Category Archives: Information

MEDFIELD OUTREACH – Winter Newsletter

From Viktorria Glissendorf, MPH, Prevention Coordinator, Medfield Outreach –

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Upcoming Events & Current Offerings
Photovoice GalleryWalkthrough
Join us for a gallery walkthrough of theMedfield Photovoice student art project on
January 22 from 3:30–4:30 p.m.
at the
Medfield High School Library.
Through avariety of expressive media includingphotography and digital art, Medfield HighSchool students explored the interpersonaland community environments shaping theirhealth and well-being. The reception willalso feature spoken reflections fromselected Medfield students, accompaniedby live music from the Medfield GuitarClub.
SHARE:  
Join Our Email List
Upcoming Events & Current Offerings
Photovoice Gallery
Walkthrough
Join us for a gallery walkthrough of the
Medfield Photovoice student art project on
January 22 from 3:30–4:30 p.m. at the
Medfield High School Library. Through a
variety of expressive media including
photography and digital art, Medfield High
School students explored the interpersonal
and community environments shaping their
health and well-being. The reception will
also feature spoken reflections from
selected Medfield students, accompanied
by live music from the Medfield Guitar
Club.
Parent Coffee Hour
Thursday, January 29 from 10:30-11:30
AM @ Medfield Public Library
We are excited to offer a Coffee Talk for
parents and guardians of tweens and
adolescents! Have a cup of coffee with
us as we share tips on talking with your
kids about technology use and discuss
successful strategies families have used
to navigate digital safety in a changing
world.
No need to RSVP, just show up!
SPACE Treatment
Contact Medfield Outreach to
schedule!
We are pleased to announce that we
are now offering SPACE treatment,
which stands for Supportive Parenting
for Anxious Childhood Emotions. The
SPACE treatment approach centers on
empowering parents to make changes
in their own behavior, rather than
directly trying to change their child's
behavior. Participants in the program
will learn two primary strategies: how to
respond more supportively to their
anxious child and how to gradually
reduce accommodations made for their
child's symptoms.
QPR Training
Contact Medfield Outreach to schedule!
Did you know that you don't have to be a
professional to offer hope and help to those
considering suicide? Medfield Outreach
can provide a FREE 2-hour QPR: Suicide
Prevention Training for Medfield residents,
aged 18+. All you need is a group of 8-15
people willing to learn how to offer hope in
a time of distress.
Call your friends and schedule a training
today!
Medfield Mobile Task
Force Presents:
Screenagers
January 26 | 7:00 PM | Medfield
High School Auditorium
To thoughtfully address the
opportunities and concerns arising
from technology and social media,
Medfield Public Schools convened a
Mobile Technology Task Force, a
collaborative forum bringing together
students, parents, educators, and
members of the Medfield School
Committee to examine the role of
mobile technology in our schools and
community. Medfield Outreach is
proud to partner with Medfield Public
Schools on this initiative.
On January 26th at 7:00 PM in the
Medfield High School auditorium, the
Mobile Task Force will host a
screening of the award-winning film
Screenagers. Through insights from
authors, psychologists, and brain
scientists, Screenagers: Elementary
School Age Edition reveals how tech time impacts kids’ development and offers solutions
for empowering kids to navigate the digital world and find balance.
For more information, please contact Jeff Marsden at 
jmarsden@email.medfield.net.
Wait until 8th Pledge
The Wait Until 8th pledge empowers
parents to rally together to delay
giving children a smartphone until at
least the end of 8th grade. Let’s
protect the elementary and middle
school years from the distractions
and the dangers of a smartphone in
Medfield.
Did you know that 12% of Medfield
parents have already signed this
pledge? We would love for you to join
us.
Click here for more information
and to sign the pledge.
7th Grade Wellness Visits Recap
Throughout November, nearly 200 7th
graders in Mr. Woods’ Wellness classes
took field trips to Medfield Outreach!
Students learned about the social services
available to Medfield residents, the many
ways communities can work together to
prevent substance misuse, the positive
health impacts of gratitude, and
opportunities to join MCAP-advised clubs
like Medfield Youth Leadership Program
and Medfield BREATHE. At the end of the
visit, students were invited to post to our
Gratitude Wall.
These visits were a valuable way to
familiarize students and their families with
the resources Outreach offers, as well as
an opportunity to learn how community
substance use prevention works in
Medfield.
The Research Corner
Learn what the research says about substance use, mental health, and wellness!
This edition, we are highlighting the the health benefits of dry January and the positive
trends in high school cannabis consumption trends in Medfield.
Health Benefits of Dry January - What the Science Says
Thinking about kickstarting your 2026 with Dry January? One study found that going 31
days without alcohol had noticeable health benefits for regular drinkers, even without
changes in diet and exercise. By the end of the month, participants who abstained from
alcohol showed improvements in:
Insulin resistance
Weight
Blood pressure
Liver function
Cancer-related growth factors
In the long term, cutting back on alcohol can improve mood, sleep, cancer risk, and
immunity. Ready to hop on the “sober curious” trend this January? 
Click here for 40 fun
mocktail recipes to enjoy all month long.
Source article: 
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29730627
Cannabis Positive Community Norms
Did you know that on average, people tend to overestimate the prevalence of substance
use in their communities? From college campuses to high schools, people consistently
misperceive the likelihood that the people around them are using substances.
In Medfield, the vast majority of middle and high school students do not use cannabis
(marijuana), and that percentage has followed a downward trend over time. Through
sustained education, public health awareness campaigns, and other multi-sector
prevention initiatives aimed at creating healthy communities, Medfield has seen a
significant decrease in the percentage of students who use cannabis.
By continuing the conversation at home, you can reinforce these healthy decisions with
the youth in your life. 
Click here to access our Adult Guide for Substance Use
Prevention with tips for talking to youth about substances.
iDECIDE: Evidence-Based Substance Use Education for Youth
To support high school students who would like to learn more about substance use
prevention, we are offering a voluntary psychoeducation program developed in
partnership by Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, the MA
Department of Public Health (DPH) and the Institute for Health and Recovery (IHR).
iDECIDE is an educational program intended to inform students of brain development,
neurobiology, risk and protective factors, industry tactics, and healthy alternatives to
substance use.
This program is intended to support students in making informed decisions about their
substance use and health. 
Click here to complete the iDECIDE interest form, or email
Krissy King at 
kking@medfield.net for more information.
Ready to join get involved in this important work?
Attend a meeting!
Medfield Outreach Advisory Board - the 4th Monday of every month |
6:00-7:30 PM | Medfield Outreach office
Medfield Coalition for Suicide Prevention (MCSP) - the 4th
Wednesday of every month | 12:00 - 1:00 PM | Zoom
Medfield Cares About Prevention (MCAP) - the last Wednesday of
every month | 4:30 - 5:30 PM | Hybrid: In-person at the Medfield
Outreach Office & via Zoom
*Email medfieldoutreach@medfield.net for more information and Zoom links!
Connect with us!
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Constant Contact Data Notice

