Hello, Dedham.

Let’s just skip the part about last night’s Sox game and get right into it…

In this week's Drop:

This is issue #40 (!) of The Dedham Drop. let’s get into it.

— KB

🌧️ We got rain. But how much? Dedham didn't make the list, but a few of our neighbors did, and some of those numbers are something. Click to see who got the worst of it.

🍴 New leadership in the kitchen. MEZŌ Mediterranean and Dedham House of Pizza have named Carlos Vasquez head chef and GM for both restaurants. He brings 10+ years of experience from Venezuela, Miami, Dallas and Greater Boston.

💧 Irrigation meter reads are due 10/21. Have a second (irrigation) water meter? Submit your read by 10/21 to get your credit on the November utility bill. Use the town's online form only (older forms and emails won't be accepted), and sewer users need to upload a photo of the meter.

🌊 Volunteer Opportunity: The Town is seeking two residents for a paid Community Liaison role on the Norwood-Dedham-Milton Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP 2.0) Core Team, helping shape Dedham's climate resilience priorities and translate them into local action. $3,200 honorarium for the role. Apply here.

🎸 Battle of the Bands is back. Dedham Arts Boosters' fundraiser for arts and music in Dedham Public Schools returns to Motherbrook on Saturday, 10/3. Doors at 7PM. $25 gets you in — snacks, raffles, and a cash bar (21+). Babysitting available on-site; email [email protected] to reserve a spot.

✳️ Got a local announcement? Hit reply and let me know.

Library programs below are all from the Dedham Public Library calendar — registration required for most, so click through before you head out.

TODAY! Thursday 10/1:

🎨 Watercolor Class. Renew and refresh your skills painting landscapes and still lifes. Main Library. Ages 55+ and adults. 10:30AM-Noon

🎶 Music with Friends. Friend of the Library Dick Pierce leads 30 minutes of family-friendly songs. Main Library. Baby/toddler and preschool. 10:30-11AM

📕 Virtual Author Talk: Veronica Roth. Bestselling author Veronica Roth talks about the legacy of her Divergent series and gives a sneak peek at her upcoming novel, The Sixth Faction. Online. 7-8PM

Friday 10/2:

🎶 Groovin' and Movin'. A morning of stories, music and movement at the Main Library. Ages 3-5. 11-11:30AM

Saturday 10/3:

♻️ Holiday Decor Swap. Keep your no-longer-wanted decorations out of the landfill and refresh your holiday decor with a quick trip to the Main Library. 10:30-11:30AM

🔦 Light Lanterns or Mystery Monsters. Kids can design and build a glowing light lantern or create their own unique 3D monsters in this FabMaker engineering workshop led by STEM teacher Liz Dorgan. TLC Studios in Dedham Square. Ages 7-12ish. $35 per session, register in advance. 11AM-12:30PM

Sunday 10/4:

🏃 DEF Dash 5K — Sun, Oct 4. Dedham Education Foundation's annual fun run/walk, all levels welcome. Register.

🃏 Cards, cards, cards. The Boston-Dedham Sports Card & Autograph Show is at the Holiday Inn. 85+ vendor tables, door prizes, and a chance to buy, sell and trade new and vintage cards and memorabilia. Autograph guests: Hockey Hall of Famer Gerry Cheevers and Bruins reporter Sophia Jurksztowicz. $3 admission, under 16 free. 8:30AM-2PM

🌍 Adventure awaits. The Dedham Girl Scout Adventure Troop (70664) is holding its fall kickoff & info session for middle and high school scouts. Meet the leaders and hear what's ahead, including trips to Peru in 2027 and Greece in 2028. Families are welcome, and you don't have to live in Dedham to join. Public Safety Building Community Room. 4PM

Monday 10/5:

🎶 Monday Morning Music. Live music and singing with children's librarian Jonah at the Endicott Branch. Baby/toddler and preschool. Registration required (pick one session). 9:30AM or 10:30AM

💉 Free flu clinic (ages 5+). The Town's annual public flu clinic is at Dedham Middle School, with or without insurance. Registration required, and bring your insurance card. 5-7PM

🍂 Needle Felted Fall Leaves. Get in the fall spirit with this autumnal craft at the Main Library. Ages 55+ and adults. 6-7PM

Tuesday 10/6:

📚 Preschool Storytime. Stories, songs and crafts for ages 3 and up with a caregiver. Main Library. 10:30-11AM

🍎 Apple Tasting. Sample a variety of fall apples, make apple dip and do some fun activities at the Main Library. Elementary school age. 5-5:45PM

Wednesday 10/7:

🧑‍🧑‍🧒‍🧒 Baby & Me Storytime. Stories, songs and fingerplays for our youngest friends and their caregivers at the Endicott Branch. Ages 0-3. 9:30-10AM

💉 Senior flu clinic (ages 65+). Free flu shots at the American Legion. Appointments required, and bring your insurance cards. Homebound? Call the Public Health Nurse at 781-751-9220. 9:30AM-12:30PM

