Hello, Dedham. We are still very much in the depths of snow and winter, even though the days are getting longer. Luckily, there is plenty to fill those days with.

In this week’s Drop:

There are now 500+ neighbors reading The Dedham Drop. Help us grow by using that referral link below. (You can earn a birthday shoutout in a future issue!)

— KB

👨‍🏫 Dedham teacher wins TeachingAmerica250 Award. Will Donovan, history teacher at Ursuline, was selected as the state winner by the Jack Miller Center (JMC), an educational non-profit committed to civic education. Donovan will receive $5,000 in funding for a project of his own design, which is slated to include field trips to the Massachusetts Historical Society and the Adams’ National Historic Park.

❄️ Mo snow, mo problems? As of publication, there’s a weather system brewing that could bring more snow to New England. A few things to be aware of: the town has a Winter Weather page, and they also update their official social media channels with the latest news. There is also an emergency alert system that’s relatively new. If you registered before March 31, 25, you’re all set. If you registered between April 2025 and now (or haven’t registered) you can sign up here.

🚒 Hydrant clearing. Dedham Fire could use every neighbor’s help clearing hydrants. If you have a hydrant near your home:

🍎 Volunteer Opportunity: The Dedham Food Pantry is looking for volunteers of all ages. From stocking shelves, to food pick-up, to shopping assistants, you can sign up here.

🧑‍🎨 Rock the Brook. The Motherbrook, that is. Our local art hub is throwing a party with 3 local bands to raise money to improve its multi-use event space. The goal? Create a new venue for live music and performance. Saturday 2/7. 7-10:30PM. 21+. Cash bar. Tickets $25 in advance/$30 at the door.

❤️ Love is in the air. At the Sips & Sweethearts Dedham Valentine Market Event you’ll find creative cocktails, delicious desserts, and local artists. VENDORS NEEDED. For more information email [email protected] 2/14. 10AM-3PM.

✳️ Got a local announcement? Hit reply and let us know. Want to sponsor the Dedham Drop & reach 500+ neighbors every week? Get more info.

 📖 Library kicks off the Winter 2026 Reading Challenge: Bookish Biomes! Don’t let the cold and gloom of winter get you down. This year’s winter challenge is all about biomes, helping you explore different environments all over the world. Sign up online then head to either Library to pick up a reading log that you’ll turn in to enter to win a grand prize. All ages!

Coming up this week:

➡️ Today! Thursday 1/29:

🎨 Watercolor class for everyone. Build on existing skills or try something new in this 18+ class. Main Library. 10:30AM-12PM. Registration requested.

⛸️ Family friendly skating at Trillium. 45-minute sessions with skate rental available. This isn’t your typical ice rink, so check all the details before heading out. Thursday-Sunday.

🧩 Game night at Roundhead. 21+. Stop by for local brews & classic board games (on hand, or bring your own) + arcade games. 5-9PM.

👋 Hey neighbor! The new resident & networking event is free and features light appetizers, a cash bar, and a gift card raffle. 6-8PM. Orchid 7 Bar & Grill. Get more info here.

🌿 Dedham Greenspace Coalition January Meeting, Light refreshments provided. Hosted at TLC Studios. 7-8:30PM.

Friday 1/30:

🎶 Groove & Move at the Main Library. Ages 3-5. Registration required. 11AM

🏀 DHS Girls Basketball vs Hopkinton. JV @ 4:00, Varsity @ 5:30PM. Dedham High

Saturday 1/31:

🛒 Family food shopping at Dedham Food Pantry. 8AM

🏃 DHS Varsity Track & Field (Indoor) vs Ashland at New Balance Track. 9:30AM.

🗳️ Dedham Coalition for Equity and Inclusion host a candidate paper signing event. Bring your papers or meet candidates and sign papers for them. Motherbrook. 10-11AM.

🏒 DHS Varsity Girls Hockey vs Mansfield High. Nobles Flood Rink. 4:30PM.

🕵️‍♀️ Endicott Abbey Dinner where “every guest has a secret and someone won’t make it to dessert.” This is sure to be an evening of mystery, wit, and grandeur with performances by Mystery Cafe and History at Play. 6-10PM

💎 Beginning jewelry weekend series featuring earrings! Students will learn different techniques for designing and fabricating six pairs of earrings. All materials will be provided, including sterling silver, copper and brass, solder, and sandpaper. Motherbrook. Registration required. 12-4PM.

Sunday 2/1:

🏆 Sports card and memorabilia show. No football? Get your sports fix at this sports card show at the Holiday Inn. 8:30AM-2PM.

Monday 2/2:

🎶 Monday Morning Music: Live music with librarian, Jonah, at the Endicott Branch. Ages: Baby/Toddler/Pre-school. FREE. 9:30 or 10:30AM.

✍️ Tween graphic novel book club. Meet up with friends and talk about these awesome graphic novels in our Tween Graphic Novel Book Club. Middle Schoolers. Endicott Branch. 3:30-4:30PM.

🏒 DHS JV Boys Hockey vs Dover-Sherborn High School. Bajko Rink (Hyde Park). 4PM

🏒 DHS Varsity Girls Hockey at Norwood High School. Skating Club of Boston (Norwood). 4PM.

❤️  Valentine's Card Making. Nothing says I LOVE YOU like a homemade card, right? Adults. Main Library. 6-7PM.

Tuesday 2/3:

🧑‍🧑‍🧒‍🧒 Kids’ Storytime at the Main Library. Registration required. 9:30-10AM (baby/toddler) 10:30-11AM (pre-school). FREE.

