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

Press release from the Town of Dedham:

03/07/2022 5:15 PM

Download the Weekly Update PDF

1. Dedham Police Department Announce 11th Annual Citizens Police Academy

The Dedham Police Department is pleased to announce that we are planning to host the Department’s 11th Citizens Police Academy.  This is an informational program designed to provide citizens of Dedham with an inside look at the inner workings of a modern police department.  This will be an interactive forum which will allow for the exchange of information between police officers and citizens.  Citizens of all ages are invited to attend.  This is a unique opportunity for citizens and officers to build trust and understanding related to policing services in Dedham.  There is no cost to attend this program.

Participants will be presented with information from Dedham Police Officers, E-911 Dispatchers and civilian personnel.   Material related to E-911, crime prevention, juvenile issues, alcohol enforcement, regional law enforcement councils, court procedures, the Sex Offender Registry, firearms and firearms licensing, narcotics, crime scene investigation, traffic issues, motor vehicle law, animal control and more will be discussed. 

This will be a 9-week program.  The Academy will meet once per week on Tuesday nights starting at 6 pm at the Endicott Estate.  Each session will last up to 2 hours.  The Academy will run on the following Tuesday nights:  April 12, 19 and 26, May 3, 10, 17, 24 and 31, and June 7.  Those interested in attending should contact Chief Michael d’Entremont, 600 High Street, Dedham, MA  02026 or email mdentremont@police.dedham-ma.gov to express your interest in participating.  Please call 781-751-9304 with any questions.

2. Board of Health Update – March 4, 2022

Below please find COVID-19 information as of March 3, 2022. More statistics can be found on www.mass.gov. 

Can't see the table below? Click here to view the original story.

NOTE: These numbers do not include people who tested positive with at-home antigen tests.

Updated CDC COVID-19 Community Levels

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated their COVID-19 Community Levels tool which helps communities decide what prevention steps to take against COVID-19 based on data. Data sources include hospital beds in use, hospital admissions, and COVID-19 cases. Levels include low, medium, and high. Currently Norfolk County is deemed low with recommendations to stay current with VOCID-19 vaccinations and get tested if you have COVID-like symptoms. More information can be found on the CDC’s website: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/covid-by-county.html

At-Home COVID-19 Tests for Dedham Residents in Need

The Town of Dedham purchased a limited supply of at-home COVID-19 tests to distribute to residents disproportionately impacted by the pandemic using available funds through the American Rescue Plan Act, commonly referred to as “ARPA”. The Town is using the below criteria to determine resident eligibility:

• Low-income status
• Mobility issues 
• At-risk for severe illness (per CDC guidelines - including people over 65 and those with medical conditions)

At this time, the at-home test distribution is a one-time-only resource for residents that fit the criteria above and has been established to prioritize those in need within our community. Please contact the Health Department at (781) 751-9220 if you believe you are eligible and are interested in receiving a free at-home test.  

COVID-19 Vaccine
Residents 5 years and older are eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine and residents 12 years and older are eligible to get a COVID-19 booster. The Board encourages anyone who is eligible to get vaccinated. Vaccine appointments can be scheduled at vaxfinder.mass.gov. 

3. Animal Control Officer Urges Residents Not to Feed Wildlife

Animal Control Officer Deni Goldman is asking all residents to be mindful of wildlife in the area and encourages people to resist feeding them, especially with food most common to humans.

“We are fortunate to live in a community where we see a variety of wildlife,” said ACO Goldman. “It is our responsibility to not create a harmful situation for ourselves and for them, and that includes supplemental feeding.”

The Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, commonly referred to as MassWildlife, strongly advises the public to refrain from supplemental feeding, providing additional food sources to the wildlife, as it can lead to aggressive interactions amongst animals and when around humans. The additional, not naturally occurring, source of food can also alter the animal’s normal behaviors.

“The weather is changing, and we are approaching spring when we expect to see things bloom and more animals around us,” said ACO Goldman. “We as a community can work together to reduce the potential for conflicts and negative interactions with wildlife by not positioning ourselves as a consistent source for food.”

Listed below are suggestions from MassWildlife that can help to protect ourselves and wildlife and contribute to a calm coexistence:

• Use native plants, bird houses, and fresh water instead of bird feeders to attract birds.
• If you have bird feeders, keep an eye out for other wildlife eating the fallen seeds and bring in immediately to not attract larger animals.
• Choose plants based on your soil to create safe habitat, natural food, and cover.
• Do not leave food outside for wildlife to consume. This will encourage them to return and attract more animals.
• Do not throw food scraps on the ground, in your garden, or in your yard. This can create health issues, cause aggression, and attract large crowds of animals that may spread disease to other wildlife.
• If you use a compost bin, make sure it can securely close.
• Keep pet food and water indoors.
• Do not approach wildlife, even to get a photo. Respect their space and they will respect yours.

