Hello, Dedham.

Summer ticks on with more farmer’s markets, fun at the library, and salsa in the suburbs (tonight). Plus, our Pizza Poll is still open. Don’t forget to vote for your fave. (It’s a tight race!)

In this week's Drop:

— KB

Missed it? The Summer 2026 Guide is still your go-to for one more month!

And if you have’t yet… we’re still looking to learn more about who's reading and what you care about. Let us know right here.

📚 Last chance for the Minuteman Library Crawl. Pick up a passport at either Dedham branch, rack up stamps exploring Minuteman libraries through Saturday, August 8, and you're entered to win one of three $50 gift cards. Details and passport pickup at dedhamlibrary.com.

🍽️ Dine Out Boston's final week is here. Boston's restaurant week wraps up August 15, and three Legacy Place spots are still serving the deal: Il Massimo (three-course Italian prix fixe), The Capital Grille ($55 for three steakhouse courses), and Legal Sea Foods. Get a reservation in before it's gone.

🍺 Dedham's Farmers Market pours it on. The Summer Farmers Market's National Farmers Market Week celebration wrapped last week, but the fun continues Wednesday, August 12 with local craft beer, spirit, and wine tastings alongside the usual produce and live music. First Church lawn, 2–6PM.

🔖 Design Legacy Place's next bookmark — still open through August 31. Pick up a blank bookmark at the Little Free Library at Legacy Place, design it however you'd like, and drop it at Barnes & Noble. More info here.

📚 Free summer meals for kids continue through August 21 at Avery, Dedham Middle, Dedham High, and Paul Park — no registration required.

➡️ TODAY! Thursday, 8/6 — National Night Out, Final Night

📖 Children's Story Time with Ms. Kiersten. Stories, music, and a craft with Ms. Kiersten and Dedham Police Officers. The Blue Bunny Books and Toys. 10:30AM.

🎶 Music with Friends – Animal Songs with Uncle Dick. Family-friendly songs with Friend of the Library Dick Pierce. Main Library, Children's Room. 10:30–11AM.

🎬 Afternoon at the Movies – Classic Movie Club. Ames Senior Center. 2–4:30PM.

💃 Salsa in the Suburbs (DPAC). Come dance on the Town Green! 7PM.

🎧 Ritmo y Cerveza | Rhythm and Brews: Roundhead Vinyl Night. Roundhead Brewing. 6–9PM.

🐕 Riverdale Hot Dog and Ice Cream Social. Neighborhood cookout with games for all ages, limited free bike helmets, and a Safe Routes to School rep for e-bike questions. Marie Louise Kehoe Park, Riverside Drive. 6–7:30PM.

Friday, 8/7

🦕 Dino Club. Water play for kids. Main Library, Main Lawn. 10:45–11:30AM.

🍻 Teacher Appreciation Fridays. 20% off food for teachers & school staff. Roundhead Brewing. 3–6PM.

Saturday, 8/8

📚 Minuteman Library Crawl — last day! Turn in your passport and scavenger hunt photos today to be entered into the grand prize drawing (three $50 gift cards up for grabs).

Monday, 8/10

🎶 Monday Morning Music with Jonah. Endicott Branch, Back Lawn. 9:30 or 10:30AM.

📚 Millennial Book Group. Main Library. 7–8PM.

Tuesday, 8/11

👶 Baby & Toddler Time. Main Library, Children's Room. 9:30–10AM.

📖 Preschool Storytime. Main Library, Children's Room. 10:30–11AM.

🦴 The Bone Wars — How Ambition Turned Cope and Marsh From Friends to Enemies. Talk on the rivalry that shaped 19th-century paleontology. Hybrid — Main Library, Piano Space or Zoom. 5:30–6:30PM.

📚 Summer Combined Book Groups. Endicott Branch, Back Lawn. 6:30–7:30PM.

Wednesday, 8/12

👶 Baby & Me Storytime. Endicott Branch, Children's Area. 9:30–10AM.

🎶 Sing-Along Storytime with Miss Annabelle. Endicott Branch, Children's Area. 10:30–11AM.

