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Dear Residents,
Our 2024 Annual Town Meeting is in the rearview mirror. Four hundred and forty-nine registered voters attended, along with twenty-five visitors. There were 24 articles presented to the Annual Town Meeting; all of which passed with the exception of Article 8, which did not achieve the majority vote required.
The results of the 2024 Election had incumbents re-elected for the Board of Assessors, Housing Authority, Library Trustees, Moderator, Planning Board, School Committee, Select Board, and the Sewer Commission. One resident was newly elected to serve on the Planning Board. A warm welcome to all!
The Memorial Day Commemoration was a moving and patriotic tribute to the men and women who have died serving our country. The Commemoration was preceded by a lively parade from Town Hall and continued down High Street to the New Cemetery. Some of those who marched included: Westwood Veterans, the Grand Marshall, Police and Fire Honor Guards, members of the Select Board, the Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, the Daughters and Sons of the American Revolution, and the Roma Band. Check out the Town of Westwood Facebook page to view photos taken by Westwood Media Center.
This month's WIRE highlights include:
- News from the Town Clerk, helpful seasonal information from the Health Department, important recycling information from the Department of Public Works, and much more from our town departments.
- Enriching Programs at the Senior Center, Youth & Family Services, the Main and Branch Library; and
- A Variety of upcoming Community Events for all ages.
Please keep reading for all the details.
Town of Westwood
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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.
Did you know...
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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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The Town of Westwood is offering a unique opportunity to the right candidate to serve as Summer Intern for the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED). As the DCED Summer Intern, you will get an introduction to the field of municipal land use planning and work closely with staff of the Building, Planning & Housing, Conservation, Health, and Zoning & Licensing Divisions.
The position is up to 20 hours per week for approximately 10 weeks and pays $16.00 - $17.00 per hour. Hours are flexible and can be reasonably arranged to accommodate your needs, whether 3-4 hour shifts scheduled 4 or 5 days, or 8-hour shifts scheduled twice per week. Work may include document scanning, file management, research and data collection, data processing, and drafting of public information articles for Westwood Wire and Westwood Word. A laptop or Chromebook connected to the network and local printers will be available to you. The Department of Community and Economic Development resides in the Carby Street Municipal Office Building.
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News from the Town Clerks Office...
- 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 are valid from January 1, 2024, until December 31, 2024.
- 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 apply for a special permit with the Zoning Board of Appeals to license a kennel. Contact the Building Inspector at 781-320-1091 for details.)
- Failure to license your dog on or before March 31, 2024, may result in a fine of $25.00, per town bylaws §184-10, B. (1). We are waiving the late fee through June 15, 2024.
- 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:
- Online convenience fee: $2.00
- Postage fee: $1.00
- Dogs not Neutered or Spayed: $20.00
- Dogs Neutered or Spayed: $15.00
- 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.
To vote in any upcoming elections, you must be a registered voter in Westwood. If you are new to Westwood, welcome. Please be sure to register to vote at your new address; if you have moved within Westwood, please fill out a new voter registration.
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Helpful Information from the Health Department...
Lyme Disease
Lyme disease is a bacterial illness caused by infected black-legged (deer) ticks. Although ticks are most active during the warm months between April and August, Lyme disease can occur any time of the year. Ticks must be embedded in the skin for at least 24 hours before Lyme disease can be spread. Early symptoms typically start within 3-30 days after a bite. These symptoms include a rash where the tick was attached, that sometimes looks like a bullseye, joint aches, headaches, flu-like symptoms, and fatigue. Untreated Lyme disease can result in heart and nervous system complications. The good news is there is treatment for Lyme disease. If left untreated, symptoms can last for weeks to years. Better still is prevention! DEET or permethrin should be used according to instructions. Many products cannot be used on children so read the labels carefully or check with your pharmacist! Remember-permethrin is for clothing-not your skin. Protective clothing also helps. Wear long pants tucked into your socks, along with a long-sleeved shirt. Although staying on cleared trails is helpful, you don’t have to be a hiker to get Lyme Disease. You can also get tick bites in your backyard. Once home, check yourself and your pets. Ticks can be as small as a poppy seed and love warm body parts such as the back of your knees, armpits, groin, and behind ears. Shower within two hours after being outside (ideally, as soon as possible) to help wash off unattached ticks. If you find an embedded tick, check with your healthcare provider about proper removal and follow-up care.
