Hometown Weekly

05/30/2025

LOCATION UPDATE*****
Voting will take place in the Westwood High School gymnasium (200 Nahatan St, Westwood, MA 02090)

Voters Approve Fire Station 1 Project at Town Meeting
Ballot Vote Scheduled for June 3rd
On Monday May 19th, voters at Westwood’s Annual Town Meeting took a major step toward advancing the long-planned Fire Station 1 (FS1) replacement project. After discussion and debate, the Town Moderator declared Article 14 passed by a two-thirds majority, with over 500 voters in favor and just over 100 opposed.
This vote authorizes funding for the design and construction of a modern facility to replace the aging FS1 on High Street, which has served the community for over 75 years. The new station will address long-standing issues related to structural integrity, inadequate dormitory space, and mission readiness, including the safe and efficient deployment of fire and rescue vehicles.
Next Step: June 3rd Ballot Vote
The second and final step in the process is a town-wide Special Election on Tuesday, June 3, 2025, where a majority vote is required to move the project forward.
Election Details:
Date: Tuesday, June 3, 2025
Time: 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Location: Westwood Police Station, 588 High Street
All registered Westwood voters are encouraged to participate in this important decision. The ballot vote will determine whether the Town can proceed with funding and construction of the new facility.
For additional information on the FS1 project and voting logistics, please visit https://www.townhall.westwood.ma.us/our-town/town-improvement-projects/fire-station-1-project

03/17/2025

The Warriors are bringing home more hardware. For the first time ever, Medfield won the Division 2 girls hockey State Championship by defeating Milton 3-0.

By Paul Vozzella Hometown Weekly Sports Reporter The Warriors are bringing home more hardware. For the first time ever, Medfield won the Division 2 girls hockey State Championship by defeating Milton 3-0. The team was led by a strong performance between the pipes from junior Kamryn Perachi. The goal...

03/17/2025

Medfield played against South High for all the marbles on Saturday, March 15 at the Tsongas Center. The girls clinched their second straight D2 State Championship in an impressive 69-20 win.

By Paul Vozzella Hometown Weekly Sports Reporter The semifinal usually showcases an intense, neck-and-neck matchup with a shot at history on the line. Well, that was not the case on Tuesday night. The Warriors cruised to a 69-47 win over North Quincy and returned to the State Championships this past...

03/17/2025

The Warrior’s season ended in heartbreak on Sunday night as they took a 4-1 loss against Nauset in the state championship.

By Paul Vozzella Hometown Weekly Sports Reporter The Warrior’s season ended in heartbreak on Sunday night as they took a 4-1 loss against Nauset in the state championship. Medfield saw plenty of chances in the first period starting with freshman Luke Dickson almost netting the first goal of the ga...

03/17/2025

The Walpole Timberwolves girls’ basketball team’s (14-9) postseason journey came to an end Saturday, March 8 with a 49-35 loss to the Worcester South Community School Colonels (18-4) in the Division 2 quarterfinals at Worcester South’s gym.

By Ken Chaisson Hometown Weekly Sports Reporter The Walpole Timberwolves girls’ basketball team’s (14-9) postseason journey came to an end Saturday, March 8 with a 49-35 loss to the Worcester South Community School Colonels (18-4) in the Division 2 quarterfinals at Worcester South’s gym. The C...

03/14/2025

Needham Public Schools Superintendent Daniel E. Gutekanst informed families on Friday, March 7 that Michael Ciccolella, a 46 year old teacher at High Rock Middle School, has been charged with possession and distribution of child po*******hy.

By Julia Beauregard Hometown Weekly Editor Needham Public Schools Superintendent Daniel E. Gutekanst informed families on Friday, March 7 that Michael Ciccolella, a 46 year old teacher at High Rock Middle School, has been charged with possession and distribution of child po*******hy. Ciccolella has....

