Natick Imposes Mandatory Ban On Outdoor Water Use
Natick officials imposed a mandatory ban on all nonessential outdoor water use this week, even as a Natick couple's yearslong legal fight with eBay drew national attention with a $55.7 million settlement.
TOWN HALL
The town has instituted a mandatory ban on all nonessential outdoor water uses, according to a notice posted to the town's official News Flash feed. The restriction covers lawn watering, car washing, and other discretionary water use, though the announcement did not specify an end date or enforcement mechanism. Residents can find full details at the town's water use restrictions page.
COMMUNITY & ARTS
Natick Center will host "Mystery at Broadmoor," an interactive Victorian-era mystery event, this Thursday, July 30, from 5 to 8 p.m., per a town announcement. Participants can hunt for clues and interrogate costumed suspects in a free, family-friendly scavenger-style event, with prizes for those who crack the case.
ELSEWHERE IN THE NEWS
"Natick Couple Settles Bizarre eBay Harassment Lawsuit For $55.7 Million: Firm" — A Natick couple has reached a settlement of nearly $56 million stemming from a bizarre harassment campaign in which eBay executives allegedly sent disturbing packages and surveillance to intimidate them over an e-commerce blog, according to Natick Patch and a related Wicked Local report. (read it at https://patch.com/massachusetts/natick)
Wicked Local separately reported on the settlement, detailing how the couple said they were "terrorized" by former eBay executives before reaching the near-$56 million deal, per Wicked Local. (read it at https://www.wickedlocal.com/story/news/crime/2026/07/29/natick-ma-couple-settle-harassment-terror-lawsuit-with-ebay-for-nearly-56-million-dollars/91082281007/)
"Demolition of aging Natick dam changing course of Charles River" — Crews have begun tearing down the South Natick Dam, a project that will return a stretch of the Charles River to its natural course for the first time in decades, according to NBC Boston. (read it at https://www.nbcboston.com/news/local/demolition-of-aging-natick-dam-changing-course-of-charles-river/3988012/)
"Natick police seek hit-and-run driver who seriously injured a bicyclist" — Investigators are looking for a driver who struck a bicyclist over the weekend and fled toward Framingham, leaving the victim with serious injuries, per NBC Boston. (read it at https://www.nbcboston.com/news/local/natick-framingham-hit-run-bicycle-police-investigation/3988438/)
COMING UP
The "Mystery at Broadmoor" interactive event takes place in Natick Center on Thursday, July 30, from 5 to 8 p.m., free and open to families, according to the town's News Flash announcement.
Compiled from official town feeds, community organizations, and local press. Outside reporting is attributed inline.