For information on tick repellants visit: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/tick-repellents.
For general information visit: https://www.mass.gov/dph/tick
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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 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.
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Westwood Private Well Regulations
Please be advised that these regulations require 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 to review the Private Well Regulations for more information and the required tests. If you have any questions please call Jared Orsini, Health Director at (781) 320-1026.
Important information from our Department of Public Works...
The Department of Public Works needs each household's assistance to decrease and eliminate our increasing recycling contamination! So far the town has been fortunate through residents' efforts and negotiations to avoid the impact of a contamination charge. Based on the results of our most recent audit, additional contamination charges will be applied if we do not decrease our recycling contamination.
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Check out these links below for helpful recycling tips.
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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July 4th and 5th only have 1-DAY DELAY in trash/recycle collections for the Independence Day Holiday
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Follow Westwood Youth and Family Services on Social Media @westwoodyfs
To learn more about our upcoming programs, mentor programs, counseling, mental health resources and services please follow us on social media @westwoodyfs.
Westwood Community Chest Invites Applications for Summer Camp Awards
Westwood Community Chest is accepting applications for Campership Awards - financial aid awards of up to $800 per child - to help Westwood families send their children to summer camp. Awards are granted on a rolling basis over the next month. Applications may be submitted for the June 10 deadline. Eligible recipients are children residing in Westwood from kindergarten to twelfth grade.
Click here to apply online and for more information.
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The Westwood Cultural Council, part of the Massachusetts Cultural Council, has awarded eleven grants to the Town of Westwood for this year's grant cycle. The grants were awarded based on the qualifications of the group or individual seeking the grant and the benefit to the community.
The Council has funded, either in whole or in part, a variety of projects. The Council on Aging received funding for a new watercolor painting class concentrating on nature, as well as funds to present an art show displaying these paintings. The Library received funds to present a program featuring a Chinese acrobat, Westwood Winds received money which will help to fund its concert season, and money was also given to help with the cost of the Diwali Festival.
The schools also received funding for a variety of projects. The Pine Hill School received money to fund author visits. The Sheehan School received money to help fund its Cultural Festival. The Integrated Preschool will be visiting Drumlin Farm and the Poets in the Schools program will continue to be funded.
Finally, the Westwood School Engagement Committee received money to pay a Moderator /Presenter for its program, and the Westwood Welcome Club received money for its Snow Scape Challenge.
The Council will be accepting applications in October for next year's grant cycle. For more information go to www.mass-culture.org.
WestwoodWinds Registrations are Open!
WestwoodWinds Community Band is excited to announce that registration is open to join for this year’s rehearsals and performances! The Band will be hosting an open rehearsal on Monday, June 10th, from 6:30-8:45 PM at the First Parish of Westwood, and invites any interested musicians to join. This year’s concert will take place on Monday, August 5th, from 6:30-7:30 PM, location TBD, and a second performance will be held at Fox Hill Village on the following evening.
Melissa Laurencia, current Prodigy Program music teacher and Roma Band Director, will be returning and is currently working on a fun and engaging music selection for this year’s concert.
WestwoodWinds’s membership includes musicians from Westwood, neighboring communities, and states. Most musicians have connections to Westwood either as a Westwood High School graduate or as a resident. The age of the band members ranges from early teens to retirees, and the skill level covers amateurs through semi-professionals. The band is open to amateur musicians with no audition. More information about WestwoodWinds may be found on its website at westwoodwinds.org, or on its Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/Westwood/. If you have any questions, please reach out to westwoodwinds.org@gmail.com.
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Touch-a-Truck Event
Date: June 8, 2024
Time: 10 am - 1 pm
Location: Westwood High
Tickets: $10-25 at eventbrite.com
Entry includes trucks, character visits, crafts, a DJ, and more. Food will be available for purchase.
The Westwood Young Women’s Club is a non-profit, volunteer organization dedicated to giving back to our community through events such as this, as well as charitable donations. All proceeds go directly back to the Westwood community.
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