.baconfreelibrary.org

Third Monday7 to 9 pm: Occupy Natick,

free movie and discussion. occu-pynatick.org.

Tuesdays12:15 pm: Natick Rotary

meets at the Dolphin Restau-rant, Natick Center. Natickro-tary.org

Second Tuesday7 pm: Natick Education

Foundation meets at Natick Town Hall. www.natickedfoun-dation.org

Thursdays11 am to 12 pm: Adult Color-

ing Book Club at the Bacon Free Library. Adult coloring pages and coloring pencils or mark-ers supplied or bring your own. www.baconfreelibrary.org

First Thursday6:30 pm: Relay For Life plan-

ning meetings for the May 2017 event. Meet at the American Cancer Society, 30 Speen St. www.relayforlife.org/natickma

Fridays4 to 5 pm: Cocoa & Cookies

at the Bacon Free Library. Drop by winter afternoons for some treats and curl up with a good book! We’ll supply the cocoa, cookies and books, you provide the company. www.baconfreeli-brary.org

Saturdays9 am to 1 pm: Natick Farmers’

Market at the Common Street Spirituality Center, intersection of Rt. 27 and 135. Free parking in lots on weekends. The market will be inside until May, at which time it will move outside to the Natick Common. natickcenter.org.

First Saturday11 am: Morse Institute Li-

brary Stitchers meet for service-oriented knitting and crocheting at the Morse Institute Library. Drop in and join the fun! www.morseinstitute.org

Wednesday, February 17 to 8:45 pm: Candidates’

Forum at the Morse Institute Library, www.morseinstitute.org

Thursday, February 27 pm: College Planning Pro-

gram for Parents of Juniors at the Natick High School Audito-rium. (snow date: Feb. 6) NHS guidance counselors will present information on the college plan-ning process.

Saturday, February 47 to 8:30 pm: Comic Book

Group meets monthly. Morse Institute Library, www.morsein-stitute.org

7 to 11 pm: LRC Tourna-ment to Benefit the After Prom Party, Sons of Italy, 37 Washing-ton St. Cost: $350/table of 10; $600 prize to the winner! Play with your family, friend, and co-workers. DJ, silent auction, 50-50 drawing and cash bar. For more information, email [email protected]/

Sunday, February 52 to 5 pm: Natick Histori-

cal Society Author Talk at the Morse Institute Library, www.morseinstitute.org

Monday, February 66:30 to 8:30 pm: Public meet-

ing at the Natick Town Hall -- MBTA Proposed Schedule Changes. Written comments about Commuter Rail schedules will be accepted from through Feb. 17: MassDOT, Community Relations, 10 Park Plaza, Suite 4160, Boston, MA 02116. www.mbta.com

Tuesday, February 77 pm: Wicked Pissed: New

England’s Most Famous Feuds with Ted Reinstein of Chronicle. Reinstein brings history alive with fascinating stories from politics, food, engineering and more. For adults and school-age children. Morse Institute Li-brary, www.morseinstitute.org

Thursday, February 910 am to 1:30 pm: SCORE

(Service Corps of Retired Ex-ecutives) volunteers provide area small business owners with free, one-hour counseling and advice sessions. Registration is required. Morse Institute Library, www.morseinstitute.org

7 to 9 pm: Transition Round-table Presentation on post-secondary transition options. Students, parents, guardians, and interested professionals will have the opportunity to hear from local and state adult service providers regarding services and supports. (snow date: March 9) in the NHS Auditorium, http://bit.ly/2iXpCy6

Tuesday, February 14

Saint Valentine’s Day

Thursday, February 16House Plant Success with

Dr. Paul Steen, a Lifetime Cer-tified Master Gardener, who talks about what goes wrong with house plants, which prob-lems are most critical, and how to prevent them from occurring. Morse Institute Library, www.morseinstitute.org

Monday, February 20

President’s Day

School vacation week

8 am: Deadline for students to register to take AP exams. Reg-ister by Feb. 20 to avoid late fees. https://user.totalregistration.net/AP/221475

