The following Boards and Committees are actively seeking Members:

• Cemetery Commission
• Commission on Disability
• Housing Partnership Fair Housing Committee
• Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Committee
• Recreation Commission
• Westwood Cultural Council
• Westwood Environmental Action Committee (WEAC)

Please see here for more information. Check back often, as we will continue to update vacancies as needed. 

In 2019, Hale offered the Town the opportunity to participate, along with the Town of Dover and private donors, in the purchase of a Conservation Restriction on Hale’s 1,200+/- of open space, over 550 acres of which are in Westwood.

A conservation restriction is a legally enforceable agreement whose purpose is to ensure permanent protection of land while allowing for limited uses consistent with the protection of land conservation values.

The Hale Task Force held a Public Meeting on June 14, 2022, via Zoom, to provide an update on the proposed Hale Conservation Restriction (CR). Representatives from the Hale Task Force, Hale Education Inc., and the Westwood Land Trust were in attendance to provide presentations and to respond to public comments. Negotiations between the Town of Westwood and Hale Education are ongoing and additional public outreach will be planned.

The June 14^th presentations and a recording of the meeting are posted on the town website.

Important Election News from the Town Clerk

On June 22, 2022, an election reform law titled “The VOTES Act” was signed into law. “The VOTES Act” makes several of the temporary changes from the pandemic permanent. The new law also makes the absentee voting process and early voting by mail processes consistent.

Some of the changes include the following:

• The voter registration deadline for all elections and town meetings will be 10 calendar days before the date of the meeting or election. (previously it was 20 days)
• In-person voter registration sessions on the last day to register to vote will end at 5:00 p.m.
• Early voting by mail will be available for all state elections, state primaries, and presidential primaries.
• Early voting by mail is also required for all local elections unless the town opts out. In order to opt-out of Vote by Mail for a local election, the select board must hold a public hearing and public roll call vote to NOT allow Vote by Mail no later than 45 days before the date of the election.
• The State Elections Division will mail Vote by Mail applications at least 45 days before every regular state primary, state election, and presidential primary. The applications will be mailed to all registered voters who have not already applied for a ballot. The applications will be pre-addressed to the local election office (Westwood Town Clerk) with pre-paid postage included.
• The new law also allows family members to request an early Vote by Mail ballot on a voter’s behalf, as they currently can with absentee ballots. Similarly, family members will be permitted to return an early Vote by Mail ballot for the voter as well.
• Any form of written communication requesting a ballot is sufficient. Applications may be signed electronically, as long as the signature is written in substantially the same manner as a hand-written signature.
• The deadline to request a vote by mail ballot (early or absentee) must be received five (5) business days before any election in the office of the Town Clerk.
• For the upcoming State Primary, September 6, 2022, the deadline to apply for a vote by mail ballot is 5: 00 p.m. Monday, August 29, 2022.
• For the November 8, 2022, State Election, the deadline to apply for a vote by mail ballot is 5:00 pm, Tuesday, November 1, 2022.
• Return ballot envelopes for state primaries, state elections, and presidential primaries will be postage pre-paid.
• In-person early voting will be available for all regular state primaries, state elections, and presidential primaries.
• In-Person Early Voting for the September 6, 2022, State Primary will begin on Saturday, August 27, 2022, and end on Friday, September 2, 2022.
• In-person Early Voting for the November 8, 2022, State Election will begin on Saturday, October 22, 2022, and end on Friday, November 4, 2022.
• Location and times for early voting in person to be determined.
• The 150-foot rule prohibiting campaigning around polling places has been extended to early voting sites. This means that there shall be no campaigning for or against a candidate or question on the ballot for that election within 150 feet of the entrance to the early voting site during voting hours. Signature gathering of any kind will also be prohibited during voting hours.

Voter Registration deadline for September 6. 2022 State Primary: 5:00 p.m. Saturday, August 27, 2022.

On Ballot: Representative in Congress, Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, State Treasurer, State Auditor, Governor's Council, State Senator, State Representative, District Attorney, Sheriff, County Commissioner.