🎤 Sing-Along Storytime. Miss Annabelle and friends sing, dance, shake and move at the Endicott Branch. Baby/toddler and preschool. Registration required. 10:30-11AM

✂️ Crafternoon. Arts, crafts and snacks at the Endicott Branch. Elementary school age. 3:30-4:15PM

🗳️ Your Vote is Magic. Discover the power (and the magic) of your right to vote at the Main Library. Elementary school through adult. 6-7:30PM

Thursday 10/8:

☕ The Memory Café. A welcoming, interactive place for individuals and families living with memory changes. Main Library. Ages 55+ and adults. 1-3PM

📖 Virtual Author Talk: Carolyn Russo. Smithsonian curator Carolyn Russo discusses her book The Ascent of Rauschenberg. Online. 2-3PM

🌶️ Spice Club. Explore the world through flavor, one spice at a time, at the Main Library. 6:30-7:30PM

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⚾ For everything youth sports, check each program's own site: Baseball | Soccer | Youth Hockey | Lacrosse | Field Hockey | Youth Football | Basketball | Girls Softball

**Sport leagues — have an upcoming tryout? looking to fill board seats? hosting a clinic? Hit reply & let us know so we can share your updates here!

📌 HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS: Dedham | Nobles | Ursuline & streaming on NFHS Network for Dedham High home games.

🌳 Thursday 10/1: Conservation Commission, 7PM

🛝 Monday 10/5: Open Space & Recreation Subcommittee, 6PM.

🛍️ Monday 10/5: Legacy Blvd Mixed-Use District Advisory Committee, 6PM.

💰Monday 10/5: Finance and Warrant Committee, 6:30PM

📐 Wednesday 10/7: Design Review Advisory Board, 7PM.

🏗️ Wednesday 10/7: Facilities Master Plan Community Forum & Listening Session, 7PM.

👥 Thursday 10/8: Select Board, 6:30PM

📉 MCAS scores are down again. Statewide 2026 results are in, and the trend that started with the pandemic continues. Only 45% of 10th graders met expectations in English, a six-point drop from last year and 16 points below 2019. Grades 3-8 held roughly steady, with 40% meeting expectations in English and 41% in math, still well short of pre-pandemic levels. One bright spot: 8th grade math rose four points. Boston.com has the full breakdown.

Want to see how Dedham (or your school) compares? Here's how:

🏫 School Committee advances ed model options for full pricing. At Tuesday night's meeting, the School Committee voted to move three educational models from the Rennie Center's analysis forward for full pricing as part of the Facilities Master Plan in early 2027. The Committee also confirmed that either option A1 or A2 will be priced as a bonus baseline, which narrows the field to four models that will get independent cost estimates from consultant Arrowstreet. Enrollment growth will be factored in, and the location of any new buildings has not been determined.

🔹 A1 or A2 (baseline): keeps the current four neighborhood elementary schools. A1 renovates Riverdale, Greenlodge and Oakdale; A2 builds three new elementaries and keeps Avery.

🔹 B4: consolidates Greenlodge, Oakdale and Riverdale into two new schools and keeps Avery, for three elementary schools total. The Rennie Center did not recommend this one, citing cost, timeline and equity concerns.

🔹 B5: one new elementary school plus an addition to Avery, consolidating into two medium-sized elementary schools. Recommended by the Rennie Center, with unanimous School Committee support.

🔹 D9: moves 5th grade to an expanded middle school, builds one new grade 1-4 elementary, and keeps Avery (grades 1-4 only). Also recommended by the Rennie Center.

When the cost estimates come back, residents will be able to compare each option with independent data. The Facilities Master Plan Committee leads the next steps and is looking for continued community feedback. Read more on Be Heard Dedham.

📆 Full agendas and the complete town calendar are here.

📺 Missed a meeting or event? Catch replays at DedhamTV.com.

🍂 Harvestfest in Westwood. The Westwood Young Women's Club hosts its fall festival at Martha Jones Elementary School on 10/3. Buy tickets early and you'll be entered into raffles. Saturday 10/3, 10AM-1PM.

📌 Planning Board public hearing on the proposed Zoning Bylaw amendment (Article 8 of the Fall Town Meeting Warrant) — Wednesday, October 14, 6PM, Town Hall.

🚒 Saturday 10/10: DFD Open House. Bring the whole family to meet Dedham firefighters, get an up-close look at the trucks and gear, learn about fire safety, and even help put out a real fire with an extinguisher. Food and souvenirs, too. Public Safety Building. 11AM-1PM

🚚 Touch-a-Truck & Fall Festival. Holy Name Parish School in West Roxbury hosts an afternoon of trucks, food, fall activities, pumpkin decorating, and a beer garden. Saturday 10/17, 12-4PM

As always, double-check links before heading out — times and details can change. If you see an error or have something to add, hit reply.

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