In 2023, Westwood Minute became the number one Google ranked news source for Westwood, Massachusetts, and has continued to maintain that ranking on repeated and consistent basis. This year, Westwood Minute once again covered local news on a daily basis, just as it did in 2022 and in 2021 when it first launched. Thanks to those who have submitted and/or contributed to stories and events posted on this platform.
Keeping the Westwood Minute platform updated is the result of both countless hours and an unrelenting publishing schedule. It's all part of an effort to help build an informed community. We believe an informed community helps empower readers with knowledge to use in their day-to-day lives and helps to support a vibrant community.
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Here’s a look at some of the stories that Westwood Minute covered in 2023.
Norfolk County Climbs Out of Drought Status (January 29, 2023)
Photo by Westwood Minute/Darlene Wong Cancell. A walking path around Buckmaster Pond is submerged after rains lifted the area out of drought status.Westwood Public Schools Proposed FY 2024 Budget: Cuts in Level Services While Costs Rise
(February 15, 2023)
Dedham-Westwood Water District Files a Lawsuit Against 3M, DuPont, and Others Over PFAS Contamination (February 14, 2023)
Lynne Viti Selected as First Westwood Poet Laureate (March 1, 2023)
Photo by Richard Howard. Pictured is Lynne Viti, who has been appointed the first Westwood Poet Laureate, for a two-year term.WHS Basketball: Boys Advance to Round of 8; Girls Win Sportsmanship Award, Await Round of 16 Play (March 7, 2023)
Expecting State Funding, School Department Revises its Proposed FY 2024 Budget, Restores Staff Positions (March 9, 2023)
Tentative Agreement Ratified by WTA, Westwood School Committee (March 10, 2023)
PRESS RELEASE: Westwood Resident, Owner of Boston Pizzeria Chain, Arrested on Forced Labor Charges (March 17, 2023)
Armed Man Making Threats Steals Van, is Chased by Police from Norwood to Boston
(March 22, 2023)
Westwood School Committee Offers WPS Superintendent Position to Billerica Superintendent Tim Piwowar (Updated) (March 27, 2023)
Source: Billerica Public Schools. Pictured is Superintendent Piwowar who came to Westwood Public Schools to become its new superintendent after holding the position in Billerica.Candidates for 2023 Westwood Town Election (April 3, 2023)
OPINION: Increasing Voter Turnout through Online Voting, Ranked Choice Voting
(April 6, 2023)
Westwood Robotics Team Celebrates Three Competition Wins, Heads to World Championships
(April 12, 2023)
Photo courtesy of Westwood Robotics, Inc. Drive Team Members Luke Maxwell, Jacob Kaplan, and Landon Bayer transport the Robot off the field after a successful match.
Budding WPS Student Mathematicians Compete in Interschool Math Competition
(April 15, 2023)
Questions on DEI Answered by Candidates for Westwood School Committee, Select Board, and Library Trustees (April 18, 2023)
Unofficial 2023 Westwood Annual Town Election Results (April 26, 2023)
Precinct 3 Voters Push Joe Previtera Ahead to Win Seat on Westwood's Select Board
(April 26, 2023)
Westwood Firefighters to Picket at WHS, Ahead of Town Meeting (May 1, 2023)
Town Meeting: Victory for Sustainability Advocates, Treasurer and Collector Are No Longer Elected Positions (May 3, 2023)
OPINION: A Newcomer's Perspective of Westwood's 2023 Town Meeting (May 6, 2023)
Repairing the Rift Between Westwood Public Schools and its Boosters (UPDATED)(May 17, 2023
Xaverian's William Mulgrew Qualifies for USA Olympic Trials (May 25, 2023)
Photo by Heather Shnael, Xaverian. High school sophomore William Mulgrew's personal best in the 1500 meter freestyle beats the qualifying time for the Olympic Trials by over 3 seconds.Reported Cases of Unemployment Benefits Fraud Sharply Rise in Westwood (June 1, 2023)
Local Vendors at Opening Day of Westwood Farmers Market (June 7, 2023)
Photo by Westwood Minute/Darlene Wong Cancell. Local artist Samantha Riley offers handcrafted personal care items and more.Pride Flag to Fly at Town Hall for June 2023 (June 6, 2023)
WHS Class of 2023 Starts a New Tradition with the First “Farewell Tour” (June 9, 2023)
Local Land Trusts Urge Westwood, Dover Residents to Protect Public Access to 1,200 Acres of Hale Property (June 15, 2023)
3 Incidents in 2 Weeks of Suspicious Individual(s) Breaking and Entering Westwood Businesses
(June 18, 2023)
WHS Girls Lacrosse Falls to Lincoln-Sudbury in State Championship; WHS Girls Track Breaks Another School Record (June 19, 2023)
Photo by Bridget O'Sullivan, courtesy of Westwood Track and Field. Ruby Codrington, member of the record-breaking sprint medley relay team, competes at a Tri-Valley League meet earlier this year.In Westwood Fire Dept. Operational Study, Criterion Associates Recommends Increased Staffing, But No Third Fire Apparatus (June 25, 2023)
Westwood Resident Ends Miss Massachusetts Competition in Top 10 (Updated)
(June 26, 2023)
Photo by Steve Smith Photography. Kiersten Khoury competes in the talent portion of the Miss Massachusetts competition with a tap dance routine.
