Welcome to the November Edition of OUR TOWN! | | |
Parks and Recreation
Thank You for a Spooktacular Spooky Saturday!
Thank you to everyone who came out to celebrate Spooky Saturday with us! From decorating pumpkins to filling up on treats during Trunk-or-Treat, it was so much fun seeing families get creative and enjoy an afternoon of Halloween fun together. We loved seeing all the costumes, decorated pumpkins, and spooky smiles!
Winter Programs are Here!
Youth and adult programs are now open for registration! Sign up for your favorite programs, discover something new, and make the most of your winter with Dover Parks & Recreation!
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Get Ready for the Turkey Bowl!
Kick off your Thanksgiving week with some friendly competition at our Youth Turkey Bowl Flag Football Game on November 25th! Gather your friends, get ready to play, and join us for a fun afternoon on the field. Don’t wait, sign up today!
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Chickering School
Chickering School Highlights: Building Community and Student Voice
Chickering School is off to an exciting start! With 473 students across 27 classrooms, our school community is busy learning, growing, and finding new ways to connect.
One exciting initiative is the launch of our Chickering Mascot selection process! Our fifth-grade students are taking on leadership roles as they guide the school through nominations, campaigning, and voting. Every student will have a voice in selecting a mascot that represents our shared values and school spirit. We look forward to celebrating our new mascot and using it to promote citizenship, connection, and community pride.
We are also looking forward to creating more opportunities for students to connect with the adults in our community. Keep an eye out for an upcoming survey inviting community members to share their life experiences, interests, talents, and personal stories with Chickering students. These connections can help broaden students’ perspectives, spark curiosity, and build meaningful relationships across generations.
At Chickering, we strive to be a place where children learn, laugh, grow, care, and make a difference. We are excited to see all that our students and community will accomplish together this year!
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Fire Department
Winter Home Fire Safety - Keep Warm, Keep Safe
As the winter months approach, the dangers of home fires increase. The members of the Dover Fire Department would like to remind all citizens of Dover of some common fire hazards and provide a few steps to keep your home safe.
Heating causes thousands of residential fires each year. Heating equipment is the #2 cause of home fires in Massachusetts and the #1 source of carbon monoxide (CO).
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Smoke and CO Alarms
Make sure there are working smoke alarms, test them regularly, and change batteries periodically. Be sure they are on each level of your home.
Be Careful When Using Fireplaces and Solid Fuel Stoves
Use woodstoves and fireplaces safely: install approved units with permits, clean chimneys yearly, keep three feet from combustibles, use screens or doors for sparks, and store ashes in a metal container away from the home.
Space Heaters Need Space
Use space heaters safely: not as a primary heat source, keep three feet from anything that can burn, plug directly into a wall outlet, turn off when unattended or sleeping. Kerosene and propane heaters are illegal for home use in Massachusetts.
Maintain Gas & Oil Equipment
Keep furnaces and water heaters safe and efficient by having them professionally inspected yearly and storing flammable materials like gasoline or paint away from ignition sources such as pilot lights.
If You Use Gas Heating Equipment
If you smell gas or suspect a leak, leave the area immediately, avoid using anything that could create a spark, and call 911 from a safe location.
If You Use Oil Heating Equipment
Don’t let the tank get completely empty. Call for service if the oil burner releases smoke or soot in the house.
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Carbon Monoxide
Prevent carbon monoxide (CO) hazards by installing CO alarms on every level, never using a gas stove or oven for heat, and keeping vents and exhaust pipes clear of snow and debris.
Tree Safety
Set up holiday trees safely: choose a fresh or UL-listed fire-retardant tree, cut the trunk fresh, keep it watered and away from heat and exits, use a sturdy stand, turn off lights when unattended, and dispose of it promptly after the holidays.
Bright Lights
Use holiday lights safely: choose UL-listed products, replace damaged wires, don’t overload outlets, keep flames away, never leave candles unattended (use battery-operated ones), and choose cool, energy-efficient LEDs.
Outdoor Lights
Safely install outdoor decorations by using lights rated for outdoor use, plugging them into GFCI outlets, protecting electrical connections, and securing all items with insulated holders or hooks.
Using Home Oxygen Safety - For Patients and Families
Home oxygen greatly increases fire risk—keep oxygen and tubing away from flames, sparks, and heat sources (like smoking materials, candles, stoves, or heaters), and avoid flammable products such as oils, grease, or acetone-based cosmetics.
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Council on Aging
The Dover Council on Aging invites you to our upcoming programs at the Community Center. You can check out the November/December COA Newsletter with our full slate of programs. Some November highlights are listed below. Sign up for programs by emailing coa@doverma.gov or by using our Online COA Program Sign-Up Form.
