Residents,
Your weekly COVID-19 update is online and ready for you to view. Please click here to read the update in full with the Massachusetts Department of Health information.
Stay Informed About Westwood Government
The Town has a new website that provides news, meeting and event information in addition to information on every town department, board, and committee. You can sign up to customize your experience on the website using the following link. If you were signed up previously you will need to sign up to receive notifications now that we have switched to a new website.
https://www.townhall.westwood.ma.us/our-town/stay-connected/sign-up-for-notifications
The Memorial Day ceremony will be aired on Monday, May 25th at 11am on Westwood Media Center, Comcast (channels 8 & 12) and Verizon (channels 32 & 42), and on viewed on Westwood Media Center's YouTube. The ceremony will then be updated to include a special recognition of our Gold Star Mother & Grand Marshall and re-aired on May 25th at 7pm, on the same channels.
Election Update:
Please click here for the latest information on the June 2, 2020 Annual Town Election.
For information from the Internal Revenue Service on COVID-19 Economic Impact Payments, also referred to as stimulus payments please click here.
Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee Update
Westwood’s Comprehensive Plan Update is nearing final form. A Comprehensive Plan is a long range policy document that focuses on Westwood’s vision and strategies to achieve that vision. The Steering Committee has been working over the last year and half to update the 2000 Plan for 2020. The Committee is in the process of incorporating all comments received and working on final editing to return to the Planning Board in summer 2020 to present a final updated Comprehensive Plan.
For more information and drafts please visit the Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee’s webpage at www.bit.do/WWComprehensiveplan. The first draft is available for viewing and the updated final drafts will be posted once ready which is anticipated to be June 2020.
The best way to stay informed about meetings and when a public hearing on a fully updated Comprehensive Plan will be presented to the Planning Board is by signing up to receive email notifications for public meetings. Please subscribe at https://www.townhall.westwood.ma.us/our-town/stay-connected/website-e-notification
Please contact Abby McCabe, Town Planner 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.
Get Connected to a Therapist Over the Phone with the INTERFACE Referral Service
The William James College INTERFACE Referral Service is free for Westwood residents of any age at any time, but during this COVID-19 public health crisis they are able to connect residents with therapists who can conduct sessions over phone or video to address anxiety, depression, grief and loss or any other mental health concerns.
When you call the INTERFACE Referral Service, a representative will ask you about your specific needs and insurance. After the initial phone call you will receive a follow-up call from INTERFACE with contact information for a mental health professional who meets all your needs and is available to begin meeting with via phone or video while social distancing is in place.
It is also important to note that at this time the Commonwealth has mandated insurance companies to waive copays for mental health phone and video sessions that are related to COVID-19.
To use the INTERFACE Referral Service, simply call 1-888-244-6843 between 9:00AM-5:00PM, Monday through Friday, or go online to http://interface.williamjames.edu/.
Save the Date:
Next Yard Waste Collection week is June 8-12
There will be a one day delay in trash pick up next week due to Memorial Day (5/25)
If you have any questions, please call the Department of Public Works at 781-251-2587.
The Westwood Senior Center will be closed the month of June; this is not surprising but we wanted to make sure you all knew. As this health crisis continues, we are making decisions month to month.
All special programs, trips and events have been cancelled through the summer. Our goal is to reschedule everything at the appropriate time; but honestly we believe this won’t happen for months.
The good news is that a number of our classes (yoga, exercise, line dancing, music) are now running on cable and we are now exploring more zoom classes (presently we zoom cooking classes and current conversations). We are also hopeful to add more zoom and cable classes in the next few months.
They can be found on Local Cable: Comcast 8 & 12, Verizon, 32 & 42
So if you are home bound, here are a few free cable programs you might enjoy:
Monday
9:00-9:45 - Cardio Strength & Stretch
10:00-10:45 - Line Dancing
11:00-12:00 - Music Matters
Tuesday
8:00-9:00 - Floor Yoga
9:30-10:30 - Chair Yoga
11:00-12:00 - Music Matters
Wednesday
9:00-9:45 - Sit and Get Fit
10:00-10:45 - Line Dancing
11:00-12:00 - Music Matters
Thursday
8:00-9:00 Floor Yoga
9:30-10:30 - Chair Yoga
11:00-12:00 - Music Matters
Friday
9:00-9:45 - Cardio Strength and balance
10:00-10:45 - Line Dancing
11:00-12:00 - Music Matters
They can be found on Local Cable: Comcast 8 & 12, Verizon, 32 & 42
Meals on wheels continue to grow; any Westwood resident 65 or older needing a daily meal please calls HESSCO at 781-784-4944. We are also available to grocery shop for home bound at risk elders, just give us a call at the Center.
We will begin (slowly) adding grocery shopping with our van, but will do this on a very limited basis (only two seniors on the van at a time). A COA summer newsletter will be going out in mid-June with all the details. Please be patient and do not call us for a ride until you read the summer newsletter. Our goal is to keep everyone safe (seniors and staff) during this pandemic. No medical van trips yet…we need to first see how the grocery shopping goes before we start medical appointment rides.
The COA staff, COA Board, volunteers and the town administration (as well as Westwood Media) have been amazing at keeping everything moving forward, and we are deeply grateful for everyone’s help.
Please know we are still here (in the office Monday through Friday 8-2 pm) if you need us; the Center staff is working remotely as well as rotating coming into the office.
We hope you are all staying safe (and sane)…we miss everyone but together we will get through this health crisis.
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
If you are able, please consider donating to the Westwood Community Chest. Many of our neighbors are in need right now and we want to be in a strong position to keep saying yes, over and over again as the applications for assistance continue to come in.
You can donate with PayPal through our website: https://westwoodcommunitychest.org/donate/
Or, You can also mail your donation to: Westwood Community Chest, P.O. Box 250, Westwood, MA 02090
It is only through the generous support of individuals and town-based organizations that we are able to fulfill our mission!
Also, if you or someone you know is in need of help, please visit our website (https://westwoodcommunitychest.org/) and complete an application. You can submit an application to westwoodcommunitychest@gmail.com or by fax to 781-207-7707. Please call us at 781-366-0470 with any questions.
After continuing to hear the challenges and frustrations from friends and neighbors of how hard it is to schedule a food delivery and avoid going to the store, Katsiroubas Brothers took action. We have coordinated a program for Westwood residents to get free delivery to their doorstep via our refrigerated trucks. In addition to our core meat items, we have secured partnerships to offer premium fresh fish and gourmet desserts and most recently fresh produce that can now be added to your weekly D’Artagnan Home Delivery order.
Katsiroubas Brothers Produce will be providing a CSA-style box of mixed fruits, vegetables and leafy greens with 15 servings – enough to feed a family of 2-3 for a week. While you cannot select the items, there is a healthy variety that will change weekly to bring you the freshest produce available for an extremely reasonable price. This reflects the latest addition to our portfolio of partners that last week added fish, vegetables, grains and selected dessert offerings.
The link below provides all Westwood residents with a code that allows them to get free delivery to their house. Enjoy!
http://homedelivery.dartagnan.com/westwood
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