Reduced Air Quality Reported for Westwood Area; Advisory for "Sensitive Groups"
(July 1, 2023)
Bear Sightings in Westwood (July 8, 2023)
3 Arrested in Separate Thefts from Same Church Donation Bin, Over Span of 2 Hours
(July 12, 2023)
Westwood Moves Forward with Multi-Family Housing District at Least 50 Acres in Size
(July 21, 2023)
School Start Times for WPS Academic Year 2023-24 Intended to Give High Schoolers More Sleep
(July 27, 2023)
Tornado Touched Down in Foxboro Near Mansfield/Easton on Saturday Evening (July 31, 2023)
Strong Defense by Canton-MA against Maine in Little League World Series New England Region Championship, But ME Prevails 2-1 (August 11, 2023)
Photo courtesy of Little League Baseball and Softball. Canton Little League's Michael Zollo, from Massachusetts, safely slides into home under a leaping catcher from Gray, Maine.Westwood Winds' First Performance Since Pandemic Exudes Energy, Excitement (Updated) (August 14, 2023)
3 Tornadoes Touched Down in Stoughton, Mansfield/N. Attleboro, & Weymouth on Friday, Aug. 18th (August 18, 2023)
Proposed Design of Canton Street Requires Property Acquisitions/Easements; Public Hearing to be Held Sept. 28th (August 21, 2023)
Just Under $2 Million Remaining to Spend in Dwindling But "Flexible" ARPA Funds, Following Select Board's Most Recent Allocation (UPDATED) (August 29, 2023)
Boil Water Alert for Dover Customers of Aquarion Water Company (September 9, 2023)
Photo by Teona Swift from Pexels.Select Board Hears about Canton Street Residents' Opposition to Proposed Sidewalk Design
(September 20, 2023)
State Certifies Almost $11 Million in Free Cash, a Welcome Infusion of Unrestricted Funding for Town of Westwood (September 21, 2023)
Going Back to School and Work: How It Impacts Pets (September 22, 2023)
New Traffic Sensors Are Intended to Solve Bottleneck Traffic on Westwood's High Street
(September 25, 2023)
Photo by Westwood Minute/Darlene Wong Cancell. Traffic moves on High Street with the aid of new sensors mounted vertically atop traffic lights at Westwood's intersection of High and Hartford streets.Congressman Auchincloss Reacts to Averted Government Shutdown, Funding that Excludes Ukraine (October 1, 2023)
AG Indicts Former Medfield Public Official for Stealing and Corruption
(October 5, 2023)
Select Board to Take Action on Canton Street Corridor Project, Following Large Turnout at Public Hearing (Updated) (October 23, 2023)
Increase in Number of People and Households in Westwood Enrolled in Federal Nutrition Assistance (SNAP) (October 16, 2023)
Westwood and Area Students Are Semifinalists in 2024 National Merit Scholarship Program
(October 14, 2023)
Photo courtesy of Westwood High School. National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists from Westwood High School are (L to R) Ethan Lu, Sean Tao, Victor Ganson, Jessica Wang, Sanaa Devgan, Jeffrey Pan, Jason Guo, and Angie Wu.Fatal Collision of Train with Pedestrian in Norwood is First Such Tragedy in 3 to 4 Years (October 27, 2023)
Select Board Authorizes Redesign of Canton Street Corridor Plans (Updated)
(November 3, 2023)
Westwood's Reissfelder Helps Endicott Field Hockey to 6th CCC Championship Win
(November 8, 2023)
Presidential Inaugural Poet Richard Blanco Accepts Invitation to Speak at Westwood Children's Poetry Festival(November 6, 2023)
Westwood Select Board Orders New Traffic Study Focused on Left Turns at Washington Street Intersection (November 22, 2023)
Westwood Fire Department Responds to 4 Fire Outbreaks in One Day (November 17, 2023)
Photo by Westwood Minute/Darlene Wong Cancell. After Westwood firefighters had extinguished large flames at the historic Daniel Draper house, a much smaller flame reappears in a wall opening under a firefighter on a ladder.Something To Be Thankful For: A Lost Wedding Ring is Found (November 27, 2023)
Weather Cooperates as Walkers Turn Out for Westwood Holiday Walkabout (December 3, 2023)
Photo by Westwood Minute/Darlene Wong Cancell. Pictured here at First Parish of Westwood, an acapella quintet visited the three Westwood Holiday Walkabout locations, treating listeners to their smooth harmonies.How to Estimate Your Tax Bill from the Westwood Property Tax Rate Increase for FY2024 (December 6, 2023)
"Armed and Dangerous" Suspect Captured on Monday by Waltham Police (December 19, 2023)
Westwood DPW Launches Resident Education Campaign in Hopes of Avoiding Fee for Contaminated Recycling (December 12, 2023)
Road Closure Ends: Route 109 at Medfield/Millis Line is Reopened (December 21, 2023)
Police Log: Bomb Threat Part of a Set of Similar, Regional Incidents & Disturbing Flyers Posted around Town (December 27, 2023)
Patchy rain nearby, with a high of 75 and low of 45 degrees. Patchy rain nearby during the morning, partly cloudy in the afternoon and evening, mist overnight.
Article 21, is not premature, but long overdue. Westwood's failure to change its almost exclusively single-family zoning of residential neighborhoods is already fundamentally altering the character of the town.
If passage means the potential demolition of the 'strip mall' as pictured on high street, it'll be well worth it! Perfect location for building residential apartments above with business space at grade. Town Administration should look at it as an opportunity for redeveloping our end of Westwood and giving the resi
46° and Mist