To join through a conference call, dial 929-436-2866 or 312-626-6799 or 253-215-8782 or 301-715-8592 or 346-248-7799 or 669-900-6833 a. Enter the Webinar ID: 885 3036 6678 b. Enter the password: 637025 The packet with meeting materials for this meeting is available at this link: https://town.medfield.net/DocumentCenter/View/7724/Select-Board-Meeting-Packet_03192024
Welcome! During the Holiday Stroll on December 1st, I was approached by a number of people who had moved to Medfield over the last few years and knew nothing about the history of the Dwight-Derby House or its significance. Given the demands of families, careers, and other social obligations, it’s no surprise that people who are new to the area (and even many who aren’t!) have overlooked the little yellow garrison colonial house on Baker’s Pond at 7 Frairy Street. It seems that The Friends of the Dwight-Derby House can and must do a better job of keeping everyone up to date, whether they are new in town or were in Medfield in 1996 when the property was acquired by the Town of Medfield. And there is so much to say. Since 1997, The Friends of the Dwight-Derby House has managed, maintained, operated and funded the house in order to keep it preserved and open both as a museum and an event rental. And thus, the birth of this newsletter, the Squibob Herald. President, Friends of the Dwight-Derby House
Squibob Musings
Who Is This Squibob?
Some of you have never heard of Squibob, which was a nom de plume of George Horatio Derby (1832-1861), the most famous resident of the Dwight-Derby House, and a man considered by many to be one of the original satirists in the United States. George’s writings were admired by both Abraham Lincoln and Samuel Clemens. It is therefore in honor of George and the San Diego Herald, who published his work, that we call this newsletter the Squibob Herald. A drawing of “Squibob,” who was one of George Horatio Derby’s most popular characters. (From SQUIBOB An Early California Humorist by George Horatio Derby.)
Inside the Dwight-Derby House
Touring the House We want to accommodate everyone who wants to tour the house and realize that two Saturday mornings a month are not always convenient. By prior arrangement and subject to docent availability we will offer free tours seven days a week during daylight hours. To request a tour, fill out a Contact Us form on our website. We will be open on April 27th and 28th from 10 am to 4 pm for guided tours during Medfield History Weekend. We look forward to seeing you then!
The East Parlor Project As March is National Women in History month, there couldn’t be a more appropriate time to unveil an exciting new exhibit in the works, the “East Parlor Project.” This new exhibit will recreate the women’s millinery shop that Mary Townsend Derby set up in the east parlor of the house in 1825. The redecorated east parlor will essentially be a tribute to Mary Townsend Derby who, as a young single mother of two children, launched a business at home to support her family and the small farm on the “road to Wheeler’s Bottom” as Frairy Street was called in those days. While there is scant historical information available as to exactly what wares were offered, there is ample evidence that bonnets were a mainstay. According to Electa Kane Tritsch in her book Medfield’s Dwight-Derby House, published in 2009, Mary and her friend Julia Butterfield established “an in-house commercial operation in Medfield that would provide income for her own family and respectable employment for other women short on funds.” And, as we know, this occurred in a period where women could neither own property nor vote. Volunteers Needed! We will also need volunteers to decorate and perhaps even make hats. The bottom line is that we would love to hear from you if you are interested in being part of this effort. You can contact me, Geoff Sauter, via email or just stop in when you see the “Open” flag displayed at the end of our driveway.
The Last Word If any of you have kept track, this is at least the third attempt by The Friends of the Dwight-Derby House to reach out to the community with a newsletter to keep you all in touch with our activities. The first two newsletters preceded the Internet, in 1999 and again in 2001.
Posted onMarch 15, 2024|Comments Off on Dwight-Derby House update – tours available
From Geoff Sauter, President Friends of the Dwight-Derby House, Inc. –
Hi Pete,
I was pleased to make your acquaintance last night and especially pleased with your offer to add updates regarding the Dwight-Derby House to your blog.
I am in the process of putting together a quarterly newsletter to keep your electorate abreast of the goings on at 7 Frairy St. and will let you know when it’s finally available for distribution. Your support will help me develop an email list so that we get it out to as many interested residents as possible.
More importantly, you can report on your next blog that I am making the Dwight-Derby House open by appointment for guided tours 7 days a week. We have found that being open two Saturdays a month from 10:00 to 12:00 was not adequate and did not meet with everyone’s schedules. I can be reached directly at Coptersauter@gmail.com or through the Contact Us tab on our website, which is dwightderbyhouse.org. The tours typically take about an hour.
Attached are some current pictures to spice up your blog.
Best,
Geoff Sauter, President
Friends of the Dwight-Derby House
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Posted onMarch 7, 2024|Comments Off on Office Hours tomorrow – 9-10AM at The Center
Select Board Office Hours this Friday
My first Friday office hours are being held tomorrow at The Center, having been put over for a week out of an abundance of caution due to my exposure at a meeting last week to someone who later tested positive for COVID. I fortunately tested negative.
