Oldtown Photo Calendar competition winners posted
Late last month, the annual Oldtown Photo Calendar competition went virtual. According to organizer Tod Dimmick, the competition drew about 100 entries from 52 photographers, and 400 people cast ballots.
“[It’s] an exciting number far above our in-person events,” he said.
Winning entries will be featured in the 2022 calendar.
Who might they be, you ask? Well, here they are…
Alison Borrelli, “Pink Spring”
Dennis Brown, “That’s Swan Proud Mum”
Karen Flowers Cagan, “Powisset Farm in Winter”
Tom Doran, “Cold But Beautiful”
Suzi Fresco Johnson, “Snowflake in Macro”
Tyler Keefe, “Winter Glow”
Molly Leitao, “Spring on the Common”
Eileen Nelson, “Hummingbird” (awarded best in show)
Denise Passaretti, “Natick Train Station Mural”
Rich Philben, “Sunset on Fiske Pond”
Christopher Resmini, “Solitude at the Falls”
Dan Smith, “Monarch Feeding Time”
Mark Valentine, “Country Road”
Deborah Valle, “Charles River Bridge in Fall”
You can see the entries via http://www.oldtowncalendar.org/, and that’s also where you can order the 2021 calendars. The calendars are also available at the Morse Institute Library, Natick Service Council, Natick Historical Society, Bacon Free Library, the Charles River Coffee House and Wellesley Books.
Notes:
… Cochituate Rail Trail news – You can now own your own piece of the CRT. The Friends of Natick Trails are offering 8-inch square laser-etched red bricks that will be placed at the entrance to the new Whitney Field at Navy Yard, and at the entrance to the trail near the State Park at the end of Chrysler Road. The price per brick is $225, with net proceeds going to the town to maintain and benefit the CRT. Bricks will be installed when they have batches of 25 or more. They have about 400 to sell in total. See https://www.friendsofnaticktrails.org/bricks for all the details.
The Friends are also offering other sponsorships, such as plaques on the benches to be installed along the trail. The website has more information.
It looks tempting, but the trail will not be open to the public until spring of 2021 (tentative).
… The weekly Pasta Night at the Sons and Daughters of Italy on Washington Avenue is taking a break. The dinners (Wednesdays from 5-7 p.m.) will be offered via takeout and curbside service; orders and payment may be placed by phone (508-653-5619); there will also be a “Grab and Go” option. $10 covers the entrée, salad, bread and dessert. For information, visit http://www.naticksonsofitaly.com/.
… Miss visiting the Bacon Free Library and Natick Historical Society? Book a 30-minute reservation via https://www.eventbrite.com/e/book-your-visit-to-the-bacon-free-library-andor-natick-history-museum-tickets-115150753002
… Casey’s Diner on South Avenue has reopened for breakfast Thursdays through Mondays from 8-10:45 a.m. for breakfast takeout or outside dining. Check the updated menu at http://www.caseysdiner.com/.
… Now that the Morse Institute Library has opened to the public again (albeit with limited hours and access), visitors can now check out the Book Nook.
The Nook, operated by the Friends of the Morse Institute Library, has been expanded, and now offers DVDs and puzzles in addition to its collection of fiction, nonfiction, children’s, tween and high school books.
The Nook is open during library hours (currently weekdays from 9-10 a.m. for seniors and at-risk, then 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturdays). Payment will go into a cash box, and not at the circulation desk.
The Friends will also accept donations of good quality books, DVDs and puzzles during library hours. All donations will be quarantined 72 hours before they are sorted and boxed for the safety of Friends volunteers. Please limit donations to two boxes or four grocery bags per day.
… Leather boots need repair? Leather purse need a new strap? Need a new key? Cobbler Shop West on Pond Street is open; call 508-653-1064.
… Optica at 23 Main St. is open by appointment for eyeglass sales and repairs, as well as eye exams. Call 508-655-2594 for an appointment.
