August Business Connection

Board of Directors


Chair of the Board

*Julie Molloy

Compass Real Estate


Vice Chair

*Tim McCabe

The League School


Treasurer

*James Donellon

Gray, Gray & Gray, LLP


President/CEO

*Thomas O'Rourke

Neponset River Regional Chamber


Kenneth Berman

Kenneth Berman Photography


Anthony Brown

Dedham Savings


Eric Cappellano

Bank of Canton


Mary Chetwynd

Rockland Trust


Erin Hooker-Thomas, Murphy, Hesse, Toomey & Lehane


Bill Kearns

Cullen, Murphy & Co., P.C.


Suzanne Kelly

Legacy Place


*Michael Kennedy

Norwood Bank


Michelle Lloret

Fairfield Inn & Suites


Sal Perla

Norwood Hospital 


Jill Rossetti

Blue Hills Regional Technical High School


Shonda Sumpter

Brigham and Women's Health Care Center


Tricia White

T. White Creations


Nicole Zea

CertainTeed


*Member of the Executive Committee

From the President:

Local Transportation Projects Approved

The Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) is the five-year rolling capital plan for the 97 cities and towns in the Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization's (MPO) planning area. The MPO allocates federal transportation funds to these projects based on a variety of criteria. The Chamber represents our region as a member of the MPO.


The recently approved 2024-2028 TIP includes a number of local projects that are or will be completed over the next few years. Here is a summary of the projects in our region that are receiving funding:


Dedham - Improvements along the Bussey Street corridor will include resetting the curb and reconstructing ADA-compliant sidewalks and ramps on both sides of the roadway. Minor geometric improvements will make the roadway more pedestrian friendly and shared bicycle accommodations are planned.


Norwood - This project includes traffic signal upgrades at the intersection of Route 1 with University Avenue and Everett Street. Related improvements include constructing an additional travel lane in each direction on Route 1, upgrading of traffic signals, lengthening of left-turn lanes on Route 1, upgrading of pedestrian crossings at each leg of the intersection, and upgrading of bicycle amenities at the intersection.


Norwood - This project involves intersection improvements at two locations on Route 1A through the installation of traffic and pedestrian signals to support vehicle flow and roadway safety. In addition, Washington Street and Upland Road will be widened to accommodate turning lanes and existing sidewalks will be reconstructed to meet ADA/AAB standards with upgraded

pavement markings.


Canton - This project will purchase and install bicycle racks in Downtown Canton to provide for additional bicycle parking near MBTA commuter rail facilities.


Canton -This project will install new bicycle racks at three public elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school in Canton.


Walpole - This project which is nearing completion, consists of reconstructing Route 1A from approximately 2,000 feet north of Route 27 north to the Norwood town line and includes improvements to the intersection and approaches at Fisher, Gould, North, Bullard/Willet Streets, and the Stop and Shop Plaza as well as the Route 1A bridge over the Neponset River.


Westwood - This project will reconstruct Canton Street from East Street to University Ave. and install pedestrian and bicycle facilities where none currently exist. A sidewalk will be constructed along the southbound side of the roadway, with a shared-use-path constructed along the northbound side. High visibility crosswalks and beacons will be added at seven locations.


Tom O'Rourke

President and CEO

Welcome New Members

Out and About

(top) The Cove at Dune Jewelry celebrated its grand opening with a Ribbon Cutting last month. The retail shop is located at 935 Washington Street, Norwood.


(bottom) The Chamber helped commemorate "National Farmers Market Week" at the Norwood Farmers Market along with local officials and Market Coordinator, Peter McFarland.

Thank You! The following members have renewed their membership with the NRR Chamber

Alzheimers' Association, Massachusetts/New Hampshire

Certainteed Corporation

College Hunks Hauling Junk & Moving

D'Agostino Insurance

Gentle Dental Norwood

Julie Molloy, Compass Realty


Launch Social Media

Law Office of Joseph A. Hernandez

Norwood Health Care

Right at Home

Schooley Mitchell

Sunrise Assisted Living of Norwood

Traditions of Dedham


Chamber Members Hit the Links

Chamber members enjoyed a lovely day of golf this week at Brookmeadow Country Club in Canton. The winning team was the Neponset Valley Sunrise Rotary Club (top left) who edged out Norwood Hospital in a card off.


Other prizes went to:

Closest to the pin - John Sullivan, Omega Financial

Longest Drive (men's) - Joe Frew, IntraSystems

Longest Drive (women's) - Gerry Racine, Steel Art Company

Banker's Cup - Member's Plus Credit Union (top right)

Putting Contest - Member's Plus Credit Union


Thanks to all who participated including golfers, sponsors, volunteers and donors!


Photos courtesy of Kenneth Berman Photography

View Gallery

Chamber Members Among Top Donors

The Boston Business Journal recently published its annual list of the top charitable companies in the state. The list includes companies that paid out at least $100,000 to Massachusetts based charitable organizations in fiscal 2022. There were a number of NRRC members including:

Mass General Brigham, Rockland Trust, Middlesex Savings, Needham Bank, Dedham Savings and Bank of Canton

Sales Tax Holiday This Weekend

Chamber members are reminded that the Annual Massachusetts Sales Tax Holiday is set for August 12-13. The annual consumer tax incentive suspends the sales tax for individual purchases of single items of tangible personal property costing $2,500 or less, with certain exceptions. 

 

Specific rules governing the Sales Tax Holiday can be found on the Department of Revenue’s (DOR) website, in regulation 830 CMR 64H.1.8: Sales Tax Holiday.  


Member Promotion

MassHire BizWorks Resources

Since its inception in 2012, MassHire BizWorks has enhanced and aligned the resources and services available to businesses throughout Massachusetts. Offered by MassHire Department of Career Services' Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development, this initiative partners with agencies in workforce development, economic development and education to help businesses grow and thrive.

Health Insurance Webinar

Health Connector for Business offers an easy way to provide health insurance that’s affordable for your business and your employees. If you're a small employer (1-50 FTEs) and want to see if you save on premium costs, join September 6 for a free info session: https://malink.co/hcb-webinars-2023

Public Informational Meeting

Roadway and Sidewalk Improvements on Bussey Street, Dedham

What is happening?

The purpose of this meeting is to provide residents of Dedham and adjoining communities with an opportunity to become fully acquainted with updates to the Bussey Street project in Dedham, MA as it moves into construction in summer 2023. The meeting will address the overview of the project, project schedule, work hours, and anticipated traffic impacts, and detour during bridge

construction.

How will this affect you?

Pedestrian access will be maintained over the existing bridge during construction. Potential vehicular detour routes during bridge construction, shown below, begins Mid-Late September 2023 to Summer 2025.

• High Street to Maverick Street to Colburn Street to Bussey Street

• Sawmill Lane to Emmett Avenue to Colburn Street to Bussey Street.


Wednesday, August 16, 2023

Virtual Meeting at 12:00 PM

In person 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM

Dedham Town Hall & Virtually

O’Brien Meeting Room (3rd Floor)

450 Washington Street

Dedham, MA 02026


Visit www.mass.gov/orgs/highway-division/events for more information.

Member Benefit of the Month

Add a Coupon to Your Web Listing

Did you know you can offer discounts to other Chamber members right from our website?


Any member can go to our homepage and under the Membership tab, click the button "Coupons" and you will be taken to a page where you can add your coupon or access coupons from other members.

Add a Coupon
Neponset River Regional Chamber | www.nrrchamber.com
Facebook  Twitter  Instagram  LinkedIn