During my Select Board office hours yesterday at The Center, Bob Kennefic, aka Bubblegum Bob, pulled out his copy of David Biedrzycki’s Me and My Dragon, to show me the picture of him the author had put in the book. I already felt I liked David Biedrzycki, but now I know I like him even more.
Nice likeness Bob and David! And a well deserved tribute to a local legend, Bob.
Bob said it was OK if I put this story on my blog.
From Katie Duval, Executive Director of Medfield TV –
Medfield TV’s 2nd Annual Scarecrow Spooktacular festival is scheduled for Saturday, October 19th from 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM at Baxter Park in Medfield, MA. This all-ages event will bring a jack-o-lantern-sized smile to your face this Fall!
Local businesses, crafters, and artisans are encouraged to show off their goods by reserving space for a booth. Now through August 20th, Medfield TV is offering a $60 “Early Bird Special”. Registration increases to $75 on August 21st. Save $15 by registering today at www.medfield.tv/scarecow
Sponsorships are also available until August 20th. Email Katie Duval at scarecrow@medfield.tv if you’re interested in sponsoring this event.
In addition, scarecrow registration is also open on the site. Individuals/families, nonprofits, and businesses can register now through October 12th.
Medfield TV is a non-profit community media center serving the residents of Medfield. All proceeds from the event support the organization’s mission to provide media access and education to Medfield residents, students, and employees. For more information, visit www.medfield.tv
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Posted in Charity, Children, Downtown, Entertainment, Events, Medfield TV, Recreation, Teens, Volunteers
I hold regular monthly office hours at The Center on the first Friday of every month from 9:00 to 10:00 AM.
Residents are welcome to stop by to talk in person about any town matters.
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Posted in Select Board matters
From Susan Maritan –
New Life Furniture Bank Hosts Second Community Furniture Build Event
Walpole, MA – August 17, 2024 – New Life Furniture Bank of MA is pleased to announce its second Community Furniture Build Event. Volunteers are invited to register for $25 to come and build a dresser for a family in need. If you are unable to attend but wish to support this event your $25 donation will fund the building of a dresser by a New Life volunteers.
Registration fees and donations will cover half the cost of each dresser. The remaining half of the cost will be covered through the generous support of Dedham Savings and Walpole Co-operative Bank.
This event will take place on Saturday, August 17th, from 12:30 PM to 2:00 PM at the New Life warehouse, located at 102 Elm Street, Walpole.
“We are delighted to receive the support of Dedham Savings and Walpole Co-operative Bank,” stated Rich Purnell, Executive Director of New Life Furniture Bank. “Their generosity enables us to provide essential furnishings to families transitioning out of homelessness. Donors and volunteers will play a crucial role in helping rebuild lives by filling homes with much-needed furniture.”
To register for the event, or to make a donation, please visit: newlifefb.org/community-furniture-build.
New Life Furniture Bank of MA is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing gently used furniture to individuals and families in need. By partnering with the community and local businesses, New Life helps transform empty living spaces into homes filled with comfort and dignity.
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Posted in Events, New Life Furniture Bank of MA
| July 30, 2024 01:33 PM West Nile Virus Confirmed in Mosquitoes from Medfield |
| The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) announced today, July 30, 2024 that West Nile Virus (WNV) has been detected in mosquitoes collected from… Read on • |
![West Nile Virus Confirmed in Mosquitoes from Medfield
DATE: July 30, 2024
TOWN: Medfield
CONTACT: Brenda Healy, Public Health Nurse
TELEPHONE: 508-906-3044
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) announced today that
West Nile Virus (WNV) has been detected in mosquitoes collected from Medfield, Massachusetts.
In 2023, 10,765 mosquito samples from Massachusetts were tested for WNV and 164 samples were
positive. The Town of Medfield had zero WNV positive mosquito samples identified in 2023.
WNV is most commonly transmitted to humans by the bite of an infected mosquito. The mosquitoes that
carry this virus are common throughout the state and are found in urban as well as more rural areas. While
WNV can infect people of all ages, people over the age of 50 are at higher risk for severe infection.
By taking a few, common sense precautions, people can help to protect themselves and their loved
ones:
Avoid Mosquito Bites
• Apply Insect Repellent when you go outdoors. Use a repellent with DEET (N, N-diethyl-mtoluamide),
permethrin, picaridin (KBR 3023), IR3535 or oil of lemon eucalyptus [p-methane 3,
8-diol (PMD)] according to the instructions on the product label. DEET products should not be
used on infants under two months of age and should be used in concentrations of 30% or less on
older children. Oil of lemon eucalyptus should not be used on children under three years of age.
Permethrin products are intended for use on items such as clothing, shoes, bed nets and camping
gear and should not be applied to skin.
• Clothing Can Help reduce mosquito bites. Although it may be difficult to do when it’s hot,
wearing long-sleeves, long pants and socks when outdoors will help keep mosquitoes away from
your skin.
• Be Aware of Peak Mosquito Hours - The hours from dusk to dawn are peak biting times for many
mosquitoes. When risk is increased, consider rescheduling outdoor activities that occur during
evening or early morning. If you are outdoors at any time and notice mosquitoes around you, take
steps to avoid being bitten by moving indoors, covering up and/or wearing repellant.