GREAT TRIALS THAT CHANGED HISTORY: A JUDGE’S PERSPECTIVE
Fridays • 10:30 AM • Community Room
With Retired MA Justice Dennis Curran
November 6 - Inside the Criminal Mind: The Trial of Leopold and Loeb
The shocking murder of 14-year-old Bobby Franks by two privileged young men captivated the nation. What drove them to commit such a senseless crime—for the thrill or something deeper?
November 13 - Lincoln: Life, Law and Leadership
In today’s polarized world, Abraham Lincoln’s leadership offers enduring lessons in communication, compromise, and perseverance. Discover how he united a divided nation through determination, compassion, and a shared vision.
FALL SOUP DEMO with Wingate Living
Monday, November 9 • 11:00 AM-12:30 PM • Community Room
Savor the season at a healthy eating food demonstration. Enjoy a silky Roasted Butternut Squash Soup and a comforting Harvest Apple & Sweet Potato Soup. Seasonal ingredients, comforting recipes, and cozy fall vibes come together to inspire healthy eating.
MEDICARE HEALTH PLAN OPTIONS
Monday, November 9 • 2:00 PM • Community Room
With Blue Cross Blue Shield of MA
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts will review 2027 health plan options for individuals on Medicare for approaching the timeline to sign up for Medicare. Attendees are encouraged to ask questions about their current coverage or alternative plans. Open to everyone.
ADVANCED DIRECTIVES: HAVING A VOICE IN YOUR FUTURE MEDICAL CARE
Tuesday, November 10 • 11:00 AM • Activity Room
With Laila Vehvilainen, Geriatric Care Manager, Jewish Family Services of Metrowest
Join us for an informative presentation on planning ahead for future medical decisions. Discuss the benefits of planning ahead and how to have important conversations about future care with loved ones.
TALK WITH THE TOWN: DEPT OF PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR
Monday, November 16 • 1:00 PM • Community Room
Director Kevin McCabe will discuss DPW’s wide range of responsibilities, from roads and infrastructure to maintenance of public spaces, as well as current projects and the challenges of keeping the town running smoothly. Bring your questions for an informative discussion.
TECH CLASSES WITH KEVTECH SERVICES
Wednesday, November 18 • 11:00 AM • Community Room
Introduction to Editing Photos
This class explores the iPhone’s photo editing features. Discuss different ways to organize photos, then choose a photo to practice editing with. Learn about filters, adjusting colors and lighting, and cropping/resizing photos.
ART SHOW
Reception: Wednesday, November 18 • 1:00-2:00 PM • Activity Room
Exhibit: November 18-December 9
Celebrate the creativity and talent of students in Ivana Luttazi’s COA art classes! This special exhibit will showcase a selection of artwork created by our senior artists, offering a chance to see their work and celebrate their accomplishments. Join us for an opening reception with the artists on November 18.
TRAVEL TALK: ANCIENT EGYPT & THE NILE RIVER VALLEY
Monday, November 23 • 11:00 AM • Activity Rooms
With Photojournalist Barry Pell
Barry Pell journeys along the Nile, exploring ancient cities, temples adorned with images of gods and hieroglyphs, and tombs filled with treasures for the pharaohs’ afterlife. His travels also take him to Alexandria and Cairo, accompanied by his photography.
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Tree Preservation Bylaw Initiative
The Tree Preservation Committee (TPC) is leading an exciting and important project to help determine the best way to preserve Dover’s tree canopy. As part of the public participation, we gathered resident input through a Community Survey. We are happy to report that we have received 372 responses to the Survey. Thank you to everyone who participated. This response is tremendous and will assist the TPC and Metropolitan Area Planning Council in their work to ensure that any proposed Tree Bylaw or Regulations reflect resident input.
Upcoming Public Forum
Thursday, November 19th
6:30 PM Arrival & Registration
7:00 PM Presentation
Caryl Community Center
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Board of Health
Hands-Only CPR Training
Join us for a free class open to the Dover community to learn manual CPR techniques!
Saturday, November 7
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Caryl Community Center | Community Room
4 Springdale Avenue, Dover, MA 02030
Limit of 10 spots! Contact gvarsa@doverma.gov for registration and more information.
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Seeking an Associate Board Member
The Board of Health is seeking an Associate Board Member!
Some of our work includes:
- Septic systems, private wells, water quality, PFAS testing
- Rodenticides & wildlife, tick-borne illnesses
- Vaccine clinics, CPR trainings, rabies clinics
- Food establishments, summer camps
For more information, contact Health Director Jason Belmonte at jbelmonte@doverma.gov
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Land Management Working Group
The Land Management Working Group is hosting its final fall Trail Work Day for 2026 on November 7, from 10:30 AM - 12:30 PM. We'll be putting in bridges, blazing trails, and doing fall trail clean-up.
