Norwood Residents Beat the Heat

Before Lucas Marmelo heads out the door to landscape on a summer day — sometimes for eight to 12 hours at a time — he ensures water is at his side.

"If I eat and drink, I'm okay," said Marmelo, an employee of Marmelo Landscaping. "If you don't drink enough water, you don't feel too good."

The Fourth of July holiday kicked off an extended period of warmer than average temperatures across the area, with the high reaching 90 degrees today, according to the National Weather Service in Taunton, Mass. 

For many, summer certainly has arrived in Norwood.

To beat the heat, Norwood Patch has compiled . Taking shade and keeping hydrated were on the top of students' minds while playing basketball behind Balch Elementary School.

"We don't mind the heat," said Trevor Wrensford, a Norwood student, adding players will be fine if they keep their head in the game and drinks plenty of water.

As the players ran back and forth on the court shooting a few two and three-pointers, many ran over to the sideline to cool down between shots.

"I just took a couple of breathers — breathing in through your nose and out through your mouth," Wrensford said. "I was okay and played well."

The Steward Health Care System and Norwood Hospital has advice for the summertime athlete on its website.

Downtown, the Norwood Common was a destination for many looking for shade. Its gazebo and trees were just enough to keep out of the sun for a while.

"This is it right here, sitting out in the shade in enjoying the breeze," said Robert Keiran, a Norwood resident. "Does it make me miss winter? No, it's not for me."