Tuesday, February 217 pm: Tea: The First Wicked

Deed. Learn wow women in-fluenced the beginnings of the rebellion in the New England colonies before the Revolution-ary War. Bacon Free Library, www.baconfreelibrary.org

Thursday, February 2310 am to 1:30 pm: SCORE

(Service Corps of Retired Ex-ecutives) volunteers provide area small business owners with free, one-hour counseling and advice sessions. Registration is required. Morse Institute Library, www.morseinstitute.org

Saturday, February 2512 pm: Cookbook Club, fea-

turing special guest John Scott Smith, who will lead us in a dis-cussion of his go-to baking book The King Arthur Flour Baker’s Com-panion. Bacon Free Library, www.baconfreelibrary.org

February 26 to March 5Online Children’s Illustra-

tors Auction starting at 8 pm, featuring many of today’s most beloved picture book illustrators, graphic novelists and chapter book illustrators. Bacon Free Li-brary, www.baconfreelibrary.org

Saturday, March 49 am to 2 pm: Maple Magic

and Pancake Breakfast. Learn about Native American and Co-lonial sugaring techniques while experiencing how the farm sug-ars today. Natick Community Organic Farm, www.natickfarm.org/Pages/Maple_Magic.html

Wednesday, March 8Last day to register to vote

for the March 28 annual town election. For information, Town Clerk’s Office at 508-647-6430 x4 or visit www.natickma.gov.

Email your event, with “CALENDAR” in the sub-ject line, by the 15th of every month to [email protected]. Events will be included as space per-mits.

Community Events

Meditation/Mindfulness Classes Offered at the Common Street Spiritual Center

A new series of meditation and mindfulness classes is being offered this winter in downtown Natick, at the Common Street Spiritual Center’s Meditation Room, 13 Common St.

The facilitator, Natick resident Leslie Githens, has practiced meditation since learning of the mind-body connection through Bernie Siegel, M.D., an interna-

tionally recognized expert in the field of complementary, holistic medicine. In 1993 Githens used meditation to help in her recovery from three strokes.

A study from Massachu-setts General Hospital showed a 43 percent decrease in medi-cal interventions for those who participated in an eight-week meditation program. Other stud-

ies have shown a reduction in stress, improved sleep, and what Githens calls “greater joy and life balance;” the researchers call it “reduced irritability.”

Githens is offering four classes on Tuesdays, from 7 to 8 p.m:• Feb. 7: Breathing Medita-

tions, Laughter Yoga• Feb. 14: Guided Visualizations

• Feb, 21: Chakra Opening, Healing Energy

• Feb. 28: Standing and Walk-ing MeditationsParticipants may come to one

or all classes. Githens will incor-porate learnings from experience and from numerous teachers. She provides a supportive, open and welcoming environment. Par-

ticipants will have fun, relax and learn, and have an opportunity to practice.

The cost per class is $14; the cost for seniors 65+ is $12 per class. Pre-registration is required 24 hours in advance. To pre-register or for more information, contact Githens at [email protected] or 781-733-8908.


SportsEx-Framingham High All-starGuarino New Girls’ Lacrosse Coach at NatickBy ken haMWey, staff sPort Writer

Tanner Guarino was a Bay State Conference (BSC) all-star midfielder and a two-time state champion when she competed in lacrosse at Framingham High. She also was a key contribu-tor in helping the University of Massachusetts to three Sweet 16 appearances in the NCAA (Na-tional Collegiate Athletic Associa-tion) Tournament.

The 24-year-old is no stranger to winning, and after two seasons as Holliston’s varsity lacrosse coach, she’s returning to the BSC as Natick High’s coach.

Guarino took the reins at Hol-liston at age 22, inheriting a team that had won only two matches. Although her two seasons as the Panthers’ coach netted only three victories in her first campaign and four in her second year, play-ers developed a bond with Gua-rino, and her passion for lacrosse became contagious.

