Week in Review

A Controversial Fence, Avery Dirt and Long Commutes

A look back at the most notable stories from the last week.

When a letter written by a Whiting Avenue resident was published on Dedham Patch this week, it touched of a hot debate over whether or not a fence should have been erected in the Whiting and Morse avenues area. While attorney Jonathan Eichman maintains that the path that is currently blocked was never established as a public way and that there is no obligation by the town to “keep it open for public passage." Residents like the Clintons, however, believe that their rights have been violated. What’s your take on the situation? Be sure to make your voice heard in the comment section. Elsewhere this week, the School Building Rehabilitation Committee met on Monday night to update residents on the progress of the school and talk further about …

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Morse Ave. Fence Raises Questions, Concern

A new fence that prohibits travel from Morse Avenue to Whiting Avenue has caused concern for a number of local residents.

A recently-erected fence cutting off access from Morse Avenue to Whiting Avenue has caused frustration among area residents in Dedham.  The fence comprises two sections, one on the end of Morse Avenue and the other on Whiting Avenue. A paved path between the two roads was previously used as a cut through, mostly by pedestrians and students aiming to get to Dedham High School and Dedham Middle School. Edison Avenue residents Tom and Ellen Clinton first noticed the fence on Jan. 14, blocking their access from one road to the other. The couple said no notifications were given to neighbors or other residents, no hearings were held, and there was no input by deeded residents of the Whiting Park subdivision.  "We and many other Dedham residents …

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Letter: Avery Site Should be Arts Center

Jay O'Brien relates how the committee came to its decision.

  The following was submitted by Jay O'Brien, Vice-Chair of the Avery Reuse Committee. Dear Selectmen: As the Vice Chairman of the Avery Reuse Committee I want to thank you for publicly acknowledging the tremendous effort put forth by the committee and the hard work and determination it took to produce the report.  Our recommendation for a specific re-use of Avery – an arts and community center – was arrived at after extensive consultation with the community and a great deal of research. That research showed that an arts and community center leased to a community-based non-profit can be financially self-sustainable and would be highly desirable to the local community.  Municipal use was given due consideration until we determined there was…

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MBCG Looking at ‘Proud Past, Bright Future’

Residents are encouraged to attend Tuesday’s annual meeting.

When the Mother Brook Community Group (MBCG) started five years ago its goal was to promote a flourishing community in the Mother Brook section of town. Tomorrow, the group will look ahead to another year of strengthening networks when it hosts its annual meeting at the American Legion. With eyes on the past and the future, tomorrow night’s meeting will look back at the influence that the mills in East Dedham played in the town’s economical development, while also looking at what role the neighborhood can play moving forward. This year’s theme is “Proud Past, Bright Future.” Residents of E. Dedham and all other Mother Brook neighborhoods are invited to learn about how to get involved in improvements and other initiatives. Projects that …

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Week in Review

A New Medical Office, Allied Drive and MacDonald’s Decision

A look back at the week’s most notable stories.

  Homeowners might be faced with a morning of shoveling out today, but the week began at a slower pace as residents took time to reflect on the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Patch went to Oakdale Elementary School prior to Monday’s holiday where a group of students paid tribute to the civil rights leader. Visions Medical took a step closer to construction on Washington St. this week. The project will eventually turn a former restaurant into an office space. In other project news, officials this week reviewed a transportation plan for the Allied Drive Project. The applicants involved in a proposed healthcare facility in Westwood and Dedham are looking at a transportation plan to help alleviate traffic concerns. Dedham Board of …

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Avery Dirt Path Could Be Extended to Walnut Street

The School Building Rehabilitation Committee is debating how to resolve an issue frustrating neighbors.

Ten neighbors of the new Avery Elementary School construction site expressed more frustration and disjointed opinions on how the School Building Rehabilitation Committee should deal with a large dirt path behind their homes. Neighbors were pushed over the edge last month when consturction crews cut down about 40 trees without notifying neighbors or even the committee. Homeowners now say their privacy is gone, and each neighbor that spoke at Monday's meeting favors replanting, but they disagree on what to do with the pile. For the first time, the SBRC broached the possibility of extending the dirt path about 300 feet to Walnut Street, which would go behind four Whiting Avenue homes. The idea to extend the path would lower the planned end-…

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Avery Tree Removal Infuriates Neighbors

Construction crews removed more than 40 trees - with plans for more clear cutting - along backyards as part of the new Avery School project.

Just last week, Jamie Simpson and Denice Kresker had a shaded area to relax next to a pool in the backyard of their Whiting Avenue home. Only now they have a view of an estimated 15-foot high dirt pile along an old railroad bed. But they aren't alone. Eight homes on Whiting Avenue, plus several more on Hazelnut Street, have a mountain of dirt and rocks behind their homes as construction continues on the new Avery School. Construction crews removed close to 40 trees over the past week without the knowledge of the School Building Rehabilitation Committee, which is overseeing the project, committee members told Dedham Patch. More trees were - and still are - on the chopping block, but plans were put on hold until neighbors and SBRC members …

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Senior-Youth Center Gains Traction for Old Avery

Avery Re-use Committee hopes to have recommendation by the end of the year.

A senior/youth center is gaining traction to becoming the permanent use of the current Avery School once it closes next spring. The Avery Re-use Committee is looking create a recommendation for the building by the end of the calendar year, and find a temporary use for it if there is a hiatus. Over the summer, the committee researched what other towns have done with surplus buildings, and some developers inquired about the property, committee chairman Joe Heisler said at a meeting Monday evening. “It’s a good to sign to see that there is legitimate interest," he said. Dedham Police Officer Fred Matthies, who works with youths, agreed that the school should become a youth and senior center. The Precinct 3 Town Meeting member also said he is …

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Question of the Day: MCAS, NCLB and You

Let us know your thoughts on MCAS tests and NCLB in the comment section.

For the second year, Avery Elementary School parents are given the option to transfer their student to another elementary school within the district. Last year, when given the choice, eight families took the option, and principal Clare Sullivan said at the time all eight were new to the school. But, with hundreds of schools in Massachusetts falling short of  adaquate yearly progress goals on MCAS scores, many schools are facing hurdles in meeting requirements under the federal No Child Left Behind law. What are your thoughts on the NCLB mandates and how do you measure if your student is succeeding in math and English? Let us know your opinion in the comment section below.

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