Hello, Dedham.

First off, if any readers out there ran the marathon, congrats on however the day landed for you. No small feat. Several Dedham educators & residents were among Monday’s runners.

Now, on to what’s ahead… more running (see below). Plus, town openings, recycling opps, and all your fave library activities.

In this week’s Drop:

Thanks for meeting me here in your inbox once again.

— KB

🌿 Wigwam Pond is opening up. The 23-acre "hidden gem" has been largely inaccessible for decades — but the Town of Dedham now has an active plan to restore it and create public access. The Dedham Greenspace Coalition's latest Green Circle podcast covers what's planned and what it means for the community. Listen here. And check out the drone footage too.

🍜 New in Dedham Square. Umizen Japanese Izakaya is now open at 342 Washington Street — sushi, ramen, and small plates in a warm, modern space. Welcome to the neighborhood! 👉Give them a follow on IG.

♻️ Recycling Day is Saturday. The 2026 Dedham Recycling Day is April 25, 8AM–Noon at the DMS parking lot. Accepted items include electronics (fees apply), metal, and old documents (free shredding by Bay State Shredding). Not accepted: paint, batteries, Styrofoam, or hazardous materials. 🌳 Bonus: Celebrate Arbor Day with free saplings for Dedham residents — plant yours and send a photo to [email protected] to be featured on town socials.

🦟 Heads up, trail walkers. Ticks have been reported in Dedham Town Forest. Before hitting any trails, fields, or wooded areas this spring: stick to the center of marked paths, wear light-colored clothing, tuck pants into socks, and do a full tick check on yourself, kids, and pets when you get back. Watch for deer ticks (tiny, black legs — can carry Lyme), dog ticks (brownish with white markings), and lone star ticks (increasingly appearing in MA — can cause a red meat allergy). Want to go deeper? "Tick Talk" is a free virtual community event on Tuesday, April 28 at 6PM featuring biologist Patrick Roden-Reynolds, director of the Martha's Vineyard Tick Program. Register here.

💬 Your voice matters — literally. The Norfolk County-8 Public Health Coalition is conducting a community health assessment for Canton, Dedham, Norwood, Walpole, and Westwood. Take the survey.

🏛️ Spring Town Meeting: Monday, May 18, 7PM at DHS. Warrant articles are posted at dedham-ma.gov. Now's the time to read up.

✳️ Have a local announcement or news item? Hit reply & let me know.

➡️ TODAY! Thursday, 4/23

🎮 Drop-in & Build LEGO – Pac-Man Arcade at the Main Library Teen Space. All week through Saturday — stop in and add a brick. Free.

🌿 Dedham Greenspace Story Slam. Share your green story for cash prizes; proceeds benefit the Dedham Greenspace Coalition. 390 Washington St. Get tickets. Time TBC.

🎲 Game Night at Roundhead. 21+. Grab a table, a brew, and some friendly competition. 5–9PM. Hyde Park.

Friday 4/24:

🌌 Out of This World Storytime at the Main Library Children's Room, in honor of Massachusetts Space Week. Register. 11–11:30AM.

Saturday 4/25:

🌿 Sustainability Fair at Trillium Canton. 11AM–4PM.

🃏 Boston-Dedham Sports Card & Autograph Show at the Holiday Inn Dedham. 8AM.

🌊 Neponset River Cleanup — Join the Neponset River Watershed Association and the Dedham Conservation Commission to clean up local waterfronts, including Condon Park right here in Dedham. 9AM–Noon.

🤠 Country Line Dancing at Good Shepherd Church. Hosted by L and S Dance. $10 admission. 7–10PM.

⚽ Watch Party: Dedham Legacy FC vs. Chicago Stars FC at Roundhead, Hyde Park. Come out and support local!

Sunday 4/26:

🏃 James Joyce Ramble — 41st Annual 10K. One of the great local traditions. Actors read Joyce along the course, and Johnny Hoy and the Bluefish perform on the lawn at Endicott Estate after. Starts at 656 East St. Volunteers also needed. 11AM.

🎴 Boston-Dedham Pokémon & TCG Show at the Holiday Inn Dedham. 85+ vendors. Special hours: 4:15–9:30PM.

Monday 4/27:

🧵 Craft and a Movie Night at the Main Library. Bring your unfinished crafts and settle in for a movie. Register. 5:30–7:30PM.

Tuesday 4/28:

😴 Pajama Storytime at the Main Library Children's Room. Stories, songs, and crafts for ages 3+. Register. 5:45–6:15PM.

🌸 Wood Flower Workshop at Trillium Canton, hosted by Blue Bumble Bee Creations. Tickets required. 6:30–8PM.

📚 History Lovers Book Group at the Main Library Rotunda. Fiction and nonfiction pairs. Register. 6:30–7:30PM.

Wednesday 4/29:

🧈 Bread & Butter Storytime — with the Fairbanks House Museum at the Endicott Branch. Learn how families used to make butter — part of Dedham Reads 2026. Register. 10:30–11:15AM.

🪶 Quills and Cursive — with the Fairbanks House Museum at the Endicott Branch. Make a quill feather pen — also Dedham Reads 2026. Register. 3:30–4:30PM.

✏️ Graffiti Lettering for Teens at the Main Library. Tags, throws, pieces — learn the basics with markers. Register. 5:30–6:30PM.

❓ Trivia at Trillium Canton — Geeks Who Drink. Teams of 6. Free to play. 6:30–8:30PM.

📖 Local Author Book Talk — Susan Mara Bregman at the Main Library. New England Sweets: Doughnuts, Bonbons & Whoopie Pies. Register. 6:30–7:30PM.