“It’s difficult leaving Hol-liston,’’ Guarino said. “I con-nected with the girls there, and even though we improved our record by a game in each of my two seasons, we were heading in the right direction. Holliston was my first varsity coaching job, but

when the opportunity opened to return to the BSC, it just seemed like a good fit. Natick is a Divi-sion 1 program and plays many large schools that have established teams. I’m a native of Framing-ham and it’s good to be back in the league I played in.’’

Natick’s players and their par-ents will discover early on that Guarino, who was hired on Nov. 9, may be young but her passion and energy for lacrosse shines brightly. After being hired, she scheduled a meeting with pro-spective players on Nov. 21. “The meeting was to introduce myself and the coaches,’’ she noted. “About 35 girls attended and they asked questions in what was a comfortable setting.’’

Her goals for Natick’s girls are admirable. She wants her players to improve daily at practice, qual-ify for tourney play and advance farther than the opening round. And, down the road, she’ll be aiming for a state championship.

“At Holliston I learned that every girl relates differently to different situations,’’ she empha-sized. “They have different styles of learning. I adjusted to the per-sonnel, stayed positive, set lofty goals and tried to help the kids achieve them.’’

Guarino’s competitive practice

sessions will be a clue to the style of play she admires. “I like lots of motion, ball movement, crisp passing and strong stick-work,’’ she noted. “We’ll focus on a bal-ance of offense and defense. As a midfielder in high school and col-lege, I know both sides of the ball. Conditioning also will be very im-portant.’’

Guarino’s career in athletics is a study in leadership and success.

At Framingham, she was a captain in three sports (lacrosse, swimming and basketball) and she competed on three Bay State League champion swim teams and four BSC title teams in la-crosse. In lacrosse, she was a two-time BSC all-star, a Boston Globe all-scholastic and an all-American choice of the U.S. Lacrosse Asso-ciation.

Guarino scored 199 goals and

assisted on 105 for 304 points in her four-year career at Framing-ham. At UMass, she scored 99 goals, was an Atlantic 10 choice for the all-rookie team, was twice selected to the Atlantic-10 all-star team and capped her career as an all-New England selection. She also holds the record for the most games played in a career (82).

Guarino started on a state title team as a freshman and, as a senior, scored the winning goal when Framingham defeated Longmeadow, 8-7. “That was an incredible feeling,’’ she recalled. “I took a pass, got by a defender and beat the goalie with a quick wrist shot. I still remember my teammates jumping for joy. It was a great experience.’’

Guarino, who considers her-self a teacher first when coach-ing, works as an instructor and co-owner at Gold Star Lacrosse, a club program that involves youths from Grades 4-11. She formed the program with Franklin coach Kristen Igoe, her sister-in-law.

Relying on a coaching philos-ophy that stresses being competi-tive, reaching one’s potential and enjoying the sport, Guarino also focuses on helping her lacrosse players learn life lessons. “La-crosse can teach real-life lessons, like overcoming adversity, setting goals, relying on teamwork, un-derstanding time management and acquiring leadership traits,’’

she emphasized. Natick’s athletic director, Tim

Collins, is delighted with Gua-rino’s addition and emphasized how much her passion for coach-ing lacrosse is admired.

“Coach Guarino has had an incredible experience as a player, as an all-American and as a four-year letter-winner at UMass,’’ said Collins. “She knows the competitive level of the Bay State Conference. She did a terrific job at Holliston getting that program going in the right direction. She is as current as anyone in the business, working with the Gold Star Lacrosse Club. But most importantly, we could see (and heard from many people) about her character and passion. We wanted our student-athletes to have the experience of working with her.’’

A communications major at UMass, Guarino, who played professional lacrosse last sum-mer for the Boston Storm of the Women’s Professional League, is acutely aware how important that attribute can be for a coach. “What’s important is that I’m a good teacher of the sport,’’ she said. “I want our players to learn the game and love it as much as I do.’’

Tanner Guarino will be a good fit for the girls lacrosse pro-gram at Natick.