Folks who are interested should email anagy@doverma.gov for information!
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Housing Task Force
Housing Development Study and Plan Project
On Monday, October 26th, the Housing Task Force (HTF) hosted its final Community Housing Forum as we head into the home stretch on Dover’s Housing Roadmap. The presentation showcased the work that has been done and proved that a picture really is worth a thousand words! The HTF unveiled its vision for housing in Dover, shaped by the ideas shared by our community. Thirty-three residents joined the HTF and our consultant team from Barrett Planning and Dodson and Flinker for the evening.
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The big highlight? A first look at fresh housing alternatives to Dover’s traditional 2-acre lots with large single-family homes. Each concept was designed with Dover’s open space, ecological resources, scenic views, and rural character in mind: the things that make our town special.
To watch the ZOOM recording and learn more about the path the HTF took to create the Housing Roadmap please visit the dedicated project website.
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2nd Saturday Stroll in Peters Reservation & Chase Woodlands
Saturday, November 14th
10:30 AM
Free, but please register for meeting & parking information
Please join us for a guided walk in the Trustees' Peters Reservation into DLCT's Porter Woodlands and into the Trustees' Chase Woodlands, sponsored by the Dover Open Space Committee (OSC).
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Kids welcome! Walks will not be too strenuous but will be over uneven and possibly wet ground, so wear appropriate footwear and bring walking sticks, binoculars, and cameras. Sorry, no dogs allowed in Peters & Chase. We will stroll in misty rain to shine.
Parking information will be e-mailed to those registered on Friday, November 13, at 10:30 AM. If you are registering after 10:30 AM on Friday, please check your e-mail on Saturday morning for parking information. We will NOT be meeting at the Chase/Peters parking lot as it only holds 4 cars.
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Planning Board
The Attorney General has approved Article 18, voted at the May 2026 Town Meeting, which now brings Dover’s ADU zoning bylaw into compliance with State law. ADUs are allowed by right on properties occupied with a dwelling and do not require owner occupancy on the property. The size is limited to ½ the area of the existing dwelling unit or 900 square feet (whichever is less). There are many options to build an attached or detached ADU, depending on the needs of the property owner. This zoning bylaw creates opportunities for smaller, more affordable, and independent housing options for a variety of households, from entry-level to empty nesters. They promote multi-generation living and provide options for long-time residents to age in place on their property.
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Housing Production Plan Update
The Town of Dover’s current Housing Production Plan (HPP) is set to expire at the end of the year. A kick-off meeting with Barrett Planning for the HPP update was held at a joint meeting with the Board of Selectmen and the Planning Board on October 29th. To watch the kick-off presentation, visit the Board of Selectmen’s YouTube playlist.
What is a Housing Production Plan?
Information sourced from Mass.gov and MAPC
In Massachusetts, Housing Production Plans (HPPs) are plans that help municipalities better understand local housing need and demand, development constraints and opportunities. It is a community’s vision for affordable housing (at 80% or below of AMI) and can also include workforce (>80% to 120% of AMI) and market-rate housing.
Regulatory
MGL Chapter 40B
Regulations 760 CMR 56.00 – Specifically 56.03(4)
Authority
Local Adoption: Both the Planning Board and the Board of Selectmen must officially vote to adopt the HPP.
State Approval: The HPP is submitted to the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC) for final review and official state approval. An approved HPP is valid for (5) five years.
Why Create a Housing Production Plan?
- Understand, quantify, and potentially address unmet housing needs of low- and moderate-income residents in the community. Who is in your community, and are their housing needs being met?
- Influence the type, amount, and location of mixed-income and affordable housing. The opportunity to plan for housing that is integrated at varying incomes.
- Help Dover chip away at the State mandate requiring that 10% of total year-round housing units be affordable by setting a numeric goal for annual housing production.
- Possibly prevent unfriendly 40B development through a certified HPP if Dover can increase the affordable housing stock by ½% for a 1 Year reprieve or 1% for a 2 Year reprieve (aka “Safe Harbor”).
What are the key components of a Housing Production Plan?
- DATA: An assessment of housing need and demand based on current data, population and development trends, and regional growth factors. Ask yourself, is Dover doing their part? Are we keeping up? What does the data tell us?
- LIMITATIONS: An analysis of physical and regulatory development constraints. What are the constraints, and what can or should we do about them?
- LOCATIONS: Identification of specific sites for housing production. What areas of Town make sense for the development of Housing? How can the Town objectively review property? Can the HTF’s Site Selection Criteria be utilized going forward?
- GOALS: Identify an annual numeric housing production target. Putting to paper what Dover will produce in terms of units.
