5K Turkey Trot

There was clearly a need for a Thanksgiving morning 5K in Dedham and the 800+ runners that came out this morning was the evidence. On a perfectly brisk, sunny Thanksgiving morning, friends, neighbors and new faces arrived in their running gear and heavy bags of food ready to donate to the Dedham Food Pantry. The exercise and novelty of the event was the draw for me until I got to the lawn of Endicott Estate at 7am and saw the numerous volunteers setting up and taking time out of their holiday to make mine more special. We stopped to sign the "gratitude wall," and then with many in turkey hats we started on our run through some of the most beautiful neighborhoods of Dedham. The exercise turned into more of what felt like a community group hug. There was an added joy to see faces you encounter daily, but never on Thanksgiving morning. Between the food spread that felt like a Sunday brunch with friends complete with bagels in baskets, fruit, coffee from Mocha Java and apple cider(delicious after a run!) to the children dressed as Pilgrams and Native Americans along the route and the countless, "Happy Thanksgivings!" shouted from residents cheering us on along the way, it was a great way to remind ourselves of all we have to be thankful for, including, a wonderful community. (Thank you to the organizers and volunteers!)

DJWC Craft Fair-November 17th

One of my favorite events of the year! The Dedham Junior Woman's Club's 31st Annual Craft Show will be held Saturday, November 17 from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm at the Dedham Middle School, 70 Whiting Ave. This year the craft fair is bigger and better than ever, having expanded and using more space at the middle school. Over 80 juried crafters will be offering their works in jewelry, gourmet food items, gift baskets, woman's and children's clothing and accessories, pottery, ceramics, holiday ornaments and home decor, plus much more. Luncheon will be served in the cafeteria and shoppers can take a chance to win something from their favorite crafter at the crafters' raffle table. Admission is $3.00 per person/with children under 12 free. All proceeds will be used to support local charities and organizations plus fund the two annual scholarships that are awarded each year to a Dedham High School senior and a woman returning to college.

Utility Boxes Transformed, Dedham Public Art Project

A blank canvas!

The latest trend in public art is to take ugly eyesores, like utility boxes, and turn them into works of art.  Utility boxes from Boston, Cambridge, Newton, Stowe, Maynard and beyond are challenging local artists to create mini-murals and make art apart of the local landscape.  Dedham Shines, the non-profit with the Dedham Public Art Project under its' umbrella, is launching  this project at a time when public art in Dedham is highly visible.

Everyone is enjoying the Dedham rabbits, but they'll be hopping away at the end of October. Utility boxes are here to stay and what a better way to add some color to the town by painting these 3-dimensional canvases? This first box is painted by Dedham resident and Dedham Square Artist Guild co-founder, Marietta Apolloino. In one day she transformed this large grey mass into a field of whimsical flowers that makes me smile every time I pass by. Look for these popping up all over town! For more information visit: www.dedhamshines.com/dpap

This box is located on High Street near the Dedham Clock in Dedham Crossing. Check it out for yourself.

To see more photo please go to the Dedham Guild Blog

Summer 2012 in Dedham

Okay, so it's been a while. This summer will mark the third year of this blog and I admit,it was hard to keep up. Between kids getting older, more responsibility, longer days, more meetings and yes, that little election in between, finding the energy to write has been like finding a bag of tootsie rolls after Flag Day. The summer was when I first felt inspired by living in Dedham, so it's the perfect time to start blogging (and bragging)about how great it is again. After a week of transition last week with school ending early, it's always a little difficult for the family to find a grove. This week has been better with the start of the Parks and Rec "Swim and Gym." What's a summer with out capture the flag and gimp? then we are ending our afternoons back at the pool with The Clippers swim team. Bed time has been easy this week. I'm looking forward to tomorrow, Wednesday, my favorite day of summer with the Dedham Junior Women's Club Summer Concerts and the Farmer's Market at its new location on the First Church green. We'll finally make it to the library to sign up for summer reading and take advantage of the many crafty things to do at various shops in Dedham Square. Sprinkle in a public art project and summer nights outside at Legacy Place and this is a pretty great place to be. The Flag Day parade is the official start to a Dedham summer. The goal is for the bag of candy to last through Labor Day. By the fourth of July they have usually forgotten about it until the final days of August when the candy comes in, well, handy.

Dedham's Flag Day Parade - Kerry's View

What is summer without Dedham's Annual Flag Day parade?

This is such a fun annual event that celebrate the American Flag. Every year families and friends gather to watch marching bands, floats, twirlers, musicians, fire trucks, local celebrities, and politicians march through Dedham. Quite a few participants pass out candy to the crowd. The kids love it. It was the most beautiful weather last night. It couldn't have been better.

See see more photos look here at Kerry's Blog

Make a Bunny Workshop, Dedham Sq Artist Guild

Date/Time:
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
10am to 11am

Class Description
Make a bunny out of clay and learn the pinch and pull technique and slip and score technique, with Guild member Lisa Walker. Instructor will fire and clear glaze bunny at Potters Place. Bunnies will be ready for pick up at the Dedham Square Artist Guild 3-4 weeks after the class.

Cost

$25 per person, plus $5 materials fee
(materials include: clay, glaze and firing fees)

Participants
Minimum of 6 (six) students, Maximum of 12 (twelve)
First grade and up
(must have minimum enrollment to offer class)

Registration
Please email the staff@dedhamguild.com to add your name to the participant list. Your spot is not held until a check with a registration form and waiver is received for the full amount of the class. Please make checks payable to DSAG and mail with the attached form to:

Dedham Square Artist Guild
553 High Street • Dedham, MA 02026

For more information on the Dedham Guild's Classes please go to their website

They have three classes coming up including this one, Clay Tile Class taught by Lisa Walker and iPhoneography Workshop taught by Dennis Stein

Pansies, Endicott Community Gardens - Kerry's View

The pansies have arrived and they are vibrant and beautiful. I can't wait to plant them. They will bring wonderful color to my home and pansies are very hardy. I picked up some lettuce as well. Home grown lettuce is easy to grow and tastes wonderful.

The Endicott Community Greenhouse provides garden plots for gardening, and the profits of their plant sales go to scholarships to high school seniors, and maintains growth labs in the elementary schools. The greenhouse is maintained by an all volunteer staff. 

I love going and buying plants here. The staff are friendly and fun. Why go to a big box store? This is much nicer. It is also shopping local!

The Greenhouse, located on the Endicott Estate property (near the library) is open Monday and throughout the week, also, Saturdays from 9am-1pm.