Registration Opens February 13 for Girls’ Running Club

Registration for Strivers Running Club for Girls opens on Feb. 13 for 5th through 8th grade girls. Founded by run-ner Colleen Phelps, Strivers works with middle school girls to help build self-esteem, self-confidence and awareness of a healthy lifestyle—all through a central theme of running. Striv-ers incorporates such activities as diet and nutrition seminars, cross training, book clubs and

community service into a well-rounded program to help young girls reach their personal goals. To date over 450 girls have par-ticipated in Strivers and 100 percent of these young runners have successfully completed a 5k road race that marks the end of each session. For more infor-mation, visit www.striversrun-ningclub.com.


• WHO AM I? A Natick soccer mom and one of the few agents with a Master’s degree

• WHY HIRE ME TO SELL YOUR HOME? I give more personal attention to my clients I love helping people more

than helping my bottom line

• HOW CAN YOU GET A BETTER SALE PRICE WITH ME? I provide a de-clutter service most buyers don’t look past your piles of

stuff I provide a mini makeover for your home - I use nuance to get you

much more on the sale of your home than the competition

Preservation ProPerties

Illana Rosen, Realtoremail: [email protected] #: 617-921-6973 (call or text)

“I would not hesitate to recommend Lisa to any of our friends and relatives. We had a great experience with her. Such excellent preparation helped us sell our house in ONE open house at asking price! The work she did gave us our most invested item in our lives, our home, a great value and return. We can’t express enough our deep appreciation.Fondly, Roger and Li Johnson”

Lisa Miles, Realtor 508-233-0411

[email protected] of Natick since 1992

!LisaMiles,Realtor

[email protected]

lisamiles.mnsir.com

ThinkingofpuCngyourhouseonthemarket?Callmetoday!

• ProfessionalPhotography• VideoTours• Yourhomewebsite• CustomMarkeNngplan• ProfessionalHomeStaging

ResidentofNaNcksince1992

“IwouldnothesitatetorecommendLisatoanyofourfriendsandrela6ves.Wehadagreatexperiencewithher.Suchexcellentprepara6onhelpedussellourhouseinONEopenhouseataskingprice!Theworkshedidgaveusourmostinvestediteminourlives,ourhome,agreatvalueandreturn.Wecan'texpressenoughourdeepapprecia6on.Fondly,RogerandLiJohnson”

Darkerblueborder

Thinking of putting your house on the market?

Call Me Today!

• Professional Photography • Video Tours • Your Home Website • Custom Marketing Plan • Professional Home Staging Spring

iS Coming

I am a Natick Resident, A Natick Enthusiast & An Expert in Natick Real Estate. 20+ years of selling residential real estate in Metro West.

Thinking About Selling or Buying? Please Contact Me!

Happy Valentine’s Day

Beth Byrne508.561.0521

[email protected] Eliot Street

Natick, MA 01760508.655.4141

Valentine’s Day Can Be Stressful for TeensBy aBBey BLuMe anD MaDeLeine Wise, soPhoMores, natiCk high sChooL

Although Valentine’s Day is a happy time for many teenagers, it can also be incredibly stress-ful. Social media often adds to this pressure with its expecta-tions and “relationship statuses.” Many people feel obligated to find someone for Valentine’s Day, which can cause stress. Few want to be alone on Valentine’s Day, feeling lonely scrolling through an Instagram feed full of cutesy pictures of their friends with their beaus. Often for teens, pressures to find someone can distract them from more impor-tant things, such as schoolwork or friends. Often, they lose track of what’s important because they are so wrapped up in their need to be with someone for Valen-tine’s Day.

Stress isn’t the only emotion

teens feel; they often feel embar-rassment. For instance, many schools have a secret valentine program or sell candy-grams, which are candy or cards stu-dents purchase from their schools and send to friends or significant others, sometimes anonymously. These often turn into popularity contests, leaving people embar-rassed when everyone gets some-thing except for them. Being in high school is a lot tougher around this time. When one person sees that you didn’t get anything on Valentine’s Day, ev-eryone finds out in a matter of minutes due to social media sites. To avoid this social nightmare, kids are forced to go looking for someone. Sometimes gifts are ex-changed among friends, but for many it just doesn’t compare to the feeling you get when you find someone to love and who loves you back.

