Natick's Freedom Team Responds To Rise In Hate Incidents

NATICK — Natick's Freedom Team is stepping up its response to a reported rise in local hate incidents, per Natick Patch. The report comes as the town also pushes ahead with a new week of roadway construction and confirms demolition work has begun on the Charles River Dam spillway in South Natick.

TOWN HALL The town's 2026 Roadway Improvements program moves into a new phase the week of July 27, according to a schedule posted to the town's official News Flash feed. Public Works has not detailed which specific streets will see crews and equipment that week, but the posting signals another stretch of construction activity across town as the summer paving season continues.

In South Natick, contractors working on the Charles River Dam removal project began breaking up the concrete spillway with a hydraulic hammer on July 23, the town said in an update. Residents near the dam should expect noise, vibration and dust during the demolition work, and portions of the park are closed while it continues.

ELSEWHERE IN THE NEWS "Patch AM: How Natick's Freedom Team is responding to rising hate incidents" — Natick Patch flagged the local group's response to an uptick in reported hate incidents in town, though details of the incidents themselves were not included in the roundup item (read it at https://patch.com/massachusetts/natick).

"Business buzz: George's Pizza closes in Natick Center; Liliko Asian convenience store opens in Wellesley Hills" — Natick Report says the longtime pizza shop has shut down in Natick Center, even as a new Asian convenience store opens just over the town line in Wellesley Hills (read it at https://www.natickreport.com/2026/07/business-buzz-georges-pizza-closes-in-natick-center-liliko-asian-convenience-store-opens-in-wellesley-hills/).

Compiled from official town feeds, community organizations, and local press. Outside reporting is attributed inline.