Westwood has moved away from CODE Red and is now using ALERT Westwood for all emergency notifications. Once enrolled, residents have the option to receive phone calls, text messages, emails, or a combination of those three options. It is our hope that with a more advanced software, we will be able to communicate with residents quicker than before.
To enroll in ALERT Westwood, please click here.
Public Health Nurse
The Health Department is pleased to announce that Margaret M. Sullivan, R.N., M.S.N. has been hired as the new Public Health Nurse.
She can be reached at msullivan@townhall.westwood.ma.us or 781-251-2576.
MRC Volunteers Welcome
The Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) is a community-based network of volunteers that assists public health efforts in times of special need or disaster. The Norfolk County-8 Medical Reserve Corps was established by the local Boards of Health/Health Departments in Canton, Dedham, Milton, Needham, Norwood, Wellesley, Walpole, and Westwood, in order strengthen local public health, improve emergency response capabilities, and build resiliency. Residents with medical expertise as well as those with other important skills are needed to assist the Westwood Health Department and the community in the event of a public health emergency. In addition, volunteers can also help with other local public health events, such as the potential need for a COVID-19 vaccination program at some point in 2021.
Please contact the Health Department if you would like to join the MRC or get more information, 781-320-1027.
Button Battery Collection Program is ending
2020 was the last year for button battery collection by the Health Department. Battery manufacturers are now making button-cell batteries with a mercury free formula and they can be thrown away.
Sharps Collection Program
The Westwood Board of Health Sharps Collection Kiosk is located at the entrance to the Municipal Building, 50 Carby St., residents can bring their sharps in the appropriate container for disposal in the kiosk. The Health Department provides the red one-liter sharps containers free of charge to residents, please do not put loose needles or any other size container in the kiosk. Containers are also available at Town Hall and the Senior Center.
Medication Collection Program
The Westwood Board of Health and the Westwood Police Department have joined forces to collect expired prescription and over the counter medications for proper disposal. The Medication Collection Box is located in the lobby of the Police Station and is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for residents.
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Westwood’s new Comprehensive Plan was adopted by the Planning Board on December 15, 2020. The Plan is a long range policy document setting a vision for Westwood and steps to reach that vision. For the last two years a resident committee hosted events, met with various residents, and prepared drafts to update the Plan last adopted in 2000. The Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee, the Planning Board, and everyone that participated in the various events and draft reviews provided invaluable input throughout the planning process. On December 15, 2020, the Planning Board adopted a final Comprehensive Plan that will serve as an important tool to guide Westwood’s vision and goals over the next decade.
The Town thanks all residents that participated in this process, particularly the Committee members that dedicated a significant amount of time to this important effort. The Committee was led by Jack Wiggin and Steve Olanoff. This Plan could not have been possible without the dedication of the committee members: Charlie Donahue, Nancy Donahue, Paula Jacobson, Pam Kane, Peter Kane, Trevor Laubenstein, Sheila Hanley Longval, Janica Midiri, Peter Neville, John Rogers, Barbara Shea, Tom Viti, Linda Walsh, and Katye Wynne. The Planning Board members served as liaisons during the process and brought a final plan to fruition. The Town is grateful for current Planning Board members David Atkins, Christopher Pfaff, Deborah Conant, Rob Gotti, and Bill Delay as well as former members Brian Gorman and Michael McCusker.
The final version of the adopted 2020 Comprehensive Plan is available on the Committee’s webpage at www.bit.do/WWComprehensiveplan.
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After temporarily closing its doors for shopping days due to the COVID-19 pandemic and instead distributing grocery store gift cards to clients, the Westwood Food Pantry was able to re-open beginning in August for once-a-month distribution of prepackaged groceries to clients.
How can you help?
- The Food Pantry is accepting food donations at the Westwood Council on Aging, Monday through Friday, from 9:00 am - 12:00 pm. You can view our list of current needs on our website at westwoodfoodpantry.org.
- The Food Pantry also has donation bins located outside the Westwood Public Library and near the cash registers at Roche Bros. in Westwood.
- We are also grateful for the support of a number of food drives currently running in town, including at Westwood High School, Hanlon and Deerfield Elementary and St. Denis in Islington.
