Politics & Government

Town Of Dedham: What's Happening This Week Here In Dedham

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Press Release Desk, News Partner

Press release from the Town of Dedham:

09/13/2021 2:59 PM

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DEDHAM DAY IS COMING BACK! JOIN THE FUN ON SEPT. 26TH

After a year hiatus, Dedham Day is returning on Sunday, September 26, 2021. Fondly referred to as Cow Day, Dedham Day will be celebrating 30 years of tradition and fun at Barnes Memorial Field, from Noon to 5:00 p.m.

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Hosted by the Friends of Dedham Parks & Recreation, the Annual Dedham Day will include a BBQ, rides, games, music, face painting, crafts, demonstrations, and the annual Cow Plop!

Dedham Day Deeds are currently being sold through Dedham Parks & Recreation employees at the Dolan Center Recreation Office, located at 269 Common Street, and are also for sale at some local businesses around Town. Keep an eye out for a poster announcing they are for sale or just ask! Contact the Parks & Recreation Department at 781-751-9250 if you have any questions. All proceeds will be used to support programs offered by the Dedham Parks & Recreation that are not funded by the Town of Dedham.

Are you interested in volunteering at the event? All are welcome to lend a hand, even if for just 1 hour! Contact the Parks & Recreation staff to sign up today!

All About the Cow Plop:

 A grid of 3,000 equal squares will be drawn onto the field, each measuring 1-square yard. One deed = one square, for just $10 per square. At 2:00 p.m., Juliette the Cow will be led onto the field to fertilize it. The prizes for the fertilizes squares are listed below:

1st Prize = $5,000
2nd Prize = $2,500
3rd Prize = $1,000
4th Prize = $500

WEEKLY BOARD OF HEALTH UPDATE - COVID-19 VACCINE, VACCINE CLINICS, MASSNOTIFY, AND MORE

The Board reports that as of Thursday, September 9th, there have been 2,630 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Town. This is an increase of 43 cases from last week’s update. Currently, there are 48 active confirmed cases.

COVID-19 Vaccine

According to State data as of September 2, 2021, 64% of Dedham residents are fully vaccinated for COVID-19, which is a total of 17,475 residents. This is an increase of 2% since the end of July. Most of the residents vaccinated since July have been between the ages of 12 – 19 years old. Below please find a graph of the percentage of Dedham residents fully vaccinated by age. (Click on the graph below to enlarge):

The Board encourages anyone who is eligible and unvaccinated to get the COVID-19 vaccine. Anyone 12 years and older is eligible for the vaccine. The vaccine is safe, free, and effective – even against the Delta variant. Getting vaccinated will help Dedham get back to normal.  Go to Vaxfinder.mass.gov or contact your local pharmacy or healthcare provider for information about getting the vaccine. 

Booster Dose for the General Public

More guidance from federal and state authorities is needed before administering booster shots to the general public.  A booster for the Johnson & Johnson vaccine has not been recommended at this time. The Board will continue to update residents as more information becomes available.

Board of Health Vaccine Clinics

Currently, there are no scheduled COVID-19 vaccination clinics through the Board of Health. When more guidance about booster shots is available, the Board will look into holding clinics. Flu clinics are in the process of being planned. The Board will send out notification once the flu clinic schedule has been finalized. 

MassNotify

MassNotify is a tool that works through smartphones to privately alert users who may have been exposed to COVID-19. You can enable MassNotify on your iPhone or Android phone to add another tool to our fight against the spread of COVID-19.

  • By opting in, your smartphone will share anonymous codes with other MassNotify users using your phone’s Bluetooth.
  • MassNotify codes contain no personal information or location data and are completely anonymous.
  • If another user you’ve been near tests positive for COVID-19 within a 14-day period, you will be notified. If you test positive, you can easily and anonymously notify others to stop the spread of COVID-19.

Mosquitoes

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health announced two additional Massachusetts residents tested positive for West Nile Virus (WNV). The residents are males in their 50s and 70s and were exposed in Middlesex County. Dedham, along with 37 other communities, has been raised from low to moderate risk of WNV. As always, it is important that Dedham residents take precautions to prevent mosquito bites.

The Norfolk County Mosquito Control District treats all catch basins in Dedham to prevent mosquito breeding. Additionally, you can request spraying in your area by calling the Mosquito Control District at (781) 762-3681.

PARKING METER UPDATES AND NEW PARKING ENFORCEMENT OFFICER

On August 16, 2021, a new Parking Enforcement Officer position came into effect within the Police Department. Renee Johnson has taken on this role to enforce parking rules and regulations within the Town, including parking meters, handicap parking, fire lanes, obstructed sidewalks, posted parking restrictions, etc. Renee will work a flexible shift including some evenings and Saturdays, and is available to answer your parking questions. To contact Renee, please call her at 781-751-9245 or email at rjohnson@dedham-ma.gov.