Mosquito-Proof Your Home
• Drain Standing Water - Many mosquitoes lay their eggs in standing water. Limit the number of
places around your home for mosquitoes to breed by either draining or getting rid of items that hold
water. Check rain gutters and drains. Empty any unused flowerpots and wading pools and change
water in birdbaths frequently.
• Install or Repair Screens - Some mosquitoes like to come indoors. Keep them outside by having
tightly-fitting screens on all your windows and doors.
Medfield continues to work closely with the MDPH and other agencies to monitor the situation.
Information about WNV and reports of current and historical WNV virus activity in Massachusetts can be
found on the MDPH website at: www.mass.gov/dph/mosquito.](https://medfield02052.blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/mosquito-wnv-press-release_07.30.2024.jpg)
Comments Off on West Nile Virus found in town
Posted in health
The legislature’s earmarks process of doling out state monies in the annual state budget to good projects in each municipality is manifestly unfair and shortchanges most, yet it persists because our legislators annually adopt legislative rules that cede all power to the legislative leadership. Our legislative leadership then award/take home millions of dollars via earmarks in the annual state budget for admittedly good projects in their districts, while the bulk of districts are shortchange by getting little $$$ for their admittedly good projects.
Here is a link to a good recent Boston Globe article on the subject that details how the legislative leadership divvied up the spoils this year, and unfortunately the article is bound to make you cynical about the operation of your state government: https://www.bostonglobe.com/2024/05/09/metro/massachusetts-house-democratic-leaders-earmarks-5-million/?s_campaign=breakingnews:newsletter
By Samantha J. Gross and Matt Stout Globe Staff,Updated May 9, 2024, 5:44 a.m.
| STATE SECRETS |
After months of preaching fiscal restraint, five of the Massachusetts House’s highest-ranking Democrats slipped at least $5 million in earmarks into the chamber’s spending plan in late April, fattening their own districts’ haul far beyond that of most others and almost entirely out of public view.
Posted in Budgets, Legislature
The last two days I had to walk back and forth to the downtown. Both days I asked the people working on the Starbucks why the place was being renovated, and today I struck paydirt. Today I happened to have asked the store manager for the last five years as he was retrieving things from one of the two massive containers out front.
The answer was that Starbucks started as exclusively a coffee place, without any food at all, but that now half of its business is cold drinks, including many fruit juices. Secondly, they now are also selling lots of foods. Thirdly, this particular store turned out to be a lot busier than it was originally projected to be. So the renovation was done to service both the broader and greater demands of the current customers.
BTW, the first person I asked yesterday had no idea – he was likely one of the workmen for a contractor.
Posted in Buildings, Development, Downtown
I saw the Medfield Gazebo Players’ performance of Two Gentlemen of Verona last night next to the Lee Chapel as the sun set. I loved the Shakespeare with 50’s Doo Wop music and actors in poodle skirts and doing 50’s dance numbers. Medfield’s Small family crushed it, playing almost half the roles and Steve directing. Cynthia Small played the Duke and even had her own song – the “”Duke of Earl” played for each entrance.
I highly recommend that people share the fun and attend next weekend, 5PM on both Saturday and Sunday. This is quality local theatre, outside as the day ends – delightful! Bring your own snacks or dinner. The couple next to me really knew how to live – they brought drinks, dinner, chairs, and a small table – sweet.
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Posted in Bellforge Arts Center, Cultural, Entertainment, Events
You can listen to yesterday’s debate by the three Democratic candidates seeking to replace Denise Garlick as our State Representative via this link. The debate was organized by the Charles River Regional Chamber and its President and CEO Greg Reibman did an excellent job of moderating the debate and getting information from the candidates.
Bill Dermody of Needham is also running as an unenrolled candidate. Bill attended our Select Board meeting last night and introduced himself to us at the end. Bill will face the winner of the Democratic primary in the November election.
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Posted in Elections, Legislature
The Charles River Regional Chamber noticed that I published the wrong date for its debate for the Democratic candidates seeking to replace Rep. Denise Garlick, and was kind enough to alert me.
That debate is at noon on July 16, as per its publicity copied in below. See this posting for the details.
Join us for the virtual debate between the three candidates — Patrick A. Gatto, Kenneth Ruetenik, and Joshua Tarsky — competing in the Sept. 3 Democratic primary for the open state representative seat in the 13th Norfolk district currently held by Rep. Garlick, representing Needham, Dover and part of Medfield.
Our focus will be issues related to economic development, housing, workforce, and the environment. Other general topics may be discussed as well. Questions from the business community in advance are welcome. This event will be recorded and shared later.
Free, open to members & nonmembers
Name: Charles River Regional Chamber
Phone: (617) 244-5300
Email: info@charlesriverchamber.comr newsletter
Comments Off on State Rep debate is 7/16
Posted in Elections, Legislature
Medfield Select Board member
I started this blog to share the interesting and useful information that I saw while doing my job as a Medfield select board member. I thought that my fellow Medfield residents would also find that information interesting and useful as well. This blog is my effort to assist in creating a system to push the information out from the Town House to residents. Let me know if you have any thoughts on how it can be done better.
For information on my other job as an attorney (personal injury, civil litigation, estate planning and administration, and real estate), please feel free to contact me at 617-969-1500 or Osler.Peterson@OslerPeterson.com.
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