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Dedham

April 2, 2010 - 10:12am

Billboard Proposed for University Ave

by Dave Atkins
Clear Channel Billboard Plot Plan for University Ave and Blue Hill Drive

Updated, Monday, April 5, 2010. The official plot plan for the proposed billboard indicates it will be placed directly in front of the Amtrak parking garage, between Route 128 and the parking structure. The permit applications (links below) indicate the sign will measure 48 feet wide by 14 feet high at a total height of 85 feet above the ground.

This billboard and the accompanying plot plan illustrate the difference a few feet can make in the permitting and review process. The billboard would be placed a few feet from the the Westwood town line, adjacent to the planned Westwood Station. A few miles away, the Town of Norwood considers a request by T-Mobile to erect a 100-foot cell phone tower that will sit in the backyards of some Westwood residents. And, of course, the Canton town line is only a few more hundred feet south. These issues cry out for regional cooperation.

The photo below illustrates the approximate placement of the billboard--right in front of Blue Hills. Additional news coverage of the billboard plan can be found at yourtown/Dedham

Amtrak Parking Garage at Blue Hill Drive and Route 128 in Dedham/Westwood, MA

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation's Office of Outdoor Advertising will be holding a public meeting on Thursday, April 8, 2010 at 11am in conference rooms 5 and 6 on the second floor of the Transportation Building at 10 Park Plaza in Boston, MA to elicit feedback on two permit applications (one monopole) proposed for 699 Blue Hill Drive in Dedham. Although the address is technically in Dedham, this is near the Amtrak parking garage at the intersection of University Ave and Blue Hill Drive. Some readers may recall this small area of land (only accessible from Westwood) was also the proposed site of part of Dedham's Adult Entertainment Zone. It's also, of course, the "gateway" to the future Westwood Station development.

Clear Channel billboard at 122 Allied Drive in Dedham, MA

This proposal to erect billboards has come up before...last summer, as the issue was discussed here on WestwoodBlog and at myDedham, Dedham Selectman Paul Reynolds authored a letter to MassHighway opposing the billboard plan. Westwood's Board of Selectmen joined a chorus of local opposition with this letter providing a detailed list of concerns and objections. Now, it appears Clear Channel, the owner of this beautiful billboard at 122 Allied Drive, has submitted a permit application for what appears to be a similar structure.

The MBTA plan was opposed and legislation was introduced to kill it. Then the issue resurfaced a couple of weeks ago but the hearing was postponed. Now it appears it's "game on" again on April 8.

Here are copies of the two permit applications. These do not include all the attachments; those are not public yet.

 

January 29, 2010 - 4:45pm

Fun: Bowling in Dedham

by Dave Atkins

A couple weeks ago, our Westwood Gentlemen's Running Club got together for a non-running evening activity. Previously, we've frequented Murph's in Norwood for a gut-busting post-run breakfast, but on this Friday evening we secured reservations  to check out Kings Dedham in Legacy Place.

Kings is not what you'd imagine when you hear "bowling alley." It's more like a nightclub/sports bar. Make sure you adhere to the dress code (leave your gold chains and "doo-rag" at home). The restaurant is huge...and that Friday night was Karaoke night. I have no audio or video to post (not allowed), but a wide range of talent availed itself of the facilities... None of our group stepped forward and thankfully, our bowling lanes soon became available.

We closed the place. Around 12:45am, they turned on the lights and made us leave. It was a great night. Perhaps it was a bit LOUD, with the music, big screen TVs blasting videos, and a crowd of people a little younger than our group, but it was definitely fun.

December 2, 2009 - 9:08am

Civic Connections

by Dave Atkins

Last night, I attended Dedham Civic Connections--a community networking event that drew over 100 Dedhamites (and me) for an informal get together of town employees, elected officials, business owners and a wide range of creative, civicly-engaged people. I think this is an idea Westwood could learn from...

Selectman Paul Reynolds noted that there are probably a couple hundred people in Dedham who serve on the committees, volunteer/organize in community organizations and otherwise serve the town. You could call that the "Dedham 200." But the goal is to make it the Dedham 23,000--events like this are a start.

Westwood has no shortage of volunteers and community organizations. Check the list of town commissions and appointments by the Selectmen and you will quickly find a list of people and committees that are already very engaged in the quiet work of the town. Try to schedule a meeting--like our monthly Pedestrian and Bike Safety Committee meetings (3rd Thursday)--and you'll quickly find there are many conflicts because many people are busy at many meetings.

I have been able to find less in terms of business organization...I'm thinking of joining the Neponset Valley Chamber of Commerce--but I also think we need something local to Westwood. I'm working out some business offerings as part of Dave Atkins Media to set up local businesses with simple web sites and I also believe WestwoodBlog can play a supporting role in all of this...

That is the kind of mix I think an organization like what Dedham has started could facilitate in Westwood. Perhaps a quarterly meeting with food and drinks--not an agenda--could provide a way for residents, business owners, town officials and activists to meet and strengthen their connections and develop new ones. For business owners, it is an opportunity to network. For people interested in issues, it's a chance to meet people on the various committees informally and get a better sense of the personal element behind so much of what goes on in town...so "The Town" is not some detached bureaucracy.

I think a big part of strengthening a community can be described as making individuals and businesses aware of opportunities to invest. "Invest" doesn't just mean money--it can be volunteer time or even just influence--to pass along the idea to others or to help build consensus around strategic action that can make a difference. But community and business are not separate--the "bottom line," literally, is that we all need to work to make money and pay our taxes--and the town needs revenue from somewhere to do the things that people would like to see done. Connecting these things will make everyone better off and enable us to look forward with optimism and possibility even in difficult economic times.

May 3, 2009 - 11:00pm

Dedham Westwood Green Fair

by Liz

The Towns of Dedham and Westwood are hosting a joint event, the Dedham Westwood Green Fair, on Saturday, May 16 at the Dedham Middle School. The purpose of this free event is to educate and engage local residents on the benefits of sustainability. The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. rain or shine inside the LEED certifiable school at 70 Whiting Avenue in Dedham.

Activities are planned for all age groups and both a D.J. and live music will set the stage for fun.

  • Children can plant seedlings, do arts and crafts, and hear from Hale Reservation's Nature Jay.
  • Senior citizens can learn about weatherizing their homes and saving money during a seminar at 10:30 a.m.
  • People of all ages can attend seminars and meet with vendors to learn about recycling, composting, solar power, energy efficient cars and more.

Vendors include Green City Growers, GoGreen Lawn Care, Simply Safer Lawn, Evergreen Solar, Solar Flair, Best Buy, Owens Corning Fiberglass, Prime Auto Group and Poirier.

  • Doc Shredding will be there all day to shred sensitive documents and later recycle the scraps. Residents are encouraged to bring documents for shredding.
  • Dedham Bike & Leather will conduct an all day bike clinic. Residents are also encouraged to bike to the fair.
  • Drawings will be held for an energy efficient television and other prizes.

At 1 p.m. local "celebrities" including Sarah MacDonald and Carmen DelloIaocono from the Dedham Board of Selectman, Nancy Hyde from the Westwood Board of Selectman, and Brad Hatfield, Westwood resident and Emmy award winner, will model "green" fashion from local thrift and consignment shops. State Representative Paul McMurtry will emcee the fashion show.

The Dedham Westwood Green Fair is a joint effort of the Dedham Sustainability Advisory Committee and the Westwood Environmental Action Committee.

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