The sixth mass extinction - which scientists have coined as the Holocene Extinction - is upon us. According to the United Nations, around one million plant and animal species are currently in danger of extinction, and many more within the next decade. While other extinctions have occurred in Earth’s history, none have occurred...
About: Hometown Weekly Staff
Recent Posts by Hometown Weekly Staff
NHS students grapple with mental health
By Maddie Gerber
Hometown Weekly Intern
“Well, I would usually wake up before school to do homework, maybe around 6 a.m. or so,” said current Needham High School senior Julia Ochalla, describing what a typical Monday looked like for her back in pre-pandemic times. Ochalla continued to detail her busy...
A letter from Rep. Garlick
Dear friends and neighbors,
I write to provide you with an important update on racial equity efforts in the State House. As your State Representative, I have just voted in the affirmative on the conference committee report, An Act relative to justice, equity and accountability in law enforcement in the...
Lt. Col. Custer’s last messenger
By Bill Lombardi
Hometown Weekly Correspondent
Giovanni Martini, born in a little town outside Salerno, Italy, was 20 years old when he immigrated to the United States in 1873 and settled in Brooklyn, New York. Alone and in a strange country, he was unable to find work. One day,...
Youth soccer opens spring 2021 registration
Registration for players in grades 3-8 for the spring 2021 Westwood Youth Soccer season is now open online through December 7. Click through the Registration link on the left-hand side of the home page at www.westwoodsoccer.org.
Members of the community are asked to consider volunteering to help coach...
Boys play field hockey in Wellesley first
Photo by Dave Arnold Photography
By Rama K. Ramaswamy
Amidst pandemic-related changes to all fall sports, the Wellesley Raiders field hockey team underwent one of its own: it featured two young men on the typically all-female team, coached by Erin Stickle.
Silent Witnesses spread awareness
Silent Witnesses, including children, all of whom were designed to honor victims of domestic violence. Photo by Emma Curry.
By Maddie Gerber
Hometown Weekly Intern
From November 5-11, a series of human silhouettes lined the steps of the town hall, their figures casting shadows...
Supporting and Stabilizing in FY21 Budget
On November 12, I voted in the affirmative to pass the state budget for fiscal year 2021. (July 1, 2020 – June 30, 2021.) Until this date, we have relied on sporadic supplemental budgets to fund our state for several months at a time as we waited patiently for the state to reveal...
On the pandemic
The first case of COVID-19 in the United States was recorded on January 20th, 2020. For the next month and a half, the U.S. continued operating normally, while many other countries began their lockdown. One month later, on February 29th, 2020, the federal government approved a national testing program, but it was too...
On returning to school full-time in Medfield
Thank you to the teachers, administrators, committee members and volunteers for your hard work. As a school community, the best interests of our students must be our first and primary consideration. The purpose of this letter is to convey the sentiment many of us have shared with you privately, during school committee meetings...
New elementary school forum held virtually
Westwood town residents tuned in Wednesday night via Zoom for an update on the town’s plans to build a new elementary school, which is expected to house 560 students at peak enrollment. The new school will replace and combine the aging Hanlon and Deerfield schools and sit on 18 acres behind the existing...
WOW launches Indigenous Peoples Challenge
On Thursday, October 1, World of Wellesley launched its 30 Day+ Racial Equity Indigenous Peoples Challenge. The purpose of the challenge is to break down barriers and biases by collectively and individually increasing our awareness and appreciation for the diversity of Indigenous people; deepening our understanding about the history of Indigenous people; and...
The pandemic perils of high school
By Maddie Gerber
Hometown Weekly Intern
“I really missed school” admitted senior Lauren Biedron, laughing. “Wow, I never thought I would say that.”
While this may have been an unheard-of sentiment last fall, this year, many students have been itching to get back to some sense of normalcy....
On Medfield Schools reopening
To the Medfield Community,
One of the threads that weaves itself through all parts of American life, and most profoundly in Medfield, is public education. Over the last six months COVID -19 has touched every part of our lives that we took as given- the places where we find meaning,...
Michelle Chalmers steps down from WOW
By Rama K. Ramaswamy
As the fall sets in and a new school year begins, Michelle Chalmers, long-time president of the World of Wellesley, has handed the helm over to former board members Nova Biro and Christina Horner.
Michelle, a graduate of Wellesley High School, decided...
On the remote teaching amendment
As the Chair of the Dover Sherborn Regional School Committee I wish to clarify the purpose and effect of our vote in support of a hybrid return to school. The Region voted in favor of the hybrid model that was presented at the Joint School Committee on August 11, but with an amendment...
Medfield PTO readies for reopening
The Medfield PTO is preparing for school’s imminent reopening with initiatives to make Medfield Schools more welcoming.
The PTO recently organized a "Chalk the Walk" for Medfield students to come welcome the staff back to the building week. The kids really showed their support with positive messages and artwork that...
2021 college applicants face uncertain future
By Maddie Gerber
Hometown Weekly Intern
August is typically the sunset of the summer, one final hurrah before the fall chill seeps in and life returns to normal, conjuring up images of relaxing days spent soaking up the sun and lounging poolside. However, for rising high school seniors, August is anything...
Brad McMillan
A longtime resident of Medfield, MA, Brad passed away on August 14th with his close family by his side.
Brad came to Medfield in 1977. He was an active member of the community especially as both his children grew-up in Medfield. Brad managed and operated Millis Pharmacy for nearly 20 years. Brad...
Elisabeth Mann
Elisabeth Theresa (Berlin) Mann 91, of Medfield, Massachusetts passed away on August 8th, 2020 at the Thomas Upham House, Medfield where she has been residing since September after a fall last July.
Born in Hanover, Germany she lived through World War I. Elisabeth was one of ten children and had 6 older...
