Staying on top of what's going on around Westwood is easier than ever! The town has several options - on a variety of platforms - for all residents to stay on top of public safety information, school, and town business. Residents can visit the town website, and click on "stay connected" on the main page.
ALERT Westwood
ALERT Westwood is used for all emergency and non-emergency notifications. Once enrolled, residents have the option to receive notifications via phone, text message, email, or a combination of the three. To enroll in ALERT Westwood, please click here.
Westwood Wire
The Westwood Wire is a monthly e-newsletter that includes news provided by the Town and information from local groups and organizations within the community. To subscribe to the Westwood Wire, please click here.
Westwood Word
The Westwood Word is the town's print publication mailed to all residential homes three times per year, April (Spring/Summer), September (Fall), and January (Winter). Westwood Word highlights events, happenings, and news within Westwood through town and community submissions. To see the latest Westwood Word, please click here.
Social Media
Westwood has two social media accounts that are actively updated.
Follow us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
Website Notifications
Residents have the option to sign up for specific email updates of their choice to stay up-to-date on all town news or just specific information from a particular town board or committee.
To see subscription options, please click here.
  
Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting
Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) has awarded the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting to the Town of Westwood for its annual comprehensive financial report for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2022. The report has been judged by an impartial panel to meet the high standards of the program, which includes demonstrating a constructive "spirit of full disclosure" to clearly communicate its financial story and motivate potential users and user groups to read the report. The Certificate of Achievement is the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting, and its attainment represents a significant accomplishment by a government and its management.
The Town's Annual Comprehensive Financial Report for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2022, is found on page 181 of the 2022 Annual Town Report.
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Did you know...
....that September 15th kicks off National Hispanic American Heritage Month in the United States?
The Town of Westwood values and seeks to recognize the diversity of our community. Please reach out to westwoodwire@townhall.westwood.ma.us, with any suggestions for these monthly highlights.
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#CityHallSelfie Day is a celebration of public service showcasing pride in local government institutions. Every year since 2016, government employees, elected officials, members of the media, and community members have participated in the event. #CityHallSelfie Day is organized by ELGL, Engaging Local Government Leaders, a professional association for people who work in and with local government. This is Westwood's first annual #CityHallSelfie Day.
Enjoy the selfies of many of our Town employees from various departments. Special thanks and photo credits to Melinda Garfield, Executive Director of Westwood Media Center for coordinating this fun event.
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Job Opportunity: Westwood Youth and Family Services Department
Immediate need for part-time, Youth Services Counselors (YSC) in Westwood’s Youth and Family Services Department. Grant funding has created an opportunity to add several part-time YSC positions to assist current Youth and Family Services staff in providing direct counseling, advocacy and case management services to the community. Flexible hours.
Current job opportunities are posted here as they become available.
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Voter Registration Information
Who can Register to Vote?
You can register to vote in Massachusetts if you are:
- a US Citizen
- a resident of Massachusetts
- 18 years of age or older (Pre-Register if you are age 16 or 17)
- Not currently incarcerated by reason of a felony conviction.
Register to vote online, by mail, or in person at the Office of the Town Clerk at Town Hall, 580 High Street.
Visit the MA Online Voter Registration System
- Register or Pre-Register to Vote
- Update Name, Address and/or Party
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The Town Clerk’s Office offers the following services...
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Business Certificates
DO YOU NEED A BUSINESS CERTIFICATE?
If you are starting a business and are a single proprietorship, partnership, or corporation doing business under a name other than your own, you must file a Business Certificate with the Town Clerk in order to register your name. The only case in which you do not have to file a Doing Business As (dba) is when you are doing business in your own complete name, such as John Smith Company, or your own incorporated name. Click here to download an application for a business certificate.
Filing a Business Certificate at the town level does not protect your name as a corporate filing or a trademark registration does, it merely allows consumers and/or creditors to identify the names of the actual owners of a business. State law requires this filing( MGL Ch. 110§ 5).
A Business Certificate does not give you permission to operate your business either; it only registers the name. You are responsible for obtaining all appropriate permits and/or licenses for your business from the appropriate departments, including the Building Department, the Board of Health, the Conservation Commission, Dedham-Westwood Water District, and various licensing authorities.
For more information check out the Town Clerk's website.
Please contact Town Clerk, Dottie Powers at townclerk@townhall.westwood.ma.us or 781-326-3964 if you have any questions.
A sampling of the COA's upcoming Special Programs
Westwood Council on Aging is on Facebook!
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Trash & recycling collections are delayed ONE DAY for Labor Day, Monday, September 4th. |
Everything (trash/recycle/yard waste/bulk, etc.) for collection must be at the curbside by 7 am on your scheduled day. Any missed pick-ups (that were at curbside by 7 am) must be reported. Please email dpw@townhall.westwood.ma.us or call 781-251-2587 within 24 hours of your scheduled day.
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Download the free Recycle Coach App for all calendar schedules, reminders, events, do’s & don’ts and what goes where at your finger tip |
Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) will host a Public Hearing on September 28th at the Downey School Cafeteria at 7:00 pm The State will be presenting the current design, which includes a single sidewalk along one side of Canton Street and a shared-use path along the other side of Canton Street. All design plans and details of the project are posted on the Town's website. All residents are encouraged to attend. Please see the flyer below for more details.