If you find this article de-scribes you, don’t worry. You can fix things. If you are alone, you could invite over other single people and have a game or movie night. If that’s not you, try baby-sitting. Many parents are going to want to go out on a romantic date somewhere and not take their kids. Not only is babysitting a way to not be alone, but you could make money to use next year if you are in a couple. And as for schools that are trying to make Valentine’s Day easier on students, consider emailing stu-dents if they received something, that way they could privately pick it up any time during the day.

So when February 14 comes around, don’t stress. Whether you’re spending it alone or with a loved one, you can relax. Here’s to a happy, stress-free Valentine’s Day!

Natick School District Named to College Board’s AP Honor Roll

The Natick School District has been named to College Board’s Advanced Placement ® (AP) District Honor Roll for 2017 for expanding access to AP ® coursework, improving stu-dent performance and support-

ing student success. The District has been recognized for its work as part of the College Board’s 7th Annual AP District Honor Roll, according to the school’s website.

The honor roll recognizes

433 school districts in the United States and Canada that have ex-panded access to AP coursework and maintained or increased the percentage of students earning scores of 3 or higher on AP Exams.

Broadmoor’s Summer Program Now Available

Mass Audubon’s Broadmoor Wildlife Sanctuary, 280 Eliot St., is taking signups now for its summer programs. Some high-lights for the 2017 season in-clude one-week sessions for ages

4–14; two-week sessions for ages 7–14; campouts at the sanctu-ary and other locations; a new Nature Play Area for campers to explore; and flexible Before and After Camp options. For more


Call Your Hometown Realtor® For All Your Real Estate Needs

Sales | Rentals | Mortgages | Title | Insurance

© 2017 Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage. All Rights Reserved. Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. Operated by a subsidiary of NRT LLC. Coldwell Banker’ and the Coldwell Banker logo are registered service marks owned by Coldwell Baker Real Estate LLC. 85955 3/2016

117 West Central Street, Lakeview CrossingNatick, MA 01760 (508) 655-0680 ColdwellBankerHomes.com/Natick

Our sales and marketing team provide the very best in knowledge and know how for helping buyers and sellers.

We are exceptional at seeing true potential of your home and essential elements in the purchasing decision, our Coldwell Banker team is a strong sales force with a sphere of influence particularly serving the Natick community and surrounding areas of Metrowest.

Whether it’s staging a property correctly to bring out the most in your home, or expert negotiations that help homes sell for more money with the least inconveniences, our Natick team of sales associates are fully committed to meeting every client’s needs.

Please feel free to call for a free market evaluation of your home.

20 SpringValley, Natick - $799K New Construction

SOLD

5 Pearl Street, Millis - $660K New Contruction

10 Maple Avenue Millis - $369K

3 Beverly Street, Natick - $820K New Construction

SOLD

Let my 18 years experience of selling homes help you with your next move.

36 Stratford Street Natick - $699K

30 Needham StreetNorfolk - $309K

SOLD

SOLD

33 Beverly Street Natick - $600K

342 Village St Millis - $425K

SOLD

SOLD

SOLD

SOLD

52 Windmill RoadSudbury - $550K

SOLD

304 North Street Medfield - $599K

SOLD

94 Ridge Street Millis - $375K

SOLD

SOLD 6 Broad Street, Milford 260k

443 Rumonoski Drive, Northbridge $265k 23 Skyline Drive, Medway $440k19 5Th Avenue, Watertown $485k9 Community Way, Foxboro $240k 4 Fieldstone Road, Medfield $590k

1 Pearly Lane, Franklin $750k51 Plantation Road, Northbridge $189k

26 Willis Avenue, Framingham $130k

33 Fairway, Medway Natick - $679K

SOLD

3 Heidi Lane Natick $769,900

SOLD

19 Evergreen Franklin - $550K

SOLD

Natick Community-Senior Center in FebruaryThe Natick Community-

Senior Center (CSC), located at 117 East Central St. (Rt. 135), offers services and programs for all ages. Register for programs by calling 508-647-6540, stop-ping by the Council on Aging, or using Community Pass on-line. For more information, visit natickma.gov and the Council on Aging (COA) page, the monthly Sentinel Newsletter. Here is a sampling of their many services and programs:

Do You Need Help Pre-paring Your Taxes?