Thursday 4/30:

🎷 International Jazz Day on the Town Green. Free outdoor concert. 6PM.

🌟 Evening Under the Stars benefiting VNA Care. Gala at MIT Endicott House, 80 Haven St. 6PM.

😂 Comedy Show at Trillium Canton — hosted by Next Stop Comedy. Tickets. 7–8:30PM.

📚 Virtual Author Talk — Jason Reynolds on his final Track series book, Coach. Free. Register. 7–8PM.

👀 LOOKING AHEAD

👟 Greenlodge 5K — Sunday, May 3. The first-ever Greenlodge 5K Run/Walk honors beloved teacher Mark Carney, who taught at both Greenlodge and DHS. All paces welcome! Register at runsignup.com.

THU 4/23

🎸 Alice Howe & Freebo at The Fallout Shelter, Norwood. Folk/blues icons — Freebo has played with Bonnie Raitt, Ringo Starr, and CSN. Limited seats. 7PM.

FRI 4/24

🎶 Simple Twist of Fate at Trillium Canton. 6–9PM.

🎵 Tunes on Tap: Mary Pinto Madigan & Lainey Dionne at Roundhead, Hyde Park. All-original music. RSVP includes a drink token. $10.50. 7–9PM.

SAT 4/25

🎵 Nick "Old Soul" Spencer & Blues Express at The Fallout Shelter, Norwood. 7PM.

🏃 Trillium Run Club. Every Monday at Trillium Canton. 6:30–8PM.

🏅 DHS Home Games this week:
Thu 4/23:
🥍Varsity Girls Lacrosse vs. Norton, 4:15PM
🎾Varsity Girls Tennis vs. Holliston, 6:30PM
Fri 4/24:
🏃Varsity Track & Field vs. Norwood, 4:15PM
🥎JV Softball vs. Norwood, 4PM
Sat 4/25:
⚾️Varsity Boys Baseball vs. Cohasset, Noon
Tue 4/28:
⚾️Varsity Baseball vs. Ashland, 4:15PM
🥎Varsity Softball vs. Ashland, 4:15PM
🥍Varsity Girls Lacrosse vs. Norwood, 4:30PM
🎾Varsity Girls Tennis vs. Norwood, 4:30PM
Wed 4/29:
⚾️Varsity Baseball vs. Dover-Sherborn, 4:30PM
🥍Varsity Girls Lacrosse vs. Medfield, 4:30PM
🎾Varsity Boys Tennis vs. Dover-Sherborn, 4:15PM
Thu 4/30:
⚾️Varsity Baseball vs. Westwood, 4:30PM
🥎Varsity Softball vs. Westwood, 4:30PM
🎾Varsity Boys Tennis vs. Westwood, 4:15PM
🎾Varsity Girls Tennis vs. Norwood, 4:30PM

📆 For full schedules: DHS Athletics | Nobles & Greenough | Ursuline Academy

🌟 2026 Dedham Inclusive Sports Open House — Sunday, May 3, 10AM–Noon at DHS Track & Field Complex. Open to all — with and without disabilities. Sports stations, Special Olympics info, snacks, and giveaways. Free, registration encouraged. Questions: [email protected]

🏐 DHS Youth Volleyball Clinic — 6/19. Grades 4–8, no experience needed. DHS Gym. $40 pre-register / $45 walk-in. Contact [email protected]. 9AM–1PM.

📅 Upcoming Meetings

Thu 4/23
Select Board — 5PM, Town Hall
Board of Assessors — 5:30PM, Town Hall

Mon 4/27
Town Meeting Representatives' Reorganization Meeting — 7PM, Town Hall. (Precinct 3 vacancy candidates must attend — see below.)

Tue 4/28
"Tick Talk" Virtual Community Event — 6PM. Timely given recent tick reports in Dedham Town Forest.
School Committee — 6:30PM
Historic Districts Commission & Historical Commission — 7PM

Wed 4/29
Dedham Organization for Substance Awareness (DOSA) — 6PM
Community Listening Session — Facilities Master Plan — 6:30PM

🙋 Dedham has open seats — and they could be yours. The Town is currently seeking residents to fill two vacancies:

🗳️ Spring Town Meeting: Monday, May 18, 7PM at DHS. Warrant articles are posted at dedham-ma.gov.

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

🏃 Hit the trails at Blue Hills. Spring is peak season — 125 miles of trails across Milton, Canton, and Dedham. Free parking at Houghton's Pond (840 Hillside St, Milton). Bring layers and do a tick check after.

📚 Book Swap & Fair at Trillium Canton — hosted by Books and Brews Boston & An Unlikely Story. Two sessions: 11AM–1PM and 1–3PM on Saturday, May 3. A great excuse to clean off the nightstand.

🎻 Eileen Ivers with the Great Hall Concert Series at Needham Town Hall — Saturday, May 2, 7:30PM. World-renowned Irish fiddler. Plan ahead for this one.

As always, check links before you head out; times and availability are subject to change.

The Dedham Drop is a local effort to curate all things Dedham, your kind and constructive input is welcome.

Have an event or announcement? Hit reply. If you see an error (mistakes happen!)—let us know.

And if you got this from a friend, you can sign up here. Thanks for reading!

— KB

*I’ll always call out when a brand has sponsored the Dedham Drop. Occasionally, I’ll include affiliate links. If you click, I may receive a tiny commission. Most of the time, you’ll receive an offer. Win/Win! These products/services mentioned are ones I believe in.