The installation of new parking meters in the Dedham Square began back in June 2020 and construction is still underway. Some of the new parking meters,  manufactured and maintained by the company Municipal Parking Services (MPS), replaced older meters on Court Street and High Street, and replaced the previous pay stations around Dedham Square. The new parking meters serve as a step toward measuring on-street parking usage and enforcing existing parking regulations.

Tips for Using New Parking Meters:

  • First 10 minutes are free. Pay before you leave to take advantage of this 10-minute grace period and avoid a ticket
  • Parking Meters are active between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday
  • Parking is 25 cents per 15 minutes. Payment available by card, coins, or through the mobile app (Sentry Mobile app)
  • Parking Meter will automatically detect your car when you park
  • You will only be charged a fine if you leave without paying

Additional Information:

August 2, 2021: Announcement and Email about Additional Parking Meters in Dedham Square

June 7, 2021: Announcement and Email about Parking Meters in Dedham Square (Court Street and High Street)

May 29, 2020: Dedham Square parking meter installation to begin in June

Video Demonstrating How the Parking Meters Work

DSPC TO HOST VIRTUAL COMMUNITY EVENT ON SEPT. 14TH

The Dedham Square Planning Committee (DPSC) needs your help and feedback for the future of the Police Station Property, located at 600 High Street and welcomes everyone to attend their next virtual community event on Tuesday, September 14, 2021.

As the DSPC prepares to issue a final report and recommendation to the Select Board, they are seeking the help of the community to fine-tune what will be included. On September 14, 2021 at 7:00 p.m., the DSPC is holding another interactive, virtual community event that will serve as the culmination of a series of public meetings and community outreach that took place over the past two years.

Make your voice heard at this event: Hey, Dedham. What’s next for 600 High Street? This event will serve as another opportunity for residents and stakeholders to learn about the project and have a say in the design that aims to create a dynamic space for everyone in Dedham to enjoy. Sign up to attend this event using the following link: bit.ly/WhatIsNextFor600HighStreet and participate in the development of the DSPC recommendation for the property.

Event Program:

  • Presentation – DSPC consultant will present a series of design concepts developed using comments and ideas from previous community events. All comments collected are recorded and taken into consideration.
  • Breakout Rooms – Participate in small group discussions with DSPC members to answer critical questions and explore the community needs/wants for the space, funding, benefits, and more.
  • Question & Answer – DSPC will answer remaining questions from the community about the project and what has been completed to date.
  • Wrap-Up & Next Steps – To close out the event, the DSPC will summarize the event and outline the next steps in this process.

DSPC Goals for this event:

  • Gather additional input and ideas – There is still time to share your comments and ideas with the DSPC! All feedback is taken into consideration for the final recommendation report to the Select Board.
  • Review design concepts – Public feedback has been cataloged and used to create various design concepts that encapsulate what the DSPC has heard so far from the Dedham community.
  • Answer your questions – The DSPC and Town staff are always available to answer questions about this project, and this event is another opportunity to join neighbors and friends and discuss the future of this property.
  • Build more community connections – Meet members of the DPSC and Town staff and learn about all the work that has gone into this project from the beginning.

It is the unrelenting goal of the DSPC to provide an opportunity for each Dedham resident to participate in this process and take pride in the outcome that will serve this community for years to come.

To learn more about the DSPC and about this project, please contact John Sisson at jsisson@dedham-ma.gov.

PUBLIC SAFETY BUILDING PROJECT UPDATES

What to expect September 13, 2021 (Monday) through September 17, 2021 (Friday):

  • The project site remains closed to the public.
  • As of Friday, September 10, 2021, the steel and decking installations and the detailing are substantially complete. Crews will continue to install pour stops on the upper decking this week.
  • Crews will continue to excavate onsite for underground utilities (plumbing and electrical). This work includes localized excavations; smaller scale than bulk and footing excavations previously completed onsite.
  • The dewatering system remains in place and operational.
  • Expect periodic entrance and exit of large trucks at the project site entrance, located at the intersection of Washington Street and Bryant Street. Please expect minor traffic delays at this intersection.
  • No additional traffic impacts or pedestrian impacts are anticipated during this week.

For more information and to sign up for weekly construction updates, visit the Public Safety Building Project page.

PUBLIC MEETINGS & COMMUNITY EVENTS THIS WEEK

Monday, 9/13/21:

Tuesday, 9/14/21:

Wednesday, 9/15/21:

Saturday, 9/18/21:

Events shown as listed on the Town calendar as of 9/13/21. Don't forget to check out the Dedham Public Library events calendar!

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This press release was produced by the Town of Dedham. The views expressed here are the author’s own.

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