 Have you ever wondered what the Town Pound is or why it's in our Town Seal? Westwood was featured in an article explaining the significance of these parts of history throughout New England. Check it out here!
Gorgeous shot of the Town Hall. pc: Doug Hyde
The Select Board office is proud to announce our Holiday Tree Lighting will return for its 32nd year! Join the Town of Westwood on December 8th from 3-5pm as we gather to light up Westwood Town Hall for our annual Holiday Tree Lighting. Attendees will enjoy horse drawn carriage rides, face painting, costume characters, festive snacks & more! We even hear someone from the North Pole will be making a guest appearance....
Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee Update
The Update is in full swing! Westwood’s Comprehensive Plan is a long range land use policy document that focuses on Westwood’s vision for the next decade and strategies to achieve that vision. The Steering Committee will begin presenting initial recommendations and draft goals at a series of Planning Board meetings beginning on Tuesday, October 22 at 7:00 pm at Carby Municipal Office at 50 Carby Street. The presentation series and discussions will continue on Tuesday evenings on November 5, November 19, and December 10. The initial goals will be presented according to topic areas throughout the fall. The Committee will continue to work on the plan over the fall into the winter and return to the Planning Board in a January. All meetings will be televised and everyone is invited to attend. A complete schedule and drafts will be prepared soon and may be found on the Steering Committee’s webpage at www.bit.do/WWComprehensiveplan
Submitted by Abby McCabe, Town Planner Contact at amccabe@townhall.westwood.ma.us or 781-251-2581 with questions.
Westwood Youth & Family Services provides free community based programs and confidential counseling for the children and families of Westwood. Currently, we have openings for this school year!
- Girls Group starting September 24th
- Friends Network Programs, registration deadline 9/27
- Structured Playgroups, ongoing registration.
Flu Season Information for Westwood Residents
As we prepare for the 2019-2020 flu season, we would like to provide you with an update on information we have received from our flu vaccine provider, Sanofi Pasteur.
This year, due to late-emerging virus strains that circulate globally, the World Health Organization and the U.S. Food & Drug Administration decided to delay selection of the flu formulation by one month.
This was done in order to collect additional data to help improve the match of the vaccine strains anticipated for this flu season.
As a result, there will be a delay of our flu vaccine shipments by 3-4 weeks. We have been informed that vaccine will be coming in multiple shipments over several weeks with no definitive number of doses we will receive in each shipment.
Due to this delay, we will not be holding a one day flu clinic in October. Instead, we will be having several smaller clinics during the weekday and evening hours. These clinics will be planned for October into November. Once we have received enough vaccine to hold the clinics we will let you know the dates and times and how to make an appointment for yourself and your family to come in for your flu shot.
Thank you for your co-operation and please check the Health Department website for updates as we work through the changes to our immunization efforts for Westwood residents this year.
Stay Healthy by learning more at the Westwood Council on Aging!
A DATE WITH YOUR HEART
Understanding Heart Healthy Living with Dr. Nandi. Join us as Cardiologist Dr. Priya Nandi explains how the heart works and ways to avoid heart disease.
- Monday Sept 23 at 1pm
- $2 donation—Please sign up in advance
HYPERTENSION— THE SILENT DISEASE
Sponsored by BIG Y- Pharmacist Eddie will discuss hypertension and ways to avoid it. A Light Lunch will be served.
- October 21 at noontime
- $3 donation
- Please sign up in advance
KNOWING THE TEN SIGNS OF ALZHEIMERS
Sponsored by Bridges by Epoch and the Alzheimer's Association. Come learn the signs and symptoms of memory loss and ways to cope with this disease. A light lunch will be provided.
- Monday October 28
- Noontime—$3 donation
- Please sign up in advance
For more information about the above programs, including their associated cost, please contact the Westwood COA: 781-329-8799
Special Notice – Library Early Closing Wednesday, October 16th at 1 o’clock
At the request of the Town, and to ensure the safety of all, the Westwood Public Library will be closing at 1 pm on Wednesday, October 16th, in order to prepare for an evening event.