MEC “Heat Pump Pizza Party” 1/29 at noon at COA

From Emily Lowney of the Medfield Energy Committee –

IN COOPERATION WITH
THE COUNCIL ON AGING
INVITES YOU TO A
LUNCH AND LEARN
HEAT PUMP
PIZZA PARTY
Learn how to make your home more
comfortable, energy-efficient,
and climate-friendly!
JANUARY 29, 2026
12:00 PM
THE CENTER
ICE HOUSE ROAD, MEDFIELD
Please RSVP by calling the COA at 508-359-3665
by January 27th

Medfield Energy Committee Announces Heat Pump Pizza Party

The Medfield Energy Committee will hold a Heat Pump Pizza Party on January 29th at 12:00 p.m. at the Center on Ice House Road, as part of the Council on Aging’s Lunch and Learn series.  If you have ever wondered about incorporating heat pumps for heating and/or cooling your home, this is sure to be an informative community event.

Greg Sine, an energy efficiency consultant with Eversource, will discuss how investments in efficiency upgrades can make your home or business more comfortable and less expensive to operate. Greg will also discuss the technology behind heat pumps, what makes them so efficient compared to traditional systems, and how their adoption might impact your energy bill — with special consideration of the new residential heat pump rate.

The Energy Committee will also share information about a new Building Code that residents will be asked to vote on at Town Meeting in 2026.  The Specialized Code, if adopted in Medfield, would require new homes to be built to increased energy efficiency standards.

Please pre-register for this event by calling the COA at 508-359-3665 by January 27th.

Pond Info Session, 7pm, 11/6

Join the Medfield Conservation Commission on November 6, 2025 for an informational update on the recently completed 2025 Medfield Ponds Aquatic Vegetation Assessments.

2025 Medfield Ponds Aquatic Vegetation Assessments LINK TO ASSESSMENTS :
https://www.town.medfield.net/DocumentCenter/View/9117/Medfield-Ponds_10152025?bidId=

November 6, 2025 at 7:00 PM ZOOM LINK:
https:/medfield-net.zoom.us/j/82216588639?pwd=Y2h3VXZ0RHkxNHFCZEpReGtEemFrdz09
Pass Code 280739

Boston Magazine says we are #8

Medfield came in #8 on Boston Magazine’s 2025 list of best places to live in Boston. Medfield ranked highest on our housing, then our safety, then our education, then our employment. To me not the usual expected names above us.