- During the month of December, the Food Pantry will be the recipient of Stop & Shop’s Community Bag Program. For every purchase of a $2.50 reusable Community Bag at the Stop & Shop located at 565 Main Street, Walpole, the Westwood Food Pantry will receive $1.00.
- Finally, if you are interested in making a monetary donation please visit our website at westwoodfoodpantry.org. We appreciate your support.
If you need help:
The Westwood Food Pantry is available to all Westwood residents that are experiencing temporary or long-term food insecurity. To request assistance from the Food Pantry, please email us at westwoodfoodpantry@gmail.com or call us at 781-269-2008. An application form can be found on our website: www.westwoodfoodpantry.org.
*** We are thankful to the hundreds of Westwood residents who have donated to the Food Pantry, particularly in the months since March 2020. We have seen a tremendous increase in both monetary donations and food supplies and we are humbled by and grateful for the generosity and kindness of our community. ***
Dog licensing for 2021 will be conducted from January 1, 2021 through March 31, 2021
- You may license your dog online, or by mail, provided you include a copy of a current rabies certificate.
- If you are licensing your dog for the first time, proof of spay or neutering is also required.
- Licenses will be valid from January 1, 2021 until December 31, 2021.
- You must license your dog on an annual basis.
- If you own more than 4 dogs this is considered a “Personal Kennel” per MGL c. 140 §136A.
- You must go through a special permit application process through the Zoning Board of Appeals to license a kennel.
- Failure to license your dog on or before March 31, 2021 may result in a fine of $25.00, per town bylaws §184-10, B. (1).
- Please be sure to include the correct licensing fee. If you are unsure, Please contact the Town Clerk’s office at 781 326-3964 or townclerk@townhall.westwood.ma.us.
Licensing Fees are as follows:
- Postage fee: $1.00
- Dogs not Neutered or Spayed: $15.00
- Dogs Neutered or Spayed : $10.00
- Residents ages 70 or older, the fee is waived for one dog per household(proof of age is required)
- Kennel Fees-please contact the Town Clerk’s office(special permit is required)
The 2021 Annual Town Census will be mailed to each household in early January
- It is extremely important that each household fills out the census form and returns it within 10 days of its receipt.
- The completed, signed form can also be scanned and emailed to census @townhall.westwood.ma.us.
- Failure to return the Annual Town Census may cause a voter to be designated as inactive on the voting list (M.G.L, Ch.51, § 4).
- You may not register to vote or change your political party on the census form. To register to vote or make changes to your voter registration please click here.
Annual Town Election Information
- The Annual Town Election will be held on Tuesday, April 27, 2021
- Nomination papers will be available beginning on Tuesday, January 12, 2021 through Friday, March 5, 2021 for any registered Westwood voter who would like to be a candidate for a town elected position.
- You may contact the Town Clerk at 781-326-3964 or townclerk@townhall.westwood.ma.us to schedule an appointment to obtain nomination papers.
The following Elected Offices will appear on the Ballot:
- Board of Assessors - 1 Seat - 3 Year Term
- Housing Authority-1 Seat- 5 Year Term
- Library Trustee - 2 Seats - 3 Year Terms
- Moderator - 1 Seat - 1 Year Term
- Planning Board-1 Seat-1 Year Term to fill a vacancy
- Planning Board - 2 Seats - 3 Year Terms
- School Committee - 1 Seat -3 Year Term
- Select Board - 1 Seat - 3 Year Term
- Sewer Commission - 1 Seat - 3 Year Term
- Town Treasurer-1 Seat-3 Year Term
The Westwood Senior Center will be closed throughout the winter of 2021.
Please know staff is still available remotely (in the office Monday through Friday 8-1 pm) if you need us; just call us and let us know how we can help you.
The good news is we continue to grow our virtual programs. Cable classes include yoga, exercise, line dancing, music; our zoom classes include current conversations, cooking classes, Pilates, book group, drawing, bereavement, and tai chi. And we now have special programming every Tuesday and Thursday from 12-1, a virtual lunch and learn (bring your own lunch). A COA winter newsletter went out with all details and can be found on the Town’s website or call us and we will send you a copy. Our goal is to keep everyone safe (seniors and staff) during this pandemic.