💗 Valentine's Day Cursive Cards. Make 3D Valentine’s Day cards and practice your cursive! Beginners welcome. Grades 2-5. Main library. 5-5:45PM.

📗 Endicott Book Club. Come join us for a discussion of both fiction and nonfiction books the first Tuesday of every month. Endicott branch. 6:30PM.

🏀 DHS Boys Basketball vs Ashland. JV @ 50PM, Varsity @ 6:30PM. DHS.

🏺 Pottery night at Trillium Canton. (February date SOLD OUT, get tix for March now!)

Wednesday 2/4:

🧑‍🧑‍🧒‍🧒 Baby Storytime at Endicott Library. Ages 0-3. 9:30 & 10:30AM Registration Recommended. FREE.

💻 50+ Job Seekers Networking Group. Join a professional forum for networking with peers in a safe, comfortable environment conducive to developing new relationships, skills and strategies to help in your career transition. VIRTUAL. 9:30-11:30AM.

🧶 Crocheting for teens. Get hooked! Middle & High Schoolers, come learn to crochet at the main library. 5:30-6:30PM.

🕺 Family Folk Dance Night at the Avery School Gymnasium. Bring your dancing shoes and join DPS Elementary Music Teachers for an evening of dances from a variety of cultures. NOT a drop-off event. Let your children teach you some dances they've learned in music classes. 5:30-7PM

🏒 DHS Varsity Girls Hockey vs Hopkinton. Nobles Flood Rink. 6:15PM

❓ Trivia night @ Trillium. Geeks who Drink host a weekly audio/visual/live hosted trivia. Teams of 6. Free to play. Prizes available. 7PM

Thursday 2/5:

🎨 Watercolor Class - Winter Getaways. Come get inspired and paint at the main library. No experience necessary. Ages 18+. 10:30AM-Noon.

🐮 Music with Friends - Animal Songs with Uncle Dick. Join Dick Pierce for 20 minutes of kids’ fave family-friendly songs. Baby/Pre-school. Main Library. 10:30AM.

🍿Afternoon at the Movies. Come enjoy a classic movie. 55+. At the Ames Senior Center. 2-4PM.

🐶 Read to Barkley - The Therapy Dog. Main Library. Reading is more fun with a furry friend. Multiple time slots available for all ages, however space is limited and registration is requested. 5:30-6:30pm in 15-minute increments.

THURS 1/29

⚘ Whiskey Treaty Roadshow @ Trillium. 6:30PM. Tickets.

FRI 1/30

⚘ Dave Alves at Trillium. 6-9PM.

SAT 1/31

🍻 Tunes on Tap at Roundhead (Hyde Park) featuring Chrissy Anne & Elizabeth Burke. Tickets: $10.50 includes 1 local brew. 7-9PM.

⚠️ The Dave Limina Band at the Fallout Shelter (Norwood). 7PM SOLD OUT, catch it on FB.

🐦‍⬛ Conor Henry at the Raven’s Nest (Walpole). 8PM.

🛝 Dedham Parks & Recreation Summer Program registration opens soon. This includes Swim & Gym, All Day Playground, Playgrounds in the Parks, Fun Fridays, and more. Registration opens at 10AM on 2/2 for Dedham residents. Non-resident registration opens at 10AM on 2/9.

⚾️ Dedham Youth Baseball Spring registration begins 2/1.

and, as previously mentioned… 🥎 Dedham Girls Spring Softball registration is live. ⚽️ Dedham Youth Soccer Spring Town & Travel Registration Now Open: New & returning players grades K-8 sign up now ⚽️ Dedham Youth Soccer Winter clinic registration open: Sundays 2/15 - 3/22, Dedham Country Day: 4th–6th Grade Training: Girls: 3-4 PM / Boys: 4-5 PM High School Boys Training: 6-9 PM. Learn more & register ⚾️ Dedham Youth Baseball Winter Clinics 2026: Sundays, 2/22- 4/5 @ Five Tool Performance, Westwood, MA. Group A: Ages 6-8, 2-3:30pm. Group B: Ages 9-11, 3:30-5pm. Registration open

🗳️ Town Election Open Season highlights: Nomination papers now available. Last day to pick up: February 17 (5 PM). Last day to submit for signature certification: February 20 (1 PM). Voter Registration Deadline: April 1, 2026 (5 PM). For more info, visit the Town Clerk's Office (2nd floor, Town Hall). Questions? Call 781-751-9201 or email [email protected].

😎 Summer Institute 2026 registration opens Wednesday, 2/4, at 4PM. Get all the details right here. The program runs for 5 weeks, beginning June 29. Space is limited.

📓 TREK (for incoming 6th graders) registration opens Thursday 2/5. Those details are right here. This program runs for 3 weeks, from 8AM-12:30PM on weekdays in the Summer.  There are no capacity limits.

🚌 Kindergarten registration is open for the class of 2034!

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🏷️ Needham Public Library book sale is happening this weekend. Here’s what they’ve got: Hardcovers/trade paperbacks $1, mass market paperbacks 50 cents, CDs/DVDs $1. When: Fri 12-4 PM, Sat 9 AM-4 PM, Sun (bargain day) 1-4 PM. Sunday: 50% off all prices, bag of books $6-8.

🐑 The Natick Community Farm hosts events year round. This weekend, they’ve got hand-spun yarn and needle felting on the calendar. There is also teen volunteer hours available this weekend. Various times and prices. Check their site for all the details and registration.

As always, check the links before you head out as events, times, and availability are always subject to change, especially in winter. The Dedham Drop is a local effort to curate all things Dedham, your kind and constructive input is welcome.