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Business & Tech

State of the Square Brings Dedham Community Together

Dedham Square Circle celebrated town's past, present and future at Centre Deli on Tuesday night

The Centre Deli served up more than sandwiches and drinks on Tuesday evening as the held its annual meeting to discuss the.

At least 70 people gathered at Centre Deli to hear about the past year’s community success along with the Square’s potential.

“We like seeing the [Dedham] community come together in one place,” Dedham Square Circle [DSC] co-president Adina Astor said. “The meeting is a way of helping us explain to people why they should become involved in the community.”

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DSC chairman Peter Reynolds kicked off the night’s festivities with a presentation of potential improvements to the Square.

“This is a time for us to celebrate all the good things that are happening in the Square,” Reynolds said. “We are united in that all of us here love the Square.”

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Reynolds urged audience members to support the, a $6.1 million proposal to increase safety and revenue in the Square. The state awarded Dedham a $1.3 million Public Works Economic Development [PWED] grant last October to improve the town.

“There’s a lot of positive energy in the Square,” Reynolds said, “[and] we want to keep that going.”

But the grant is far from guaranteed. 

The Commonwealth has a “use it or lose it policy” with PWED grants. If Dedham fails to approve the funding at the May 16 Town Meeting, the funds could be granted to another town, DSC members said.

“It would be both sad and bad for the Square,” DSC co-president Susie McIntosh said. “It would be bad for Dedham overall.”

the Dedham Square Improvement Project 8-1 at its meeting Tuesday. The Centre Deli crowd cheered as the Finance Committee’s decision was announced.

“The Square downtown is the heart of Dedham,” Reynolds said. “This is the neighborhood where all the other neighborhoods come together. Literally.”

Dedham resident Ginny Sullivan works two jobs in the Square. Sullivan is a sales associate with , but also volunteers at the , a nonprofit gift shop that has operated in the Square for nearly a century.

Sullivan recognized the event gave her the opportunity to meet others interested in the Square’s long-term success.

“I came here tonight to get about what is happening with the [improvement] plan,” Sullivan said. “We want to do what we can to help the Square become really strong and vital.”

Sharon resident Leonard Shwom has operated in the Square for three years. Shwom has lived in Sharon for 25 years, but takes an interest in the Square’s affairs because of his business.

“I’m here to get the inside scoop,” Shwom said. “I want to know what the future holds and find out what we can do to help [the Square].”

Reynolds acknowledged the importance of longstanding businesses in the Square as he reached out for additional support to close out the event.

“There has been a lot of positive energy here,” Reynolds said. “Let’s keep that going!”

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