While it may be tempting to feed the animals, they should never rely on us as a primary source for food. By allowing the wildlife to be wild and to live as they naturally do, coexistence will not just continue, it will likely thrive.

To contact Animal Control Officer Deni Goldman, please call (781) 751-9106 or send her an email at dgoldman@police.dedham-ma.gov. 

4. Tickets for Dedham High School Musical “Hairspray” On Sale

The Dedham High School Class of 2022 and Performing Arts Company present “Hairspray”!

Showtimes:

• Friday, March 25, 2022 at 7:00 p.m.
• Saturday, March 26, 2022 at 7:00 p.m.
• Sunday, March 27, 2022 at 2:00 p.m.

Where: James F. Dunne Auditorium (High School Auditorium), 140 Whiting Avenue, Dedham, MA 02026

Tickets:

• Purchase online at https://www.ticketstage.com/T/DEDHAMPS
• Students: $10.00
• Senior Citizens: $15.00
• General Admission: $20.00
• Tickets can be purchased at the door

5. Public Safety Building Updates

What to expect March 7, 2022 (Monday) through March 11, 2022 (Friday):

• The project site remains closed to the public.
• Last week, insulators began installing the piping insulation on the second floor of the Fire Department. Work will continue this week.
• Exterior installation of Shouldice, stone veneer, will continue this week on the west and north sides of the building.
• Crews completed repairs to the elevator shaft and the elevator is expected to be delivered by the end of March.
• The roofing subcontractor is nearing completion of the roof and will continue this week to install the roofing on the sally port. (The sally port is the secure and enclosed entry point where police unload those in custody by the Police Department.)
• As installation nears completion, this week crews will continue to install the air vapor barrier along the exterior of the building.
• The interior cold form metal framing work will continue this week and crews will work to finish installing the remaining DensGlass sheathing on the exterior of the building.
• Crews have begun installation of the second floor fire door frame and will continue this week.
• The installation of stairway #1 is complete and crews will continue to work on slab repairs until complete.
• Eversource crews are slated to return to relocate the existing overhead utility wires from the existing poles to the newly installed poles.
• 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.

Project Team Contact Information:

• Immediate issues or concerns, please contact the Dedham Town Manager’s Office at 781-751-9100.
• For general questions or concerns, please contact the project team at psb@dedham-ma.gov
• For more information about the Public Safety Building Project, please visit the project website at www.dedham-ma.gov/psb
• Download our project team contact information flyer on the project website.

Click on the image below to enlarge

Caption: Photo of the active construction site, taken from the north side of Town Hall on Friday, March 4, 2022. The white sheeting around the exterior of the building acts as a protective barrier while the stone veneer is installed.

6. Meetings/Community Events

Monday, 3/7/22:

• Board of Registrars at 5:00 p.m. at Town Hall
• Listening Session – Parking Meters at 6:30 p.m. via Zoom
• Open Space and Recreation Committee at 7:00 p.m. via Zoom
• Dedham Square Planning Committee at 7:00 p.m. at Town Hall
• Dog Park Committee at 7:00 p.m. via Zoom

Tuesday, 3/8/22:

• DOSA – Dedham Organization for Substance Awareness at 6:00 p.m. via Hybrid Meeting
• VFW Recreation Access Study Virtual Information Meeting at 7:00 p.m. via Zoom
• Transportation Advisory Committee at 7:00 p.m. via Zoom

Wednesday 3/9/22:

• Planning Board at 6:00 p.m. at Ames Senior Center
• Select Board at 6:00 p.m. at Ames Senior Center

Thursday, 3/10/22:

• Select Board at 7:00 p.m. via Zoom

Events shown as listed on the Town calendar as of 3/7/22. Don't forget to check out the Dedham Public Library events calendar and the Dedham Public Schools calendar!

Let’s Stay Connected!

The Town of Dedham strives to keep residents and visitors informed of Town projects, local government processes, meetings, and community events and is focusing on timely, sustainable, and consistent communications in 2022 and for years to come.

We currently use a variety of communication platforms and tools that enable us to share important information and encourage engagement with local departments and staff. We regularly review the effectiveness of these tools to help us continue to improve and reach as many people as possible.

We encourage you to sign-up to receive updates and notifications using the tools below:

Email Notifications

Visit www.dedham-ma.gov/subscribe to sign up today!

Social Media

Follow @DedhamThrives for Town-wide updates and notifications on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram

Find us on Nextdoor!

Dedham residents can sign up to join Nextdoor for free and follow the Town of Dedham for news and updates

CodeRed

Sign up for CodeRED notifications to receive emergency alerts

Dedham TV

The Town of Dedham maintains a strong collaborative relationship with Dedham TV who broadcasts public meetings, community events, educational specials, and more!

Local Media

The Town of Dedham is pleased to work closely with local news outlets like the Dedham Times and Patch to share updates and important news in print and online.

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