Voter Registration deadline for November 8, 2022, State Election: 5:00 p.m., Saturday, October 29, 2022.

On Ballot: Representative in Congress, Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, State Treasurer, State Auditor, Governor's Council, State Senator, State Representative, District Attorney, Sheriff, County Commissioner, statewide ballot questions. *

In order to vote in the above elections in Westwood, you must be a registered voter: Please click here to confirm.

Please click here to register online.

Update from the Health Director: 

Permits for Public Food Events

The Board of Health protects the general public by promoting safe food handling for public events. Any event where food is sold or given away to the general public requires a temporary food permit from the Board of Health.

Non-profit organizations often use food sales as a way to raise funds for their organization; several factors are evaluated to determine the food safety of these events. No foods for a public event or fundraiser should be made in a home kitchen (except baked goods such as cookies, brownies, or cakes - potluck is exempt from this requirement) A bake sale is the only public event that does not require a temporary food permit.

Food trucks have become popular for one-day social events and they also are required to obtain a Temporary Mobile Food Truck permit. The Health Department is here to answer any questions and assist you with information to clarify when a  food permit is needed, please contact us at health@townhall.westwood.ma.us

Mosquito Control

The Town of Westwood is a member of the Norfolk County Mosquito Control District which provides mosquito control activities. The District conducts monitoring to detect disease, water management to prevent the breeding of mosquitoes in existing drainage swales and systems, larval control to control mosquitoes before they become flying adults, and adult control to manage mosquitoes. Aerial larval applications are conducted over wetlands for nuisance control in the spring. Adult Control (Adulticiding) is conducted from truck-mounted equipment (mosquito spraying) and is conducted on a weekly basis, weather permitting in the evenings after sunset by request only. 

Visit the District’s website at www.norfolkcountymosquito.org  for more information.  

Westwood Private Well Regulations

Please be advised that this regulation requires that a water quality test be conducted and a copy of the results forwarded to the Board of Health office prior to a change in ownership of the property on which the private well is located. This applies to both drinking water and irrigation wells. Please refer to our website for the Private Well Regulations for more information on the required tests. If you have any questions please call Jared Orsini, Health Director (781) 320-1026.

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 prescriptions 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. 

UPDATES FROM THE COA

Please join us for any of our exciting programs! Check our most current newsletter for a complete list of our activities and transportation details.  It can be found on the Town’s website or call us and we will send you a copy.

 So come join us! We are warm and welcoming and would love to meet you!

MEALS ON WHEELS continues to grow; any Westwood resident 65 or older needing a daily meal please call HESSCO at 781-784-4944.  PLEASE NOTE: If you are feeling food insecure, please let us know, we can confidentially help you!

TRANSPORTATION AT THE CENTER

We offer rides to grocery stores on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, medical appointments on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays and errands on Mondays and Fridays.

SPECIAL PROGRAMS AT THE SENIOR CENTER

HOME SAFETY – COA Partnership with the Westwood Fire Department

The Westwood Fire Department is running a Fire Safety and Fall Prevention program and is offering free home safety inspections to seniors in town.  The program was developed by the National Fire Prevention Association in order to help seniors live safely at home for as long as possible.

Westwood Firefighters (adhering to all proper COVID precautions) will do a quick safety check of your home and provide you with tips to keep you safe.  They will assist you in replacing old smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors or batteries.  Detectors and batteries are paid for through charitable donations and are free of charge to you.  To take advantage of this great opportunity, please call the Council on Aging at 781-329-8799 to sign up for your free home safety inspection.  Someone from the Fire Department will then contact you to schedule your appointment.

WESTWOOD COA IS NOW ON FACEBOOK AND WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOU FOLLOW US!!!

The Westwood Senior Center is now on Facebook. Keep up to date with what is happening here at the Center. Sign up at https://www.facebook.com/WestwoodCOA and LIKE or FOLLOW our new page!  We are still learning the best way to keep you all up to date, so any ideas, just let us know. Join us as we grow and keep in touch with everyone!  And no worries, we will continue to send you our bi-monthly newsletter!