… Join the Natick Lodge of Elks and be part of a spirited, friendly and charitable organization. They support veterans, local charities, drug awareness programs and many more community related charities and activities. For more information on the lodge, including programs and events, contact Club Manager Paul Sanford at 508-653-9792, ext. 215, or [email protected], or visit natickelks.org
… The Natick Catholic Community invites you to Pause for Prayer, a 10-minute prayer service via Zoom on Tuesdays at 7 a.m. Whether you need a moment of peace or are looking to build your prayer practice, come pray with us. Our prayer time will be short and sweet but impactful. You’ll submit your special intentions via the Chat function, hear a Scripture reading, a reflection based on the reading, and enjoy a minute of silence. You can join with your camera on or just listen in! Log in using this same Zoom link every week.
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89883406326?pwd=YkdLU0t4dTVhdVBqRXIzdjU5YWFXdz09
Meeting ID: 898 8340 6326
Passcode: 251205
The link can also be found on the NCC website at https://www.natickcatholic.org/140
For the weekend:
… The Farmers Market is open Saturday from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. across the street from the Common; some vendors will be outside the Spiritual Center, some inside. Social distancing guidelines will be observed, and everyone is required to wear a face mask. Pre-orders and “grab-and-go” options are available and encouraged. For information, visit www.natickfarmersmarket.org, or https://www.facebook.com/natickfarmersmarket/
… The Natick Center Cultural District is scheduling several events although Holiday Lighting on the Common is likely on the shelf this season.
Support local businesses while doing your holiday shopping during “Small Business Saturday” on Nov. 28 from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Some shops will offer outdoor shopping, and most will offer special holiday deals.
The annual Holiday Window Contest will take place from Dec. 1-15; the winner business will get a 2021 membership, a trophy and bragging rights.
On Dec. 12, the district will offer a December Holiday Market from noon-7 p.m.
For updates, visit https://www.natickcenter.org/
And don’t forget – free parking in the town lots on weekends.
And just beyond:
…Come to “Coffee with a Purpose” on Mondays from 9-11 a.m. at the Common Street Spiritual Center. Have coffee, get social and discuss local issues. For details, email Pat Conaway at [email protected]. For the time being, meetings are being conducted via Zoom.
… The Natick Service Council and A Place to Turn have already started their holiday drives to help the less fortunate.
Usually, there would be volunteers to help gather and deliver the holiday presents. Because of the pandemic, the Service Council felt there was no safe way for these volunteers to gather.
So … the Service Council is requesting financial donations in order to provide gift cards for families so they may purchase their own meals and gifts this year.
Here is what the Service Council is requesting:
Holiday Gifts:
· $50 will purchase gifts for a senior (65+)
· $100 will purchase gifts for one teen (13 to 19)
· $200 will purchase gifts for one child (under the age of 13)
For information, visit https://natickservicecouncil.org/ or call 508-655-1791.
Meanwhile, over at A Place to Turn on Hartford Street, Director Joanne Barry said that the best way to help during the holidays would be to call 508-655-8868 and ask what is needed, and then shop for those items and deliver the items to the agency.
Financial contributions may also be made via https://www.aplacetoturn-natick.org/.
… Family Promise Metrowest is planning a virtual “Keeping the Promise – a Virtual Holiday Concert” on Dec. 5 at 7 p.m. For details, visit https://www.familypromisemetrowest.org/.
… The Natick Historical Society and Museum is now open (by appointment) and is offering several virtual programs. On Dec. 6, the museum will host a virtual “Victorian Gossip Girl Holiday Tea;” on Dec. 10, join the Virtual History Book Club in a discussion of “The Last Days of Night” by Graham Moore.
For information on any of these programs, visit https://www.natickhistoricalsociety.org/
… The Recreation and Parks Department will host a Family Field Day on Dec. 12 from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Cole turf field. Cornhole, Frisbee golf, spikeball and other sports equipment will be available. Face masks and social distancing will be required; to register, visit https://register.communitypass.net/natick
Have something for the column? Email me at [email protected], or call 781-433-8226.