This fits with my idea that one way we lower our real estate taxes is by building housing without municipal costs, like Old Village Square (maybe $600K positive to town in revenue over costs per year), because people do want to live in Medfield.

Top Places to Live in Greater Boston 2025: Every City and Town Within I-495, Ranked

Angel Run sponsorship opportunities

MEDFIELD
FOUNDATION INC.
ANGEL RUN
DECEMBER 8, 2024
11:30 AM
Medfield High School
Medfield, MA
Be an Angel,
Run for Medfield
SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
Angel Sponsor - $5,000
Prominent logo display on race T shirt
distributed to over 900 local participants
Prominent logo display on race day banner,
website and social media
Recognition as an Angel Sponsor on a
stand alone social media post
• Recognition as an Angel Sponsor on race day
• Opportunity for promotional product
giveaway during packet pick-up or race day
(provided by sponsor)
Six runner registrations
• Halo Sponsor -
$2,500
Logo display on race T shirt
distributed to over 900 local
participants
• Logo display on race day
banner, website and
social media
Recognition as a Halo Sponsor
on race day
Four runner registrations
Wings Sponsor -
$1,000
• Logo display on race T shirt
distributed to over 900 local
participants
• Logo display on race day
banner, website and
socia l media
• Recognition as a Wings
Sponsor on race day
• Two runner registrations
fl
• Glitter Sponsor -
$500
• Listing on race T shi rt
distributed to over 900 local
participants
• Listing on race day banner,
website and social media
• Recognition as a Glitter
Sponsor on race day
Sponsorship Deadline: October 31, 2024
This is the deadline for inclusion on the race T shirt.
·- --- - -~~~ -- - -- - - - ___ _,,..,,...,_. _ _ .,. ___ --- - -~ - --- '- - - - ---- - - -- - - -
Yes. we would like to sponsor The Angel Run 5K at the:
□ $5,000 Angel Level
□ $1,000 Wings Level
D $2,500 Halo Level
□ $ 500 Gl itter Level
D I am not able to sponsor this year, but I would like to make a donation of $ _ ___ _
Name and Title _ ________ ___ _ __________ _ _ _ _ _ _
Company or Organization ___ _________ ____ ________ _
Email ___ ______ _______ _ Phone _ _____ _ _ ___ _ _ _
Address--- - - ----- ------------------ ----
City _____ ___ _______ _ ___ _ _ State __ _ Zip ____ _
Make checks payable to Medfield Foundation.
P.O. Box 745, Medfield, MA 02052
support our community during the season of giving. Medfield angels like you have
raised over $280,000 which has been distributed to Medfield residents in need
in partnership with Medfield Outreach. Join us this year and BE AN ANGEL.
Register to run, walk or stroll and help us raise money to support our community.
* Angel Run wos created rn 2006 by family and friends in memory of Natasha Domeshek.
The Medfield Foundation and our community has proudly continued lhe
,\nge/ Run tradition since 2012.
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-
"ONI NOl.lVaNno.:1 a , El I :I a 3 N .,..______.
MEDFIELD
FOUNDATION INC. Be an Angel,
ANGEL RUN
DECEMBER 8, 2024
11:30 AM
Medfield High School
Medfield, MA
Run for Medfield

Medfield TV’s Scarecrow Spooktacular this Saturday,10/19

From Katie Duval, Executive Director, 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 (corner of Route 109 and Route 27) in Medfield, MA. This all-ages event will bring a jack-o-lantern-sized smile to your face this Fall!


There will be music and entertainment throughout the day on the main stage. Be sure to wear your best costume and enter the costume contest, sponsored by GEICO of Braintree! Visit the vendors’ and sponsors’ booths, and take a ride on the UCC hayride. And don’t forget to vote for your favorites in the Scarecrow Competition!

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

MEA’s EV Car Show Sunday 1-3 – test drives & ice cream!

From Chris Gordon, Medfield Energy Committee.

I just wanted to give you our latest flyer that has updated information, including we will have EV BMWs for test drives, and what my kids are most excited about, an ice cream truck.

School Committee – Informal Virtual Meeting with 2 Members – 12/12, 7-8PM

From Michelle Kirkby –

Medfield School Committee Virtual Informal Conversation via Zoom
Medfield School Committee Virtual Informal Conversation via Zoom 

Medfield School Committee to Hold Virtual Informal Conversation

The Medfield School Committee extends an invitation to the community to meet individually with two members of the Committee on Monday, December 12, 2023 from 7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. via Zoom.

Because only two members will be present this is an opportunity for an informal conversation to discuss any issue that may fall within the Committee’s areas of responsibility.

