Around Natick

I see there are quite a few people who put out yard waste the past few weeks. Read more »

The building which houses Debsan’s, formerly R & L Furniture, is named Red Man’s Hall. I wonder if anyone will tell the owner to rename the building.

A reporter from the Tab must have noticed how ugly Fiske Pond and it’s shores are, because in writing about it in last weeks paper, they made a point of mentioning that the pond is owned by the state. Guess they wanted to make sure our Conservation Commission wasn’t to blame for the sorry lack of landscaping there. Read more »

Some people in Natick think their nickname issue is unique. It’s not. Sorry folks, but many towns have had their traditions assaulted by newcomers. Here’s a letter from Framingham which tells the story from their point of view. (I’ll just reprint as-is) Read more »

Let’s highlight and go over this topic again. Folks shouldn’t forget that one day they’ll have a choice.

I like the idea of open space through an urban area, for exercise, and just plain fun. In addition, it would look nice. The rail trail idea has it’s charm. And maybe it could serve a more important function, as a way to relieve the traffic problems on our roads. So I thought I’d do a little investigation, and think about the details of what Natick will be making a choice on in the near future. First, the climate. How does commuter bicycling work in an area with a winter? This is what I learned.

Read more »

The Natick Pharmacy was located at the intersection of Speen Street and Route 9, in a group of stores which also included the Coach House Candy, Kinney Shoes (now called Pet World) and a Bickford’s Pancake House. (now the site of Pizza Hut).

A trip to the pharmacy always included a visit to the toy department downstairs, where the owner, Mr Finklestein used to keep close watch on whatever the neighborhood kids were up to. Occasionally, someone would tease him and he’d start yelling, chasing the perpetrators up the stairs and out the doors.

On the main floor of the Pharmacy, was a soda fountain, where we would buy creme soda with vanilla shakes. On a Sunday, the routine was usually to park in the back of the Pharmacy to buy the Sunday newspaper, then walk across Speen St. to Dunkin Donuts for a dozen honey dipped. This black and white photo may be the only one in existence, of this great place.

I wonder if anyone has bought a condo on South Street. The ones next to Casey’s Diner look pretty impressive, until you think about their view . When you move in, you’ll look out your front window, and see a parking lot, and the back of the Fire Station and Police Headquarters. Would you spend nearly half a million dollars on a place that has a view like that? You and I wouldn’t, and nobody with any common sense would either. But when sales lag, people will blame the economy.

It’s called the HOOP district, where downtown business owners hope people will invest, so that their own business will become very valuable.  Now can anyone tell us the names of those who have the biggest stake in downtown success?  Couldn’t be a Natick Selectman and his business partner who was given a large sum of tax money to help this venture, in the form of a group called the Natick 360, could it?

I read that the DPW discounted the idea of buying a side loading rubbish truck, which would have saved on payroll, because Natick has such narrow streets. Read more »