- STRATEGIES: Implementation strategies to work towards goals. To create a roadmap to production. What can we do locally to meet our housing goals? How do we ensure what we want to happen actually will?
For more information, please contact:
Melissa M. SantucciRozzi, Town Planner
msantuccirozzi@doverma.gov
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Sustainability Committee
Come Join Dover's Climate Resilience Planning Effort!
The Town of Dover's Sustainability Committee is in the process of updating goals and priorities to respond to the impacts of climate change. We are seeking multiple Community Liaisons to help connect with the Dover community to support this planning process.
- 5-8 Hours per month
- November 2026 - June 2027
- $1,000 Stipend
What You'll Do
Connect with community members to understand their needs, concerns, and priorities
Help plan and lead outreach activities, including events, surveys, interviews, and more
Join a Core Team of municipal staff shaping Dover's climate resilience priorities
What We Are Looking For
- Strong ties to Dover's community
- Great listening and communication skills across diverse groups
- Experience in community organizing, outreach, or advocacy is preferred
- No technical knowledge required
Ready to Apply?
Apply online by November 13. If you have any questions, contact anagy@doverma.gov.
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Recycling Committee
Housekeeping:
As we continue to see the textile bins overflowing at the transfer station, with bags being left to Mother Nature’s whim on the ground, we remind you that there are additional bins for textiles located at both the D/S Middle and High Schools where you can drop your items off should the bins at the Transfer Station be full.
Did you know?
Donating items that are in season gives them the best shot at a second life! Now is the time to donate costumes, seasonal stuff, and cool-weather clothes that don't fit anymore (or just aren't your style).
A RecycleSmartMA tip!
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Conservation Commission
Eco-Friendly Lawn Care Tips
Taking care of your lawn in an environmentally friendly way can help you maintain a beautiful lawn, support a healthy ecosystem, and help to protect Dover’s land and water resources. It may even save you some time and money. Homeowners should be aware that they are responsible for what lawn care contractors and landscapers do on their property and should discuss lawn care options with all contractors to help protect our health and environment.
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Avoid Pesticides
Minimize or eliminate the use of pesticides, which can contaminate natural resources and pose health risks. Consider natural alternatives or integrated pest management techniques. Be sure to never use herbicides, pesticides, or synthetic fertilizers near wetlands, streams, ponds, or rivers.
Fertilize Naturally
Use organic, slow-release fertilizers to promote healthy soil and grass growth. Organic and slow-release fertilizers applied in the fall will be ready to nurture new growth in the spring. Find organic and slow-release fertilizers at your local nursery or order online.
Water Wisely
If there is enough rain, turn off your irrigation systems. During drought conditions, avoid watering your lawn or do so sparingly in the early morning. Use rain barrels to collect rainwater for watering your lawn, which are available at the Town Garage or Transfer Station.
Clean Up Responsibly
When cleaning up your yard, avoid blowing or raking leaves into the street where they can clog storm drains and catch basins, which can lead to water pollution and cause flooding.
Compost Leaves
Shredded leaves make excellent compost that can enrich your garden or be brought to the leaf compost area at the Transfer Station. Compost bins can be purchased from the Town garage, Transfer Station, home improvement stores, or can be made yourself!
Mulch Leaves
If you don't want to compost leaves, you can also shred them with a mulching mower and leave them on the lawn. This adds organic matter to the soil.
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Mow High
Before the first frost, raise the height of your mower blades to around 3 inches. This will shade the soil and help retain moisture. This reduces the need for watering and promotes healthier roots.
Leave Grass Clippings
Don't bag your grass clippings. Use the mulching setting on your mower and leave them on the lawn. This adds nutrients back into the soil & saves fertilizer costs, known as "grasscycling"
Aerate
Consider aerating your lawn if your soil is compacted. This improves water infiltration and root growth. You can rent an aerator at a local home improvement or equipment rental company, or ask a landscaping service.
Overseed
Overseeding in the fall can help thicken your lawn and fill bare spots. Thicker grass leaves less room for weeds and eliminates the need for herbicides. Choose native or drought-resistant grass species.
Use Manual Tools
Use a rake instead of a leaf blower, eliminating noise and greenhouse gas emissions. The car company Edmunds estimated that driving a Ford F-150 Raptor truck from Texas to Alaska would emit the same amount of air pollution as a mere half-hour of yard work with a two-stroke, gas-powered leaf blower.
Plant Native Trees and Shrubs
Until the first frost, Fall is a great time to plant native trees and shrubs. They require less maintenance and provide habitat for local wildlife.
Reduce Lawn Area
Consider reducing the size of your lawn by planting more native plants or creating natural areas with less grass. This can save water, create habitats, and reduce maintenance.
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