Please fill out this form – https://tinyurl.com/MedfieldSC12423 by 5PM on December 8.

This will give SC members an opportunity to get additional info on potential discussion topics. The Committee intends to hold these sessions periodically throughout the year. Attendees will be required to have their cameras on and state their name and address to participate.

Please email scchair@email.medfield.net with any questions.

Medfield Foundation Legacy Fund’s 2021 grantees’ report

Legacy Fund Grantees Report

Grantees of the Medfield Foundation Legacy Fund’s latest 2021 round of grants reported to the Medfield Foundation board and the Legacy Fund founders at a meeting this past Monday evening at the Public Safety Building.

  • Peak House Heritage Society showed a remarkably informative video produced by Medfield TV of the PHHS’s archeological dig that the PHHS’s grant funded in the basement of the Peak House. Rob Gregg reported that the most mysterious findings were three 1912 license plates, mysterious because the last residents in the Peak House left in 1910. The rest of the archeological findings are in the process of being analyzed and cataloged.
  • Friends of the Medfield High School Theatre Society reported on the new cyclorama purchased with its grant which was installed at the back of the stage in the MHS auditorium, allowing for better performances. “The replacement of the MHS auditorium cyclorama allows students to engineer complex lighting scenarios; offers those performing a more complex atmosphere in which to tell their stories; and enhances the visual quality of shows for Community members who attend performances.”
  • Medfield Outreach used its grant to commission a survey of town needs, data designed to focus Outreach’s strategic plan. Outreach Director Kathy MacDonald reported on the survey and its results. “In the winter of 2022, Medfield Outreach began work to complete a community needs survey and create a five-year strategic plan for the department. What you see on these tabs is the result of that almost six month long undertaking.”
  • Sustainable Medfield used its grant to further publicize and share its mission promoting sustainability with town residents – “1. Provide residents a one-stop resource of Medfield-specific ACTIONS to improve our environment and reduce our carbon footprint. and 2. Connect community groups to network and collaborate on sustainability.”

About the Medfield Foundation Legacy Fund
The Medfield Foundation Legacy Fund Is a professionally-managed endowment created to support community-driven projects. Volunteer-run and designed to complement the initiatives of Medfield organizations, the Medfield Foundation Legacy Fund raises funds from the community and makes grants to established non-profit organizations through a competitive process. For more information or to contribute to the Medfield Foundation Legacy Fund, please visit https://www.medfieldfoundation.org/legacy-fund.

New Life Is Turning Empty Spaces into Homes

Publishing on behalf of New Life Furniture Bank Executive Director, Rich Purnell –

New Life Is Turning Empty Spaces into Homes

Nearly a decade ago two friends met at a coffee shop and worked on a plan to start a locally based furniture bank. Not long after, that napkin sketch came to fruition and New Life Furniture Bank of MA was formed. Since that time the non-profit has brought hope and comfort to the lives of almost ten thousand people, including: veterans, single parents, survivors of domestic abuse, refugees, people who lost their footing due illness or job loss, and, of course, their children.

New Life is launching its annual campaign with an ambitious goal of raising $185,000 by December 31, and New Life Furniture Bank Executive Director, Rich Purnell is asking that the community support their mission. “Over the last 12 months there has been a massive increase in demand for New Life’s services and our expenses are increasing. For example, donations of gently-used mattresses have declined significantly this year due to the diminished housing market. As a result, we need to purchase more mattresses than ever. Furthermore, the wholesale price we pay for mattresses has doubled over our nine years of operation. Cash donations are essential so that we can provide mattresses for as many of our clients as possible.”

“Try to imagine the challenges, stressors, and fears one faces when coming out of a homeless shelter,” said Purnell as he stood in New Life’s Walpole showroom surrounded by tables, chairs, other gently used home furnishings. “When we meet our new clients, they have at long last found a space to live in, which is fantastic! It’s what they’ve dreamed of for months or even years. But an empty space is not a home. Do you know what makes a place a warm, welcoming home? [It’s] beds, furniture, towels, sheets, and necessary kitchen items. But, with little or no budget for shopping, how can a person do it?” New Life Furniture Bank helps them do it, and supporters financial donations will enable New Life to reach and serve more households and bring support and security all year round.

Over its nine years of operation, New Life has gained a reputation across eastern Massachusetts as a reliable resource partner that provides those in need with quality, gently used home furnishings and personalized support from caring volunteers. During that time the organization has provided household items to more than 4,400 households because of generous donations from residents and businesses in the surrounding communities.

Gifts may be made at newlifefb.org or by check payable to New Life Furniture Bank of MA, sent to P.O. Box 573, Medfield, MA 02052.