Natick Report

Natick advanced to the quarterfinals of the High School Quiz Show competition with an amazing buzzer beater victory over Waltham recently. That earned Natick High a matchup vs Sharon High. No spoilers here:

Natick Runners ditched their New Year’s morning run, but went ahead with their annual polar plunge at Dug Pond. A small opening was carved out just off shore to allow brave locals to dip in and out, with air temps around 25 and falling. At least there was no wind. New Year’s resolutions were made about what to wear—maybe hand and toe warmers—next time around. Just chillin’ Snow covered Dug Pond Please send news tips, photos, ideas to natickreport@gmail.com

TCAN Executive Director Erin Basile (photo by Yasmine Chang) When Associate Director Erin Basile unlocks the doors of The Center for Arts in Natick each morning, she’s never quite sure who will fill the red-cushioned seats that night. Every performance attracts a different audience, according to outgoing Executive Director David Lavalley. It’s a reflection of the various wants and needs of the broader MetroWest community, he says.

The latest Natick non-profit news: The Natick Service Council has announced the appointment of Rachel Vingsness as its new executive director, beginning Dec. 1. Vingsness Rachel has been serving as director of operations at the council, which supports community members through programs including food assistance, case management, housing support, and workforce development. Vingsness succeeds Dan Shea, who has served as director since 2020.

Sweetgreen, the salad and bowls restaurant, is about to open its 24th Massachusetts-based restaurant on Tuesday, Sept. 23 at Shoppers World in Framingham, just over the Natick line. The restaurant opens just in time to highlight its fall seasonal menu, featuring an autumn harvest bowl and more. A soft opening will take place over the weekend, but the official opening is on Tuesday. The new location is 2,147 sq ft, and will be open 10 AM – 10 PM daily.

A high-end Asian supermarket called T Market is readying to occupy the former Wegmans grocery store space at Natick Mall by year end 2025. Wegmans opened at the Mall in 2018 and cleared out in mid-2023. T Market is in the planning and permitting stages, says the supermarket’s Leon Yang. “We’re thrilled to bring something unique to the Natick community,” he says.

You don’t need us to tell you that an education beyond high school is expensive. Here are a few organizations that are looking to defray the costs for eligible students. Not all of the 2025 scholarship applications are ready yet, but will be soon. We will update this story frequently with the most current information. Don’t see your group’s scholarship information listed here? Contact natickreport@gmail.com for inclusion.

Kim Rickard walked downstairs one August morning two years ago, uncertain about her job in executive recruiting at a small accounting firm, and made an announcement to her husband, Rob. “I think I might want to open a bookstore,” she said. Rob was unsure about the idea. “I said, ‘Yeah, let’s think about it,’” he said.

You don’t need us to tell you that an education beyond high school is expensive. Here are a few organizations that are looking to defray the costs for eligible students. Not all of the 2025 scholarship applications are ready yet, but will be soon. We will update this story frequently with the most current information. Don’t see your group’s scholarship information listed here? Contact natickreport@gmail.com for inclusion.

You don’t need us to tell you that a college education is expensive. Here are a few organizations that are looking to defray the costs for eligible students. Not all of the 2025 scholarship applications are ready yet, but will be soon. We will update this story frequently with the most current information. Don’t see your group’s scholarship information listed here? Contact natickreport@gmail.com for inclusion.