Below is our cable schedule (and please call us if you are interested in any of the Zoom classes).
Cable Classes this fall:
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
All THESE PROGRAMS CAN BE FOUND ON LOCAL CABLE
Comcast 8 & 12, and Verizon 32 & 42
Special Cable Programming - VIRTUAL LUNCH AND LEARNS
We have partnered with Big Y Pharmacist Eddie to offer a special cable program to discuss “COVID - 19 is there a cure? And what to know about the Vaccine.” This special program will run on Tuesdays and Thursdays at noontime. We are also working with the Audubon Society (for winter bird watching) and Attorney Maria Baler (getting your legal responsibilities and information updated) and hopefully these will be available by mid-January.
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 homebound at risk elders, just give us a call at the Center.
PLEASE NOTE: If you are feeling food insecure, please let us know, we can confidentially help you!
Transportation Update: We now grocery shop on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, offer medical rides on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays and errands on Fridays. We have strict transportation protocols so please check out our newsletter before signing up.
Fuel Assistance: If you need help filling out your application or need more information, please call the Center and speak directly to Karen Segreve. If she is not in the office, you can leave her a voicemail or write her an email.
A few of our Zoom programs we are offering:
TWO LECTURES BY AUTHOR HENRY QUINLIN
We are pleased to introduce a new speaker, Henry Quinlan, who comes highly recommended. Henry owns his own publishing company and has a very varied 40+ year career.
Tuesday January 12 at 10 am
Creating Your Psychological First Aid Kit
for Surviving the Coronavirus at Home
In the coming months, there will be more stay-at-home time because of the winter and surging coronavirus. It is more important than ever to be prepared. Psychological first aid is designed to mitigate the effects of stress and anxiety that can be brought on by a coronavirus lockdown.
Tuesday February 9 at 1 pm
USSR- Russia
Myths, Mysteries and Spying
A one-hour presentation based on Henry’s 30 years’ involvement with the former Soviet Union and Russia including living in Moscow for five years during the demise of the USSR and the rise of the new Russia. The presentation will entertain and educate you. Accompanying power-point with 62 panels.
Please call the Center to sign up and we will send you the Zoom link.
COOKING CLASSES WITH ROBERTA
Via Zoom
Classes begin at 1pm
January 11 - Soups and Creative Sandwiches - Winter Warmup Cooking Class - Join us as we make some winter soups to warm you up as the days get colder. Broccoli Cheddar Soup and Mushroom Bisque will be on the menu. We also will make a couple of different panni-warm grilled sandwiches.
February 8 - Comfort Foods for the cold winter months - This pasta dish has it all - Greens, Beans and Sausage Pasta - then we will make Tourtiere - a French Canadian Meat Pie (perfect dinner for a cold night) and of course a delicious Carmel Walnut Tart for dessert!
TWO LECTURES WITH HISTORIAN GARY HYLANDER
Gary is back!!! If you have heard his lectures before, you know he brings history alive. If you have not heard him and enjoy history, you must sign up to listen to his stories. And with Zoom, you can do this at home, with a cup of coffee, on your couch!
President Theodore Roosevelt
And his times
Tuesdays January 5 & 19 at 10 a.m.
President Roosevelt was a man of his times - Elected after the Spanish American War, he wrote “Americans voted for me because I get things done”. This two-part series will explore his presidency, his accomplishments and his disappointments.
The Civil War Amendments
Tuesday February 16 at 10a.m.
The Civil War is over and reconstruction has begun. Gary will discuss how Amendments 13, 14, and 15 played into the rebuilding of America.
Please call the Center with your email address to sign up and we will send you the Zoom Link.
AARP TAX HELP
for Low and Moderate Income Seniors
Mondays 9 a.m. -2 p.m.
February 8 – April 12
BY APPOINTMENT ONLY
Strict COVID spacing and cleaning protocols will be followed
There is no cost to this program but appointments fill up fast so please sign up early.