🎉 Legacy Littles: Concert with Vanessa Trien & the Jumping Monkeys. Boston's award-winning family band brings a jumping, dancing, musically magical morning. Legacy Place. 10:30–11:30AM.

🌽 Dedham Summer Farmers Market. Local produce, makers, live music — plus local craft beer, spirit, and wine tastings this week. First Church lawn, 670 High St. 2–6PM.

🦉 What's Inside Owl Pellets?! Find out what's inside — and why they're full of bones. Main Library, Media Tables/Teen Space. 5:30–6:30PM.

Thursday, 8/13

☕ Memory Cafe. A welcoming, interactive space for individuals and families living with memory changes. Main Library, Piano Space. 1–3PM.

🎮 Roundhead Brewing Game Night! Roundhead Brewing. 5–9PM.

More at the libraries all week — check the full calendar here

🍕 One more slice. The pizza poll is a tight race. We’ll give you one more week to vote for your favorite if you haven’t already!

📖 Summer Reading Program — Dedham Public Library. "Unearth a Story" runs through August 22. Register here.

⚽ Dedham Youth Soccer. Late registration for Town Soccer closes August 9 (late fee, guaranteed spot); waitlist only after that.

🌱 Endicott Community Greenhouse — Volunteers Welcome. Stop by anytime or call 781-329-9356.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES:

🙋 The Town wants you (maybe). Two boards have openings: Commission on Disability (two vacancies, three-year terms to 2029) and Planning Board (one unexpired term to the 2027 Annual Town Election, to be filled at a joint Select Board/Planning Board meeting). Interested residents should complete the online Volunteer Application — a resume or statement of interest can also go to the Select Board. Everything's due by August 12 — either mailed to Town Hall, 450 Washington Street, Attn: Nancy Baker, or emailed to [email protected].

ELECTION INFO — HEADS UP FOR SEPTEMBER:

🗳️ State Primary is September 1 — here's what's changing and what to know now. Primary ballots are getting new colors this year (Democratic: blue, Republican: pink, with lighter shades for early/absentee versions) so voters can tell them apart more easily. Also worth a look: if your voter status shows as "inactive," you're still registered — it just means you'll need ID at the polls, and a quick postcard or census form back to the Town Clerk fixes it. Key dates to have on your radar: voter registration closes August 22, in-person early voting runs August 22–28 at Town Hall, and absentee ballots by mail are due August 31 at noon. Full early voting hours and details at the Town Clerk's elections page or by calling 781-751-9200.

UPCOMING MEETINGS:

Thursday, 8/6

🌿 Conservation Commission. 7PM.

Monday, 8/10

🏗️ Facilities Master Plan Steering Committee. 6:30PM.

Wednesday, 8/12

🅿️ Parking Public Hearing – Appeals. 9AM.

Thursday, 8/13

⚖️ Human Rights Commission. 7PM.

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

🥧 Walpole Farmers Market. Sat, Aug 8, 9AM–1PM. Spring Brook Park, Downtown Walpole.

🍅 Canton Farmers' Market. Sun, Aug 9, 10AM–2PM. Rodman Center/Canton High School lawn.

🍅 Norwood Farmers Market. Tue, Aug 11, 2–6PM. Norwood Town Common.

🌽 Newton Farmers Market. Tue, Aug 11, 1:30–6PM. Cold Spring Park. (carried over from last week's pattern — flag if schedule has changed)

🌽 Westwood Farmers Market. Wed, Aug 12, 2–6PM. St. Margaret Mary Church parking lot, 845 High St.

🥕 Milton Farmers Market. Thu, Aug 13, 1–6PM. Wharf Park, Milton Village.

🐦 Dedham Biodiversity Day. Saturday, August 15, 9AM–3PM, Dolan Center.

👋 Popsicles with the Principal. Oakdale Elementary's PTO meet-and-greet with new principal Michael Maresca. August 25, 4PM.

🎨 Dedham Food Pantry Logo Contest. Submissions close August 14. Full contest rules here.

🔖 Legacy Place Bookmark Design Contest. Entries due August 31.

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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