Hello, Dedham.

For all my fellow parents, I hope you are surviving these final few days of summer break. Next week’s a big one with the first day of school, state primaries, and more.

In this week's Drop:

As always, I’m glad you’re here. Let’s get to it.

— 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!

🌕 Set an alarm for tonight. A deep partial lunar eclipse peaks at 12:12AM Friday — 96% of the moon slips into Earth’s shadow, turning it a coppery red. No equipment needed; it’s the most dramatic eclipse visible from the US until 2028. Best viewing starts around 10:30PM Thursday as the shadow becomes visible.

🍎 First day of school! Dedham Public Schools (grades 1–12) opens for the 2026–27 year on Wednesday, September 2. Here’s to full backpacks, on-time buses, and a smooth start.

🗳️ State Primary is Tuesday. Polls are open 7AM–8PM on September 1. Early voting wraps up this week.

🔖 Last call for the Legacy Place Bookmark Contest. “Leave Your Legacy” entries are due Monday, August 31 — one more chance to make your mark before the bell rings.

🕵️ Dedham 1776 Scavenger Hunt is on. Part of Dedham Reads Together 2026’s semiquincentennial send-off, this town-wide hunt runs now through September 26 — a fun way to close out summer before the weather turns.

🏃‍♀️ Girls on the Run is coming to Oakdale Elementary this fall (grades 3–5), and they’re recruiting volunteer coaches now — training required, season starts the week of September 20.

👶 ECEC Preschool has new openings for 2026–27. Dedham Public Schools’ Integrated Preschool has limited spots in its 2-day, 3-day, and 5-day programs for incoming students ages 3y6mo–4y11mo (must be toilet trained). Interested? Reach out to Preschool Coordinator Dianna Parr at [email protected].

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

On the horizon — don't miss these:

🗳️ State Primary, Tuesday, September 1 — polls open 7AM–8PM.
🎒 First Day of School, Wednesday, September 2 — grades 1–12.

This week, day by day:

➡️ Today! Thursday 8/27:

🏃 Community Run with Live Fit Army. All paces, rain or shine, no registration needed. Roundhead Brewing. 6:30–7:45PM.

Friday 8/28:

🎶 Tunes on Tap: Lisa Sheldon. Live music. Roundhead Brewing. 7–9PM.

Saturday 8/29:

📚 School Supply Swap. Free swap for all ages, no registration required. 10–10:30AM early entry for donors, open to everyone 10–11:30AM. Main Library. Presented by Friends of the Dedham Public Library, the Library Innovation Team, and school PTOs across the district.

🍞 Family Shopping at the Dedham Food Pantry. 8AM.

Monday 8/31:

🎶 Monday Morning Music with Jonah. Live music and singing with one of our children's librarians. Endicott Branch, Back Lawn. 9:30 or 10:30AM.

🕯️ International Overdose Awareness Day Vigil. More in Civics Class. 6PM.

Tuesday 9/1 — Primary Day:

🗳️ State Primary. Polls open 7AM–8PM. Full voting details in Civics Class.

🎤 Dedham Square Circle presents FREE Concerts on the Green. 6PM.

🎮 Family Feud Night. Bring the whole crew and prove you actually do know everything. The Halfway Cafe, 174 Washington St. 7PM. (Weekly, every Tuesday.)

Wednesday 9/2 — First Day of School:

🎵 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.

Thursday 9/3:

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

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

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🥍 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 Youth Baseball — Fall 2026 Registration is open! Programs designed to meet players where they are, flexible and development-focused. Deadline to sign up: September 1. Register at dedhambaseball.org.

🥎 Dedham Girls Softball — Fall Registration is open! 10U (players age 10 or younger as of 8/31/26) and 12U (age 12 or younger as of 8/31/26) teams in the Charles River Softball League this fall. 10U Registration. 12U Registration.

ℹ️ The Parks & Rec Fall & Winter program guide is live! Most programs are already registering and space is limited.

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

ELECTION INFO — HEADS UP:
🗳️ September 1 State Primary. Polls open 7AM–8PM on Election Day. Early voting closes August 28; Full details at the Town Clerk’s elections page or by calling 781-751-9200.

SELECT BOARD RECAP (Aug 20 meeting):
🏛️ Facilities Master Plan Steering Committee: Arrowstreet will present municipal building options to the community this fall; school model options are expected to be selected in late September. A community listening session is set for October 7, 7PM at the Parks & Recreation Building (former Capen School).

🏠 Short-term rentals/Airbnb: The Town is actively responding to complaints and working with Planning and Building on regulatory options.

📉 Budget Planning: FY28 budget planning is underway — the Town faces an estimated $2M annual structural deficit.

👮 Sergeant Brian Crump was sworn in, recognized for 27 years of service and leadership within the police department.

💜 Overdose Awareness & Recovery Month: A purple flag display at Barnes Memorial Park has been up since Aug 24 ahead of International Overdose Awareness Day (Aug 31); more Recovery Month events in September are noted in Looking Ahead.

🏚️ Historic Districts Commission/Historical Commission gave updates on local/national historic districts, homeowner review processes, and a potential National Register of Historic Places nomination for the Dedham Powder House.

🌳 Open Space & Recreation Plan (OSRP): The Select Board voted to support the updated 10-year plan following a multi-month public engagement process, ahead of final submission to the state.

🚰 Sewer Inflow Removal Program: The Board unanimously adopted a new program to fund (~$250,000) removal of illegal sump pump/drain connections in the Bonham/Greensboro Road neighborhood. Letters to affected homeowners go out beginning in September.

📅 Next Select Board meeting: Wednesday, September 9.

UPCOMING MEETINGS:
🏛️ Warrant Closes for 2026 Fall Annual Town Meeting. Fri, Aug 28, 1PM.

🕯️ International Overdose Awareness Day Vigil. Barnes Memorial Park. Mon, Aug 31, 6PM.

🏛️ Design Review Advisory Board. Wed, Sept 2, 7PM.

🌳 Conservation Commission. Thu, Sept 3, 6PM.

📆 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.

🎉 Dedham Day 2026. Save the date — Sunday, September 27!

🎗️ 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. 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).

💜 National Recovery Month (September): Recovery Coach information session, Sept 15; Community naloxone training, Sept 24; "Wear Purple Day," Sept 30.

📚 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.

🥪 Pressed Café is hiring ahead of its Fall 2026 opening at 750 Providence Highway. See more here.

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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