Hiking Club with Maria and Angie

• Tuesdays at 9:15 am
• You must sign up in advance
• Angie and Maria will get in touch with you

Senior hikes will continue to be offered in the spring every Tuesday at 9:30 am. Participants will need to have insulated and waterproof boots. Leaders will send the information about the next hike to the distribution list the week before. If you are interested in joining the group, please contact the Center. Angie or Maria will then contact you. Our hikes take place in Westwood and surrounding towns and are from 2 to 3.5 miles in length.

DAY TRIPS AT THE CENTER

We are back on the road!  Please sign up soon as these trips fill up fast.

More are being planned so stop by and pick up the flyers!  Hope you will join us! Masks and proof of vaccination required and you must sign up in advance.

West Side Story at Reagle Theatre (in Waltham)

• Wednesday, July 13

Lunch at local restaurant (TBD) is pay on your own.  Ticket and transportation $30 per person.  Leave center at 11:15 am.

Tour the Boch Center Wang Theatre in Boston

• Wednesday, August 24. 

Tour of Boch Center and Transportation. Lunch at Sully’s in South Boston is pay on your own.  $20 per person. Leave Center at 8:45 am.

JULY SPECIAL PROGRAMING AT THE CENTER

A LIVE VIRTUAL TOUR OF FLORENCE

 Tuesday July 19 at 1:00 pm

At the Westwood Main Library

$5 donation—You must sign up in advance

Have you ever wanted to travel to Florence and experience it through the eyes of a native? Well … on July 19th we will try something that will bring you there live!  A native of Florence will live stream a tour of Florence for you to enjoy.  We have never tried this before, but with a new partnership (Casa Mia Tours—who have done this many times before), we will be offering this unique and fun program.  The tour will let you visit this beautiful city while sitting comfortably in a chair.  To complete the experience of traveling to Florence, we will be serving gelato at the end of the tour! So join us in Italy and never have to leave Westwood!

Henry Quinlan Presents

The Ukraine War and Vladimir Putin

Monday July 25 at 1:00 pm at Westwood Main Library

$3 donation requested—Please sign up in advance

(Call the Center to sign up)

Join us on this important presentation about the Ukraine War. This unique program will examine the origins of the conflict as well as the status of the war today; moreover, how the consequences of the war were both expected and unintended. Henry will also suggest options for ending the combat. 

The program will examine: What is the enigma that is Vladimir Putin and his popularity? Is America fighting a proxy war? Is there a new world order emerging after the war? Is Putin using fertilizer and food as a weapon? Will Putin take advantage of global warming? What is the Russia and China’s relationship in the future? Henry Quinlan has 35 years of experience in dealing with the former Soviet Union and Russia including living in Moscow for five years and has made more than 60 trips back and forth to Russia since 1986. 

The Westwood Integrated Preschool receives two grants from the Westwood Foundation for Education

The Westwood Integrated Preschool (WIP) was awarded a grant from the Westwood Foundation for Education for an Augmentative Alternative Communication board as a visual support for students and teachers to use on the playground. The board was designed in collaboration with the school’s speech and language pathologist, Patricia Shores, to incorporate a number of visual support images for common needs that arise during play time. The sign was created with the help of using the program Boardmaker and formatted by former WIP parent Roula Bakis. 

The need for this sign is substantial as the WIP provides education to all learners, and the need for an Augmentative Alternative Communication (AAC) board is based on the research that as a child, communication and language is essential as it reflects social/cultural norms, and expression. However, some learners may have some difficulty expressing and communicating through language within social and cultural norms. Using the Augmentative Communication board opens up opportunities for these learners to enhance communication skills among peers and develop stronger relationships (TIES Center 2021).

Communicative supports. (2021). TIES center. Retrieved April 11, 2021, from https://tiescenter.org/communicative-supports