Construction of the Downey Street sidewalk has begun and will be completed by the end of November. Downey Street will be passable throughout the entirety of the project and will only require a single-lane closure during different phases of the project. |
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Under the requirements of Massachusetts Special Education Law, Westwood Public Schools is required to screen all children entering kindergarten to identify students who may have a disability that would interfere with their ability to make effective progress in an educational environment.
Kindergarten screening includes an assessment of the child’s development in the areas of cognition, language, and motor skills.
If your child does not attend kindergarten in the Westwood Public Schools and will turn five years old by September 1, 2023, please contact the Westwood Public School’s Student Services Department for a screening appointment. All screenings must be completed by October 31, 2023.
Contact:
Glen Atkinson, M.Ed., Ph.D.
K-5 Student Services Department Head
Westwood Public Schools
220 Nahatan Street
Westwood, MA 02090
781-326-7500 X1345
Kindergarten Screening -Arabic Kindergarten Screening- Russian Kindergarten Screening- Spanish Kindergarten Screening- Portuguese Kindergarten Screening- Simplified Chinese
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"TJ" Tedeschi, Deputy Director
West Suburban Veterans' Services District
Mondays 10:00 am to 3:00 pm
Westwood Council on Aging
(781) 489-7509
ttedeschi@westsuburbanveterans.com
Westwood Veterans may call or email Mr. Tedeschi to schedule an appointment.
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Elementary School Programs Online Registration
Attention: Elementary School Parents/Caregivers: Online Registration for WY&FS Fall Programming opens Thursday, August 24th at 9 a.m. Please reach out with any questions and see the WY&FS website for registration links. https://www.townhall.westwood.ma.us/departments/youth-family-services
High School Mentor Programs Online Registration
Attention Westwood High School Students (public and private): We have a number of opportunities for you to volunteer and give back right here in Westwood next school year. Be on the lookout for a mailing with more information hitting your mailbox the week of August 21st. The Mentor application opens on Thursday, August 24th!
Birthday Giving Program
Families in financial need can receive up to $50 in gift cards to Amazon, Target or Walmart which they use towards buying birthday gifts for their children. They are also provided with what we call a “birthday party in a bag”. The bag contains a birthday cake mix, icing, candles and a few decorations. The bag and gift card are distributed at the beginning of the child’s birthday month. The program runs similar to our Holiday Giving Program and is completely confidential. Sign-ups for the program run throughout the year.
Holiday Giving Program
The Holiday Giving Program connects local sponsors whether they are fellow residents or local businesses with Westwood families, and families of children enrolled in Westwood Public Schools, who are in financial need during the holiday season. Through a confidential matching process, the sponsors provide gifts for the children which have been chosen in advance by their parents or caregivers. Our department manages the matching process and distribution of gifts.
If you are interested in learning more about either gift giving program or if you would like to sign up to receive or donate gifts, please visit our website, email Mary Ellen LaRose mlarose@townhall.westwood.ma.us or call our office at (781) 320-1006.
Follow us on Social Media @westwoodyfs
To learn more about our upcoming programs, mentor programs, counseling and mental health resources and services please follow us on social media @westwoodyfs.
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A Letter to Residents from Blake Lukis, Executive Director... |
Starting the week of August 7, the Dedham-Westwood Water District’s contractor, RFS Corp., will begin replacing the water main on a portion of Washington Street (from Brookfield Road to Marshall Street) and the entire length of Brookfield Road and Beacon Street in Westwood. Work will be conducted Monday through Friday between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. and is expected to be completed in approximately three to four months. The project consists of replacing the existing underground water main, fire hydrants, valves, and the District-owned portion of your water service line.
While the new water main is installed, residents will be connected to a temporary water main called a bypass. There will be periods of time when your water service will be temporarily disrupted. The District will notify affected residents 24 hours before any scheduled water interruptions. Any other sudden unforeseen water disruptions would be an emergency, and the district will knock on all affected residents’ doors.
At times, traffic delays may occur near the project location and surrounding side streets while construction is underway. Police will be on-site during work hours to assist pedestrians and drivers. All roads will be open to normal traffic conditions once construction has finished for the day.
Questions or concerns about the project can be directed to Matt Lanen by email at mlanen@dwwd.org or by phone at 781-486-1588. If an emergency arises on a weekend, holiday, or after working hours, please contact the District’s After Hours Emergency Phone Line at 781-326-1250.
For more information about the project, including updates, please visit the District's site: www.dwwd.org/watermainproject. Thank you for your patience and cooperation while this work is undertaken to improve our water system!
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The Town of Westwood assumes no responsibility or liability for any errors or omissions in the content of this e-mail. The information contained in this e-mail is provided on an "as is" basis with no guarantees of completeness, accuracy, usefulness or timeliness.
The Town of Westwood does not condone, agree with and or support all contents contained in this e-mail and should be viewed as information only.
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The Massachusetts Office on Disability (MOD) provides information, guidance, and training on disability-related civil rights and obligations. The Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission (MRC) provides services that break down barriers and empower people with disabilities to live life in their own terms.
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