The Westwood Senior Center will host AARP Tax Preparation to any low or moderate income seniors who need help preparing their Federal and Mass income tax forms. AARP Tax Aides will be on hand every Monday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. APPOINTMENTS FILL UP FAST, so please call the Center and schedule your appointment soon. Please bring your tax returns from last year, any current tax documents, your driver’s license and/or Social Security card and all other necessary information with you.
December 1st – March 31st Overnight Parking Ban/Restrictions
Starting December 1st – March 31st, there is a Town wide overnight parking ban. In order to ensure snow plows can efficiently clear roads and emergency vehicles can quickly reach their destinations, it is imperative that you do not park on the street. The Public Works Assistant Director or the Chief of Police, for the purpose of removing or plowing snow, or removing ice, from any way, may remove or cause to be removed any vehicle interfering with such work. If you violate this ban you are subject to ticketing and towing. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.
Snow Removal Information- What You Can Do to Help
Snow Clearing and Clearing of Hydrants:
Please do not lay, throw, place any snow or ice on any town street, sidewalk or on top of Hydrants as this can create a hazardous condition of public safety concern.
- 355-5 Placement of snow or ice; penalty.
- No person other than an employee in the service of the Town of Westwood or an employee in the service of an independent contractor acting for the Town of Westwood shall pile, push, plow, or blow snow or ice onto or across a public way which is plowed and/or sanded by the Town or deposit snow in such a way as to obstruct the operation of any fire hydrant. Violations of this section shall be subject to a written warning for the first offense; a fine of $50 for the second offense; and $100 for third and each subsequent offense.
Town Layout:
Nothing damaged by the Town that is constructed, built or placed on Town layout will be repaired or replaced, i.e.: driveway pavers, fences, stonewalls, etc.
*Please remove all basketball hoops, sports nets, etc. from the roadway!*
Storm Drain Cleaning:
There are over 2200 catch basins (storm drains) in the town, making it almost impossible to clear snow and debris from all. It would be much appreciated if you could keep the drain in front of your property clean as to not cause street puddling or ice hazards.
1-day delay for Trash and Recycle pickup (Friday will occur on Saturday - 12.26 & 1.2) due to Christmas and New Year’s Day holidays.
Monthly Focus:
12.20 Monthly Focus: Some Sustainable Tips For A Green Holiday Season
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Consider alternatives to traditional wrapping paper, try usable items such as bandanas, scarves, pillow cases, kitchen towels, reusable bags, tins then add some natural flair with pine cones, sprigs from your tree or wrapping paper with recycled content
- When packing gifts for shipping, use popcorn or old newspapers (instead of peanuts, styrofoam or bubble wrap).
- Try eco-friendly candles from soy or beeswax or for better air quality, use unscented (or battery operated) and keep wicks short to get more life out of your candles
- Put your holiday lights on a timer or only use them when someone is home (LED lights last longer and use much less energy) and try solar lights for outside your home
- Old or Damage string/tree lights can be dropped off at Lowe’s or Home Depot stores
- “American household waste increases up to 25% between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day”, overflow bags can be purchased at Roche Bros. & Walgreens on High Street in Westwood
Download the free Recycle Coach App for all trash & recycling reminders, schedules, events, do’s & don’ts at your fingertips
Please visit https://www.townhall.westwood.ma.us/departments/public-works for more information and any updates
All administrative staff are working remotely. Any questions or concerns can be emailed directly to:
lfiske@townhall.westwood.ma.us - Administrative Assistant
khiggins@townhall.westwood.ma.us - Interim Administrative Assistant
cbarenth@townhall.westwood.ma.us - Office Manager
jmccarthy@townhall.westwood.ma.us - Facilities Manager
bryan@townhall.westwood.ma.us - Assistant Director of Public Works
tkorchin@townhall.westwood.ma.us - Director of Public Works
For more information, please visit:
https://www.townhall.westwood.ma.us/departments/public-works
***NYE Fireworks have been cancelled***
Public Notice
The temporary special education records for students who graduated, or turned 22 without graduating in the 2013-2014 school year, will be destroyed on March 1, 2021. Any students interested in receiving their special education records must call (781) 326-7500, x1345 to make an appointment to pick them up before this date. Due to COVID protocols, District Administration Offices are open by appointment only. Records can be picked up from the Westwood Public Schools Administration Building at 220 Nahatan Street once a mutually agreed upon time is scheduled and the records are retrieved.
Westwood residents may experience temporary loss of income and/or housing instability due to the Covid-19 pandemic. If you require assistance, the following agencies have support available to residents during this time of crisis.
Town offices are currently closed to the public but you may contact the Housing Agent via phone (781-493-2811) or email (sbouchard@townhall.westwood.ma.us).
Rent assistance may be available for qualified households from the state’s RAFT and ERMA programs, both of which have received additional funding this year to combat the Covid-19 crisis. Contact our regional housing agency to learn more about eligibility and applications:
South Middlesex Opportunity Council (SMOC)
7 Bishop Street Framingham, MA 01702
508-620-2645
https://www.smoc.org/housing-consumer-education-center.php
hcec@smoc.org
 The Westwood Fire Department will be continuing our Adopt-A-Hydrant program. This is a great opportunity for residents, businesses and civic organizations to help the Fire Department keep our 600+ fire hydrants clear of ice and snow. During a fire, minutes matter and firefighters don’t want to spend precious time clearing a hydrant when they could be saving lives and property. This is where you can help. Follow the link below to an interactive map where you can locate hydrants close to your property or business and click on the one or more you want to adopt. During the winter keep a 3 foot perimeter around your hydrant and a walkway to the street free of snow and ice. When you clear your hydrant, click on it again and change the status to “clear” so that we’ll know that hydrant is all set. Brag about your hydrant or challenge your neighbors by posting pictures to our Twitter page.
www.westwoodhydrant.org
Please follow us on Facebook @westwoodmafd and on Twitter @westwoodfire
The Veterans Department would like to thank the following residents and community members for supporting our Veterans. Nora Driscoll, a Westwood High School senior, who donated gift cards, The Westwood Lions Club for providing Thanksgiving dinners to some of our veterans and the St. John’s Episcopal Church community for raking leaves ( 100+ bags) for one of our Veteran families.
 Additionally, the Veterans Department was able to successfully host a socially distant Veteran's Day Ceremony in November. We would like to thank all residents, friends, and family members who came out to support the men and women who put their lives on the line.
 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
Three Board members in front of the refurbished Fisher School
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Dedham Savings Community Foundation Grant
The Westwood Historical Society would like to thank the Dedham Savings Community Foundation for its recent grant to us – as it allows us to do much needed updating of the Fisher School. Our “home” is a historical building in its own right, but also where we typically host our events. Specifically, we were able to prime and paint the building, windows, entrance ramp and railings plus refurbish our stone wall because of this grant.
In a regular year, the Fisher School hosts all of our historical programs and events, serves as a resource to individuals and groups researching Westwood’s history and sponsors the “1800s School Day” for all third grade classes in Westwood. All of our programs are open to the public and free of charge, so we are particularly appreciative of this grant and the funds it provides to update and maintain this historical building for future years.
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Upcoming Programs
Because of Covid, our winter 2021 programs will be held via Zoom – through a wonderful collaboration with the Westwood Public Library. Please visit the library website at https://www.westwoodlibrary.org/calendar (or call 781-320-1045) to register. (Find the program on the calendar and use the “Click to Register” button to sign up.) You will receive an e-mail the day before the event with the information you need to join the program.
Our next planned program is on Tuesday, January 12, 2021 at 7:30 p.m. with the topic being 1620: the First Year, by Christopher Daley. In this program, Christopher will talk about the Pilgrims and their landing at Plymouth Rock. He will first review the difficult voyage over the Atlantic, the trials and tribulations that the Pilgrims met when they first arrived in the New World, and the help they received from the Wampanoag Nation. The second part will focus on the beginnings of Plymouth Rock: the building of the first colony and the plague of 1618 that obliterated almost 100% of the village.
Watch for more information about our February and March programs in the Hometown Weekly, the Transcript Bulletin and on our website (westwoodhistoricalsociety.com). And, as always, if you have ideas for speakers (including yourself), do let us know! Our e-mail is westwoodhistorical@comcast.net)
Submitted by June Cassidy, Westwood Historical Board member
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