Natick fends off attempt by mall to take over entire town

Natick Mall was getting just a bit too big for its britches. With its new mega-expansion nearing completiion, mall owners figured they'd just drop the "Mall" and call the whole thing "Natick," the Globe reports.

Natick officials, who just wound up a 10-year struggle with Brockton over which place the state legislature would call "Home of Champions" (a compromise for the ages was reached), were in no mood for name shennanigans, the Globe says:

"The new mall is many things," said Joshua Ostroff, a member of the Natick Board of Selectmen. "It is residents, it's shopping, it's a transportation hub. But it's not the town of Natick."

Remnants of the battle can still be seen on the mall Web site: