Hello, Dedham.

Class assignments and schedules are out, but school is not quite in yet. There is still time to soak up lots of summer goodness right here in Dedham, and beyond.

In this week's Drop:

However you’re spending your final week or so of summer vacation, make it a good one!

— KB

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. Please & thanks!

🗳️ Early voting opens this week. In-person early voting for the September 1 State Primary runs August 22–28 at Town Hall. Voter registration for the primary closes Saturday, August 22.

🎒 School Supply Swap donations open this week. Donate new or gently used school supplies to the Main Library Media Room, Monday 8/24–Friday 8/28, ahead of the swap itself on August 29.

🛍️ A new name is coming to Legacy Place. A well-known national retailer is taking over the former Urban Outfitters space, joining the recent wave of fashion additions (Aritzia, Brandy Melville, and soon ALO). No opening date yet — click to see who it is.

👖 Madewell Legacy Place: Denim Trade-Up. Continue to trade in old jeans (any brand) for $20–25 off a new pair — good for the planet and the wallet. (Ongoing in August.)

🔖 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.

✳️ Got a local announcement? Hit reply and let us know. Your Business Here.

➡️ Today! Thursday 8/20:

🎶 MEZŌ Mediterranean: Bouzouki Nights (NEW monthly series). Live Greek music, third Thursday of every month. Reservations required — call 781-751-2700, limited dine-in seating. 5:30–8:30PM.

🎨 Watercolor Class – Summer Scenes. Renew and refresh your skills painting vibrant summer scenes. Main Library, Media Tables. 10:30AM–12PM.

🎶 The Juke: Opening Night. NEW monthly gathering spotlighting local artists and live performance, in the tradition of historic juke joints. Roundhead Brewing. 7:30–9:30PM.

Friday 8/21:

🎉 Summer Reading Wrap-Up: Foam Party with Ice Cream! Celebrate the end of Summer Reading 2026 with foam AND ice cream. Session 1 (Age 0–Grade 5): 5:30PM. Session 2 (Grade 6–Adult): 6PM. Endicott Branch Library. Registration required.

Saturday 8/22:

⚽ Watch Party: Boston Legacy FC vs. North Carolina Courage FC. Roundhead Brewing. 7–9:30PM.

Sunday 8/23:

🏒 The Boston-Dedham Sports Card & Autograph Show. Buy-sell-trade sports cards & memorabilia, 85+ vendor tables, free hourly door prizes. Special autograph guests Phil Esposito and Ray Bourque (regular items $59, premium $69, inscriptions $29). Holiday Inn Boston-Dedham. 8:30AM–2PM. $3 admission, under 16 free.

🃏 The Boston-Dedham Pokémon & TCG Show. Buy-sell-trade Pokémon, One Piece, Magic, Yu-Gi-Oh & other TCG cards/collectibles, 85 vendor tables, free hourly door prizes. Holiday Inn Boston-Dedham. 4:15–9:15PM. $3 admission, under 16 free.

Monday 8/24:

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

Tuesday 8/25:

📖 History Lovers' Book Group. Alternating fiction and non-fiction picks! Main Library, Rotunda Space. 6:30–7:30PM.

Wednesday 8/26:

🎵 Legacy Littles: Music & Movement. An hour of music, movement, stories, bubbles, and games with Little Beats. Legacy Place, The Green (in front of J.Crew). 10:30–11:30AM.

🥕 Dedham Summer Farmers Market. Local produce, makers, live music. First Church lawn, 670 High St. 2–6PM.

🎮 Pokémon Club. Monthly meetup for Pokémon fans. Endicott Branch, Children's Area. 3:30–4:30PM.

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

🥍 Free Back to School Lacrosse Clinic. Dedham Youth Lacrosse offers a free clinic for all Dedham boys & girls grades 1–8 to kick off Fall Ball Skills & Drills Sundays. No experience necessary, sticks provided if needed. Sunday, September 13, 4–5:30PM, Gonzalez Field. Sign up at dedhamlax.com.

🥎 Dedham Girls Softball — Fall Registration is open! DGSL will field a 10U and 12U team in the Charles River Softball League this fall. Season runs September–October, games are Sunday doubleheaders. Questions? Email [email protected] with subject line "Fall Ball 2026."