I usually 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. Residents can also have coffee and see the Council on Aging in action (a vibrant organization with lots going on). I can be reached via 508-359-9190 or this blog about Medfield matters https://medfield02052.wordpress.com, where any schedule changes will be posted.
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Posted onMarch 7, 2024|Comments Off on MEA Webinar on Environmentally Friendly Lawns & Yards – 3/13
From Helen Dewey –
Medfield Environment Action to Host a Webinar on Environmentally Friendly Lawns and Yards
Homeowners and landscapers are invited to attend a webinar on Wed. Mar 13 at 7:30 pm on Low Impact, Sustainable Yard Care. Included will be presentations on pesticide and chemical free native gardens, use of earth- friendly lawn equipment and information on equipment that is harmful to humans and the earth. In addition, representatives from the Charles River Watershed Association will speak about how to prevent contaminating water and how to conserve fresh water. Other presenters include Monique Allen, The Garden Continuum in Medfield, George Carrette, Ecoquiet Lawn Care in Concord and Tricia Glass from Quiet Communities. Jeff Hyman, Medfield homeowner, will walk us through how he has transformed his yard into a clean, sustainable and welcoming yard and he will explain how Medfielders can do it in their own yards.
Why is a sustainable yard which has a low impact on the environment so important? Gardening and lawn care techniques have evolved from natural landscapes to green, lush, manicured lawns and trimmed flower beds. The problem is that the fertilizers and pesticides used to create those lawns and gardens degrade the soil, contaminate groundwater, harm microbial life and have safety concerns. In addition, it takes a lot of time, money and lots of fresh water to maintain them. Some of the high-powered equipment used for yard care has very high carbon emissions and the loud, high velocity wind created raises fine particulate matter which is a respiratory and auditory health threat. It is time to return to the garden that flourishes with native plants that are accustomed to growing in Zone 6 yards and need less water and less maintenance. The result is a beautiful, colorful garden that attracts a lot of beneficial insects and small animals without any negative impact on the environment.
The webinar is presented by Medfield Environment Action in support of Sustainable Medfield’s Action of the Quarter, Low Impact, Sustainable Yard Care. Preregister at tinyurl.com/YardCareMar13. Any questions, email meamedfield@gmail.com. More tips can be found on the Action Portal at sustainablemedfield.org.
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Posted onMarch 5, 2024|Comments Off on Sgt. Francis Thisse promoted at Select Board meeting last night
Photographs and scouts both thanks to Troop 89 troop leader Kristin Simonini.
The Promotion of Francis Thisse to Sergeant was celebrated by the Medfield Police and Troop 89 Boy Scouts at the Select Board Meeting
The Medfield Police Department turned out in large numbers at the Select Board Monday evening meeting last night to celebrate the promotion of Francis Thisse (in center in top photograph and at right in bottom photograph) to Sergeant by Deputy Chief Barry McGrath (2nd from right in top and at left in bottom photographs next to Chief Guerette).
The 6th and 7th grade Boy Scouts from Troop 89 attended the Select Board meeting last night to earn a merit badge, but also shared many thoughtful questions and comments.
There were lots of uniforms in the room: police, scouts, and the Select Board members in their suits uniforms.
The Select Board meet on Monday to avoid the state primary election today.
Retiring Sgt. Wayne Sallale (3rd from right in bottom photograph) was warmly thanked for his years of service to the Town of Medfield and also appointed as a Special Police Officer.
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Posted onMarch 2, 2024|Comments Off on MMA’s The Beacon
From the Massachusetts Municipal Association –
Hello Members!
Here’s the March 2024 issue of The Beacon, packed with the latest news affecting local government and details about recent and upcoming meetings and webinars.
By publishing The Beacon as a PDF, we can ensure that we get you the very latest information that you need ASAP. (If you did not receive this email directly, please share your email address with us, along with your name, title and city/town, by emailing database@mma.org.)
Best regards, John Ouellette Deputy Communications Director Jennifer Kavanaugh Associate Editor Meredith Gabrilska Digital Communications Specialist
To join through a conference call, dial 929-436-2866 or 312-626-6799 or 253-215-8782 or 301-715-8592 or 346-248-7799 or 669-900-6833 a. Enter the Webinar ID: 885 3036 6678 b. Enter the password: 637025 The packet with meeting materials for this meeting is available at this link: https://town.medfield.net/DocumentCenter/View/7692/Select-Board-Meeting-Packet_03042024
Posted onFebruary 29, 2024|Comments Off on Office hours postponed a week
OFFICE HOURS POSTPONED TO NEXT FRIDAY, MARCH 8
I learned today that I was exposed to COVID at a meeting on Monday evening. Fortunately, I have no symptoms, but out of an abundance of caution and consideration for others, I am postponing my office hours this month at The Center that were to take place tomorrow, for a week.
My March office hours will take place on March 8 at The Center.
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.
774-478-5262 
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