IRS-trained and certified AARP tax volunteers will be available, by appointment only, to prepare your 2016 federal and state income tax returns begin-ning in early February. There is no cost for this service. The program is designed to assist low

to middle income people with special attention given to those age 60 and older. Tax volunteers are also available to assist older residents who are unable to leave their home due to illness or dis-ability. Call Lorraine at CSC to schedule an appointment and for more information.

Fuel AssistanceNatick Human Services staff

will help Natick residents com-plete applications for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and the Good Neighbor Energy Fund for the 2016-2017 winter season. Applicants may be Natick resi-dents of any age, home owners or renters, pay for their own heat or in some circumstances have it included in their rent. Call Deb-bie Budd at CSC to schedule an appointment.

Walk at the Wellesley College Greenhouses

Meet at the Wellesley College Margaret C. Ferguson Green-houses Visitor Center to explore this local gem and escape the winter doldrums! For horticul-ture enthusiasts, plant lovers and anyone wanting an escape from the winter chill. Sign up at CSC in advance. Monday, Feb. 13 and Thursday, Mar 9, 10 a.m., free.

Jackson Homestead and Museum—Celebrating Black History Month

The Jackson Homestead, in Newton Corner, is an historic house that served as a station on the Underground Railroad before the Civil War. Come and explore it with us. Wednesday, Feb 15, 10:30 a.m., $5 senior museum admission. $4 non-refundable registration bus fee.

Bus departs and returns from the CSC, 117 E. Central St.

Brain Exercises: Math Workout for Everyone

Join Swati Dave, CSC’s resi-dent computer teacher and ex-pert, as she leads this fun class in math exercises that will help you keep your brain active, sharp and enjoying yourself—really! Tuesday, Feb. 21, 1 p.m., $5.

Scams, Fraud & Identity Theft

Scam artists are lurking behind every keyboard and telephone. They want to take ad-vantage of you and take what’s yours. Join us for an important seminar so we can help you, help yourself! Presented by De-tective John Haswell, Natick Police. Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2 p.m., free.


JESSICA ALLAINTop 10 Premier Associate

[email protected]

Benoit Mizner Simon & Co, LLC. An Equal Opportunity Employer. Equal Housing Opportunity. Per MLS data 1/1/15-12/31/16

544 BOSTON POST ROAD, WESTON54 CENTRAL STREET, WELLESLEY

936 GREAT PLAIN AVENUE, NEEDHAM

#1 NATICK AGENT AT BENOIT MIZNER SIMON

2015 & 2016

— COMING SOON —SECOND STREET | 3 BED, 2 BATH | .23 ACRES | SINGLE FAMILY

A delightful home, complete with inviting front porch, grassy flat yard,

beautiful finished basement and much more! Fantastic neighborhood!

CYPRESS ROAD | 1 BED, 1 BATH | .21 ACRES | SINGLE FAMILYQuaint and Cozy in a great Neighborhood off of route 27.

This cottage style home is loaded with charm all in a convenient location!

SOUTH MAIN STREET | 2 BED, 2.5 BATH | TOWNHOMEIn the heart of Natick Center, Natick Common and walking distance to the Commuter Rail.

1 car garage townhome and 3 levels of living space!

CONTACT JESSICA ABOUT THESE BRAND NEW NATICK LISTINGS COMING ON THE MARKET SOON!

high school students discussed during public hearing ... · ganization beta group, inc. led a...

Documents