03/14/2025

An upset was on the horizon in a tightly contested matchup between Needham and Braintree. Ultimately, the Rockets’ efforts were not enough to prevail as their season came to an end with a 52-47 loss in the Round of 16.

By Paul Vozzella Hometown Weekly Sports Reporter An upset was on the horizon in a tightly contested matchup between Needham and Braintree. Ultimately, the Rockets’ efforts were not enough to prevail as their season came to an end with a 52-47 loss in the Round of 16. Braintree is no stranger to Ne...

03/14/2025

Needham’s first Poet Laureate, Anne E. G. Nydam, discussed the goals of her town position and previewed her new book, “Bitter-Sweetness and Light: A Collection of Stories, Poems, and Art,” at the Needham Free Public Library.

By Audrey Anderson Hometown Weekly Reporter Needham’s first Poet Laureate, Anne E. G. Nydam, discussed the goals of her town position and previewed her new book, “Bitter-Sweetness and Light: A Collection of Stories, Poems, and Art,” at the Needham Free Public Library. Nydam was appointed in De...

03/14/2025

The Dover Board of Health held a remote meeting to discuss the proposed to***co/ni****ne ordinance to individuals born after a certain date via Zoom on March 3, 2025, at 6:30PM. Members of the committee discussed the proposed ordinance and its application, setting the stage for a heated dialogue around to***co use in Massachusetts. In 2020, the town of Brookline adopted a bylaw that banned the sale of to***co and ni****ne products to anyone born after January 1, 2000. It represented the efforts of the town to attempt to phase out the sale of to***co products.

By Lenny Strauss Hometown Weekly Reporter The Dover Board of Health held a remote meeting to discuss the proposed to***co/ni****ne ordinance to individuals born after a certain date via Zoom on March 3, 2025, at 6:30PM. Members of the committee discussed the proposed ordinance and its application, s...

03/14/2025

Dover’s Planning Board is working to comply with the MBTA Communities Act zoning requirements under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 40A, Section 3A. The Board will post a public survey on March 4, followed by a public information session on March 25 to discuss proposed locations for new zoning requirements under state law.

The Dover Planning Board is pleased to announce details of the town’s efforts to comply with the MBTA Communities Act. Dover’s Planning Board is working to comply with the MBTA Communities Act zoning requirements under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 40A, Section 3A. The Board will post a pub...

03/14/2025

On Tuesday March 4th, The 8th ranked Westwood Wolverines girls basketball team faced off against the 9th ranked Northampton Blue Devils. To get to their round of 16 matchup both teams started with a bye. In the next game Westwood beat out Longmeadow 67-53, and Northampton finished off Reading memorial. The game shaped up to be intense, they seemed almost perfectly matched, but unfortunately Westwood couldn't find their rhythm and ultimately fell to Northampton 53-39.

By Owen Ziegler Hometown Weekly Sports Reporter On Tuesday March 4th, The 8th ranked Westwood Wolverines girls basketball team faced off against the 9th ranked Northampton Blue Devils. To get to their round of 16 matchup both teams started with a bye. In the next game Westwood beat out Longmeadow 67...

03/14/2025

One of the entrants for this upcoming August 2025 ride is Westwood native Dr. Toni Choueiri, MD, Director of the Lank Center for Genitourinary Cancer at Dana-Farber, and a 7-year rider of the PMC, who in 2025 alone has already raised over $50,000, with all proceeds going directly to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Dr. Choueiri is more than just a rider, he is at the forefront of the battle against cancer and helms innovative research aimed at a cure. The Hometown Weekly recently had the pleasure of interviewing him, along with his brother-in-law and riding partner, Medfield-based Marc (Mombo) Mombourquette, on this, as well as their upcoming ride.

By Lenny Strauss Hometown Weekly Reporter The battle against cancer is made up of stories, from patients, to doctors, their families, and to the countless people who dedicate themselves to finding the cure. Former President of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Dr. Edward Benz once said, “When they wri...