Monday Manual: Vets Park Opening, Thanksgiving, Diwali Happening

MILFORD, MA — Welcome to the Nov. 8 edition of Monday Manual, where we highlight important events coming up during the week (plus a local fact) in seven Patch communities between Framingham and Worcester.

This week we're starting in Milford, which was the childhood home of Norm Abram — famous for being one of the founding creators of the WGBH show "This Old House," and later "The New Yankee Workshop." He is also known for his plaid shirts, which the 1990s Tim Allen series “Home Improvement” poked fun at.

1) Milford

On Veterans Day Thursday, the group Citizens for Milford will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the town's WWI Doughboy Monument, and the revitalization of both Calzone Park and Draper Memorial Park. The ceremony starts around 10:30 a.m. at Calzone Park (corner of Beach Street and Main Street).

2) Natick

On Saturday, the Morse Institute Library will hold a Diwali celebration featuring art and dancing. The Hindu and Buddhist "festival of lights" began on Nov. 4 and lasts for five days.

3) Framingham

A completely renovated Veterans Park will officially open on Thursday for Veterans Day. The park, near the corner of Guadalcanal Road and Concord Street, was in disrepair and hadn't been updated since 1985 until this summer, when community members raised money for the redo.

4) Worcester

Worcester's annual Veterans Day parade returns in 2021. The parade will travel a short distance along Lincoln Street to the Whispering Wall on Thursday morning. Wreath-laying ceremonies will follow at war memorials across the city.

5) Sudbury

The Wayside Inn will hold a unique pre-Thanksgiving event on Wednesday. You can buy a take-home Thanksgiving meal inspired by the 19th century magazine Godey's Lady's Book, whose editor popularized turkey day. At the same time, the Wayside Inn will host a virtual talk with an author who wrote about the woman who edited the magazine and pushed for the holiday.

6) Marlborough

The City Council will meet for the first time in November on Monday, and there are several important items on the agenda: a public hearing on extending the housing moratorium; an extension for a downtown mixed-use project; and deliberations over a new drive-thru Starbucks along Route 20.

7) Wayland

Want to ask Town Meeting for something? The town will hold a workshop on Monday for residents who want to petition the legislative body ahead of the spring Town Meeting.

If you have an event or activity you want included in Monday Manual, email neal.mcnamara@patch.com.