Two-Alarm Fire at Nursing Home Overnight

Natick firefighters responded to a hot-burning dryer fire at Eliot Healthcare Center Friday night.

A dryer fire burned hot but was extinguished without any residents of a nursing home needing to be evacuated Friday night. “The dryer caught on fire and it burned some items around the (dryer)," said Natick Fire Deputy Edward Connelly of a two alarm fire that prompted a full response from Natick's department before melting a light fixture on the ceiling. “There was a lot of heat in there.” Two sprinkler heads went off in the laundry room, mostly knocking down the fire which started shortly before 11:30 p.m. at Eliot Healthcare Center at 168 West Central Street. The entire Natick fire department responded to the scene to completely extinguish the fire and remained until 1:58 a.m. on Saturday, said Connelly. Framingham responded and covered …

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Strong Chief Status for Fire Chief up for Vote at Town Meeting

Union says keeping Strong Chief Status is better for the Natick Fire Department.

Town Meeting hasn't had much controversy through the first two nights, as nearly every vote has been an overwhelming majority. That may not be the case when Article 29 (and its companion, Article 30) reach the floor of the Natick High School auditorium. Article 29 seeks the vote to revoke the Strong Chief Status of the Natick Fire Chief that is under chapter 48, sections 42, 43 and 44 that establishes the fire department under the control of the Fire Chief. This law has been in effect in Natick since 1924. Article 30 seeks a vote to establish the fire department under the Board of Selectmen. "They make it sound like Chief [James] Sheridan can do whatever he wants now," firefighter Danny Hartwell, President of Local 1707, said. "But the …

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Larry

5:37 pm on Thursday, May 2, 2013

"Why was this change brought up?" Because the current Chief isn't strong in financial reporting and analysis. Sometimes that comes off as him being evasive, and unwilling to answer specific questions or provide specific analysis. I tend to give him the benefit of the doubt, and attribute it to inability to provide the information, rather than an unwillingness to answer the questions.   more ›

3 Injured When Tanker Jackknifes on Mass Pike

The Tuesday afternoon crash closed the Mass Pike westbound for about an hour.

Massachusetts State Police are investigating a multiple car crash on the Massachusetts Turnpike westbound in Framingham Tuesday about 3 p.m., in which a tanker jackknifed. Preliminary reports from Trooper Thomas McCarthy indicate a 2011 Honda Pilot was travelling in the left travel lane when, for reasons yet to be determined, drifted over into the breakdown lane. The truck struck the guardrail, coming back across the roadway and striking the right side of a 2006 Western Star tanker trailer, according to State Police.  The collision caused the tanker trailer to jackknife, blocking all three travel lanes, said a State Police release. A third vehicle, 2013 Honda CRV that was traveling in the center lane, was unable to stop, and became lodged …

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Update: Car Crash Sends Two to Hospital, Children Involved

A late afternoon motor vehicle crash in Natick sent two to the hospital earlier today.

Update 9:09 p.m.: According to Lt. Brian Grassey of the Natick Police Department, there were three children transported to MWMC in Framingham following a two-vehicle crash at the intersection of Rutledge Rd. and Rt. 27. In an email, Grassey wrote that a preliminary investigation "states that a vehicle exiting Rutledge Rd. impacted a vehicle in traffic (North on Rt. 27). The impact caused the side airbags to deploy. The collision caused the belts securing two children in the vehicle not to function. Fire personnel were able to remove the children from the vehicle." The preliminary investigation further stated that there were no visible injuries, but three children from that vehicle were transported (BLS) to MWMC in Framingham The operator …

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Surprise the Horse Gets Stuck; Natick Firefighters Free Him

Natick firefighters cut through a fence and used straps to free a horse stuck in snow.

An elderly horse had the drama of his life on Sunday. Surprise, age 34, was outside his paddock while his owner was clearing a walkway to the barn. Possibly frightened by the noise of the snowblower, he bolted down a cleared path and tried to jump a fence into the larger paddock. He lost his footing in a snow bank and then got his leg wedged under the paddock fence. "He tried to get over the fence, and he slid," said Jayme Bastiansen, whose parents own Surprise. His owners tried to free him for about 20 minutes, then called Natick firefighters, who after responding, cut through the fence. The firefighters also used straps connected to the owner's backhoe, to hoist him up, to help get him back on his feet. An hour after the ordeal, Surprise…

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Police Expect Traffic to be Impacted During Funeral for Fallen Firefighter

Detours and officers will be in place to facilitate the flow of traffic.

The Natick Police Department is anticipating "significant traffic issues downtown" tomorrow beginning at around 9 a.m., according to the Department's Facebook page. The expected traffic is from the funeral of Natick firefighter Joe Slattery, who lost his battle with cancer on Sunday. The funeral mass will be Saturday, Feb. 2, at 10 a.m. at St. Patrick's Church, which is located at 44 East Central St. (Rt. 135). Burial will follow at St. Patrick Cemetery on Pond St. A procession, including a marching contingent, will make its way to St. Patrick Cemetary following the church service. Detours and officers will be in place for a few hours, according to the Natick Police Facebook page.

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Natick Firefighter Loses Battle with Cancer

Joseph T. Slattery died on Sunday from Sarcoma.

Joseph T. Slattery, a member of IAFF Local Firefighters 1707 with the Natick Fire Department, lost his battle with Sarcoma on Sunday, according to the union's website. Slattery will receive a full Line of Duty ceremony as family, friends and other firefighters say goodbye and honor his life. The calling hours will be on Friday, February 1 at John Everett & Sons Funeral Home from 3-7 p.m. The funeral mass will be at St. Patrick's Church on Saturday at 10 a.m. Burial will follow at St. Patrick's Cemetery. The Firefighter's Prayer When I'm called to duty God wherever flames may rage give me strength to save a life whatever be its age Help me to embrace a little child before it is too late or save an older person from the horror of that fate …

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The Biggest Stories in Natick 2012

From January through December you've followed along with us as stories came and went in Natick. Here are some of the biggest and most memorable stories of 2012.

A lot can happen in a year, and in 2012 a lot happened in Natick. Patch has tried to be there every step of the way to help keep you informed of what's going on in town, and here are some of the biggest stories of 2012. In no particular order: What did we miss? Is there a story that happened in Natick in 2012 that you think should be listed here? Tell us in the comments. Like us on Facebook | Follow us on Twitter | Sign up for our newsletter

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You Ask, Patch Answers

What was all the Commotion at Boston Scientific Friday Morning?

The Natick police and fire departments were are Boston Scientific Friday morning leaving some people to wonder what was happening.

If you drove by Boston Scientific Friday morning you may have noticed fire trucks and police cars. But what were they doing there? It's a good thing you asked, because when you ask a question, Patch tries to get the answer. According to Natick Chief of Police James Hicks, there was a building under demolition and it came down onto some equipment. "They were strategically removing some beams when the building became unstable," Hicks said. "All parties were accounted for and there were no injuries." The scene was turned over to the Building Inspector. So there you have it. You asked... Patch answered. If you're wondering about anything else going on in Natick and want to know the answer, email us at natick@patch.com and we'll do our best to …

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Fire Extinguished at Natick Subway Restaurant

Natick Firefighters responded to the Subway at 251 W. Central St. early Sunday, for what became a two-alarm fire.

A fire that broke out in the Subway restaurant on West Central Street was extinguished by early morning Sunday. The fire was contained to the soda fountain area by 4:43 a.m., according to an initial scanner report. A damage estimate was not immediately available. The restaurant was closed at the time.

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