Update on the Islington Center Redevelopment Project
Construction of the new CVS building began in March and was completed in late August. A Certificate of Occupancy for this building was issued on September 5th and the store opened for business on September 8th. Final landscaping work will be completed in accordance with recommendations for fall season planting.
Architectural design work and bid preparation is underway for the relocation and expansion of Wentworth Hall – currently home to the Islington Branch Library. The relocated and expanded building will accommodate the Islington Branch Library, the town’s Youth & Family Services Office, and a multi-functional community space suitable for recreational programs, public meetings and community/private functions. Excavation and site work will begin in late September and continue through October. This will be followed by the construction of a new foundation and the relocation of the historic Wentworth Hall building before the end of the year. Extensive renovation of the building and construction of the new addition is expected to proceed throughout 2020.
On Thursday, October 17th, the Islington Branch Library will close to the public at its current location in preparation for a move to temporary quarters in the sanctuary space at the Islington Community Center at 288 Washington Street. This transitional space – what library staff are calling a “pop-up” library – will provide a continuation of library services and programs in Islington Center during the 2019-2020 construction period.
A schedule of hours and activities at the temporary location will be posted on the Library’s webpage. There may be a short transitional period to set up the new “pop-up” space. During that time, all patron requests for materials (holds requests) will be available at the Main Library. Once the “pop-up” library is operational, patrons will be able to pick up holds at either location.
This will be an exciting year as Wentworth Hall is transformed once again, as it has so many times throughout its long and historic tenure, as a revitalized and re-imagined community space!
If you have any questions about the "pop-up" library, please contact Branch Librarian Claire Connors by email at cconnors@minlib.net or by phone at 781-326-5914.
The following sections are submissions provided by organizations within the community. If you have questions or would like to learn how to submit to the Westwood Wire, please email westwoodwire@townhall.westwood.ma.us
The Foundation for Westwood Education Needs Volunteers!
For 29 years, the Foundation for Westwood Education has hosted Westwood’s Annual Spelling Bee and funded hundreds of programs enabling Westwood students to meet and learn from inspiring professional authors, artists and musicians. The District and its teachers have relied upon our grants to launch innovative programs like J-Term and other programs in the critical areas of science, engineering, and literacy. We regularly sponsor the purchase of cutting-edge learning materials, as well as musical performances, mindfulness and wellness workshops, and parenting seminars.
Not only do we rely on financial support from the community, we rely upon our volunteer Board of Directors to continue providing these educational and cultural enrichment programs for Westwood Residents.
If you are interested in joining our mission as a member of our Board of Directors, please contact Courtney Krupinsky at courtneyk@foundationforwestwoodeducation.org.
To learn more about our organization or to contribute financially to our mission, please visit our website at www.foundationforwestwoodeducation.org.
Westwood Public Schools does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, age, religion, disability, national origin or sexual orientation.
WESTWOOD WEEKEND STROLL (December 6-8, 2019)
While most people are enjoying the final days of summer, planning is already happening for the 1st Annual Westwood Weekend Stroll! This festive weekend will take place from Friday, December 6th through to the tree lighting ceremony at Town Hall on Sunday, December 8th.
The idea behind this weekend is to urge the Westwood Community to support family friendly community events, shop locally, and enjoy holiday entertainment.
Mark your calendars now with the events listed below. Also look for area businesses to offer special products, events, and services during this festive weekend.
A few events already scheduled to take place during the Westwood Weekend Stroll include:
- Westwood Artists’ Marketplace at the Fisher School
- Fri., Dec. 6 from 3:30 – 7pm and Sat., Dec. 7 from 10am-3pm
- Church fairs at First Baptist and First Parish
- Sat., Dec. 7 from 9am-2pm
- Holiday Concert at First Parish Church
- Winterfest - Westwood Young Women’s Club at Westwood High School
- Sat., Dec. 7 from 10am-1pm
- Historical Society Sing Along at the Fisher School
- Town Tree Lighting at Town Hall
- Library Event – TBD
Please contact the planning team at westwoodweekendstroll@gmail.com with questions.
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