📖 Summer Reading Program — Dedham Public Library. "Unearth a Story" wraps up August 22 — celebrate with the Foam Party on 8/21 (see Friday listing above). Register here.

ℹ️ The Parks & Rec Fall & Winter program guide is live! (And includes the date for Dedham Day.) Most programs are already registering and space is limited.

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

ELECTION INFO:

🗳️ September 1 State Primary — early voting starts this week. In-person early voting runs August 22–28 at Town Hall. Voter registration closes Saturday, August 22. Absentee ballots by mail are due August 31 at noon. Ballots have new colors this year (Democratic: blue, Republican: pink). Full details at the Town Clerk's elections page or by calling 781-751-9200.

SCHOOL COMMITTEE UPDATE:

🏫 Rennie Center presented school facilities findings. At its August 13 meeting, the School Committee reviewed the first of two reports from the Rennie Center for Education Research & Policy as part of Dedham's Educational Model Redevelopment. The report — built on 250+ data graphs, visits to all seven schools, 17 focus groups, and over 760 community survey responses — narrowed a list of ten possible grade-configuration and facilities scenarios down to three recommended options, all aimed at moving elementary students into higher-quality spaces sooner. Full report and executive summary here.

🗳️ What's next. The School Committee will vote on a final slate of three scenarios in mid-to-late September, which then feed into the Town's separate Facilities Master Plan process. A second Rennie Center report, focused on teaching and learning, is expected in September. Community members can learn more and talk with committee members at District Curriculum Night, September 10 at DMS.

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

UPCOMING MEETINGS:

🏛️ Select Board. Thu, Aug 20, 6:30PM.

🌳 Conservation Commission. Thu, Aug 20, 7PM.

🏛️ Historic Districts Commission & Historical Commission. Tue, Aug 25, 7PM.

📆 Full agendas and the complete town calendar are here.

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

🥧 Walpole Farmers Market. Sat, Aug 22, 9AM–1PM. Spring Brook Park, Downtown Walpole.

🍅 Canton Farmers' Market. Sun, Aug 23, 10AM–2PM. Rodman Center/Canton High School lawn.

🍅 Norwood Farmers Market. Tue, Aug 25, 2–6PM. Norwood Town Common.

🌽 Newton Farmers Market. Tue, Aug 25, 1:30–6PM. Cold Spring Park.

🌽 Westwood Farmers Market. Wed, Aug 26, 2–6PM. St. Margaret Mary Church parking lot, 845 High St.

🥕 Milton Farmers Market. Thu, Aug 27, 1–6PM. Wharf Park, Milton Village.

🌸 Pick-Your-Own Dahlias at Ward's Berry Farm. The Sharon farm's dahlia fields are in full, stunning bloom and now open for picking. Open daily, weather permitting. 614 S Main St, Sharon. Availability & pricing here.

🎗️ International Overdose Awareness Day: Purple Flag Remembrance. The Town invites residents to dedicate a flag and share a message. Learn more here.

🎒 Dedham Public Schools — Save the Dates. Open House schedule for the new school year: District Curriculum Night Sept 10 (6PM); Elementary Open Houses Sept 24 (6PM); ECEC Kindergarten Open House Oct 1 (5PM); DMS Open House Oct 8 (6PM); ECEC Preschool Open House Oct 15 (5PM); DHS Open House Oct 22 (6PM). More details to come from schools directly.

✏️ School Supply Swap. Free swap for all ages, no registration required — donate new or gently used supplies at the Main Library Media Room 8/24–8/28 first, then swap Saturday, August 29, 10–11:30AM (10–10:30AM early entry for donors, open to everyone after). Main Library. Presented by Friends of the Dedham Public Library, the Library Innovation Team, and school PTOs across the district.

📚 Indie Children's Bookfest. Peter H. Reynolds and independently published children's authors celebrate International Dot Day with book sales, a free signed print, storytime, a creativity raffle, and a dot-art craft. Bonus: $5 Blue Bunny coupon with any indie book purchase. Sunday, Sept 13, 11AM–1PM. TLC Studios, Dedham Square.

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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